As expected, a plethora of runners from champion trainer Mike de Kock’s yard are among the entries for the Grade 2 Betting World Gauteng Guineas and Betting World Fillies Guineas to be run over 1600m at Turffontein on Saturday 25 February.
De Kock has six of the 28 nominations for the R1-million Guineas and another four entries in the R500,000 Fillies Guineas.
These two races form the first leg of the SASCOC Triple Crown and Triple Tiara respectively.
Among the entries for the Guineas is Ready To Run Cup winner Red Barrel, who is unbeaten in two starts, Governor General, who ran on strongly to finish second behind Pomodoro in last Saturday’s Grade 3 Tony Ruffel Stakes over 1450m, and Dingaans winner Silver Flyer, who travelled to Kenilworth and finished a 3.25-length second to Variety Club in the Cape Guineas.
Unfortunately Red Barrel drew at No 23 and Governor General at No 21, but the good news is that Silver Flyer looks well placed at No 5.
De Kock could face a barrage of opposition from Sean Tarry, who he has nominated five strong runners. Included in the group are Pomodoro, Whiteline Fever – second in the Dingaans – and E-Jet.
Whiteline Fever drew the No 2 barrier position but Pomodoro is at No 17 and E-Jet at No 20.
There is more spice in the pot for racing fans as Ormond Ferraris has entered Straw Market – a full brother to Diana’s Choice – and they have landed a No 9 draw. Also in the mix is Gavin van Zyl’s unbeaten three-year-old Slumdogmillionaire, who has drawn midfield at No 15 draw.
One of the exciting features of the Fillies Guineas is the inclusion of boom Zimbabwean filly Control Freak, who has won eight of eight starts with contemptuous ease in Harare. South African jockeys Derreck David and Gavin Lerena have both ridden this daughter of Tamburlaine and both speak highly of her.
“She’s a very nice filly,’’ said David, “but this will be her real test. She just doesn’t like to lose and she absolutely annihilates her opposition, whether they are young or older horses. I think she will come here and hold her ground.
“If I was offered the ride I would take it with both hands.’’
The good news for trainer Lisa Harris is that her filly has landed a No 5 draw.
However, she will face some fierce opposition from the likes of Katy’s Lane, who is drawn at No 21, De Kock’s Amur Affair, Grade 3 Three Troikas Stakes winner Go Indigo and Ferraris’ unbeaten Mary’s Pride, who has yet to try the distance.
NOMINATIONS
BETTING WORLD GAUTENG GUINEAS (Grade 2) For 3-year-olds (1st Leg of SA Triple Crown) R1-million 1600m
7 AMERICANO (P F Matchett); 18 BARACAH (S G Tarry); 16 BEACON FLARE (W H Marwing); 1 BIG WINTER CHILL (C Laird); 6 BROOKS-CLUB (G H Van Zyl); 8 CARNABY STREET (R P Lerena); 27 CHANGING MOON (R P Lerena); 20 E-JET (S G Tarry); 14 FRONTINO GOLD (M F De Kock); 28 GLORIOUS JET (S J Gray); 4 GOLDEN CHATEAU (M F De Kock); 21 GOVERNOR GENERAL (M F De Kock); 3 HEAVY METAL (S G Tarry); 11 MOON OF RANGOON (S W Kenny); 22 NORTHERN EMPEROR (C Laird); 17 POMODORO (S G Tarry); 24 POTALA PALACE (M G Azzie); 23 RED BARREL (M F De Kock); 26 RHEIMS (A G Laird); 25 ROYAL RIDGE (M F De Kock); 5 SILVER FLYER (M F De Kock); 15 SLUMDOGMILLIONAIRE (G H Van Zyl); 9 STRAW MARKET (O A Ferraris); 10 TANDRAGEE (G H Van Zyl); 13 THE DUKE (R R Sage); 12 WAGNER (J A Soma); 2 WHITELINE FEVER (S G Tarry); 19 ZAMBUCCA (S Mohideen)
BETTING WORLD GAUTENG FILLIES GUINEAS (Grade 2)(For 3 year-old Fillies (1st Leg SA Triple Tiara)) R500,000 1600m
17 AMUR AFFAIR (M F De Kock); 6 AWESOME BEAUTY (K Naidoo); 3 BLUROUTE (M F De Kock); 5 CONTROL FREAK (A I Harris); 16 DAZZLING MOON (G J Maroun); 4 ESKIMO INN (W H Marwing); 18 EXTRA ZERO (S G Tarry); 19 GO INDIGO (L J Erasmus); 8 HIDDEN BEAUTY (S G Tarry); 22 KALAMI (R R Sage); 21 KATY’S LANE (T Zackey); 2 KEEN SMARTLY (H E Adamson); 13 MARY’S PRIDE (O A Ferraris); 10 MOUNT CARMEL (R R Sage); 15 ROSE GARDEN (D N Stenger); 14 SALSABEEL (M F De Kock); 7 SCHOONER (S G Tarry); 11 SHADOWS IN THE SUN (G H Van Zyl); 12 SOLARIUM (M G Azzie); 1 TRESCO (S G Tarry); 20 UPTOTHEMOON (W H Marwing); 9 VIVA MARIA (M F De Kock)
HAWAII STAKES (Grade 2)(Open) R300,000 1400m
1 ARABIAN MIST (G M Alexander); 4 BULLARD (C Mayhew); 2 BUY AND SELL (S G Tarry); 7 CAPE WINTER (K Naidoo); 6 DANCEWITHTHEDEVIL (S J Gray); 3 DIRECTORATE (K Naidoo); 15 EARL OF SURREY (A I Harris); 13 EXTRA ZERO (S G Tarry); 21 GALANTHUS (T Zackey); 16 GALILEO’S DESTINY (M F De Kock); 5 GIBRALTAR BLUE (M F De Kock); 26 GOLD ONYX (S G Tarry); 10 HAPPY ARCHER (S G Tarry); 23 HIDDEN BEAUTY (S G Tarry); 18 ICE AXE (C Laird); 25 KAVANAGH (M F De Kock); 11 LOCHLORIEN (M G Azzie); 14 MASSIMILIANO (S G Tarry); 20 MASTER BLASTER (D Zaki); 28 MEADOW MAGIC (M F De Kock); 30 MOROCCAN (W H Marwing); 29 PIERRE JOURDAN (G M Alexander); 8 REBEL KNIGHT (G M Alexander); 12 SNOWDON (O A Ferraris); 19 SOLO TRAVELLER (M F De Kock); 24 THE PLUNDERER (S T Pettigrew); 9 TWO TONE (M G Azzie); 22 VETO (B Webber); 17 WILD TYPE (G H Van Zyl); 27 WITTENBERG (G V Woodruff)
