The Gr1 Cape Fillies Guineas remains one of the most prestigious races to win for any owner or trainer. With a history of close on fifty years and some of our greatest fillies having won it, Saturday’s renewal promises plenty. And it is run on the summer course!
It is disappointing that a capacity field of sixteen couldn’t have been mustered for the R1 million feature, but the strength of a big gun or two may well have frightened away prospective challengers.
Silver Mountain wins the Choice Carriers Championship
Mike Bass’ impressive Gr2 Choice Carriers Championship winner Silver Mountain has won three on the trot since going second on debut and she looks a very promising youngster.
The daughter of Silvano’s win from an awful draw at her last start when beating the highly thought of Entisaar, was an eyecatching effort of some magnitude. That signalled her arrival as a serious prospect and off her 105 merit rating she stands out in this line-up.
Her stablemate Taffety Tart (99) has drawn against the paint and flew up for a 2,75 length third in the Choice Carriers Championship.
She looks likely to relish the extra 200m – mind you, so will Silver Mountain!
Flying Ice wins Listed Devon Air Stakes
Listed Devon Air Stakes winner Flying Ice (99) was another to run on well in the Choice Carriers when rattling through late in proceedings for fourth place and 2,85 lengths behind Silver Mountain.
Mike De Kock introduces the unbeaten Dynasty filly Noor to the Cape. The Wilgerbosdrift bred has won her two races by an aggregate of 5,90 lengths – both were over a mile. Her relative strength to the Cape feature form is unknown and the De Kock machine is yet to catch alight this season.
Justin Snaith – exciting duo
Justin Snaith’s Dynasty duo of A Time To Dream and Bela-Bela cannot be discounted.
The latter will be ridden by Piere Strydom and is unbeaten in two starts. She accounted for the highly thought of Chevauchee last time of asking and has received 5 star ratings from her jockeys. She looks way ahead of the handicapper off a 90 rating.
A Time To Dream is the mount of Anton Marcus and is another who has done little wrong – winning 3 of her 4 starts, albeit against lesser.
Anglet – promising daughter of Biarritz
Listed Irridescence Stakes winner Anglet stormed through late in the Lanzerac Ready To Run Stakes for a well beaten second to Budapest. That was a good effort with some well-heeled males in her wake, and she will enjoy her first stab at a mile.
Dennis Drier – sends out Well In Flight
Dennis Drier’s Well In Flight (95) was beaten 3,05 lengths into fifth at her first Cape jump behind Silver Mountain in the Choice Carriers.
She won her second and third starts impressively back home in KZN and is another who is unknown at a mile.
Joey Ramsden’s Icy Fire finished just behind Well In Flight and this beautifully bred daughter of Western Winter will enjoy the extra. Her trainer Joey Ramsden will be happy that we are racing on the summer course!
It looks tough for the balance.
On performance, official rating, homeground advantage and plain scope, it looks difficult to oppose Silver Mountain.
She is the confident choice, with Bela-Bela the likely danger.
