South Africa’s premier classic, the R1 million Gr1 Cape Guineas headlines a festive and high quality holiday programme at Kenilworth on Saturday.
The contest looks open as the top-rated duo of Eden Roc and African Warrior have question marks against their names. That brings a few less exposed gallopers into the picture.
Eden Roc – has not recaptured his 2yo form yet (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)
Sean Tarry maintained his extraordinary season with a big victory by Pure State in last Saturday’s CTS Ready To Run Stakes and the gutsy son of Jackson returns with three stablemates to try and give the SA Champion a long overdue first success in the race.
Topping the Tarry attack is the Var colt Eden Roc, who needs to lift his game after his Gr1 success as a 2yo. He ran on steadily in the Graham Beck Stakes but was bumped and went a bit one-paced when beaten out of the money in the Dingaans last time.
Dean Kannemeyer saddles the smart African Warrior who could win this if we put a line through his below-par no show in the Concorde Cup and revisit his Matchem Stakes run. That was a class effort and last time he pulled up lame – so that run can be ignored.
African Warrior has earned his rating and is very well (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)
Read more about his prospects in Kannemeyer’s interview
Putontheredlight was not persevered with in the Dingaans and needed his previous start when unplaced in the Joburg Spring Challenge. On his best 2yo form, he is just off Eden Roc.
Pure State will be fit after his eyecatching end-to-end win in last Saturday’s CTS Ready To Run Stakes. Piere Strydom seemed unsure whether he would find the mile at this stage but he has done little wrong so far.
His stablemate Rock The Globe was drawn wide there and ran on steadily to be beaten 1,5 lengths into fourth. This will be his acid test.
King Of Gems came from the clouds to win the Gr2 Concorde Cup last time after placing in stakes features as a 2yo. If the son of Kingsbarns reproduces that effort, he should go close again.
King Of Gems flies up to beat Sachdev in the Concorde Cup – can he repeat? (Pic – Chase Liebenberg)
But for a wide draw, Silver Operator, would have been an instant top three choice. He hails from the top Guineas stable of Vaughan Marshall and showed terrific resolve when winning the Gr3 Cape Classic last time. While Snow Report has not gone on with his Langerman form, Silver Operator only went down narrowly in that race. With Anton Marcus up, he must be a serious runner.
Sachdev never showed in the Cape Classic but looked a winner late in the Concorde Cup until nabbed in the final strides by King Of Gems. Justin Snaith and Richard Fourie are keen to bag an early Gr1 and the son of Silvano cannot be underestimated.
Viva Rio – decent sort from a form stable (Pic – Pauline Herman)
Glen Kotzen’s Viva Rio stayed on late for an under two length fourth in the Concorde Cup. He won three on the trot prior to that and the stable is red hot.
Robert Khathi teams up with Captain Tatters, who went down narrowly in both the Sophomore Sprint and the Cape Classic. The son of Gimmethegreenlight has top-notch consistent form.
Macthief pulls the best of the draw and Piere Strydom rides. The son of Time Thief showed pace and stayed on for third in the Concorde Cup. A highly regarded sort, he is an interesting threat for the top two.
It looks tough for the rest.
As we noted, there are question marks aplenty.
Will African Warrior stay?
Will Eden Roc find his best 2yo paces?
How reliable is the Concorde Cup form?
Will Silver Operator give Vaughan Marshal his third Guineas in four renewals?
A fascinating race.African Warrior could be good enough!
