The smart Var filly Sea Cat takes on the boys in the Listed East Cape Guineas on Friday
Important: There is a late switch from turf to polytrack at Fairview, which may impact on the feature races, including the Listed East Cape Guineas field. The late change means that our preview does NOT take the switch into account.
The R 150 000 Sandown Stud Listed East Cape Guineas to be run over 1600m at Fairview on Friday is the second leg of the R900 000 Easter Cape Sophomore Challenge.The field includes one filly in the Listed Breeders Guineas winner Sea Cat, a visitor currently held hostage by AHS restrictions in the area.
This race is the second leg of the R900 000 Eastern Cape Sophomore Challenge for 2014.
The challenge is the local Triple Crown. Besides the total stake monies of R650 000 on offer, a Challenge bonus of R250 000 would have been paid to the winning connections, if a horse won all three races of the challenge.
Unfortunately there is no prospect of that happening this year as the winner of the first leg, Chestnut’s Rocket, who won the R150 000 Listed Ibhayi Stakes run over 1400m in such great style, does not take his place in this leg.
The final leg is the R350 000 Gr3 East Cape Derby Powered by Recall Security run over 2400m at Fairview on 11 May.
Filly The Pick
There are no stars in Friday’s field of nine , and the Var filly Sea Cat may have the credentials to lift the trophy.
Paul Reeves’ smart 3yo was a runaway winner of the Listed Breeders Fillies Guineas run over Friday’s course and distance on 14 March. She beat another Cape visitor there in Shingwedzi and while she is up against the boys here , she looks capable of a big shout.
AHS Movement Restrictions have prevented her returning to home base and it may well be a godsend that she is allowed to build some confidence and win a few races in this centre, after a career of feature fringe efforts against the best of her generation.
On paper, she has her male opponents cold and could have gone the softer (albeit less lucrative) route of the Oaks Plate on the afternoon
She will be ridden again by Robert Khathi and is favourably drawn.
Smith Duo
Gavin Smith saddles the ultra consistent King Of Indians and the lightly raced recent maiden winner Gold Park.
King Of Indians just never runs a bad race and he cannot be far off a top three finish in this field.
He ran third and over 6 lengths off Chestnut’s Rocket in the first leg and prior to that had close up runner up positions to the good sorts Oats (although he since flopped) and Cape based Greys Inn Control.
King Of Indians enjoys to run handy with a bit of cover and he has won twice over a mile on poly and at the now closed Arlington.
Lightly Raced
His stablemate Gold Park is a lightly raced Battersea Park colt who shed his maiden over the course and distance at his second outing.
He ran on well for a fourth in an MR 72 Handicap behind the talented improver Laurie’s Dancer last Friday and while out on paper, he has done little wrong to suggest he cannot challenge.
Justin Snaith is always lurking in the local feature race shadows.
The top trainer saddles the Captain Al colt Cape Cutter and the Badger’s Drift gelding, Black Pegasus.
Advantages
Cape Cutter has Richard Fourie up and jumps from the 2 draw, which are unestimable plus factors.
He returns after eight weeks rest following an ordinary effort in the Cape Derby on Met Day.
He ran over 10 lengths there behind his stablemate Legislate, but his run over Friday’s course and distance in October, when narrowly beaten by the Bass’ Top Jet must bring him into the picture.
His stablemate Black Pegasus is improving fast and won his last start over the course and distance when beating the older Bishop’s Choice.
Black Pegasus shed his maiden in November in the Cape what looked a weak race but is bred to go a bit further and his recent form shows that he is more comfortable at this trip.
Yvette Bremner’s Briar King was a promising 2yo in this region, but his recent form has tapered negatively.
He is a course and distance winner and technically holds King Of Indians on his most recent winning effort.
Loves Poly
The former KZN based Cinderfella is drawn against the paint and has come good on the polytrack with two wins and a placing at his last 3 outings.
Whether he can transfer his new found fire to the turf is a question that remains unanswered until he runs on Friday. It may prove prudent to keep an eye on the betting.
Alan Greeff’s Kirkby Ninja has failed to spark since his juvenile maiden win and he could battle here.
Dorrie Sham’s Voices Of Kings won his maiden over 1000m and came in for some inspired betting support at his penultimate outing when trying the poly mile and only just failing to catch Cinderfella after having to switch for a run.
He is 3kgs worse off with Cinderfella and ran unplaced behind Chestnut’s Rocket in the Ibhay Stakes.
He must be showing something for them to be racing him here.
Girl Meets Boy
It is not often that a filly stands out against the boys in a Guineas. Sea Cat won so well on her PE debut last time that she looks very capable of going in again.
She may not find it easy going this time though if trying to pace it with King Of Indians out front, but her versatility allows her jockey other options.
Cape Cutter and Gold Park could be the best of the balance, while not forgetting that we don’t quite know how Cinderfella will adapt when reverting back to the grass.
