MIKE de Kock, who is in Cape Town to oversee the preparation of his Saturday runners at Kenilworth, says that the smart grey Heavenly Blue’s wide draw in Saturday’s Gr1 Grand Parade Cape Guineas at Kenilworth is a big concern for the stable.

Heavenly Blue, second in the Gr3 Graham Beck Stakes and the Gr2 Dingaans, will have to jump from gate 15 (of 16 runners), and Mike said on Wednesday morning: “Statistically we have almost no chance of winning the race from that draw. “

Mike said that Heavenly Blue had travelled well and that his work was very good: “He’s had a good preparation, he is in good nick and his condition makes us optimistic, but the draw takes the optimism away.”

Heavenly Blue.

Heavenly Blue will be fitted with blinkers for the first time and Mike commented:  “I have a feeling that Heavenly Blue needs to mature and that he’ll be a better horse over 2000m, but we’ll be trying the blinkers to get him to show more enthusiasm early.”

Bold Rex faces a small field in the Sun International Premier Trophy (Gr2) over 1800m and Mike said: “He has the right rating and I think he is up to the task, he will run well.”

Stayer Smart Mart will be going for a successive win in Cape Town – he will contest the Gr3 Cape Summer Stayers over 2500m and Mike said: “He was penalised for his 3200m win last time, but he is well, he still has a handy galloping weight and should be competitive. I think the 2500m will suit him even better.”