Royal Victory Looks The Value In Guineas

The Mike de Kock-trained Gimmethegreenlight colt Shoemaker is the highest rated runner in the Grade 2 WSB Gauteng Guineas and has been priced up as favourite by Hollywoodbets despite being drawn 13 in the capacity 16 horse field. He will be ridden by high-flying Richard Fourie.

His stablemate East Coast is second highest rated and second in the betting.

However, the value in the field must be the third favourite, the Nathan Kotzen-trained Pathfork gelding Royal Victory. He cruised to victory in first time blinkers in the Grade 3 Tony Ruffel Stakes over 1400m last time out. The reason for the blinkers was he was tending to duck in behind horses. Shoemaker did not have the best of luck from wide draws in both the Grade 3 Allied Steelrode Graham Beck Stakes over 1400m and the Grade 2 Jonsson Workwear Dingaans over 1600m, where he beat Royal Victory by 1,25 lengths and by 1,50 lengths respectively. However, Royal Victory also had tricky draws in those races and now has a plum draw, plus the blinkers could gain him a length or so. He will also relish the step up to 1600m.

Shoemaker appeared to take a bit of a strong hold in the Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas and duly faded in the straight. He is better than that run.

East Coast strikes as one who will need further. He beat Royal Victory by three-quarters of a length in the Dingaans, but there is now a reversal in draw fortunes. He will be staying on though.

Money Heist could also be a big runner. He produced an outstanding finishing effort from last place in the Cape Guineas. He will likely have to be dropped out again by Piere Strydom and will have to pass another big field, but he will have a longer straight to do it in.

Pathfork colt Jimmy Don has an excellent turn of foot and although out of speedy Joshua Dancer mare Joshlin, who won a Grade 3 over 1400m and a Grade 2 over 1200m, he gives the impression he could stay this trip. 

Anfields Rocket, the Graham Beck winner, had to be dropped out to the back in the Cape Guineas and can be given another chance to prove he gets this trip because he appeared to be slightly hampered by Charles Dickens at the top of the straight. He make no impression when attempting chase the latter though.

Eye Of The Prophet tries a big step up in class and is held on formlines, but is a nice type and is an outsider to consider for the quartet.

Unzen has shown class over 1400m, but has to prove he is as good over 1600m.

Argo Alley looks capable of earning in this field if able to find cover from draw eight.

Good Council has been seen to run on resolutely and although this is a step up in class he could make his presence felt from a good draw.

Allez Moris looks held by Le Morne from Punters Cup form.

Golden Prospect looks held by Royal Victory and Unzen on 1400m form.

Atticus Finch is relatively unexposed and has scope for improvement.

Rule By Force faces  a big step up in class but Joe Soma-trained horses upset in big races quite regularly.