Is Il Palio great?

He was unplaced in all his starts in KwaZulu-Natal before making a fair sand debut. Three wins this year has seen his merit rating rise but with only a four point penalty coming from his win last week.

It is hard to win back-to-back races at this course, particularly only a week later but the step up in trip should suit and it has not been missed that despite bad draws Il Palio has held his form well.

A good draw and South African title chasing S’manga Khumalo are positives. Visiting trainers are having a dreadful run with their raiders at Flamingo Park this season but trainer Louis Goosen has done it all before and Wishful Heart in Race 8 should prove hard to beat.

This Carpocrates gelding ran a much improved runner-up to Yukon Gold on the Vaal Sand just a few days ago.

It was sad to hear the news that Johan Myburgh (trainer of Jack Dan) passed away late last week as he had recently got a win out of the aged Jack Dan.

Hopefully the gelding competes and runs well in Race 8. Shepherds Song and Greatest Hits are two others that can run well.