Greaterix is the one to beat in the Gr 2 TAB Gauteng Guineas (JC Photos)
Guineas day heralds the start of Johannesburg’s chief feature season and both the Gr 2 TAB Gauteng Guineas and GR 2 Wilgerbosdrift Gauteng Fillies Guineas are full of intrigue this year.
In the Gauteng Guineas the Mike and Matthew de Kock-trained Greaterix oozes class and has a lot of speed and a magnificent turn of foot.
Hollywoodbets make him an odds on chance.
Greaterix won the Gr 3 Got The Greenlight Stakes over 1400m.
He has a bigreputation and creates a good visual impression. In the Betway Dingaans when beaten five lengths into third he was caught in front and just went too fast and finished a bit distressed. His bloods were not right upon getting home. De Kock consequently eased off him completely and said he therefore needed his run in the Got The Greenlight Stakes.
Greaterix showed a terrific turn of foot when Muzi Yeni let him go early in the straight in the Got The Greenlight, which he did because not much had gone well for him in the race until then. Muzi had been teaching him to settle in training and he had intended to put him to sleep in the race, but he firstly had horses on his heels early and the pace later stacked up. De Kock is actually not sure of Greaterix’s classic race suitability, because he possesses so much speed. He said he can’t work him with other horses, because he just leaves them behind.
Greaterix is drawn nine, meaning he will need some luck finding cover, especially considering his speed, although Muzi Yeni is a master at slotting in from wide draws.
It is not a one horse race, though.
Bacchus has a step up in class, but he caught the eye as one who could go places and from draw six he should turn it on in the straight over and ideal course and distance.
Legend Of Arthur is in fact the joint highest rated runner together with Fire Attack and he should relish this tough course and distance being by Lancaster Bomber out of a Galileo mare. He is in fact a half-brother to recent Gr 3 winner over 2500m, King Pelles. It is only his second run of the season and his first run for three months, but he should go well fresh over this trip, which could end up being on the sharp side for him.
Parisian Walkway was fourth in the Dingaans and will make his presence felt.
Chestnut Bomber could stay on into the places.
Musical Score, Choisaanada and Wild At War are better than their last respective runs.
Aristotle is an interesting acquistion from the Cape for the Laird yard as he had decent form in that strong centre.
Waheed, and Diwali Rocket will need improvement, while DantonfromSandton has a stamina doubt based on his previous form.
Fire Attack is selected to beat Greaterix with Bacchus, Legend Of Arthur and Parisian Walkway next best.
The sensational Quid Pro Quo will be hard to beat in the Gr 1 Wilgerbosdrift Gauteng Fillies Guineas.
A draw of eleven will not bother her as she can be switched on and off in the running and has an exceptional turn of foot.
She could be given some cheek by Spumante Dolce, who has also struck as something special in her two runs to date and over an ideal trip this Vercingetorix half-sister to Hollywoodbets Durban July winner Sparkling Water should be running on strongly from draw three.
VJ’s Angel is in fact officially higher rated than Quid Pro Quo. She enjoys this trip and has Gavin Lerena up, albeit from a tricky draw.
World Of Alice would prefer further but should be running on.
Fiery Pegasus has class and can bounce back from a below par run last time.
Those five are selected in the order mentioned.
Quid Pro Quo is a banker in all bets suggestion, although the risk averse van consider including Spumante Dolce.