Trainers look for better draws
DOUBLE ENTRY: SOME RUNNERS NOMINATED FOR BOTH GUINEAS AND OTHER FEATURES
Varsity Girl is supplemented into Fillies Guineas.
Afew of the horses entered for the R1-million Gauteng Guineas and the R500,000 Wilgerbosdrift Gauteng Fillies Guineas over 1600m at Turffontein on 3 March have also been nominated for the Grade 2 Hawaii Stakes over 1400m and the Grade 3 Acacia Handicap over 1600m run on the same day.
Some horses did not draw well in the two Guineas races and trainers have been looking at other options for their runners.
Sean Tarry has nominated Big Bear and Wonderwall for the Guineas but they drew No 20 and No 22 respectively. Both fared a lot better in the R400,000 Hawaii Stakes with Big Bear at No 4 and Wonderwall alongside at No 5.
Mike de Kock had the same issue with Mustaaqeem and Sir David Baird and while the former drew No 23 in the Guineas he ended up at No 20 for the Hawaii Stakes. Sir David Baird, No 19 in the Guineas, is drawn No 10 for the Hawaii Stakes.
Tarry has nominated Trip To Heaven but he landed up at No 23. There was much better news for Africa Rising who is well positioned at No 3. Tarry’s other entry is Matador Man who is positioned at barrier No 13.
Trainer Stuart Pettigrew is in the same boat with Surcharge who drew wide in the Guineas but did not perform much better in the Hawaii Stakes with his charge drawn at No 15.
There were no supplementary entries for the Guineas but Varsity Girl, trained by Candice Dawson, was supplemented into the Fillies Guineas.
There was also one scratching. KwaZulu-Natal-based trainer Duncan Howells has pulled Fiorella out of the race.
Declarations for the Guineas and Fillies Guineas close at 11am on Thursday.
Supplementary entries for the Hawaii Stakes, the Acacia Handicap and the Aquanaut Handicap close at 9am on Monday 26 February with declarations closing at 11am on Tuesday 27 February.