THREE-TIME horse  of the year Pocket Power (Mike Bass/Bernard Fayd'herbe) attempts to win the  Rising Sun Gold Challenge for the second successive year this afternoon in Durban on Saturday, with the Mike de Kock-trained Mother Russia (Kevin Shea) the  champion's greatest danger according to the local ante-post market.

The seven-year-old looked as good as ever when making a winning return at Greyville three weeks ago and his trainer is more than happy with the gelding.

Bass said: "He's come on a bit since that run and I think he's still just about as  competitive as he was. His work has been very good and nowadays it's probably a lot easier for him over a mile than over ten furlongs."

Pocket Power is evens favourite in most ante-post lists with Mother Russia on 4-1 and Smart Banker next best at 7-1.

Mother Russia, the only filly in the field, sweated up at the start and had no answer when beaten by Smart Banker in the Horse Chestnut Stakes at Turffontein last  time.

The stable also run Rudra (Anthony Delpech) but the five-year-old has drifted from to 7-1 to 10-1.

De Kock's assistant Nathan Kotzen said: "Mother Russia is returning from a break and is as well as can be. There is not much between her and Rudra, who has been working  well. It's a bit on the sharp side for him, but he has won over a mile before."

Smart Banker was subsequently third to Regal Ransom in the Champions Challenge over 1m2f and is almost certainly better over this trip.