Captain Siderius goes for four in row

Captain Siderius will receive plenty of support as he attempts to complete four wins in succession. He clearly loves this surface and has recorded easy romps for an in-form stable since relocating. Originally a plodder based in Cape Town, he transferred to Port Elizabeth with limited success. Since heading up north he has proved unstoppable, and can continue a winning streak on the dirt.

The top weight is Eye Of The World, with a merit rating of 100, which is stratospheric for this centre. He has won 15 races from 86 starts and must have fair claims of adding to that impressive haul. The Windrush gelding has already won seven times over the distance and will be given every chance as the Muzi Yeni/Jaap Visser combo is winning at a 20% clip and running into the top three 51% of the time.

Kingofmountain has an unsatisfactorily lower win rate, just three victories from 26 outings, and is a couple lengths inferior to the top-rated horse on their penultimate clash over this course and distance. Still, big turnarounds are commonplace in Kimberley, suggesting that respect is due the Ravishing gelding.

Perhaps a greater threat could be the smooth last-time-out winner Silly Mid On, a confirmed course and distance specialist. Sherman Brown’s mount appears held by Eye Of The World but, on a line through Que Sera Sera, rates close enough to Captain Siderius to give Vernon Rugg’s runner winning hopes.

Here I Am has only defeated lesser opponents, and seems to be better up to 1400m, having drawn a blank in three tries over this distance. The erratic and unsound Starfire needs a form return after poor last two efforts this month, though he did better in October.

Mahagony is way off form, having finished distressed and lame recently. That leaves the lightly raced nine-time winner Hunters Green, who has been dismal of late and would need a dramatic wake-up to threaten in a typically tricky Flamingo Park contest in which half the field have reasonable chances.