Trust can bounce back to winning ways at Turffontein Standside on Saturday (JC Photos)
The Gr 2 TAB Gauteng Guineas to be run on Saturday at Turffontein Standside is particularly eagerly anticipated this season, because the easy victory of Jan Van Goyen in the Gr 1 Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas pointed to the three-year-old strength this season being on the Highveld.
The strength centres around the Candice and Tammy Dawson-trained Trust, as he had defeated Jan Van Goyen in the Gr 2 Jackpot City Dingaans two weeks before the Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas.
However, Trust has since suffered defeat in the Gr 2 Got The Greenlight Stakes over 1400m to Splitheeights.
Splittheeights was receiving 2kg, but beat Trust into third by 2,5 lengths, which puts him half-a-length ahead of Trust on paper.
However, Trust is the selection as he will appreciate the step up to 1600m, whereas Splittheeights has a speedy pedigree and has not been tested over a mile yet.
Trust is also reunited with his regular rider Serino Moodley
Trust has a good draw of four.
Splittheeights is a half-brother to the Gr 1-winning speedster William Robertson, but on the other hand is by Vercingetorix, so he might enjoy the trip. He has a good draw of five with Raymond Danielson keeping the ride. He will make a bold bid.
Tin Pan Alley was well beaten by Trust over this course and distance in the Gr 2 Jackpot City Dingaans, but bounced back with a good win over 1450m. He has drawn wide again so won’t have it easy, but at his best and with some luck in running he can earn.
Grand Empire’s only defeat in four starts is to the classy Pressonregardless over this trip. He has a lot of promise and is a contender here.
One Eye On Vegas was just 1,30 lengths behind Splittheeights in the Got The Greenlight and his Fastnet Rock dam won over this trip, so he might enjoy it, but he does have a vey wide draw.
Yippee Kiyay is drawn in pole and should run an honest race, but he will need to show improvement.
Gavin Lerena is aboard Radio Star, who won a handicap easily last time off an 87 merit rating. This is tougher and he has a wide draw.
All Systems Go was third in the Dingaans from pole position and is now drawn three, but he has 5,10 lengths to find on Trust.
I’m A Fireball won easily last time when stepped up to 1450m and it is interesting the De Kocks’ stable jockey Callan Murray is aboard. He is by Vercingetorix who won Gr 1s from 1800m to 2000m, while his dam Gibraltar Blue was a sprint-miler who did win two Gr 2s over 1600m. He does have a tough draw though.
Copper Eagle has 6,30 lengths to make up on Trust from the Dingaans and has a tricky draw.
Golden Warrior was beaten 6,10 lengths by Splittheeights over 1400m last time and has a tricky draw.
King Harald was beaten 3,25 lengths by I’m A Fireball over 1450m last time and is half-a-kilogram worse off and he is held by Tin Pan Alley on juvenile form over this trip, although by just 1,20 lengths and there is now a reversal in draw fortunes in his favour, so he could be an interesting each/way outsider.
Shadowfax looked to have a lot of promise as a two-year-old but on three-year-old form is held by Trust and One Eye On Vegas.
Trust is tipped to beat Splittheeights with Tin Pan Alley, Grand Empire and One Eye On Vegas next best.
