1

Cousin Casey

He loves this track and this trip should be ideal, considering he was only just touched off in the Durban July over 2200m and finished second in both the G2 Drill Hall Stakes over 1400m and Gold Challenge over 1600m.

2

Double Superlative

He was said to be a gallop short of his best in the July so he should be cherry ripe now. The G1 Cape Town Met (2000m) winner has a plum draw of two with the former champion jockey Keagan de Melo up.

3

Purple Pitcher

He was off the bit some way out in the July and is more suited to a galloping track like Turffontein Standside. However, he does have a lot of courage and is not easy to overtake if getting to the front.

4

Winchester Mansion

Last year’s July winner Winchester Mansion was only beaten half-a-length by Royal Victory in the World Pool  Premier’s Champions Challenge over 2000m at level weights and might have needed his July run, considering it was his first run since the Premier’s.

5

Barbaresco

He did not produce as strong a finish in the July as he had in the Daily News 2000 and was considered by the connections to have had a stamina doubt for the 2200m trip. Therefore, he could well be a lively contender over what should be an ideal 1800m trip.

6

Flag Man

Three-year-old Flag Man is officially third best in at the weights comes off a fine Durban July fourth in which he was forced to go handier than usual in a plan to overcome a wide draw. He is now drawn six out of ten and should be able to run to his preferred style of being held up.

7

Hluhluwe

He has always been well regarded and was thought to be looking for this sort of trip. He gets another chance to prove himself, having flattered to deceive in all of his middle distance efforts to date, although he did suffer some interference in the July.

8

Royal Victory

He should relish this trip as a horse who relaxes well and has a fine turn of foot. He should be relatively fresh despite having run in the July, because this will be his third run after a layoff. He is going for a third G1 this season.

9

Dave The King

His wide draw will give him a chance to get into a handy position or to the front if the pace is not on. He has a massive stride and is not easy to catch if getting first run.

10

See It Again

See It Again, who would have finished third in the July if not hampered late, is the best weighted horse and will be hoping the race pans out better this year from the wide draw than it did last year when running on from too far back.