Draw favours Orpheus

There is a belief in some quarters that this group of three-year-olds are among the best we have seen for some time, and judging on the number of runners filling the three races on offer for them, all over 1400m, that statement could well be true.

The Grade 3 Graham Beck Stakes is often seen as a pointer towards the Investec Dingaans to be run on 25 November and the two runners with the best form are Flying Free and Hakeem. The only problem is both are drawn wide which is a concern over 1400m as the race almost starts on the turn. You either have to be exceptionally good or need a lot of luck.
So one tries to find a runner with some good form and a decent draw and that could well be Orpheus.

Trained by Mike and Adam Azzie this beautifully bred son of Western Winter beat Hakeem on debut by 2.20 lengths and they meet again at identical weights.
However, Orpheus ran disappointingly next time out when going off a 7-10 favourite and finishing fifth behind Puget Sound.
A three-month break may have done him the world of good as he came back in a MR 89 handicap over 1600m at this course and after leading for most of the way ended up finishing a four-length third behind Kilrain.

That run would have brought him on and from No 3 draw with Piere Strydom in the irons he could be the horse to beat.
Flying Free finished second in the race won by Puget Sound, was a 1.35-length fourth in the Grade 2 Golden Horseshoe at Greyville and was touched off by unbeaten Broadway Trip in his last start. With a good draw Gavin van Zyl’s charge would have been a clear selection so one cannot write him off. The same applies to Hakeem who ram a 3.40-length third behind Broadway Trip and will have come on from that run.

Others to consider are Prince Of Kahal and Zen Arcade. Whatever the fate of Hakeem, Mike de Kock should be on the mark with Silver Thursday in the Starling Stakes. She won very well last time when beating Mar Del Sur by 1.50 lengths and can only improve on that. She is drawn No 8 and has Anthony Delpech on her back.
The unknown factor is Flowersfromabrook who flew up late on debut to win a Maiden Plate over 1000m on the Inside track.

That was an incredible performance and she should improve further, especially over this track and trip. She is nicely drawn at No3 and has Weichong Marwing up again.
Mrs O ran a cracker last time behind Bella Sonata in yielding going and is not without a chance either.

Suggested bets: Graham Beck Stakes: Trifecta boxed – 1 Flying Free, 2 Hakeem, 5 Zen Arcade, 7-Prince Of Kahal, 11 Orpheus and 16 Seerite (R120).
Starling Stakes: Eachway bet on 3 Silver Thursday. Trifecta – float 3 Silver Thursday with 1 Folk Dance, 5 Spring Breeze, 6 Mrs O, 9 Green Top, 12 La Bastide and 16 Flowersfromabrook (R90).