The final fields for the Gr 2 Betting World Gauteng Guineas and
Wilgerbosdrift Gauteng Fillies Guineas, which form the alternate legs of
the Triple Crown and Triple Tiara respectively, were announced today and
fans can looks forward to two almighty contests at Turffontein on Saturday
February 27.
Abashiri is a genuine Triple Crown hopeful. He has drawn ideally in three,
in what will be the toughest of the three legs for him because he is
looking for further.
His chief rival could well be Brazuca, who finished within
three-quarters-of-a-length of the overseas bound Noah From Goa in the Gr 1
Grand Parade Cape Guineas. His draw of ten could be quite tricky, although
they do sometimes come to the outside in big races at Turffontein and in
that case he should not be disadvantaged.
New Predator finished just a head behind Noah From Goa over the Gauteng
Guineas course and distance in the Investec Dingaans, but has drawn a
tricky 11 and will have to bounce back from a disappointing run in the Gr 3
Tony Ruffel Stakes over 1450m, although that was on the tight Turffontein
Inside track.
The winner of the Tony Ruffel, Suyoof, replaces Noah From Goa as Mike de
Kock’s chief hope but drew very wide in 16. However, his talented
stablemate Muwaary drew pole position.
Champagne Haze was a comfortable winner of the R2,5 million CTS Emperor’s
Palace Ready To Run Cup over 1400m on this course and finished a
half-a-length second in the Tony Ruffel when giving the winner 2kg, so he
could reverse form with Suyoof from a nice draw of six.
Rocketball is the leading out-of-province contender and is drawn wide in
13. However, his talented Gavin van Zyl-trained stablemate Celtic Captain
is drawn well in two. The other out of province runner Ole Gunnar will raid
from KZN and will attempt to give trainer Paul Lafferty two successive wins
in the race.
Champion trainer Sean Tarry has four runners and they have all landed
single figure draws with the chief contender likely being Lunar Approach.
Bernard Fayd’Herbe is an interesting booking on the classy Ormond
Ferraris-trained Romany Prince, who has to overcome a draw of 15.
The Wilgerbosdrift Gauteng Fillies Guineas looks ultra competitive.
Negroamaro will love the step up from 1400m last time when flying home for
second in the Three Troikas and she has drawn well in five.
An interesting out-of-province raider is the Kumaran Naidoo-trained
Princess Varunya, a strapping filly who is attempting to make it
five-in-a-row, and Anthony Delpech keeps the ride. This is her first real
test and she landed a fair draw of nine.
It is difficult to single out any of the other runners in what is the most
open Gauteng Fillies Guineas for many years.
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