The handicappers were mightily impressed with the run and pushed her merit rating up 17 points to 105. It must be noted, though, that De Kock commented in the post-race interview that, although the extra 200m in the Durban July would suit Ilha Bela, “I’m not sure that will be true of Viva Maria, although she did put up her hand’’.

Viva Maria was marked up at 20-1 in ante-post betting for the big race, while Eaton Square is on offer at 50-1.

Eaton Square impressed quite a few racing fans with his win in Sunday’s Jubilee Handicap at Turffontein. He dug deep and fought off favourite Golden Crest to win by a head. That was, however, only his fourth career start and many experts will be hesitant to back such an inexperienced fellow in what is always a hard-knocking handicap.

Seventy three entries have been received, but a number of the nominations have already been withdrawn from the country’s premier race, to be run over 2200m at Greyville on Saturday 7 July.

Two notable withdrawals yesterday were De Kock-trained Silver Flyer, who ran no sort of a race in the Cup Trial at Clairwood on Saturday, and Joey Ramsden-trained Bravura.

The weights will be announced today and declarations close on Wednesday 20 June. The final field will be announced the following day.

The entries in order of horse, age, sex, merit rating and trainer are:
VIVA MARIA (3F) 105 Mike de Kock
ETON SQUARE (3G) 101 Gavin van Zyl
JACKSON (3C) 116 Brett Crawford
PIERRE JOURDAN (5G) 114 Gary Alexander
TALES OF BRAVERY (5G) 113 Vaughan Marshall
CASTLETHORPE (AUS) (4G) 112 Mike Bass
BEACH BEAUTY (4F) 110 Dennis Drier
CHESALON (4G) 110 Mike Bass
ILSANPIETRO (BRZ) (5G) 109 CA Mike de Kock
SEAL (4G) 109 Gavin van Zyl
POLAR BOUND (4G) 108 Brett Crawford
POMODORO (3C) 108 Sean Tarry
ROYAL BENCHER (3G) 108 Alec Laird
SMANJEMANJE (5G) 108 Tyrone Zackey
ENGLISH GARDEN (4G) 107 Mike Bass
TOP SELLER (4C) 107 Vaughan Marshall
GALANTHUS (5G) 106 Tyrone Zackey
GOLD ONYX (NZ) (4G) 106 Sean Tarry
LION IN WINTER (5G) 106 Joey Ramsden
SOLO TRAVELLER (4G) 106 Mike de Kock
BULSARA (5G) 105 Gavin van Zyl
EMPENOSO HENN (ARG) (4G) 105 Mike de Kock
SAGE THRONE (4G) 105 Colin Scott
TRIBAL DANCE (3C) 105 Vaughan Marshall
VETTEL (ARG) (3C) 105 Mike de Kock
GALILEO’S DESTINY (4C) 104 Mike de Kock
ILHA BELA (3F) 104 Mike de Kock
JET JAMBOREE (4C) 104 Dominic Zaki
ZAMBUCCA (3C) 104 Saeed Mohideen
FLIRTATION (5M) 103 Mike de Kock
SAFWAN (AUS) (5G) 103 Mike de Kock
WHITELINE FEVER (3G) 103 Sean Tarry
ASTRO NEWS (3G) 102 Greg Ennion
BERRY BLAZE (IRE) (4F) 102 Mike de Kock
CAPTAIN’S WILD (5G) 102 Mike de Kock
GOLDEN CHATEAU (AUS) (3C) 102 Mike de Kock
HOUSE OF WAX (4G) 102 Geoff Woodruff
THUNDER DANCE (3F) 102 Brett Crawford
GORONGOSA (IRE) (5M) 101 Mike de Kock
BAY ROUTE (5G) 100 Deon Visser
PRINCESS OF LIGHT (4F) 100 Geoff Woodruff
SOUL MASTER (4G) 100T Geoff Woodruff
MASTER PLAN (3G) 99 Greg Ennion
ATLANTIC OAK (GB) (5M) 98 Mike de Kock
BUY AND SELL (8G) 97T Sean Tarry
CHECCETTI (4F) 97 Mike de Kock
TAIPAN (3C) 97 Dean Kannemeyer
RED BARREL (3G) 96 Mike de Kock
RIGHT BEAUTY (3G) 94 Mike de Kock
ICE DIAMOND (5G) 91 Glen Puller
EXTRA COVER (5G) 87Tlec Laird
GREY COSSACK (5G) 84 Herman Brown/Frank
MAIN DANE (AUS) (3G) 83 Mike de Kock
MOZART’S GIOVANNI (3C) 82 Mike de Kock
CANTERBURY TALE (3G) 78 Mike de Kock
IRON GREY (4G) 78 Mike de Kock

Withdrawn
DANCEWITHTHEDEVIL (5M) 116 John Gray
BRAVURA (5G) 113 Joey Ramsden
EBONY FLYER (4F) 111 Justin Snaith
EUROPA POINT (IRE) (5M) 109 Mike de Kock
SLUMDOGMILLIONAIRE (3C) 109 Gavin van Zyl
SILVER FLYER (3G) 106 Mike de Kock
EMERALD COVE (4F) 105 Justin Snaith
E-JET (3G) 104 Sean Tarry
WITHOUT MALICE (4F) 103 George Scott
GOLDEN CHARIOT (7G) 102 Sean Tarry
CAYMEN ISLAND (6G) 100 Yogas Govender
NORTHERN EMPEROR (3G) 96 Charles Laird
RIO CARNIVAL (AUS) (3C) 96 Charles Laird
HEAVY METAL (3G) 95 Sean Tarry
BARACAH (3C) 91 Sean Tarry
STORM SAGAZ (ARG) (5G) 88 Yogas Govender
PREMIUM WOOD (3G) 85 Yogas Govender

Betting World’s betting: 16-10 JACKSON; 6-1 ILHA BELA; 10-1 ENGLISH GARDEN; 12-1 PIERRE JOURDAN; 14-1 BEACH BEAUTY; 16-1 CHESALON; 20-1 TALES OF BRAVERY, VIVA MARIA; 22-1 VETTEL; 25-1 GOLD ONYX, POMODORO; 28-1 TRIBAL DANCE; 40-1 CASTLETHORPE, SAGE THRONE, SOLO TRAVELLER; 50-1 ETON SQUARE; 55-1 BULSARA, POLAR BOUND, ROYAL BENCHER; 66-1 SMANJEMANJE, TAIPAN; 75-1 TOP SELLER; 100-1 AND UPWARDS OTHERS.