Cape Fillies Guineas set up for a Miracle

The usual arguments about the identity of the best three-year-old filly in the land are subdued this year. After the running of the Grade 1 Cape Fillies Guineas at Kenilworth on Saturday they could fade away entirely.

Desert Miracle is odds-on to trot up in the prestigious 1600m Grade 1 contest and remove all lingering doubt about her superiority over age and gender rivals.

Ever since she won the Golden Slipper on Durban July day and her trainer Mike de Kock predicted big things, Desert Miracle has not missed a beat.

The daughter of Dynasty has won four races in a row, by a combined distance of 23 lengths, and looks like she is still some way from reaching her peak.

As long as she can avoid the travel gremlins that sometimes trouble Joburg horses trekking to Cape Town for the summer season, she should dispense with an otherwise less-than-dazzling Guineas field.

Gavin Lerena, who has ridden her to her last three victories, is back on top and she couldn’t want for stronger and steadier hands. A draw of 6 is ideal to get positioned heading into the Kenilworth left-hand turn.

Of course, the Cape trainers will be plotting Desert Miracle’s downfall. Justin Snaith has four horses in the race and Candice Bass-Robinson three and racing purists will be hoping at least a couple of those runners are designated pacemakers – rather than “crawlers”, to slow things down, disrupt the milers’ rhythm and stage a sprint smash and grab.

Also on the programme is the Grade 2 Green Point Stakes over 1600m – one of the principal lead-up races to the Queen’s Plate and the Cape Met – and the name that jumps out of the race card is Rainbow Bridge.

The dual Met winner and current Horse of the Year is returning from a five-month break following his KwaZulu-Natal campaign, during which he won the Drill Hall Stakes and the Gold Challenge but had an unhappy Durban July.

Only four opponents have connections brave enough to take on the champion. They have reason to be brave, though, with the likes of July runner-up Linebacker and Queen’s Plate victor Jet Dark being up there with Rainbow Bridge in the top echelon of the local game.

High-class racing is in store.

SELECTIONS

Kenilworth Saturday

1: Belle Rouge, 2 Charity Ball, 1 Quest From Afar, 10 La Vida

2: 1 Bon Boyage, 3 Tchaikovsky, 2 Surjay, 8 Auld Mug

3: 1 Captain’s Ransom, 4 She’s A Keeper, 3 Princess Calla, 2 Zarina

4: 2 Crimson King, 3 Bayberry, 6 Black Knap, 7 Catchafallingstar

5: 1 Desert Miracle, 2 Amanzimtoti, 4 Chansonette, 11 She’s A Rainbow

6: 8 Kitty Cat Chat, 1 Vernichey, 3 Capitana, 6 Phil’s Dancer

7: 1 Rainbow Bridge, 2 Jet Dark, 5 Captain Fontane, 3 Linebacker

8: 1 Rio Querari, 4 Real Gone Kid, 3 Kasimir, 3 Nexus

9: 5 Steinbeck, 10 Clap Of Thunder, 1 Take To War, 6 Millahue

Pick 6: 2,3,4,5,6,7,11 x 1 x 1,3,5,6,8,11 x 1,2,3,4,5 x 1,4 x 1,5,6,10 (R1680)

PA: 1 x 2,3,6 x 1 x 1,3,8 x 1,2 x 1 x 1,5,10 (R54)

Turffontein Saturday

Best bet: Race 9 No 5 Bureau Des Legende

Value bet: Race 8 No 8 Fsquadron

Scottsville Sunday

Best bet: Race 2 No 3 Yatta

Value bet: Race 8 No 5 Socrates