Stars clash in Fillies Guineas

Bookmakers have essentially made it a match race between two well-performed three-year-old fillies, Justin Snaith-trained Captain’s Ransom and Princess Calla from the Adam Marcus yard.

The Cape Guineas is one of four feature races on the card, all of which form part of the R1-million carryover Pick 6 with a likely pool of R4 million. 

Captain’s Ransom has raced four times for three wins and a close second. However, it was her win last time in the Grade 3 Diana Stakes over 1400m that caught the eye. The daughter of Captain Al flew up late to beat Clouds Unfold going away by 0.30 lengths. She was in receipt of 10kg from the older runner.

Princess Calla has run three times, winning a weak Maiden Plate on the Polytrack at Greyville on debut, and then finishing third in the Grade 1 Thekwini Stakes over 1600m on the Greyville turf. That race was won by Anything Goes, who beat War Of Athena by a neck.

Princess Calla confirmed that form with a fluid two length victory over Trickster in the Grade 2 Western Cape Fillies Championship over 1400m at Kenilworth in October.

“They are both very good fillies, but the problem is we have no collateral form between them,” said Marcus.

“I think Princess Calla’s Grade 1 form at Greyville has been franked. Those two Gauteng fillies, who finished first and second, are absolute stars. Princess Calla had no luck in running on that occasion and still finished third.

“But she has mentally and physically improved since coming back to Cape Town and I was very impressed with her Grade 2 win.”

However, Marcus has a very high regard for Captain’s Ransom. “Despite carrying a light weight, any filly who beats Clouds Unfold, needs to be respected.

“Justin is such a force in Cape racing so when he talks, it creates a lot of hype around that horse.

“That form line might well turn out to be the better one.”

It certainly is very hard to see anything beating both of these two, so it is worth just going with the pair in all exotics.

Slight preference is for Princess Calla who will be attempting to give Marcus and jockey Craig Zackey a second win in this race as they won it last year with Missisippi Burning.    

Marcus gave the daughter of Flower Alley her final workout on Wednesday morning and expressed his satisfaction with her effort.

“She is looking spot on. She’s improved since her last start. She has always been physically well built but a little mentally immature. She has now sharpened up mentally.

“This is the first run on the Summer Course, and I think the extra 200m and longer straight will suit her.”

Clouds Unfold will be in action in the Grade 2 WSB Green Point Stakes but she will be fully tested by Rainbow Bridge who will having his first outing since going down a short head to stablemate and half brother Golden Ducat in the Grade 1 Champions Cup over 1800m at Greyville in August.

Eric Sands’ charge was due to have a pipe opener a few weeks back but was withdrawn because of a bout of urticaria so he could still be in need of a run.

The same might be true for Vodacom Durban July winner Belgarion, but the two fit horses are Clouds Unfold and Sean Tarry-trained Cirillo.

One will need all four in the Pick 6.

With her excellent record over 1000m, Run Fox Run looks hard to beat in the Grade 2 Southern Cross Stakes. She has an excellent record of four wins from five starts over the distance, her lone defeat coming in the Grade 1 Cape Flying Championships where she went down just 1.20 lengths by Russet Air.

The only threat is likely to come from Celtic Sea who has yet to run over the minimum trip. Had this been 1200m Sean Tarry’s charge may have had the edge but she will have her work cut out over 1000m.

Marcus saddles Hello Winter Hello, and while realistic about the proficiency of the opposition, is hoping for a decent effort from his charge.

“When she started running, I thought she had some ability and would pick up four of five races and a Listed race along the way but just below the best.

“But the manner of her last run was very impressive. If you want to know how good they are you need to throw them in the deep end.

“Run Fox Run and Celtic Sea are probably the best two sprinting fillies in the country. She’s not going to come up stronger than these two in the sprints, so after this we will know how good she is,” said Marcus.

Jack Milner’s selections

Race 1: 4 Perfect Princess, 5 Glitter In The Air, 3 Golly Miss Molly, 8 Duplicity

Race 2: 6 Larentina, 4 Kelpie, 3 Icon Princess, 8 Veronica Mars, 7 Follow The Star

Race 3: 1 Kasimir, 3 Russet Air, 2 Rivarine, 6 Rio Querari

Race 4: 2 Run Fox Run, 1 Celtic Sea, 4 Hello Winter Hello, 5 Phil’s Dancer

Race 5: 7 Bayberry, 6 Azores, 3 Crome Yellow, 10 Retro Effect

Race 6: 1 Rainbow Bridge, 9 Clouds Unfold, 3 Cirillo, 2 Belgarion

Race 7: 2 Princess Calla, 1 Captain’s Ransom, 8 Dazzling Sun, 3 Due Diligence

Race 8: 4 Greenlightflash, 2 Salvator Mundi, 10 Happy Aristocrat, 5 Green Serenity

BEST BET

Race 4 No 2 Run Fox Run

VALUE BET

Race 8 No 4 Greenlightflash

BEST SWINGER

Race 7 1×2

BIPOT

R288

Leg 1: 3, 4, 5, 8

Leg 2: 4, 6

Leg 3: 1, 2, 3

Leg 4: 2

Leg 5: 3, 6, 7, 10

Leg 6: 1, 3, 9

PLACE ACCUMULATOR

R288

Leg 1: 4, 6

Leg 2: 1, 2,3

Leg 3: 2

Leg 4: 3, 6, 7, 10

Leg 5: 1, 9

Leg 6: 1, 2

Leg 7: 2, 4, 10

PICK 6

R2304

Leg 1: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

Leg 2: 1, 2       

Leg 3: 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

Leg 4: 1, 2, 3, 9

Leg 5: 1, 2

Leg 6: 2, 4, 10

JACKPOT 1

R128

Leg 1: 1, 2       

Leg 2: 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

Leg 3: 1, 2, 3, 9

Leg 4: 1, 2

JACKPOT 2

R192

Leg 1: 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

Leg 2: 1, 2, 3, 9

Leg 3: 1, 2

Leg 4: 2, 4, 10

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