The march to the Grade 1 Betway Summer Cup moves closer and there is decent racing at Turffontein on Saturday in which a number of hopefuls will be looking to improve their chances of qualifying for Africa’s richest race on 30 November.
The Betway Victory Moon Stakes (Grade 3) over 1800m takes centre stage and it is a very open looking race.
Tony Peter trained Main Defender is on a recovery mission after some disappointing recent performances this season.
The Pathfork gelding did suffer interference last time out so that run is best ignored and if returning to his best form could bounce back to score with Gavin Lerena in the saddle.
The four-year-old gelding picked up a 10-point penalty when taking out the Grade 1 Wilgerbosdrift HF Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut Stakes at Turffontein over 1600m in March.
That was a particularly impressive performance but he is suffering with his current 131 merit rating and has been burdened with 62kg this time.
Carrying that weight will give Alec Laird-trained pair of Atticus Finch and Greeting My Master every opportunity of getting first run on Main Defender.
Atticus Finch is holding his form well but does have a No 10 draw to deal with.
Greeting My Master is in very good form and was an easy winner last time out but also has an excessive eight-point penalty to carry
Earlier on the card we see the return to the course of the Peter-trained flying filly Almond Sea in Race 6, the Betway National Colour Stakes (Listed) over 1000m.
Almond Sea has won four of her five starts so far, including all three over this distance. She returns from a break but hopefully she can show them a clean pair of heels once again.
Clive Robinson
