Vaughan Marshall’s promising Warm White Night colt Kemal Kavur starts at his fifth different racecourse at his fifth career outing at Fairview on Friday. He contests the R150 000 Listed Racing Association Stakes on the polytrack mile and if he takes to the surface, looks to be a serious contender for top honours.
The Marshall-Byleveld combo have a decent raiding strike rate in the Eastern Cape and the Ambiance Stud bred colt has looked a very decent sort since making his debut at the Vaal in February.
MJ Byleveld – rides Kemal Kavur
His sole non-earning run was his unplaced effort behind Readytoattack in the Gr3 Langerman, where he was slow away and then pushed to run handy. That race came after a three month break post his Joburg campaign.
He showed his wellbeing in the final week of September when winning over a mile at Durbanville.
He is obviously being aimed at bigger things in the Cape Summer Of Champions, and will strip a fitter horse on Friday.
Nottinghamshire is probably headed overseas later on as he is owned by top Hong Kong-based owner, Edmond Siu.
Greg Cheyne – rates Nottinghamshire
The son of Silvano is at home on both surfaces and heads the local hopes of winning this race – but has a 10 draw to beat.
He has shown good ability and has been highly spoken of by jockey Greg Cheyne.
His stablemate Struben is fairly well-tried and consistent into the bargain. He may just be outgunned at level weights in this company though.
Alan Greeff’s third runner Flying Zest is a maiden with poor form and has no chance on the form shown in seven runs to date.
Yvette Bremner’s Cruzcampo has won two of his three outings and is another who goes the mile for the first time.
The son of Lecture was not striding out last time when well beaten by Nottinghamshire, but is 2kgs better off here – and must be a challenger if they have him sound.
Justin Snaith and Andrew Fortune team up with Cuban Emerald, who won his maiden at his second start. Fitness may be an issue with this colt as he last ran 19 weeks ago but he is beautifully bred and his high-class dam won up to a mile.
The Glen Kotzen trained Chestnut’s Champ has his third start after accounting for a rated sort in Banderos at his opening Cape run over the Durbanville 1300m at end September.
The stable has plenty of PE polytrack experience, but is is very difficult assessing what to expect from this colt.
Gavin Smith has two runners in the race.
Gavin Smith – top trainer
Rush In beat Memphis Mafia on the turf last time and has his first run on the polytrack at his fourth career start.
His stablemate Seattle Swing has won 2 of his 6 starts and looks a very progressive and versatile youngster.
He beat a field of hardknocking handicappers over 2200m last time and has drawn against the paint. His local experience could give him an edge over the Cape challengers – if he is good enough at level weights.
Dorrie Sham is in solid form and she saddles a coupling of Memphis Mafia and Stir It Up.
The latter won a terrific race on his supported course and distance debut three weeks ago and has drawn nicely. The R55 000 National Two Year Old Sale purchase is something of a difficult one to unravel, and could challenge if he improves again at his acid test.
Karl Zechner – could stir it up
He is ridden by bang in-form Zacpack jockey Karl Zechner, who rode a great race on him first time out.
Memphis Mafia has drawn widest of all and won his maiden at the ninth time of asking.
He tries a mile for the first time after beating Wild Night Out by almost 5 lengths in small field in a polytrack 1300m event.
He did run four seconds earlier in his career, and could have improvement to come with the confidence of that win under the belt.
