1 NATIONAL EMBLEM. Outstanding win in the Premiers Cup, and a good third in this race last year. Better than last run when 8th at Clairwood
(1 600m) but should run a couple of lengths off them under top weight.
Rating: Fair Minus
2 COUNTER ACTION. Queen’s Plate winner with the “guv’nor” Jeff Lloyd aboard. Work to do at the weights and might battle over a fast-run 2 200m trip. Could earn though. Rating: Fair Minus
3 DANCE FESTIVAL. Rested after good recent runs in the A Division, winning three of last four starts. Lots of work to do here at the set conditions.
Rating: Poor
4 ELDORIZA. Scored in last two features contested and will be at his peak for this event. Drawn badly, though, prefers less ground, and lacks the early pace to get a position. Not really his chop. Rating: Fair minus
5 TEAL. Last year’s winner. Hasn’t won since, but bounced back to form with a short-head second to Stride Ahead over 1 900m in the Durban Plasma. Weighted to reverse that form, but has a poor draw, unlike last year. Could go in again with luck in the running. Rating: Fair
6 FIRE ARCH. Flimsy claims rest on well-beaten second to Ashtontown in First National over 1 600m at Turffontein in March. You back him. Rating: Poor
7 LA FABULOUS. Moderate 11th last year but has improved with racing and won the J & B Met in impressive fashion. Carries more weight now but prep has been excellent and well drawn. Should stake a strong claim. Rating: Fair Plus
8 DUPA DICE. Very honest sort who has run well all season. Finished fair third behind La Fabulous in the Met, but not weighted to reverse the form. Should be in the firing-line though.
Rating: Fair
9 MILLEVEROF. Fair seventh in the Durban Plasma (1 900m) and weighted to finish next to conqueror Stride Ahead. Drawn badly, however, and looks a few lengths inferior to the fancied runners. Rating: Poor
10 SLEEK MACHINE. Ran on to finish a good fifth last year after stumbling early in the race. Comes from behind and prefers a longer run-in. Blinkers could sharpen his early concentration and has an outside chance at the set terms. Rating: Fair
11 TOURISIMO. Very lightly raced 5-year-old. Lost a shoe when a close third behind Stride Ahead in the 1 900m Durban Plasma and weighted with a big chance on that effort in his third run after a layoff. Drawback is lack of early pace. Rating: Good
12 CIRCUIT JUDGE. Only 9 wins in 53 starts but ran well in penultimate start when close 6th in Durban Plasma. Not the sort you’d expect to win the July, but should run an honest race.
Rating: Poor
13 AMBERPONDO. Balked when sixth behind Eldoriza in Nissan Challenge. Two good feature efforts before that in weaker company. Much harder task now. Rating: Poor
14. STRIDE AHEAD. Shock winner of the Durban Plasma (1 900m) at 20-1. Has an outstanding record at the track but will have to get very lucky from a terrible draw. Rating: Fair Minus
15 PELAGOS. Looked set to realise early promise in last year’s Skeaping but went lame in race and finished 5th behind National Emblem. Good prep last time when close fifth in Durban Plasma. Strip much fitter, has pole position, but has yet to win outside Middle Division. Rating: Fair Plus
16 VINO ROSA. Hardy mare with 8 wins from 36 starts. Solid equine citizen, but appears comfortably held in this line-up. Rating: Poor
17 MOSSZAO. Has been a trifle disappointing after winning five of first six starts. Finished like an express to run a close 4th behind National Emblem in the Premiers Cup. Never been to Durban, let alone Greyville, but is weighted handily and drawn very well. Go close if not getting too far back in the running. Rating: Fair Plus
18 DOLLAR FORTUNE. Useful filly but looks held by Mosszao on earlier form. Has been racing over shorter distances and looks unlikely to challenge over this trip. Rating: Poor
19 FESTIVE FOREVER. Won the Natalia Stakes over 2 000m here very early in the season but has not set the world on fire since. A good second in the Woolavington over 2 400m indicates that she’ll stay on strongly, but No. 20 draw is against her. Rating: Fair Minus
20 LONDON NEWS
Top three-year-old and weighted to run a big race. Likes dictating terms, but drawn wide and has a harder task against older opponents. The one to beat, all factors considered, but no “good thing”. Rating: Very Good