My race by race thoughts :-
R1) On Captain's Side, the one I expect to make the most improvement. Having it's third run after the rest, clearly ran flat last time out, second run after the rest syndrome, the run prior to Queens Club, those formlines are solid, been a few who has come out and won. The Snaith yard have a few entrants, clearly not sure which is the right one, Sod's Law, if they do win, it won't be the shortest one in the betting. Bad Habit, Snaith will have a line on this one through Lilac Sensation.
R2) Radiant Love, also having it's third run after a rest, should be cherry ripe. Comfortably finished ahead of Senor Don on the on the 09/11, Senor Don came out and won on Saturday. Senor Don finished ahead of Lead Singer on the 04/01. Radiant Love could start favourite come race time.
R3) As mentioned in an earlier response, "Not good, gave Eternal Hope a lively winning chance in the third, she posted the fastest winning time over 1000m, is receiving weight from the one and two time winners, and only conceding 0.5kgs to the still maidens. Over the years the well weighted fillies have done okay in this race and are a lot more precocious than their male counter-parts." - hope she is not affected because she will go close here.
R4) Fancy the lesser fancied of the De Kock runners, Vaseem. If taken on the strength against who they ran, then Alramz would win this hands down, he has run to much stronger. For me the jockey booking says a lot. The stable jockey, who has ridden Alramz before, has opted to ride Vaseem, who is still relatively unexposed - nothing to do with who can and cannot make the weight seeing that they carrying the same weight. These Million Rand CTS races, it's seldom the best horse that wins, rather, who has best luck in running or things go their way. He is dropping in class, and another example (in my view) of a horse, who on breeding, really shouldn't be winning over sprint distances, but has. At the time this race is run, we will certainly know whether Vaseem is drawn on the right or wrong side of the track (18/20), however, at the current odds, one can't get hurt.
R5) If Ikigai was in this line-up, would you give him a winning chance? If so, then Got The Greenlight will go very close from a half decent draw. Ran somewhat the merit rated distance off Ikigai, without even trying, clearly was prepping. The sort of race where you either bank Got The Greenlight, because of his rating, or leave him out the play altogether, because he will not get the luck in running.
R6) Sir Michael, is well in here, should have the favourite, Bag Of Tricks, well held at the turn around at the weights based on their run of the 12/10, got the weight and the draw in his favour this time around. Parterre will have his followers, just think wherever he finishes, Super Silvano will finish ahead. Silver Host is not well weighted and not for me. Sir Michael most probably start favourite come race time.
R7) Whilst Run Fox Run has been backed into favourite, just think the fillies have it all to do at the weights. My pick as mentioned on another thread is Kasimir. Here's how I see the race unfolding. They know they cannot let Run Fox Run get too far ahead, as she might be difficult to reel in. I expect Pacific Trader to hang on to her coat-tail and pull the rest along. I don't believe Run Fox Run is well in here, and for that reason, Kasimir, who is well in here, will be running at them late in the piece. Fancy the exacta 1 X 2. As an aside, Snaith was quoted as saying, "If I had to pick a horse for the day, I think Kasimir is a huge runner in the Cape Flying Championship". I am not rowing in with Kasimir because the trainer fancy's his charge, always thought it was the right one in the race.
R8) Queen Supreme, for me the closest thing to a banker on the day. Her record speaks for itself and the betting support backs up what most think will be the likely outcome.
R9) Rowing in with Vardy. We could make an argument for every horse in the race, I just feel on current form he is the best horse in the country, and will prove it come Saturday.
R10) Hard to oppose Doublemint. Should appreciate the extra. Atyaab is the only danger and is also trying the distance for the first time as well.
R11) Whilst The Vow is the one to beat from a decent draw, Academic Gold is not without a chance. Stepped up from 1200m to 1600m, so the yard must believe he will stay the extra 200m.
R12) Hope to have made some money by this point, or drowning my sorrows.
Guessing has never been widely acclaimed as a good gambling strategy.
