Race 1
Race Summary: THE OCTAGON has made progress in 3 starts since he was gelded and needn't improve much on his Highveld return to open his account, having finished 3rd in consecutive KZN appearances. CLIFFIE CLAVIN, after an improved 4th over 1500m, and likely improver OBSIDIAN, who wasn't disgraced on his 2yo sprint debut against winners, are the only dangers. BALLARINO, JABBERWOCKY and DESPINA have minor roles.
Selections:
#1 The Octagon, #4 Cliffie Clavin, #5 Obsidian, #2 Ballarino
Race 2
Race Summary: FETCHING FLYER disappointed when staying on to finish behind QUELLO CHE over track and trip last time but is worth another chance given her rider's 1.5kg allowance. The latter has since finished 3rd over this course and distance ahead of MESSALINA and should confirm her superiority. ANCIENT WISDOM caught the eye when a fast-finishing 2nd on debut over 1450m and shouldn't be hastily condemned for a disappointing subsequent effort over that distance, with this extended trip expected to be more to her liking. COUNTESS Q and STORMY SUNDAY are also likely improvers with earning potential.
Selections:
#3 Fetching Flyer, #4 Quello Che, #6 Ancient Wisdom, #2 Messalina
Race 3
Race Summary: ATARIME won back-to-back 1600m races after he was gelded and on the evidence of his recent fast-finishing 5th over that distance, the step up to this extended trip ought to unlock further progress. Progressive BATTLEOFBARBERTON was a start-to-finish winner over this distance on his reappearance last month, and a resultant 5-point penalty shouldn't halt his momentum, especially with improved fitness on his side and Strydom in the irons again. MOOLA MAN, CELTIC RUSH and MASTER TIK TOK are consistent hardknockers who should acquit themselves competitively. MILLAHUE is capable but out of sorts.
Selections:
#1 Atarime, #3 Battleofbarberton, #4 Moola Man, #7 Master Tik Tok
Race 4
Race Summary: RAISEAHALLELUJAH won a similar course-and-distance contest last month, beating EXPLOSIVE BOND and ZEUS. He is 1kg worse off with both re-opposing rivals but good value to confirm his superiority off an unchanged mark. TWIN TURBO and BANHA BRIDGE have run well over this distance so could get into the picture, though a bigger threat is likely to be posed by maturing stayer MAMBO COME TESIO whose consistency in a slightly lower grade should stand him in good stead at this level.
Selections:
#2 Raiseahallelujah, #7 Explosive Bond, #1 Zeus, #5 Mambo Come Tesio
Race 5
Race Summary: SALENIO PENINSULA was hard-pressed to preserve her unbeaten record over this course and distance last time. She faces another stern test of her mettle under a resultant 5-point penalty but remains open to further progress, so she could take the step up to this class in her stride en route to bigger and better things. Debut winner SAY IT LOUD is another with any amount of scope for improvement. FORCE EIGHT, best-weighted MIA MOO and BOSUM BUDDY showed enough during promising juvenile campaigns to also warrant respect. CALANTHA is unexposed and not taken lightly on her reappearance either.
Selections:
#1 Salenio Peninsula, #6 Say It Loud, #5 Bosum Buddy, #3 Mia Moo
Race 6
Race Summary: Consistent CAPTAIN PEG finished 2nd in this race last year from gate No 3 off a 5-point higher mark. She should again acquit herself competitively. Fellow 5yo mares GIMME A SHOT and CELTIC RUMOURS are consistent performers with solid credentials and should play leading roles. The latter is unbeaten in 3 starts over track and trip so could represent the value. LET'S GO NOW, MY SOUL MATE and WHITE PEARL are favourably treated by the conditions but are returning from lengthy layoffs. Grade 1 2yo winner VJ'S ANGEL and progressive FIERY PEGASUS are awkwardly drawn but not to be taken lightly.
Selections:
#2 Celtic Rumours, #1 Gimme A Shot, #11 Vj's Angel, #3 Captain Peg
Race 7
Race Summary: MAIN DEFENDER was a wide-margin winner of this race last year, beating subsequent Grade 1 winner Thunderstruck by 6.50 lengths. He finished 2nd to UNZEN over 1400m when last seen but is 6.5kg better off for that 1.40-length defeat so should turn the tables - he sets a lofty standard. WILLIAM ROBERTSON, KZN raider GLADATORIAN and progressive BACK IN BUSINESS have the means to make life difficult for the selection. GRAND CRESCENDO and DANTONFROMSANDTON (gelded) showed promise during their 2yo campaigns and are open to improvement, so could get into the picture. Keep an eye on GIMMEANOTHERCHANCE.
Selections:
#1 Main Defender, #3 William Robertson, #4 Gladatorian, #7 Back In Business
Race 8
Race Summary: HOTARUBI is slung in under the conditions but has achieved his rating over further and may need this outing after a 90-day absence. TRUTH won on debut over 1160m so has already proven himself effective in a sprint and shouldn't be written off on his seasonal reappearance after unsuccessful attempts at 2yo features over 1400m and 1600m. BUFFALO STORM CODY was a fast-finishing 2nd in a similar contest over track and trip 6 weeks ago and need only repeat that performance to fight for victory. Debut winners MUSICAL SCORE and BAKWENA could be anything so aren't underestimated.
Selections:
#4 Buffalo Storm Cody, #5 Musical Score, #8 Bakwena, #2 Truth
Race 9
Race Summary: KARANGETANG finished behind KINSHIN SHA and SMITH AND WESSON over this distance last month but has slidden further down the ratings and will enjoy the benefit of his rider's 1.5kg weight allowance, so could turn the tables on those rivals. However, preference is for stablemate RAINBOW REWARD who deserves a reward for his consistency. He has proven most effective over this distance and his competitiveness at this level off his current mark is guaranteed. Top-weight SWING UPON A STAR isn't without a chance.
Selections:
#6 Rainbow Reward, #8 Smith And Wesson, #5 Karangetang, #7 Kinshin Sha
Best Win: #1 MAIN DEFENDER
Best Value Bet: #2 CELTIC RUMOURS
Best Longshot: #2 CELTIC RUMOURS
