Fatal Flaw arrived in Cape Town from her Randjesfontein base on Tuesday and has all the credentials to win the Gr 1 WSB Cape Fillies Guineas. (JC Photos).
Saturday’s Gr 1 WSB Cape Fillies Guineas has one of the most competitive fields seen in this race for years and there are a number of horses who look capable of troubling the judge.
Fatal Flaw has drawn widest of all in the 13 horse field, but has exceptionally good gatespeed and good cruising speed and is tipped to give Brett and James Crawford a flying start to their official training partnership. If Piere Strydom is able to secure the rail she will be hard to catch in the straight as she has a big action and has proved she stays this trip with a 1,40 length second to the sensational Quid Pro Quo in Gr 1 Douglas Whyte Thekwini Stakes at the end of last season. She is well balanced and athletic so should not have a problem on a left handed track for the first time.
The stablemate Mon Petit Cherie will be the danger under Richard Fourie. She came from near the back with a resolute finish to win the Gr 2 Western Cape Fillies Championship over 1400m and will relish the step up in trip being by Rafeef out of a Galileo mare who won over a mile and a half. She is now drawn in pole position.
Gimmie’s Countess produced a powerful finish from last in the Western Cape Fillies Championship to be beaten 0,55 lengths into fourth. She has another wide draw but will enjoy the longer straight. However, this is likely her maximum trip so it is not going to be easy to make up a lot of ground.
Beware The Bomb was rallying late in the Western Cape Fillies Championship and will relish the step up in trip both on a visual basis and on pedigree. Her sire Lancaster Bomber himself won a Gr 1 over one mile and two-and-a-half furlongs and Beware The Bomb’s unraced Philanthropist dam was out of a Western Winter mare who won over this trip. Beware The Bomb jumps from a plum draw of three and represents the in form combination of Justin Snaith and Grant van Niekerk.
Scarlet Macaw ran on exceptionally well to win over 1400m last time and before that lost to Beware The Bomb by a length over 1400m but is now 1,5kg better off. Her Tobe Or Nottobe dam did win over 1600m and her sire Horizon won the Gr 3 Politician Stakes over 1800m. Her last run was on the same day as the Western Cape Filliees Championship and her time was 0,11 seconds slower than Mon Petit Cherie and she carried 2kg less, so that could be a point against her, but otherwise she looks to be the best value in the field at long odds.
Little Suzie has drawn well in four and will relish the step up in trip being by Trippi out of the former Met winner Oh Susanna. She was staying on in the Gr 2 Western Cape Fillies Championship and has scope for improvement.
Goodnessgraciousme won her maiden well over 1400m and will enjoy the step up in trip and this big, quality filly has scope for improvement so could be a dark horse. However, Grant van Niekerk has jumped off on to Beware The Bomb.
Kinda Wonderful was only beaten 1,55 lengths in the Western Cape Fillies Championship and was a bit short of room late. This small filly will enjoy the step up in trip and has some fine formlines, so is another one who could be right there. Gavin Lerena aboard is a bonus and she has a fair draw of six.
Symphony In White ran on well from a handy position in the Western Cape Fillies Championship for a 0,45 length third. However, being by the sprinter Western Winter out of the 1400m to 1600m Captain Al speedster Snowdance might see her being stretched by this trip from a wide draw. On the other hand Aldo Domeyer sticks with her which says a lot.
Whistle The Tune ran a good race in the Western Cape Fillies Championshoip and was only beaten 1,90 lengths but has her second run after a layoff and has six lengths to find on Fatal Flaw on Thekwini form.
Splicethemainbrace has won seven out of eight starts in the East Cape. Master Of My Fate could give her the necessary stamina, because her dam by Sail From Seattle was a sprinter. She has enjoyed 1400m but has not tried this trip yet and this is a lot tougher opposition.
Hope Chest won well over 1200m last time and has a nice rangy stride, but being by What A Winter out of a Fort Wood mare who won up to 1400m will make her first go at 1600m from a wide draw in a Gr 1 a tough ask.
Mai Sensation faded late in the Western Cape Fillies Championship and being by Rafeef out of a speedy Vercingetorix mare could mean a stamina doubt in this class.
They are selected in the order mentioned.
