Laird set to lead the pack

While the Cape Town Met meeting at Kenilworth will attract a lot of attention tomorrow, there two are feature races being staged on the Standside track at Turffontein.

The Listed WSB Wolf Power 1600 looks quite competitive and difficult to assess because there are different form lines which lead in different directions.

But perhaps we could see the best of Pack Leader again, now that he is back to his favoured distance. Punters may have short memories, but Alec Laird’s charge did start favourite for the WSB Gauteng Summer Cup in November.

The distance in the muddy conditions may not have suited him but he did run a decent third over 1400m at the Vaal last month behind Expressfromtheus. He will enjoy the additional 200m and might even prefer racing around the turn again. In fact, his best run since moving to Joburg was over this course and distance.

S’manga Khumalo takes the ride once again.

Once you look past him the race is very open. Whorley Whorley has been in good form since trainer Clinton Binda put him over further and he has performed well over 1400m. How he will adjust to another step up in distance only the race will tell, but Binda has engaged Piere Strydom to nurse his charge over the additional trip.

Golden Pheasant is another in top form, as is jockey Muzi Yeni, and they cannot be left out of any exotic bets. We do know he is guaranteed to see out the distance.

Pomander’s merit rating has come down another five points and the daughter of Flower Alley is sure to enjoy the step up to 2400m in the WSB Allez France Stakes (Non-Black Type) over 2400m.