Questioning has had a fine season and can land the Gr 2 Diadem Stakes (Picture: Wayne Marks)
By Mark van Deventer
QUESTIONING was beaten by a flared nostril in the L’Ormarins King’s Plate Gr 1 by The Real Prince after making a huge mid-stretch move, and he will try gain a measure of compensation in the Khaya Stables Diadem Stakes Gr 2, when trainer Vaughan Marshall brings him back to sprints.
Earlier in the season, the 5YO Querari gelding obliterated foes in the 1400m Race Coast Matchem Stakes Gr 3, after being held up by Richard Fourie for a late flourish and a stiff six furlongs should be within his ambit. After all, he suffered a torrid passage in this race last year and still got close to champion sprinter, Gimme a Prince.
Emerging 3YO talent, ALL THE RAGE is accorded with the greatest respect. Already successful in five of eight starts, this Rafeef colt has been winning for fun. He sports tremendous upside potential. Candice Bass trains, and JP van der Merwe partners for the first time. ALL THE RAGE will receive 3kg from QUESTIONING, who is officially best weighted.
Looking past the top two mentioned, a whole posse of challengers can get into the fray in this 15-runner showdown.
Dean Kannemeyer saddles OUTLAW KING and TEFLON MAN, who was unlucky to get held up at a crucial stage before charging at ALL THE RAGE. But for that traffic snarl-up he might even have toppled his rival.
OUTLAW KING won the SplashOut Cape Merchants Gr 2 in mid-December, albeit somewhat fortuitously over reopposing I AM GIANT, who followed up by running Kingdundee close in the World Pool Cape Flying Championship Gr 1.
Wherever I AM GIANT clocks in, O’TENIKWA is entitled to be upsides on the collateral form of their Hollywoodbets Greyville clash in October 2025.
Bass Racing also sends out their Centenary Club horse, FUTURE VARIETY. His form ties in nicely with genuine contender, OUTLAW KING – and he is 5kg better off with stable mate ALL THE RAGE for a length beating. It would be foolish to dismiss his chances.
World Sports Betting Southern Cross Stakes Gr 3 victress under a heavy burden, ASIYE PHAMBILI, emerged with credit after the World Pool Cape Flying Championship Gr 1, and the What a Winter mare can be excused a weak follow up in the Maine Chance Farms Majorca Stakes Gr 1 as she prefers racing down a straight.
MEU CAPITANO may gatecrash the frame at a big price on the pick of his past performances, while SURJAY tends to mix his form as he ages, but on a going day can get involved.
To round up – high class sprinter/miler, QUESTIONING cracks the nod in the Khaya Stables Diadem Stakes Gr 2, with Bass Racing’s speedballs, ALL THE RAGE and FUTURE VARIETY looming his biggest dangers.
Many others are lurking in the wings to take advantage of any underperformance by these principals. Exotic bettors may be grateful for wider cover in a congested, big field sprint.
The “Cape Crawl” could come into play in the SplashOut Prix du Cap Gr 3 over 1400m, where there are no confirmed leaders in the field of eight fillies. Positioning and the ability to quicken then becomes vital in what could be a tightly bunched finish.
Maybe BABELICIOUS and PRINCESS OF GAUL, who tussled in the Windhoek Olympic Duel Stakes Listed over 1200m a month ago, will again fight it out. PRINCESS OF GAUL gets a 3kg swing in the weights to help her bridge the one length defeat she suffered, and it should again be a close-run thing.
Dean Kannemeyer’s Vercingetorix filly has run some of her peak races handy, and the speed map suggests she should be suited to a possible “soft” pace.
That said, BABELICIOUS finished with verve to rush by PRINCESS OF GAUL and will again be a late-running menace.
Gavin Lerena is tactically astute, and he will give STORMWATCH a good steer. She ran well during the Spring (her near miss to She’s My World in the Schweppes Diana Stakes Gr 3 after being blocked was especially notable) before losing her way slightly. But the signs evident in her most recent win are that Eric Sands has her in fine fettle once again.
ROCCAPINA was excellent at three and after being lightly campaigned since April 2025, hinted that she could be returning to form when doing better in the false run Maine Chance Farms Majorca Stakes Gr 1.
CALL ME SECRET rates a few ticks behind PRINCESS OF GAUL on the World Sports Betting Cape Fillies Guineas Gr 1 form; SCARLET MACAW has a powerful burst of acceleration so could be dangerous in a jog/sprint scenario and SWIATEK has claims on the Schweppes Diana Stakes Gr 3 try over this distance, which puts her close to STORMWATCH.
VIVA LA VIDA holds an August 2025 win over Lucky Fish Cape Derby Gr 1 favourite, Wish List, in her CV so is not taken lightly either in a difficult race. Punters might need to cover a spread of runners to survive Leg 3 of the carryover, P6.
