"To be awarded Springbok colours for this important event would be a big thing in my life," said Khan yesterday. "First of all it's a huge honour to have been selected to represent my country, and an even bigger honour to be named as captain," said the five-times champion.

"Phumelela and the National Horseracing Authority (NHA) must be applauded for their action in approaching the authorities to try and get us colours - I feel we deserve recognition."

The NHA, which controls horseracing, has stated it has made "the necessary application to the relevant bodies".

Tex Lerena, chairman of the Jockeys Association, said he was "hugely enthusiastic" about the International Challenge. "I believe this will be the experience of a lifetime for the South African jockeys," Lerena said.

The two sides will clash in four handicap races at Turffontein, with the draw for mounts taking place once the international side has arrived.

However, the NHA's racing control manager, Vee Moodley, has confirmed that any of the overseas riders who include Mick Kinane (Ireland), Ryan Moore (UK), Christophe Soumillon (France) and Srinath Surender (India), can also ride in the big race, the Steinhoff Summer Cup.

"Trainers are fully at liberty to engage any of the six foreign riders for their Cup runners," said Moodley.

Khan will be in action at the Vaal today and will be hoping four-year-old Albizia can notch an overdue fourth win in the second race.

A daughter of Fort Wood trained by Geoff Woodruff, Albizia slipped exiting the stalls in the Riviera Handicap at the end of August.

Granted better luck this time, Albizia could recoup those losses, although the filly faces a tough rival in Charles Laird's grey gelding, Senor Versace.

Anton Marcus was an automatic choice for the South African team and his mount, Falsneetch, looks the only danger to the favourite, West Coast, in the first leg of the place accumulator.

Although friendless in the betting market on her recent debut, West Coast ran a great race to finish third and should open her account in the hands of promising youngster Brandon Lerena.

Eiffel cost R140000 as a yearling and that looks a bargain judged on his two runs to date. The son of Medaaly has won impressively at Turffontein and the Vaal.

The gelding's first big test comes in tomorrow's R135000 Falcon Sprint at Turffontein in which he is opposed by the well-bred Australian import, Considered Choice.

A son of top sprinter Choisir, Considered Choice has not raced since making a winning debut at Clairwood in July. However, Charles Laird is certain to have the colt fit for this feature event.

Master Of All, an inmate of Alec Laird's stable, is also unbeaten, but the colt has not raced for six months. The fact that he also has to concede weight to Considered Choice is another negative factor.

A bigger threat to Eiffel and Considered Choice could be Cerise Cherry, who turned in several solid performances last season. Paul Matchett's colt rounded off his first campaign with a second behind Mike de Kock's highly rated Rocks Off.

Geoff Woodruff is blazing the trail in the trainers' championship, and he'll be hoping Rock Concert can turn the tables on Fakazi in the sixth race, the Goldfields Sprint. The pair met over 1200m on the Turffontein inner track last month when Fakazi won by three-parts of a length, but Rock Concert will be 2kg better off this time.

It could be mistake to think this 1200m contest is a two-horse affair, as both Her Excellency and Captain's Gal look decent sorts. Her Excellency may appreciate reverting to a shorter trip, while Captain's Gal went in to the notebook of many pundits when making an impressive winning debut at Clairwood.

The Nomads Handicap is always a popular event, and another competitive field will contest the final leg of tomorrow's jackpot. The principals in this 1450m contest may be Tap Tap, Profit Report, Ray Sauce and Gliding High.

Owner Greg Blank has bright prospects of leading in the winner as he is involved in both Tap Tap and Profit Report, and the latter gets a narrow vote as he is set to receive 3kg from Tap Tap.

Nevertheless, the one they may all have to beat is Ray Sauce, whose defeat of Citizen Dante in August now looks decidedly useful form.

Unquestionably, the best bet on the 10-race card is Master Blaster, who can end Airbus's unbeaten run in the third.