Another epic on cards

CLASSIC FACE-OFF: BATTLE FOR THE TRIPLE CROWN CONTINUES

Runners who drew first blood in Guineas head for front line again.

If it were a movie it might be titled Classics: Revenge of the Guineas. The action-packed storyline of the recent Guineas race meeting at Turffontein is likely to be continued, with the principal stars all signed up for the sequel and the next instalment in the triples franchise.

Gauteng Guineas victor Malmoos and gallant runner-up Catch Twentytwo are among the 10 entries for the World Sports Betting SA Classic, while ferocious female rivals War of Athena and Anything Goes, first and second in the Fillies Guineas, are among 11 hopefuls for the Wilgerbosdrift SA Fillies Classic.

These Grade 1 races, second legs of the Triple Crown and Triple Tiara series for elite threeyear-olds, will be contested on the Standside track at Turffontein on 6 March.

Mike de Kock-trained Malmoos beat Paul Peter’s Catch Twentytwo by a neck in the 1 600m Guineas, with a relentless gallop up the tough Turffontein stretch.

However, the latter, finishing fast, hung inwards and lost momentum in the final strides. The extra 200m this time could see him turn the tables.

Guineas third and fourth, stablemates Copper Mountain and Second Base from Johan Janse van Vuuren’s yard, also rejoin combat and should also benefit from the extra distance.

When War of Athena easily beat Anything Goes in the Fillies Guineas, it evened up a head-tohead count to 2-2.

Some pundits immediately said the Paul Matchett-trained winner was maturing into the better racehorse, but others pointed to Stuart Pettigrew’s charge not having had an easy passage and she, too, will be well suited to an extra 200m come Classic day.

The biggest threat could come from De Kock’s well-bred, lightly raced Sparkling Water. This filly has won two from three.

A Pick 6 carryover of R1 million has already been announced for this meeting with a likely pool of R5 million.