Last year's winner The Mousketeer will be back on the Vaal sand on September 22 to defend his title in the R600,000 Emerald Cup.

Trainer Sean Tarry is preparing a major assault on the South Africa's biggest sand race, the G2 Emerald Cup over at the Vaal on September 22.

On a day when the weather did not quite play along, the crowds still turned up in full force at the Vaal Racecourse for the seventh running of the Grade 2 Emerald Cup over 1450m.

It was a day of doubles and upsets at the country racecourse of Durbanville, when the oldest runner in the race, the seven-year old Sun City, trained by Riaan van Reenen, captured his second Settlers Trophy. In doing so he also delivered a quick double for his sire Kahal, with The Mouseketeer having taken the Emerald Cup minutes earlier.

The R600 000 Grade 2 Emerald Cup on the sand at the Vaal racecourse is the start of Phumelela's Spring-Summer Feature Season. Billed as the richest race on sand, it has attracted a maximum field of 14 top class runners.