Gauteng Guineas Day Takes Shape

Trainer Mike Azzie will be delighted Abashiri, one of the three highest rated runners in the field, has drawn No 3 for the R1-million Betting World Gauteng Guineas over 1600m at Turffontein on Saturday 27 February. Only one Cape runner has shown any interest in either of the two features.

Abashiri – nice draw

The Grade 2 race is the alternate first leg of the R2-million SA Triple Crown. The Grade 1 Grand Parade Cape Guineas is also recognised as the first leg and that was won by Noah From Goa who is not among the Gauteng Guineas entries.

The other two legs of the Triple Crown are the Grade 1 SA Classic over 1800m and the Grade 1 SA Derby over 2450m, both races to be run in April.

Nominations for the R500,000 Wilgerbosdrift Gauteng Fillies Guineas (Grade 2) have also closed.

This is the alternate first leg for the R1-million Wilgerbosdrift SA Triple Tiara which comprises the Grade 1 Wilgerbosdrift SA Fillies Classic over 1800m and the Grade 2 Wilgerbosdrift SA Oaks over 2450m. The Cape Fillies Guineas also counts as the first leg and that was won by Silver Mountain.

Abashiri, a son of Go Deputy, is only beginning to show his true ability following a short but notable two-year-old career. He won his Maiden on the Polytrack at Greyville and followed that up with a fast-finishing third place in the Grade 1 Premier’s Champion Stakes over 1600m on the Greyville turf, finishing just 0.80 lengths behind stable companion Rabada. Just a short head in front of Abashiri came Prospect Strike, a top-class colt formerly with Dominic Zaki who is currently with Sean Tarry.

Prospect Strike, with a merit rating of 109, is also one of the three highest rated Guineas entries, the other being Brazuca, trained by Johan Janse van Vuuren. Unfortunately they did not land the best of draws – Prospect Strike at No 13 and Brazuca at No 10.

Big runner – Champagne Haze has a nice draw

Van Vuuren also has nominated New Predator who was disappointing when fourth in Saturday’s Grade 3 Tony Ruffel Stakes over 1450m, despite a flood of money coming for him. He is better than that run but has drawn No 11.

Champagne Haze ran well in the Tony Ruffel, finishing second behind Suyoof, and the connections will be delighted the half-brother of Pierre Jourdan has drawn at No 6.

Mike de Kock has entered Tony Ruffel winner Suyoof as well as Muwaary but has landed up with “bookend” draws – No 1 for Muwaary and widest-of-all No 19 for Suyoof.

There are 23 entries for the Gauteng Fillies Guineas and the highest rated runners are Negroamaro, Madame Dubois, She’s A Dragon and Juxtapose, the first four past the post – not in that order – in Saturday’s Grade 3 Three Troikas Stakes over 1450m.

The first three have all drawn well in the Fillies Guineas, but Juxtapose has landed up with No 18 barrier position.

Madame Dubois and Negroamaro set for a rematch

Supplementary entries for both races close at 11am on Monday 15 February with final declarations by 11am on Thursday, 18 February.

Nominations for the R1-million Betting World Gauteng Guineas (Grade 2) (1st Leg SA Triple Crown) over 1600m at Turffontein on Saturday 27 February 2016:

Nominations for the R500,000 Wilgerbosdrift Gauteng Fillies Guineas (Grade  2) (1st Leg SA Triple Tiara) over 1600m at Turffontein on Saturday 27 February:

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