WITH just 13 runners accepting for the R1-million Gauteng Guineas, the draw situation for trainers Mike de Kock and Charles Laird has vastly improved when the final fields were announced.

Both will saddle three runners in the Grade 2 race over 1600m to be run on the Turffontein standside track on Saturday 26 February. The Gauteng Guineas is the first leg of the SASCOC Triple Crown, the second being the R2-million SA Classic over 1800m on Saturday 26 March with the R1.5-million SA Derby over 2450m the final leg on Saturday 30 April.

There is a R2-million bonus for any runner who can win all three.    

The R500,000 Fillies Guineas, the first leg of the SA Triple Tiara, is also run on the same day.

At No 5 Link Man (headline photo), to be ridden by Anthony Delpech, is the best drawn of De Kock’s three Gauteng Guineas runners. Perana and Randall Simons are at No 8 and Kavanagh (Johnny Geroudis) at No 11.

Galileo’s Destiny, the runner described by jockey Anton Marcus as ”potentially the strongest horse I’ve ever ridden’’ after his win over Perana in a Graduation Plate last Tuesday night, will jump from barrier No 10. Marcus retains the ride.

The other two Laird runners are Good On You, drawn at No 7 and to be ridden by Marthinus Mienie, and Western Front, the mount of Willie Figueroa. They will jump from gate No 6.
Shea Shea is highly regarded by his connections and jockey Derreck David will be able to settle Geoff Woodruff’s runner nicely from their No 2 draw.

There are two visitors in the field. Herman Brown brings Antious (Ian Sturgeon) up from KwaZulu-Natal while Gavin Smith makes the trip from Port Elizabeth with The Plunderer (S’manga Khumalo).        

Hollywoodboulevard, winner of the R1.5-million Emperors Palace Ready To Run Cup and the Grade 3 Fillies Mile, heads up the field for the Gauteng Fillies Guineas along with Igugu and Happy Archer.

Hollywoodboulevard is unbeaten since Figueroa teamed up with her and Laird will be delighted that his Australian-bred filly will jump from barrier No 5. Igugu (Delpech) has finished runner-up to Hollywoodboulevard in the Ready To Run Cup and then to Ebony Flyer in the Grade 1 Cape Fillies Guineas. She drew widest of all but as the field has been reduced to 10 runners, her barrier position is not too bad.  

Happy Archer is a Grade 1 winner already and she appears to be finding her form again. Sean Tarry’s runner is drawn at No 1 and has Felix Coetzee in the irons.

De Kock also sends out Welwitschia (Geroudis), a 7.50-length winner of her only start. She is thrown into the deep end here but she clearly has ability and could be a threat.

FINAL FIELDS (number, draw, name, trainer, jockey, weight and merit rating)

GAUTENG GUINEAS (Grade 2) R1-million 1600m

1 – 5 LINK MAN (M F De Kock) A Delpech 58.0 – 111
2 – 11 KAVANAGH (M F De Kock) J Geroudis 58.0 – 106
3 – 2 SHEA SHEA (G V Woodruff) D David 58.0 – 106
4 – 8 PERANA (M F De Kock) R Simons 58.0 – 105
5 – 10 GALILEO’S DESTINY (C Laird) A Marcus 58.0 – 104
6 – 3 THE PLUNDERER (G D Smith) S Khumalo 58.0 – 102
7 – 4 APPROACHABLE (W H Marwing) M Odendaal 58.0 – 101
8 – 1 SNOWDON (O A Ferraris) G Lerena 58.0 – 101
9 – 6 WESTERN FRONT (C Laird) G Figueroa 58.0 – 96
10 – 9 ANTIOUS (H J Brown) I Sturgeon 58.0 – 95
11 – 7 GOOD ON YOU (C Laird) M Mienie 58.0 – 88
12 – 12 DRUM MASTER (W H Marwing) S Brown 58.0 – 84
13 – 13 ROMAN WALL (S G Tarry) F Coetzee 58.0 – 83
Same Trainer: (1,2,4) (5,9,11) (7,12)
 
GAUTENG FILLIES GUINEAS (Grade 2) R500,000 1600m

1 – 5 HOLLYWOODBOULEVARD (C Laird) G Figueroa 58.0 – 103
2 – 10 IGUGU (M F De Kock) A Delpech 58.0 – 103
3 – 4 FAIR ROSALIND (P F Matchett) R Simons 58.0 – 101
4 – 1 HAPPY ARCHER (S G Tarry) F Coetzee 58.0 – 100
5 – 3 WITHOUT MALICE (G B Scott) M Yeni 58.0 – 96
6 – 6 STORMY COAST (G B Scott) D David 58.0 – 94
7 – 7 WELWITSCHIA (M F De Kock) J Geroudis 58.0 – 89
8 – 8 RUNNING RIVULET (W H Marwing) M Odendaal 58.0 – 87
9 – 9 PRINCESS OF LIGHT (G V Woodruff) M Mienie 58.0 – 85
10 – 2 CHANCES ARE (J A Soma) F Naude 58.0 – 80
Same Trainer: (2,7) (5,6)