Saturday sees the first leg of the World Sports Betting SA Triple Crown and the Wilgerbosdrift Triple Tiara with the running of the Grade 2 World Sports Betting Gauteng Guineas and the Wilgerbosdrift Gauteng Fillies Guineas respectively over 1600m on the Turffontein Standside track.
Both fields have attracted strong entries with a full complement of 16 runners in the R1-million World Sports Betting Gauteng Guineas and 15 runners in the R750,000 Wilgerbosdrift Gauteng Fillies Guineas.
While the Fillies Guineas looks dominated by one runner, the colts’ race looks far more open and could be won by a number of runners.
Gimme A Shot stands out in the Fillies Guineas. This Mike and Adam Azzie-trained daughter of Gimme The Greenlight has run six times for three wins, two seconds and a third place but it is her penultimate run that put her head and shoulders above her rivals.
On that occasion she ran in the Grade 2 Ipi Tombe Stakes for fillies and mares over 1600m, a weight-for-age event, and she trounced her opposition by 3.50 lengths. There were some decent older fillies in that event and Gimme A Shot made them look second rate.
Interestingly, Feather Boa, who is regarded as her chief rival in the Fillies Guineas, was left floundering in third spot in the Ipi Tombe Stakes. They met at level weight on that occasion and they meet on the same terms this time.
To prove her wellbeing, Gimme A Shot returned from a short break in a sprint over 1200m and despite the drop in distance, coasted home by three lengths.
The only concern is that she drawn No 11 but she has JP van der Merwe up and he is riding at the top of his game right now.
Trainer Mike de Kock has a strong hand in the colts’ race with the two top-rated runners in the line-up – Shoemaker and East Coast. De Kock has always rated Shoemaker highly but in recent runs the Gimmethereenlight colt has found no luck.
He found traffic problems in the Grade 3 Graham Beck Stakes over 1400m but flew up late to finish a 0.50-length second to Anfields Rocket who is also in this race.
Shoemaker went off a string favourite for the Grade 2 Dingaans but almost came down shortly after the start and ended up near last turning for home. He still managed to run on strongly to finish a one-length second behind stablemate Union Square.
East Coast stayed on to run third, a further 0.75 lengths back.
Nathan Kotzen-trained Royal Victory finished third and fourth respectively in those two races on strictly on form the Pathfork gelding should not be able to reverse the form. However, Kotzen then fitted his charge in blinkers for his next run and it was a very different Royal Victory who cruised to a 3.75-length victory last time out and on that basis, he could be the one tey all have to beat.
S’manga Khumalo retains the ride.
Clive Robinson
