Cognac On Ice can overcome wide draw

The Yogas Govender-trained gelding might have stood as a banker had it not been for the fact that he will start from No 16 stall. Jockey Robert Khathi will have his work cut out from there. That said, Cognac On Ice has a touch of class and that could make all the difference in a weak field.

The five-year-old scored his third career win over the Kenilworth 1600m in April and has placed in both outings since, last time out finishing a 1.15-length third behind Sir Robert over this course and distance.

He is worse off at the weights with Count My Luck, who finished a long neck further back in fourth, Just Ask (fifth) and Master Barry (seventh). Cognac On Ice started slowly that day, though, and was hampered, so is expected to confirm the form if he can overcome the draw.

African Smile took 11 runs to find the winner’s enclosure but, being by Silvano, should get better as his four-year-old campaign progresses. He could feature, although he, too, is not well drawn.

Nor is Dynasty’s Secret, who rarely finishes far back and powered through from well back to beat Dogmatism by 1.25 lengths over 1400m at Kenilworth last time out.

Kukama, who journeys beyond 1400m for the first time, Fort Bukloh, who is on the upgrade, and Venture Var, from the same stable as African Smile, are others to consider.