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Posted 2014-12-17 22:00:14  
ACT OF WAR LOOKING TO WIN GUINEAS BATTLE

The Gr 1 Grand Parade Cape Guineas, to be run over 1600m at Kenilworth on Saturday, is long established as one of the country's great races and a cursory look at the roll of honour over the decades will throw up such names as Politician, Empress Club, Horse Chestnut and Variety Club. That's just a random selection and emphasises what famous footsteps the 2014 winner will be attempting to follow in.

This year's edition has attracted a quality field and brings together three particularly exciting prospects in the form of (in merit rating order) Harry's Son, Act Of War and Zambezi. River. Choosing among them is no easy task but the leading hometown hope, Act Of War, may just have edge over this course and distance.

Act Of War was overshadowed by stablemate Kingvoldt (who also takes his place here) in the early stages of his juvenile career but, by the end of last season, had established himself as trainer Joey Ramsden's (pictured) leading 2-year-old, winning the Langerman and Winter Juvenile Stakes in facile fashion. Rested for just over three months, he made a brilliant start to the current season when conceding 4.5kg to MLJet in the Cape Classic and getting up to beat him in the closing stages, following that up with a comfortable win in the Selangor Cup. All told, he has won five of six starts, his sole defeat coming on debut, is well drawn and will get maximum assistance from jockey Bernard Fayd'Herbe. This is by far his toughest test to date, but the way he has gone about his business thus far suggests he is the one they will have to beat.

Zambezi River came to Cape Town last month with a big reputation and he duly lived up to it with an impressive - and lucrative - win in the Lanzerac Ready To Run Stakes over 1400m at this track. His is now unbeaten in three starts and one can only guess how much improvement there may be still to come. It remains to be seen whether he gets a mile and, apart from facing a stronger field here, he jumps from a wide draw, having had the run of the race from pole position last time out. Having said that, he showed a decisive turn of foot when the pressure was on last time out and he looks a serious racehorse in the making.

Harry's Son is the highest rated runner in the race and has plenty going for him. He was a worthy winner of the Equus award for champion juvenile colt last season, having contested all three Gr 1 events for his age group during the winter and finishing with a 3-3-1 record, his victory coming in the season-ending Premiers Champion Stakes over this trip. Like Act Of War, he kicked off the current season with a superb weight-carrying performance, winning the Graham Beck Stakes over 1400m, but was then somewhat disappointing when labouring into second behind outsider Unparalleled in the Dingaans over a mile at Turffontein. He may simply have had an off-day on that occasion and it would be foolish to underestimate his chances here, especially with jockey Piere Strydom in the irons. However, travelling down in the aftermath of a tough race in the Dingaans, and going left-handed for the first time, are both factors that will pose their challenges. With his two main rivals having prior experience of this track, he will have to be at his absolute best to stop them.

While Act Of War appears the clear stable elect, Ramsden does have two other contenders in the race, neither of whom can be be ignored for trifecta and quartet purposes. Kingvoldt, as mentioned, looked to be his stable's leading light in the juvenile ranks last season before briefly losing his way but he stormed back to form with a very creditable second in the Selangor Cup. He seemed to relish the step up to a mile that day and while it's hard to see how he can reverse the form with stablemate Act Of War on identical terms here, he has every chance of making the placings.

Brutal Force ran a cracker in the Lanzerac Ready To Run Stakes, having expended plenty of energy to beat a wide draw that day. Unfortunately he has once again drawn awkwardly, but so has his Lanzerac conqueror Zambezi River and there could be a lot less between the pair this time around.

MLJet finished off last season with a storming third in the Premiers Champions Stakes, despite coming from a near-impossible position at the top of the straight and running around somewhat in the closing stages. Many would have had him pencilled in as an early Guineas fancy based on that run but he is comfortably held by Act Of War on their two meetings this season and looked rather one-paced when a distant third to that one in the Selangor Cup. He may yet bounce back but the jury is out at present and he has to overcome a dreadful draw here.

Light The Lights has been close enough to the likes of Harry's Son, MLJet and Premier Trophy winner Dynamic to suggest he can sneak into a minor placing here from a good draw if things go his way and some of the more fancied runners fluff their lines.

Balance Sheet has shown some promise but looked well held on his fourth in the Selangor Cup and his time may come later in the season.

The rest of them look to be up against on bare form in a race where Act Of War looks the one they have to beat, with Zambezi River and Harry's Son the main threats.  MLJet is proving to be an enigma but he could give them a fright if he can overcome a wide draw.

Earlier in the day, the long-distance specialists get to take centre-stage in the Gr 3 Summer Stayers Handicap over 2500m. Gold Cup winner Wavin' Flag finished off last season as one of the most improved horses in training and he comes into the race on the back of an excellent fourth to Louis The King in the Summer Cup, where he would have found the 2000m trip on the sharp side. Provided his travels to and from Johannesburg have not taken too much out of him, he should be hard to beat here.

Dynastic Power enjoyed the step up to 2400m when winning the Winter Derby last season and has been brought along quietly in three starts this term. He's handily weighted and finally returns to a staying trip. He looks a big runner here.

Gothic is due a win after going close in three staying features already this season and could turn the tables on Putney Flyer who beat him in the Kenilworth Cup over 3200m last time out but is now 3kg worse off.

Tribal Dance has had his share of problems but has the class to win in this line-up if he regains his best form while River Crossing, the J & B Jet Stayers winner, also has obvious claims at his bets but will be tested under top weight of 60kg.

Current Event is in top form, having reeled off a hat-trick, but now needs to show he can reproduce that level of form in graded company, while Surruptitious is seldom far off them and is worth inclusing in larger permutations.

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