Oisin Murphy up against Michael Roberts-trained ace See It Again on first ride in South Africa in Turffontein Summer Cup

Two of Britain’s champion jockeys clash in Africa’s richest race on Saturday when Oisin Murphy and Michael Roberts will both be represented in the Grade 1 Betway Summer Cup at Turffontein (2pm UK time).

Murphy, the reigning champion, is in South Africa for the first time to partner Frances Ethel, who is vying for second favourite with last year’s winner Royal Victory behind the Roberts-trained See It Again, South Africa’s highest-rated horse.

Roberts, 70, was champion jockey in Britain in 1992 (having already secured 11 titles in South Africa) and rode the likes of Mtoto and Lyric Fantasy, as well as becoming first rider to Sheikh Mohammed.

See It Again, a son of Sir Henry Cecil’s dual Champion Stakes winner Twice Over, has won twice at the top level, and warmed up for the Summer Cup with a cosy win from Royal Victory over a mile in Durban.

The five-year-old is running for the first time in Johannesburg on Saturday and will be carrying top weight in the 1m2f contest. Roberts has booked all-time great Piere Strydom to ride with the pair drawn in stall six of 19.

Roberts said: “He’s the highest-rated horse in South Africa so he’s the one you want to have in your yard. It’s a handicap and he’s giving away a lot of weight, but he’s very well. 

“He travelled up well from the coast to Joburg and he had a good prep run last time. People are talking about the four and a half kilo [10lb] weight difference with Royal Victory compared to that day, but my horse is very laidback and he idles in front so that makes a difference. I’ve got a good draw, an expert jockey and there are a lot of positives for him.”

South African riding legend Michael Roberts trains favourite See It Again

This year’s Betway Summer Cup has total prize-money of six million rand (£261,000/€314,000), while the sponsor will also give each groom R20,000 (£872/€1,048), which Roberts said had created "a real buzz" among stable staff.

Familiar names Mike de Kock, Sean Tarry and Alec Laird all have runners, but the chief dangers to See It Again are Royal Victory, who is unbeaten over course and distance and has Gavin Lerena riding, and Murphy’s mount Frances Ethel.

Frances Ethel suffered interference when sixth behind stablemate Winchester Mansion last time but is a course-and-distance winner who is carrying plenty of stable confidence.

James Crawford, who has overseen the filly’s training on behalf of his father Brett, said: “I think Frances Ethel is really coming to herself. I've always rated her as a top horse who would improve as a four-year-old as she's shown. She's filled her frame, developed and I'm starting to see the full picture and I really do think she is a filly of the ability to get a Grade 1 under her belt.”

Sign up to receive On The Nose, our essential daily newsletter, from the Racing Post. Your unmissable morning feed, direct to your email inbox every morning.