Gauteng Guineas

PHUMELELA MEDIA RELEASE
SUBJECT: Betting World Gauteng Guineas, Wilgerbosdrift Gauteng Fillies Guineas entries
DATE: 13 February 2017
RELEASED BY: PHUMELELA GAMING

Runners from the stables of Sean Tarry and Mike de Kock dominate the entries for the R1-million Betting World Gauteng Guineas and the Wilgerbosdrift Gauteng Fillies Guineas, both Grade 2 races, over 1600m at Turffontein on Saturday 4 March.
Tarry has nominated six to run in the Guineas and four for the Fillies Guineas while De Kock has entered five horses for the Guineas and six for the fillies event. However, De Kock does have an overlap as fillies Ektifaa and Orchid Island have been nominated for both events.
Both have run against and beaten the boys and they do get a 2.5kg sex allowance in the Guineas. However, Ektifaa, winner of Saturday’s Tony Ruffel Stakes (Grade 3) at Turffontein has drawn widely for both races and that could leave De Kock with a quandary. Orchid Island drew No 9 of 18 for the Guineas but No 13 of 30 entries in the fillies Guineas
De Kock had further bad news when Heavenly Blue drew widest of all for the Guineas but the good news for the yard is that Daffiq drew No 4 and Janoobi No 8.
The news was no better for Tarry as Matador Man drew No 15 in the Guineas while Safe Harbour, at 108 the highest merit-rated runner in both fields, has landed up at No 21 in the fillies' race. However, his unbeaten colt, Al Sahem drew beautifully at No 5.
The Guineas is the joint first leg of the SA Triple Crown while the Fillies Guineas is the joint first leg of the Wilgerbosdrift SA Triple Tiara. The Grade 1 Cape Guineas and Fillies Guineas are also considered for the first leg of both events.
Doosra, who had to give weight all round but still managed to finish third in Saturday’s Tony Ruffel, drew No 11.
The R7-million SA Triple Crown for three-year-olds is the richest series of races in Africa. The other two legs are the R2-million SA Classic (Grade 1) over 1800m at Turffontein on Saturday 1 April and the R2-million SA Derby (Grade 1) over 2450m at Turffontein on Saturday 6 May.
A bonus of R2 million will be paid to owner of any horse who can win all three legs. So far three horses have achieved this – Horse Chestnut in 1999, Louis The King in 2014 and Abashiri last year.
The other legs of the Triple Tiara are the R1-million Wilgerbosdrift SA Fillies Classic (Grade 1) over 1800m and the R1-million Wilgerbosdrift SA Oaks (Grade 2) over 2450m. These are run on the same day as the Classic and Derby respectively.
A bonus of R1 million will be paid to the owners of any filly who wins all three legs of the Triple Tiara. Two fillies have earned the bonus – Igugu in 2011 and Cherry On The Top in 2013.
Supplementary entries close at 11am on Monday 20 February while declarations must be in by 11am on Thursday 23 February.
The final fields will be embargoed and announced on TellyTrack

Entries for the R1-milion Betting World Gauteng Guineas (Grade 2) over 1600m at Turffontein on Saturday 4 March.
5 AL SAHEM (S G Tarry) 60.0
2 CHILI CON CARNE (M N Houdalakis) 60.0
1 COPPER POT (S G Tarry) 60.0
4 DAFFIQ (M F De Kock) 60.0
11 DOOSRA (J A Janse van Vuuren) 60.0
6 FURIOSA (S G Tarry) 60.0
18 HEAVENLY BLUE (M F De Kock) 60.0
8 JANOOBI (M F De Kock) 60.0
12 LIFE IS GOOD (M G Azzie) 60.0
15 MATADOR MAN (S G Tarry) 60.0
10 MAXIMIZER (P A Peter) 60.0
13 MILITARY AWARD (W H Marwing) 60.0
14 RIBOVAR (S G Tarry) 60.0
7 TILBURY FORT (S G Tarry) 60.0
3 UNAGI (G M Alexander) 60.0
16 WINTER IS COMING (F Robinson) 60.0
17 EKTIFAA (M F De Kock) 57.5
9 ORCHID ISLAND (M F De Kock) 57.5

