(4) JIMMY VEGA and (7) PISTA RESISTANCE made encouraging debuts and, with natural improvement, should be competitive.(8) PLATINUM SHAY has the form and experience to play leading a role too.(9) SEACHTU REALTA has shown enough to earn a cheque and could get into the picture.

(1) GREEN MACHINE and (2) SAMUEL SHARPE fit similar profiles and will likely fight out the finish if building on career-best last starts. Preference is for the former, whose 2,000m experience will stand him in good stead.(3) EMERALD CITY runs his best races from the front and could pose a threat to the principals, on the back of his recent first-up third.(7) ASIAH’S TIARA has the form and experience to also make her presence felt.

Hard-knocker (4) LONGSWORD has a wide draw to contend with, but races off an attractive mark. He has found form recently with this headgear fitted and should play another leading role.(3) LADY ELLIOT and (2) ADA LOVELACE take on male opposition but should be competitive.Recent maiden winner (1) HAT’S MAMBO has scope for improvement.

(1) OKLAHOMA SMOKESHOW lost little in defeat when a game-in-defeat second over 1,450m at a higher level last time. A similar performance could suffice in this grade.Returning older rival (3) FRERE JACQUES is respected on his reappearance, as he drops in class and remains open to improvement.Highveld newcomer (2) GRAN CANARIA boasts strong Western Cape and KZN form. He is another with solid claims in his first start for the new yard.Hard-knocker (5) GUERILLA WARFARE has earning potential.

(3) ORANGE COUNTY won with authority ...