The Tienie Prinsloo-trained Quickstepgal is pictured winning the Gr 1 WSB Cape Fillies Guineas (Picture: Wayne Marks)
The Gr 2 HKJC World Pool Tibouchina Stakes over 1400m is a traditional pointer race to the Gr 1 Ridgemont Garden Province Stakes over 1600m and is contested this year by a runner who will be one of the favourites for the latter race, Quickstepgal.
This Gr 1 WSB Cape Fillies Guineas winner only just failed to hold on last time in the Gr 2 WSB Filles Guineas when beaten 0,30 lengths by the dual Gr 1 winner Wish List. The latter has since franked the form by winning Saturday’s Gr 2 Woolavington 2000. Quickstepgal has her third run after a short layoff, so should be cherry ripe and is well in at the weights with all except Mocha Blend. She does have a bit of a tricky draw of seven out of 13 for one who likes to be handy.
Mocha Blend caught the eye last time with a good finish in a Conditions Plate over 1600m, returning from a layoff of five months after her Gr 1 Betway Summer Cup win over 2000m. Her class can pull through into a winning position here from a tricky draw of eight over a trip which is on the sharp side.
Mon Petit Cherie proved her class when beaten just 1,30 lengths behind the champion Double Grand Slam in the Gr 1 wfa Maine Chance Farms Majorca Stakes over 1600m on WSB Met day. She hasn’t run since and has a wide draw, but her class could tell.
Rachel Wall is interesting as she has good, consistent sprint form and ran well in her only attempt at this trip, so she might be involved from draw three.
Symphony In White has good sprint form and tries a step up in trip from a fair draw. Her mother Snowdance was a dual Gr 1 winner over a mile and her father What A Winter was a champion sprinter, but he can get them to stay.
Scarlet Macaw was the runner up in last year’s Gr 1 WSB Cape Fillies Guineas and she was beaten 2,10 lengths in a Gr 3 over this trip during the summer, so could earn here.
Care Forgot has pole position and is a capable sort who is distance suited, but she does have a tough task at the weights here.
Buttercup Baby is interesting because she has useful form against the best over 1200m and has won recently over this distance, so she could earn a cheque.
Babelicious was not disgraced in a Gr 3 over 1400m and could earn from a fair draw of six.
That’s My Baby loves Hollywoodbets Greyville and raises her game here, but she has a tough task at the weights.
One Fine Winter was not disgraced in the Gr 1 SA Fillies Sprint last time but has a speedy pedigree and this is her first try at the trip.
Lou Lou looks hopelessly outclassed in this line up on paper but must be rated because it’s her second attempt at a Graded feature.
Disting is better over sprints and has a wide draw so it will be tough for her.
The selection is Quickstepgal to beat Mocha Blend with Mon Petite Cherie, Rachel Wall and Symphony In White next best.
