IRISH FLAME will make his return to a South African race track when he lines up for the Grade 2 Victory Moon Stakes (powered by Avis M.I.C.E.) at Turffontein on Friday night, 16 November.

The son of Dynasty has been quite a world traveller since finishing runner-up to stable companion Bold Silvano in the 2010 Vodacom Durban July. He first went off to Dubai and then travelled to the UK where he won a race before returning to Dubai last season. Sadly he did not perform all that well the second time around and is now back in South Africa.

Irish Flame.

Irish Flame is one of six runners from the Mike de Kock yard and will be ridden by Gavin Lerena. De Kock has also entered Irish Flame for the Grade Sansui Summer Cup on Saturday 1 December.

The other De Kock entries are Ilsanpietro (Anthony Delpech), Vettel (Anton Marcus), Meadow Magic (Randall Simons), Ilha Bela (Muzi Yeni) and Silent Partner (Derreck David).

Top weight for the Victory Moon Stakes is Seal, who carries 62kg and will be ridden by Piere Strydom. Seal is one of two runners trained by Chesney van Zyl on behalf of his father, Gavin, the other being Shogunnar.

Veteran trainer Ormond Ferraris also has three runners in Knock On Wood, Hawker Hunter and Straw Market.

The meeting forms the first leg of the Avis Coach Charter International Jockeys Challenge but none of the international riders have mounts in this race.

The final field for the R300,000 Victory Moon Stakes (Grade 2, powered by Avis M.I.C.E.) over 1800m at Turffontein on Friday 16 November:

1 – 3 SEAL (G H Van Zyl) P Strydom 62.0 – 112

2 – 8 CHESALON (M G Azzie) R Fradd 61.0 – 110

3 – 9 SMANJEMANJE (T Zackey) G van Niekerk 61.0 – 109

4 – 17 ILSANPIETRO (M F De Kock) A Delpech 57.0 – 106

5 – 2 IRISH FLAME (M F De Kock) G Lerena 57.0 – 106

6 – 14 VETTEL (M F De Kock) A Marcus 57.0 – 105

7 – 1 MEADOW MAGIC (M F De Kock) R Simons 55.0 – 99

8 – 10 SHOGUNNAR (G H Van Zyl) B Lerena 54.0 – 104

9 – 13 ZAMBUCCA (S Mohideen) N Juglall 54.0 – 104

10 – 16 KNOCK ON WOOD (O A Ferraris) S Brown 54.0 – 100

11 – 4 ILHA BELA (M F De Kock) M Yeni 51.5 – 102

12 – 11 HAWKER HUNTER (O A Ferraris) S Khumalo 51.5 – 100

13 – 12 ASTRO NEWS (B O Wiid) R Danielson 51.0 – 98

14 – 7 PESSOA (A G Laird) J P v’d Merwe 51.0 – 99

15 – 18 STRAW MARKET (O A Ferraris) S Veale 51.0 – 96

16 – 5 SILENT PARTNER (M F De Kock) D David 51.0 – 95

Reserve runners

17 – 15 BARACAH (S G Tarry) Reserve 1 51.0 – 92

18 – 6 BROOKS-CLUB (M G Azzie) Reserve 2 54.0 – 101

Coupled for Pick 6 ONLY: (1 & 8); (2 & 18); (4, 5, 6, 7, 11 & 16); (10, 12 & 15).