Entries for the R500,000 Wilgerbosdrift Gauteng Fillies Guineas (Grade 2) over 1600m at Turffontein on Saturday 4 March.
8 AL HAWRAA (M F De Kock) 60.0
20 ANNA PAVLOVA (R R Magner) 60.0
12 BABBLING BROOKE (O A Ferraris) 60.0
6 BEING FABULOUS (J A Janse van Vuuren) 60.0
17 BELLE ROSE (M F De Kock) 60.0
14 BIBLICAL SUSAN (M F De Kock) 60.0
18 DELIGHTFUL DANCER (D J Nieuwenhuizen) 60.0
19 EKTIFAA (M F De Kock) 60.0
3 ELUSIVE STRIKE (S M Ferreira) 60.0
16 GRANDE ROCHE (G V Woodruff) 60.0
9 KILMOKEA (R A Hill) 60.0
10 LAST CHIRP (S J Gray) 60.0
5 MALEFICENT (A G Laird) 60.0
11 MY FRIEND LEE (M N Houdalakis) 60.0
13 ORCHID ISLAND (M F De Kock) 60.0
22 ORIENTAL OAK (R R Sage) 60.0
1 POOL PARTY (R R Magner) 60.0
7 RED POMEGRANATE (M F De Kock) 60.0
4 REDBERRY LANE (S G Tarry) 60.0
2 ROUGE ALLURE (S Moffatt) 60.0
21 SAFE HARBOUR (S G Tarry) 60.0
15 SANTIBURI (R R Sage) 60.0
24 SMILING BLUE EYES (S G Tarry) 60.0
23 VISUALITY (S G Tarry) 60.0

A few years ago the last leg of the triple crown the derby meeting was run at the end of march giving horses 5 weeks to recover for the beginning of the natal season which is guineas day traditionally always run on the first saturday in may but then the gauteng season moved the classic and derby out a month with the derby meeting being run at the end of april now they have moved this meeting TO THE FIRST SATURDAY IN MAY WITH GUINEAS DAY AT GREYVILLE MOVING TO THE next day SUNDAY...the dailynews and woolavington 2000 both group ones for 3yo boys and the woolavington for girls are a mere 3 weeks after the sa derby and sa oaks ...so the natal season starting with guineas day is being further devalued ...surely the programming has to be relooked at otherwise group races will lose further status as they have already

I wonder if AL SAHEM will have a run before this race... I think this is a top horse

Just a sixpence. Yes, those feature race meetings were moved from the last Saturday of the month to the first. The reason for the former strategy was that punters had more disposable income soon after pay day. The only reason I can think of for the latter strategy is that punters will now have more disposable time soon after having conducted all their end of month chores. Following the adage "time is money" then with more time there will be more money .

Not a single entry from any of the Cape yards........very disappointing!

Interesting to see both Ektifaa and Orchid Island entered into the colts and geldings race. Both have beaten the boys before and I feel this is one of the better 3 year old fillies group we have seen for a while.

Cant wait for the triple Crown.

Tarry has bombs just wonder how he is going to put it together. one after the next. Royal Fantasy the dam of SIMPLY ROYAL won the THEKWINI FILLIES STAKES (GRADE 1) beating SUN CLASSIQUE

Saint Tropez wrote: Not a single entry from any of the Cape yards........very disappointing!

I thought the same. I can understand the very top horses being rested for the KZN , and others just hopeful for the Cape winter season, but there is decent depth. Surely the upcoming Gauteng features gives opportunities for those that are competitive but possibly not going to win the big ones in KZN.
I think the Cape trainers must be very comfortable if they can afford to just skip a feature season. With lack of grass gallops because of Durbanville refurbishment you would have though a good opportunity to take a few up there.

Al Sahem/Matador Man will probably be my two at this stage for the Guineas.

And Orchid Island for the fillies. Hoping she lines up in the fillies guineas.

Got to agree with Mr H and Momf, Al Sahem looks very very decent...

Warren L wrote: Cant wait for the triple Crown.

Tarry has bombs just wonder how he is going to put it together. one after the next. Royal Fantasy the dam of SIMPLY ROYAL won the THEKWINI FILLIES STAKES (GRADE 1) beating SUN CLASSIQUE

I own the half-brother in partnership, Royal Master , bought him for 22k last year at shongweni.