G1 – 2000m – Turf
| Legal Eagle | The highest merit rating runner in the country. Has a most impressive record of 13 wins and seven places from 23 starts. He is unbeaten over 1600m but has shown limitations recently over 2000m. Was touched off in this race last year but did win it in 2016. He is well handicapped and remains the runner to beat. |
| Deo Juvente | Won this race last year narrowly from Legal Eagle but has run poorly in three races since then. Clearly capable on his day and runs well for jockey Callan Murray but it would come as a major surprise if he was able to pull off the double. His connections would probably be happy if he ran a place this time around. |
| Coral Fever | A very honest performer who showed his well-being last time with a 1.25-length win over Fort Ember in the G2 Colorado King Stakes over this course and distance. Muzi Yeni has a habit of riding feature-race winners these days and does have a definite chance of winning this event. Big runner who needs to be included in all bets. |
| Brazuca | Did beat Deo Juvente in last year’s Colorado King Stakes and has won the Pinnacle Stakes since then, beating Abashiri in the process. However, he was well held by Legal Eagle on all of his runs and based on recent form looks unlikely to turn the tables. He could place but even that would be something of a surprise. |
| Abashiri | Winner of the SA Triple Crown in 2016 but has not won a race since capturing the SA Derby at this race meeting two years ago. He does love this course and will be ideally suited to the distance so that has to bring him into contention. The word from the stable is that he has been putting up some excellent work and they are expecting a big run. |
| Glider Pilot | This four-year-old gelding is something of an enigma. He is clearly very talented but he tends to run around in the home straight and that has cost him a couple of wins. Trainer Tyrone Zackey believes he has found the problems and that could make this gelding a danger to the main contenders. Looks a good outsider. |
| French Navy | This gelding was one of the best three-year-olds in the country but then lost his form. He rarely runs a bad race but it has been a while since he has performed at his best. In his favour is that he does run well under jockey Raymond Danielson but he is also a little suspect over 2000m these days. Place prospects. |
| Dawn Assault | This is a very decent colt who rarely runs a bad race. The only concern is whether he is in the class of some of the other contenders. He is badly out at the weights under the race conditions and at best, could run into a third or fourth place. Despite his ability he looks held on form and would be a shock winner. |
| Nother Russia | Last year this mare finished third, just a short head behind second-placed Legal Eagle. She showed her well-being two runs back in the G1 Horse Chestnut Stakes when running Legal Eagle to a neck over 1600m. There are many pundits who believe she can turn the tables over 2000m. She has eight wins and seven places from 17 starts and is a big runner. |
| Orchid Island | A decent filly who is already a G1 winner and four of her five career wins have come at this course. She does well when getting a sex allowance from the colts although she ran a shocker in the G1 Horse Chestnut Stakes two back. She does look held by both Legal Eagle and stable companion Nother Russia so she cannot be considered as a possible winner. |
| Fort Ember | Ran well in the G2 Colorado King Stakes when beaten 1.25 lengths by Coral Fever and is now 2lb better off so she gets a little closer. Whether she is good enough to beat the likes of Legal Eagle only the race will tell but if one likes Coral Fever one needs to consider the chances of this mare. |
| Silvan Star | This is a very interesting runner because on form there is little to choose between her and Nother Russia. She beat Nother Russia at the Vaal but went down to Mike de Kock’s charge last time by 1.70 lengths in the G1 Empress Club Stakes over 1600m. She is now 5lb better off. Will have her supporters. |
| Safe Harbour | This could be one of the best outsiders in the field as she also has some close form with Nother Russia and Silvan Star. She ran behind them at Kenilworth and again in the Empress Club Stakes over 1600m but she was just beaten 2.8 lengths and is also 5lb better off with De Kock’s runner. Safe Harbour will also be better over this distance. |
