The national racing action spotlight moves to Gauteng this week with some outstanding racing at Turffontein on Saturday 6 February.
The day sees the running of the WSB Gr2 Gauteng Guineas and the Wilgerbosdrift Gr2 Gauteng Fillies Guineas over 1600m.
Malmoos – draws 1 and gets chance to pick himself up off canvas (Pic – Chase Liebenberg)
The two races are the joint-respective first legs of the WSB SA Triple Crown and the Wilgerbosdrift SA Triple Tiara, along with the Gr1 Cape Guineas and Gr1 Cape Fillies Guineas.
World Sports Betting recently announced their sponsorship of the Triple Crown and the three races that make it up, while Wilgerbosdrift have retained their patronage of the SA Triple Tiara and the three races that comprise that event.
Both races have attracted some top Gauteng runners, and both should produce thrilling finishes.
Mike de Kock is on record saying this current crop of three-year-olds is among the best we have seen for some time and he has nominated two of his top performers in Mount Pleasant and Malmoos.
Both are Graded race winners, but both failed to perform to expectations in their last starts.
Hopefully De Kock has got them right and they look likely to set the standard.
WSB GAUTENG GUINEAS (Grade 2)
For 3 year-olds (1st Leg SA Triple Crown)No Apprentice Allowance
| 9 | Mount Pleasant (AUS) | (3C) | 60 | 127 | A | Mike de Kock | |
| 2 | Catch Twentytwo | (3G) | 60 | 116 | A | Paul Peter | |
| 1 | Malmoos | (3C) | 60 | 114 | A | Mike de Kock | |
| 11 | Second Base | Accepted | (3G) | 60 | 112 | A M | J A Janse van Vuuren |
| 3 | Copper Mountain | Accepted | (3G) | 60 | 109 | A | J A Janse van Vuuren |
| 18 | Bingwa | Accepted | (3G) | 60 | 106 | A | Dorrie Sham |
| 6 | Eliud | (3G) | 60 | 102 | A | Candice Dawson | |
| 17 | Kingsley’s Heart | Accepted | (3C) | 60 | 101 | A | Weiho Marwing |
| 13 | Paisley Park | (3G) | 60 | 98 | A | Sean Tarry | |
| 7 | Shah Akbar | (3C) | 60 | 97 | AT | Sean Tarry | |
| 15 | Bartholdi | (3G) | 60 | 93 | A | Gary Alexander | |
| 14 | Eagle Alley | (3C) | 60 | 93 | A | Sean Tarry | |
| 12 | Brazil Nut | (3G) | 60 | 89 | A | Carl Hewitson | |
| 8 | Global Ash | (3G) | 60 | 85 | A | Carl Hewitson | |
| 5 | Namib Desert | (3G) | 60 | 85 | A | Paul Peter | |
| 4 | Anything Goes | (3F) | 57.5 | 120 | A | Stuart Pettigrew | |
| 16 | Miss Elegance | (3F) | 57.5 | 106 | A | Lucky Houdalakis | |
| 10 | Castle Durrow | (3F) | 57.5 | 93 | A | Lucky Houdalakis | |
| (18) | |||||||
Paul Peter-trained Gr2 Dingaans winner Catch Twentytwo is among the entries, as is Sean Tarry’s unbeaten Paisley Park.
Interestingly, Stuart Pettigrew has nominated Anything Goes for both the Guineas and the Fillies Guineas. She has landed No 4 draw in the former and as she is drawn No 9 against the fillies, it might entice Pettigrew to take on the colts.
If she opts for the Fillies Guineas she could clash once again with War Of Athena, but this time at level weights. Paul Matchett’s charge has landed No 6 draw.
Top notch War Of Athena commences her Triple Tiara bid (Pic – JC Photos)
WILGERBOSDRIFT GAUTENG FILLIES GUINEAS (Grade 2)
3yo Fillies (1st Leg Wilgerbosdrift SA Triple Tiara)
| 0 | $Toto | (3F) | 0 | 86 | A | M G Azzie/A A Azzie | |
| 9 | Anything Goes | (3F) | 60 | 120 | A | Stuart Pettigrew | |
| 6 | War Of Athena | (3F) | 60 | 120 | A | Paul Matchett | |
| 10 | Gee For Go | (3F) | 60 | 106 | A | Paul Matchett | |
| 3 | Miss Elegance | (3F) | 60 | 106 | A | Lucky Houdalakis | |
| 8 | Caralluma | (3F) | 60 | 103 | AT | Sean Tarry | |
| 1 | Castle Durrow | (3F) | 60 | 93 | A | Lucky Houdalakis | |
| 2 | Magical Flight | (3F) | 60 | 92 | A | Sean Tarry | |
| 4 | Fantastical | (3F) | 60 | 91 | A | Alec Laird | |
| 7 | Spice Market | (3F) | 60 | 89 | A | Alec Laird | |
| 5 | Only The Brave | (3F) | 60 | 84 | AT | Paul Matchett | |
| 11 | Queen Bomi | (3F) | 60 | 79 | A | Paul Matchett | |
| (12) | |||||||
The third of the Turffontein Saturday features is the Gr3 Tommy Hotspur Handicap.
WILGERBOSDRIFT TOMMY HOTSPUR HANDICAP (Grade 3)
Handicap
WFA: 3yrs-3kgs
No Apprentice Allowance
| 10 | Singforafa | (4F) | 60.5 | 119 | A | Corne Spies | |
| 9 | True To Life | Accepted | (4F) | 59.5 | 117 | BA | J A Janse van Vuuren |
| 3 | Sarah | (4F) | 59 | 116 | A | Paul Peter | |
| 14 | Bold Ransom | (4G) | 56 | 110 | BA | Paul Peter | |
| 8 | Bohica | (4G) | 55.5 | 109 | AT | M G Azzie/A A Azzie | |
| 2 | Winter Stories | Accepted | (3G) | 53.5 | 111 | A | Weiho Marwing |
| 6 | Mombela | (9G) | 53.5 | 105 | AT | Sean Tarry | |
| 4 | Miracle Flight | (3F) | 52.5 | 109 | BA | Paul Peter | |
| 5 | Winter Smoke | (3F) | 52.5 | 109 | A | Ashley Fortune | |
| 7 | Oravar | (6G) | 52 | 102 | AT | M G Azzie/A A Azzie | |
| 13 | Captain Hindsight | Scratched | (4G) | 50 | 98 | BA | Ashley Fortune |
| 11 | Epic Dream | (5G) | 49.5 | 97 | A | Candice Dawson | |
| 12 | Tropic Sun | (4F) | 49 | 96 | A | Sean Tarry | |
| 1 | Valyrian King | (3G) | 47.5 | 99 | A | Paul Matchett | |
| (14) | |||||||
Supplementary entries close at 09h00 on Monday 1 February 2021.
Declarations must be made by 11h00 on Tuesday 2 February 2021.
