Clive Robinson
There are two outstanding plate races for three-year-olds over 1450m on the Inside track at Turffontein on Saturday, both of which have fields worthy of a Graded race.
Race 5 is the Drakenstein Stud Progress Plate for all three-year olds although the best-weighted runner just happens to be a filly.
Bless My Stars comes off a close-up third place in the Grade 1 Thekwini Stakes which is a race for two-year-old fillies which was run on the final day of last season.
The race was won by Canadian Summer with Bless My Stars finishing just 0.35 lengths off her. At the time, this daughter of Gimmethegreenlight was trained by champion trainer Paul Peter but he has subsequently opted to hand in his licence, and she will be having her first run for Sean Tarry.
Under the race conditions Bless My Stars as a one-time winner who also gets a sex allowance carries just 54kg and that, based on merit ratings, makes her the best weighted runner by at least 2.5kg.
However, she will be meeting some very decent colts. Quantum Theory is very highly regarded by his yard and Robbie Sage’s charge also has Grade 1 form. Run on the same day and over the same distance as the Thekwini Stakes in the Premiers Champion Stakes open to all two-year-olds, and Quantum Theory finished third in that event.
The time for that race was 0.8 seconds faster and that could favour Quantum Theory. However, the weight advantage could be quite telling.
However, neither of the pair has run since 30 July and both could be in need of the run.
Just 1.20 lengths behind Quantum Theory was Corne Spies-trained Prophet and he comes into this race with a run under his belt.
Last month he contested a Graduation Plate for three-year-olds over 1200m at this course and finished a 1.25-length second behind Grade 1 Gold Medallion winner Thunderstruck.
While on form he is held by Quantum Theory, the fact he could be fitter than his main opposition could give him an outright advantage.
Race 4 is the Bidvest Progress Plate or three-year-old fillies. and this race could give some answers to punters as to the ability of certain runners.
Heading up the field is unbeaten Captain Peg who has looked incredibly impressive in all three of her victories, two of them coming over this distance.
But she has to give weight to Rock The Fox, the fillies who finished a short head second behind Canadian Summer in the Thekwini Stakes and she could be considered an unlucky loser as the daughter of Canford Cliffs got way behind from a wide draw and produced a devastating finish but the line come a stride too early.
Tarry trains this filly and she will have some very big fish to fry in the season ahead and a crack at the Grade 1 Cape Fillies Guineas at Kenilworth in December looks a likely target.
