Athena ready to go to Capri
FIT: WAR OF ATHENA HAS HAD THE PERFECT PREP GOING INTO THE FILLIES GUINEAS
Anna Capri weighted to win opening leg of carryover Pick 6.
I t’s Guineas Day at Turffontein today and we can enjoy the running of the Grade 2 World Sports Betting Gauteng Guineas and the Wilgerbosdrift Gauteng Fillies Guineas which kick off the three-year-old WSB Triple Crown and Wilgerbosdrift Triple Tiara series.
Before we get on to that, I would like to take the opportunity to congratulate all the connections involved with the winners and placed horses on Met day last week.
We witnessed some phenomenal performances and it was great to see Rainbow Bridge at his brilliant best.
At least we don't have to wait too long before we see more outstanding spectacles, which is why this is my favourite time of the year.
Today we have a 10-race card of high-quality racing and hopefully we can continue to guide everyone in the right direction.
Also, we have a carryover of R1million going into the Pick 6 with the pool expected to reach R5 million.
In Race 1 I ride Blue Eyes for trainer Paul Matchett. The threeyear-old gelding has some good form and gives me a decent feel, but I do think he will be better with the run under his belt.
Of the raced runners Eyes On Tiger and Ace Of Spades set the standard and they should be right there at the finish. Watch for betting support for any of the unraced horses.
Race 2 looks fairly open, but I feel Lee Express is the horse to beat if she has improved from her first run. She was all at sea and finished powerfully.
Greenhill, Dalgety Bay and Broadway Babe are the immediate dangers and can be included in exotic bets.
I make Race 3 a two-horse race between my ride Smuts, who is my first selection, and the very unlucky Major Winter, who has good form and was going well before coming down in his latest start.
I would be surprised if they don't fight out the finish and they should get you through all bets.
In Race 4 I really believe you can go light because Anna Capri looks extremely hard to beat. On ratings she is well ahead of the field and should win without too many issues.
Rapid Fire won well last time and could be the danger.
Race 5 is more open and I would suggest going as wide as possible in the exotics but narrowing it down, I would structure bets around my ride, Master Supreme, who gave me a good feel last time, and the horse to beat, Apollo Robbins.
He is having his third run after a rest and should run very well off a good draw.
Race 6 is the Wilgerbosdrift Gauteng Fillies Guineas and it really is an exciting race as it sees Anything Goes and my ride War Of Athena go head-to-head again.
These two fillies are truly top class and I would be shocked if anything else wins. I am very strong on my ride because she has had a lovely prep into this race.
She is the horse to beat.
Sometimes these smaller fields are the most exciting races because of the quality they possess.
Race 7 is the WSB Gauteng Guineas and it's another fantastic race filled with quality. I feel it's more open than the fillies and I would suggest you go as wide as you can.
Mount Pleasant was disappointing last time but I'm sure there were excuses. At his best he sets the standard as can be seen by his merit rating.
Catch Twentytwo has improved all the time and off a good draw will be right there again.
Malmoos is a very good horse and if he produces his best, he will take all the beating.
Second Base was very impressive in his last win and if the drop in trip doesn't concern him then he will fight out the finish.
Others to add in are Bingwa and Eliud.
Race 8 is the Tommy Hotspur Handicap and I really like the look of my ride, Winter Stories, off a low weight. He is a very good horse and won extremely well last time.
True To Life has a big weight but must be included along with Bold Ransom, Mombela and Winter Smoke.
In Race 9 Zimbaba should take all the beating. She won a feature race last time with the utmost of ease and it's hard to look past her.
Celestial Love is her main danger and could get closer with the weight turnaround.
My ride, Bella Black, can run a place but would have to improve drastically to beat the top two.
Race 10 closes off the card and it's a wide-open race. All of Expressfromtheus, Whorly Whorly, Golden Pheasant, Lady Of Steel and Putontheredlight have winning claims.
Go as wide as possible.