The R1 million, Grade 1, Cape Guineas(1600m) is normally the testing ground of the best of the three-year-old crop in any given year.
The 1600m of the Kenilworth summer course has seen the crowning of many a future champion. and this year is no different, with a crop of high class colts ready for battle.
However, not all of the competitors are colts this year. Perhaps geldings you may think, well unlike the Prix de L'Arc de Triomphe, geldings are allowed to race in the Guineas as the conditions state that the race is open to three-year-old horses.
And therein lies the rub this year, for a filly has dared to breach the ranks of this usually male only race. And not only is this filly a very capable racehorse, but she could actually beat the boys, come Saturday.
The Grade 1 Cape Premier Yearling Sales Guineas will be Princess Victoria's date with destiny as she attempts to become the first horse to do the Cape fillies and colts Guineas double since the Geoff Woodruff-trained Star Effort did it nearly 21 years ago.
Princess Victoria won the Grade 1 Avontuur Estate Cape Fillies Guineas two weeks ago by 1.25 lengths from the Joey Ramsden-trained Trinity House. The filly had to work quite hard unlike her previous three wins, which included two Grade 1s and a Grade 2, in which she hardly came off the bit.
After pace work on the sand at her home base of trainer Glen Kotzen's Woodhill Estate, jockey Sean Cormack reckoned it was the best piece of work the filly had done since he had arrived in Cape Town.
“We were very excited about the workout,” said Kotzen. “She has come on a lot since her last race. Her head has never been out of the manger and her blood results are top class.”
Princess Victoria has an excellent draw of three and Kotzen said, “She can get there for free and can go anywhere. That's the beauty of top horses. They can be switched on and off and that's why they are champions.”
Kotzen is under no illusions how tough the task will be, but he concluded, “She is superbly well, she has the credentials to do it and we are ready.”
Tough indeed for the filly that has been labelled as a “freak” by her competition. Joey Ramsden saddles the smart Var colt Variety Club, who recently accounted for several of Saturday's runners in the Grade 2 Selangor Cup over the course and distance.
Master of the Classics, Dean Kannemeyer sends out three top runners in Depardieu, Liancourt Rock(AUS) and Divine Jet. Liancourt Rock and Depardieu finished third and fourth respectively behind Variety Club in the Selangor, but Divine Jet has not faced any of the top three-year-olds yet.
The impressive son of Jet Master is unbeaten and there are many that feel that he will have the measure of Variety Club and stable companion Liancourt Rock.
With Justin Snaith sending the classy Gimmethegreenlight(AUS) into the fray and Mike de Kock raiding with his Grade 2 Dingaans winner, Silver Flyer, it will indeed be a tough challenge for the Princess.
Is she good enough for her date with destiny? Only time will tell, but one thing is for sure; the Cape Yearling Sales Guineas on Saturday is a race not to be missed.
