KZN trainer Rivalland’s sprinter raids Turffontein

KwaZulu-Natal trainer Tony Rivalland mounts a rare raid on the Highveld on Tuesday as he has sent up his five-year-old sprinter Highway Explorer to contest the feature race, the R250,000 Tommy Hotspur Handicap.

An Aussie-bred import owned by Mary Liley, Highway Explorer has won two of his past three starts over Tuesday night’s distance of 1,000m.

Rivalland has booked Lyle Hewitson for the ride and the youngster will know he faces some useful opponents including British Royale, African Ruler, Greasepaint and Splendid Garden.

British Royale has done well for his owner Ian Levitan and will again be ridden by Randall Simons who won on the gelding on his penultimate start.

Although it is debatable whether African Ruler is capable of giving 7kg to Highway Explorer, Paul Peter’s charge has loads of ability and will have his supporters.

Spendid Garden has been knocking on the door for another win and he has to be included on the short list of possible winners.

Percival, trained by Willem Nel for owner Sabine Plattner, makes his Highveld debut and cannot be discounted following a reasonable effort in the Betting World Cape Flying Championship.

Another KwaZulu-Natal trainer, Robbie Hill, sends his filly Kilmokea to contest the fifth race, but the grey will have to be at the top of her game to beat Sean Tarry’s runner Cape Orchid or Mike de Kock’s Aussie import High Seas Beauty.

Cape Orchid is by Greys Inn who is the sire of Tarry’s top performer, Legal Eagle. This filly looks well above average with a formline of two wins and two seconds from her five outings.

Callan Murray booted home a winner for the De Kock yard at the city track on Saturday to leave the legendary trainer needing only six more winners to bring his career tally to 3,000.

If not in need of the run, High Seas Beauty could add to that total as she won her first race and will be more experienced this time.

Another De Kock Aussiebred, Unrehearsed, could be competitive from a favourable draw in the fourth race.

Tarry has a shout here with recent winner Profit Ratio, who is unbeaten in his two starts over tonight’s course and distance.

Nevertheless, the vote in this 1,400m handicap goes to the top-weight, Cashin. Veteran trainer Ormond Ferraris has booked title-chasing jockey Gavin Lerena for the ride on his consistent Mogok gelding.

The joker in the pack — and certainly worth including in exotic perms — could be Steve Moffatt’s runner Rebuked.

The Vaal trainer rates the four-year-old highly and the gelding can go well in the hands of Gunter Wrogemann.