Silver lining in Cape

For the past few months I have been bleating on about the poor standard of the current crop of three-year-olds and waiting for the one champion to emerge and throw down the gauntlet.

Since the running of the Grade 2 Choice Carriers over 1400m there has been a tingling feeling Silver Mountain just might be the real McCoy. The tingle turned to a vibration after she cantered to victory off a poor draw in the World Sports Betting Cape Fillies Guineas.

Today she tackles the colts in the Grade 1 Grand Parade Cape Guineas over 1600m at Kenilworth. She has everything going for her in this R1-million race in that she is the best weighted runner and she jumps from barrier No 2. It is only two weeks since her Fillies Guineas win so there is a question as to whether she has had enough time to fully recuperate.

Therefore, if the Mike Bass-trained runner does win the race despite all the hurdles and become the first filly in 24 years to pull off the double, we will know she is the real deal.

I think we have seen enough of her over the past month to make the assumption she is as good as expected and that should make Aldo Domeyer’s mount the best bet on the Kenilworth card.

On the basis that Bazuca is rated better than New Predator, who Noah From Goa beat so narrowly in the Investec Dingaans at Turffontein, I have selected Johan Janse van Vuuren’s charge to follow the filly home with Noah From Goa in third.