Double Grand Slam can show just how good she is in the Gr 2 WSB Fillies Guineas (Candiese Lenferna Photography)
Andrew Harrison (Gold Circle)
The Gr2 Independent On Saturday Dill Hall Stakes, supported by the Gr1 World Sports Betting Guineas and Gr2 World Sports Betting Fillies Guineas, is the traditional start to South Africa’s three-month Champions Season where most of the country’s top horses are out to round off their season on a high.
Tomorrow’s feature races are important warm-ups to the Gr1 races and all three have attracted cracking fields. Highveld sensation Main Defender was a cracking winner of the recent Gr1 HF Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut Stakes at WFA and he looks the part in the Drill Hall.
Also entries in the Drill Hall were Sandringham Summit and Green With Envy, but both drew the two outside gates and they defected to the Guineas where they had better draws and face their own age group.
Main Defender is proven in Gr1 open company and the Drill Hall is there for the taking. Justin Snaith got his winter campaign off to a cracking start but the stable has had a few hiccups of late. However, Royal Aussie is useful on his day but will need to be at his best to match Main Defender.
Mike de Kock sends out the smart mare Humdinger who has finished runner-up in her last three in feature company. She is no stranger to this course and goes well this trip. Stuart Ferrie’s runs Gladatorian who is unbeaten since returning from a break but does take on top class opposition.
Veteran trainer Ricky Maingard saddles former Gr1 Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge winner Al Muthana and Waterberry Lane. Current form is not inspiring but both are capable of a big effort on their day and are worth keeping an eye on in the market.
In the Gr2 WSB Fillies Guineas Double Grand Slam will be a warm favourite after demolishing a useful field in the Gr3 Umzimkulu Stakes, her first look at Hollywoodbets Greyville. The opposition is a lot stronger here but Justin Snaith filly has come into her own of late and a repeat will see her difficult to beat. Tony Rivalland’s filly Celtic Beauty has the worst of the draw but shows plenty of promise. She may prefer it a touch further but should give a good account. A possible threat to Double Grand Slam could be Mike de Kock’s charge White Pearl. She boasts consistent Highveld feature form and was only three lengths back to the crack colt Sandringham Summit in the G2 Hawaii Stakes. She has drawn well and the step up in trip could now be what she is looking for. Rascova looks well held by Double Grand Slam on their recent meetings but she does appear to be capable of improving on those efforts.
The Gr2 WSB Guineas has attracted a cracking line-up and the race should give an indication of what to expect over the next three months. The David Nieuwenhuizen-trained Sandringham Summit was a convincing winner of the Gr2 Hawaii Stakes beating Lucky Lad who has since franked that form. He is a top class galloper and the mile is right up his alley. Mid Winter Wind faces something of an acid test as Sean Tarry’s gelding comes off a string of four straight wins. His rating jumped from 96 to 114 after his most recent success and the extra furlong should suit. He could give Sandringham Summit a testing race. Green With Envy was a spectacular winner of the Gr1 SplashOut Cape Derby, coming from way off the pace to win going away. However, he faces a crack miler in Sandringham Summit and the Gr1 Daily News 2000 is a more likely target for Dean Kannemeyer’s charge. That said he
boasts plenty of class. Gr1 Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas winner Snow Pilot was in need of his local debut effort and with that run under his girth he should strip a lot fitter tomorrow.
The World Sports Betting Dash kicks off the card and is a novelty race over 400m. Gate speed will be of prime importance and Ndaka fits the bill. He is super quick and with only 52kg to shoulder he must be a big runner. Sabatini is also a quick filly and loves this course. Maquette is no slouch in the speed department and should be involved.
Air Of Pride has been knocking on the door for some time now and should be good enough to kick off the PA. She meets a modest field and will never get a better chance barring a first time ‘springer’. Sweet Julia should be back-up. She went down narrowly over course and distance last start and now gets first time cheek pieces. She looks the biggest threat to the top selection.
The first two legs of the Pick 6 are wide open. In the first leg Sweeter Than Honey has been consistent of late and goes well over course and distance but faces strong opposition possibly headed by Long Street who has been improving steadily of late and looks primed for this while Her Royalty jumps in trip but was a smart second in a sprint at just her second start. She has the best of the draw. Flying Reign Storm is overdue but the extra furlong should suit.
The second leg is equally tricky but Basie Raakvat has finally come to hand and was a close-up second last time out. A repeat should see him go close again. Hoodwink has shown up well in both starts and was only run out of it late last time out when jumping from a wide gate. He should be at his peak now. Ibiza Night is never far back and has improved of late when switched to the turf. He has a tricky draw but should go well again.
A competitive race rounds off the Pick 6, the race having attracted a more than useful field. Royal Swan Master was tested to the full when beating Ancient World on the poly last time out, but he came from a seemingly hopeless position to get up on the line. Back on turf with and extra furlong to run he fits the bill. Flag Man shed his maiden beating the useful Shoot The Rapids the latter acquitting himself well in Highveld feature company and also comes strongly into the picture. Ancient World was only caught late by Royal Swan Master and he is tried and tested over the trip. Get Impressed won well when making his local debut and comes off some useful Cape form. He has a big
