Gauteng Guineas to take place at Turffontein

Fans will be in for some outstanding racing at Turffontein on February 6 with the running of the Grade 2 WSB Gauteng Guineas and the Wilgerbosdrift Gauteng Fillies Guineas over 1 600m.

The two races are the joint-respective first legs of the WSB SA Triple Crown and the Wilgerbosdrift SA Triple Tiara, along with the Grade 1 Cape Guineas and Grade 1 Cape Fillies Guineas.

World Sports Betting (WSB) recently announced their sponsorship of the Triple Crown and the three races that make it up, while Wilgerbosdrift have retained their patronage of the SA Triple Tiara and the three races that comprise that event.

Both races have attracted some top runners, and both should produce thrilling finishes.

Mike de Kock said this current crop of three-year-olds is among the best they have seen for some time and he has nominated two of his top performers in Mount Pleasant and Malmoos. Both are Graded race winners, but both failed to perform to expectations in their last starts. Hopefully, de Kock has got them right and they look likely to set the standard.

Paul Peter-trained Grade 2 Dingaans winner Catch Twentytwo is among the entries, as is Sean Tarry’s unbeaten Paisley Park.

Interestingly, Stuart Pettigrew has nominated Anything Goes for both the Guineas and the Fillies Guineas. She has landed No 4 draw in the former and as she is drawn No 9 against the fillies, it might entice Pettigrew to take on the colts.

If she opts for the Fillies Guineas she could clash once again with War Of Athena, but this time at level weights. Paul Matchett’s charge has landed a No 6 draw.