There is plenty to play for in Saturday’s R1 million Gr2 Gauteng Guineas, which looks to be one of the most hotly contested renewals in many a year. After last year’s away victory, the silverware is likely to stay at home with powerful local yards dominating the line-up.
Abashiri – looks very exciting
Trainer Mike Azzie will be keen to get rolling in the top league again after a few disappointments in recent months and his Go Deputy gelding Abashiri looks to be one of the most exciting 3yo’s to come out of this top yard in years.
The gelding’s form speaks for itself and it was his Listed Sea Cottage Stakes win at his penultimate start that suggested he is ready to step into the classic scene.
Despite running green, he came from way back there and stamped himself as a serious prospect – after stakes placings placings early on.
If he runs straight, he will be in the mix.
New Predator – took subsequent Cape Guineas winner Noah From Goa all the way to wire in Dingaans
Johan Janse Van Vuuren is another man who has enjoyed mixed success with his 3yo’s and sends out a power Aussie-bred coupling of Brazuca and New Predator.
Brazuca has got to be the best most frustrating horse in town, with three Gr1 runner-up credits to his credit. He returns from the Cape with his massive reputation intact after the Guineas and Derby, and Anton Marcus could be the tonic needed.
New Predator ran slightly below expectations in the Tony Ruffel when only managing a fourth cheque. His memorable ding dong battle with Noah From Goa in the Dingaans is still well in the forefront of our minds, and he is obviously top-class.
Champagne Haze ran a cracker in the Tony Ruffel when going down a half length to Suyoof.
Champagne Haze
The mile will be right up his alley again and from a decent draw off a good pace, Andrew Fortune will have his eyes firmly on the prize.
Mike de Kock’s pair of Tony Ruffel winner Suyoof and Muwaary are both decent sorts.
Suyoof has drawn awfully but goes for four in a row and with Anthony Delpech staying loyal to him, there must be plenty more to come.
Muwaary may need it after a 14 week break following his unplaced run in the Selangor Cup, where he suffered a nasal discharge and post-race distress.
He is drawn at pole and should be watched in his next few starts.
Top Cape heavyweight Bernard Fayd’herbe travels from the Cape to pilot the Kahal colt Romany Prince, for trainer Ormond Ferraris.
Bernard Fayd’herbe – rides Romany Prince
He was beaten 5,40 lengths in the Tony Ruffel Stakes but was seen to be running on nicely and should enjoy the mile on the Turffontein outside track.
Interestingly, he gave Abashiri 2kgs when chasing him home 2,50 lengths shy in the Sea Cottage Stakes. That sort of effort certainly gives Romany Prince some credibility.
The second of the Mike Azzie duo is Le Clos, a very decent looking son of Jay Peg, who steps up to the mile for the first time.
On breeding he should get the trip, and his gutsy last effort when staying on strongly to be beaten just 0,55 lengths behind Suyoof (level weights) and Champagne Haze (conceding 2kgs) was a top drawer performance given the use made of him.
Gavin Van Zyl saddles a pair of former KZN-based gallopers.
Gavin Van Zyl – outside pair
Rocketball has won two of his three Gauteng starts and looks a nice sort in the making.
The son of Judpot is 4kgs better off with Abashiri on his 3,25 length third place finish in the Sea Cottage Stakes and there should be little between them here. His wide draw will not be in his favour but he is a horse with tactical options.
Stablemate Celtic Captain won 3 (2 on the polytrack) of 7 starts in Durban and was not disgraced first time out in Joburg, when running handy for a 3,80 length fifth to Suyoof in the Tony Ruffel.
This trip should be more Celtic Captain’s game and the Captain Al colt will have every chance from the 2 draw.
For once in a Highveld feature, Sean Tarry is not hogging the top of the betting boards but the SA champion trainer could still have a big say in the finish with his quartet of runners.
Sean Tarry – low key attack
Lunar Approach had decent form before travelling to Cape Town for the CTS Million Dollar, where he ran unplaced and 5,95 lengths behind Illuminator.
He never showed there but if he has travelled well, will need to be included and is the mount of stable jockey S’manga Khumalo.
Gr3 Graham Beck Stakes runner-up Liege only earned once in four starts down in the Cape recently.\
The son of Dynasty ran on well for third in the Listed Politician Stakes, but failed to spark in the Derby.
Rikitikitana has some decent form at a mile and may have been outpaced when staying on for 5 lengths back in the Tony Ruffel Stakes.
Off a decent pace on this track, the son of Toreador will be running at them late and it remains to be seen how he copes with the top four.
Malak El Moolook was a further 1,70 lengths behind Rikitikitana last time and his form really doesn’t fit the profile of a likely Guineas winner.
KZN challenger Ole Gunnar has won his last two outings and has done little wrong in four career starts to date. But he is unexposed at this level and how strong is the KZN form?
He beat Napoli when winning his maiden, and that fellow disappointed at his post-maiden start on Sunday when 5,75 lengths behind Team Guys.
Ole Gunnar won a Graduation beating Dante’s Legacy at his last start.
He comes in with a 12 draw but is proven at the mile, and makes for a quartet kicker prospect at best.
Robbie Sage’s Coral Fever looks a very optimistic entry on his current form and rating.
The son of Judpot finished 5,80 lengths behind Suyoof in the Tony Ruffel Stakes at his last start and looks well held on that score.
Who Will Be King?
The R7-million SASCOC Triple Crown for 3-year-olds is the richest series of races in Africa. A bonus of R2 million will be paid to the owner of the horse that wins all three legs. The last winner of this prestigious accolade was Geoff Woodruff’s Louis The King in 2014.
Louis The King – Triple Crown hero
The Triple Crown comprises the following:
Leg 1: The R1-million Grand Parade Cape Guineas (Grade 1) 1600m which was run at Kenilworth on Saturday 19 December 2015. This was won by Noah From Goa, who does not run on Saturday.
OR
Leg 1: The R1-million Betting World Gauteng Guineas (Grade 2) 1600m which is run this Saturday on the Turffontein Standside.
Leg 2: The R2-million SA Classic (Grade 1) 1800m which is run on the Turffontein Standside on Saturday 2 April 2016.
Leg 3: The R2-million SA Derby (Grade 1) 2450m which is run on the Turffontein Standside on Saturday 30 April 2016.
If ownership changes across the series, the bonus will be shared proportionately
5% of the bonus will be paid to winning trainer/s, 5% to the winning jockey/s and 0.5% to the winning groom.
