Team Valor International’s recent purchase, and one of the most exciting fillies to grace our tracks in recent times, dual Gr1 winner Quid Pro Quo will be the star attraction at Turffontein on Saturday when the opening legs of the 2025 SA Triple Crown and Wilgerbosdrift SA Triple Tiara headline a bumper ten-race card.
Daughter of Lance, Quid Pro Quo sets the standard on Saturday (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)
Labelled by some experts as the 21st century version of the much loved ‘Galloping Goldmine’ after slamming the males in the Betway Gr2 Dingaans in her first start as a 3yo, the daughter of unheralded Jet Master sire Lance takes her place for the first time in the TVI red and green silks from an 11 draw in a field of 14 that will contest the R750 000 Wilgerbosdrift Gr2 Gauteng Fillies Guineas.
Barry Irwin of Team Valor International has previously confirmed that plans are in place to export the Barend Botes-trained Equus champion to Europe and ready her for Dubai in 2026, flight logistics dictate that she will stay on African soil ‘for a run or two’.
1st R468750, 2nd R150000, 3rd R75000, 4th R37500, 5th R18750
WILGERBOSDRIFT GAUTENG FILLIES GUINEAS (Grade 2)
3yo Fillies (1st Leg Wilgerbosdrift SA Triple Tiara)
No Apprentice / Female Sex Allowance
| 1 | 13 | Vj’s Angel | 60 | 119 | BAe | Gavin Lerena | Tony Peter | |
| 2 | 11 | Quid Pro Quo | 60 | 115 | TBA | Piere Strydom | Barend Botes | |
| 3 | 5 | Olivia’s Way | 60 | 110 | A | Diego De Gouveia | Roy Magner | |
| 4 | 12 | World Of Alice | 60 | 108 | BA | Craig Zackey | Sean Tarry | |
| 5 | 10 | Fiery Pegasus | 60 | 107 | A | Muzi Yeni | Joe Soma | |
| 6 | 1 | Vulcanite | 60 | 104 | A | Ryan Munger | Paul Matchett | |
| 7 | 2 | Kommetjie Storm | 60 | 96 | A | #Rachel Venniker | Tony Peter | |
| 8 | 9 | Bakwena | 60 | 95 | Ae | …………… | J A Janse van Vuuren | |
| 9 | 14 | Miss Lia | 60 | 95 | A | Philasande Mxoli | Paul Matchett | |
| 10 | 6 | Salenio Peninsula | 60 | 95 | A | Chase Maujean | J A Janse van Vuuren | |
| 11 | 8 | Poblano | 60 | 93 | A | Denis Schwarz | Robbie Sage | |
| 12 | 7 | Sonic Jet | 60 | 91 | CA | Kabelo Matsunyane | Corrie Lensley | |
| 13 | 3 | Spumante Dolce | 60 | 89 | A | Raymond Danielson | Mike / Mathew de Kock | |
| 14 | 4 | Too Late My Mate | 60 | 83 | A | Kaidan Brewer | Alec Laird | |
| Same Trainer | ||||||||
| (1,7) (6,9) (8,10) | ||||||||
While she will start a red-hot favourite on Saturday, Quid Pro Quo is not the highest rated filly in the race. That honour falls to Tony Peter’s Vj’s Angel, who will face an uphill battle as she jumps two gates outside of the Botes bomber.
There was talk that Quid Pro Quo may take on the males, dependant on her barrier gate, but the field of 13 for the R1 million TAB Gr2 Gauteng Guineas hosts 13 starters, all boys. Mike de Kock’s Betway Gr3 Got The Greenlight Stakes winner Greaterix will be a popular choice, but it looks fairly open.
The TAB Gauteng Guineas is the first leg of the SA Triple Crown for 3-year-olds, billed by 4Racing as the richest series of races in Africa. A bonus of R2 million will be paid to the connections of the horse that wins all three legs of the SA Triple Crown.
The Crown has been worn by Horse Chestnut (1999), Louis The King (2014), Abashiri (2016) and Malmoos (2021).
1st R625000, 2nd R200000, 3rd R100000, 4th R50000, 5th R25000
TAB GAUTENG GUINEAS (Grade 2)
For 3 year-olds (1st Leg SA Triple Crown)
No Apprentice / Female Sex Allowance
| 1 | 1 | Fire Attack | 60 | 111 | A | Gavin Lerena | Alec Laird | |
| 2 | 4 | Legend Of Arthur | 60 | 111 | A | Piere Strydom | Sean Tarry | |
| 3 | 9 | Greaterix | 60 | 109 | A | Muzi Yeni | Mike / Mathew de Kock | |
| 4 | 13 | Chestnut Bomber | 60 | 106 | A | Chase Maujean | J A Janse van Vuuren | |
| 5 | 11 | Dantonfromsandton | 60 | 106 | TBA | Ryan Munger | Sean Tarry | |
| 6 | 5 | Waheed | 60 | 105 | A | #Rachel Venniker | Mike / Mathew de Kock | |
| 7 | 10 | Wild At War | 60 | 102 | A | Philasande Mxoli | Candice Dawson | |
| 8 | 6 | Bacchus | 60 | 101 | HA | Denis Schwarz | Fabian Habib | |
| 9 | 2 | Parisian Walkway | 60 | 101 | A | Diego De Gouveia | Alec Laird | |
| 10 | 7 | Musical Score | 60 | 100 | A | Craig Zackey | Lucky Houdalakis | |
| 11 | 8 | Choisaanada | 60 | 98 | A | Raymond Danielson | Erico Verdonese | |
| 12 | 12 | Aristotle | 60 | 94 | A | Kabelo Matsunyane | Alec Laird | |
| 13 | 3 | Diwali Rocket | 60 | 91 | BA | Kaidan Brewer | Mano Pandaram | |
| Same Trainer | ||||||||
| (1,9,12) (2,5) (3,6) | ||||||||
The Wilgerbosdrift Gauteng Fillies Guineas is the first leg of the Wilgerbosdrift SA Triple Tiara, again billed as the richest series of races for fillies in Africa.
A bonus of R1 million will be paid to the connections of the filly that wins all three legs of the Wilgerbosdrift SA Triple Tiara.
After Igugu’s inaugural Triple Tiara triumph in 2011, Cherry On The Top (2013), Summer Pudding (2020), War Of Athena (2021) and Rain In Holland (2022) have walked the golden path.
Such a pity that there are no out of province raiders!
