The first graded race on Saturday’s star studded card, the Gr2 The Debutante has a really open look to it. 

Thirteen 2yo fillies will go to post for this 1200m event, which sees the Justin Snaith trained filly The Merry Widow the most accomplished filly in the race.

A daughter of dominant 2yo sire Captain Al, The Merry Widow has won three of her five outings, with her victories including both the Listed East Cape Nursery and Listed Perfect Sprint. Last time out she was sixth (from the widest draw of all) in the G2 Golden Slipper and a better draw should make The Merry Widow a big runner here.

However, there are a number of lightly raced or debut winners in this race, and they could well be better than their exposed form suggests.

One to fall into this category is the Var filly La Revere, who won first time out by three parts of a length over 1000m. The filly she beat was unplaced when running in the Golden Slipper next time out and it is difficult to assess quite how strong that formline is. However, this well bred filly’s trainer Dennis Drier is unlikely to tilt at stars.

Trainer Duncan Howells, who has a fine record in 2yo filly features, sends out two runners here, including recent KZN Yearling Sale Million winner Lunar Rush. It is hard to know quite how strong the form of the Million was with a number of contenders having never won a race, but Lunar Rush could only win and she won with a fair bit in hand.

Her stable mate is Var’s daughter A Womens Way, who beat subsequent facile winner Anime when making a winning debut. Not seen out since, A Womens Way takes a step up in trip and class, but could be anything.

Silvano filly Arissa ran a cracker when third in the G2 SA Fillies Nursery but was well held (when stepping up in trip) last time out. Interesting her shrewd trainer Alec Laird has opted to drop the filly back in trip to 1200m. Weichong Marwing takes the ride, and Arissa could be an interesting contender here.

Australian filly Mygirldownunder looked very special when winning by nearly five lengths on debut. She was well held by subsequent G1 Allan Robertson Championship winner The Secret Is Out in the G3 Strelitizia Stakes but perhaps deserves another chance. However, a shocking draw of 13 won’t make her life easy here.

Trainer Glen Kotzen (who saddles two here) has already enjoyed 2yo graded success in KZN this season and his runners include Trippi’s Girl (who appears to be the stable elect). A fair third on debut, the daughter of Trippi improved well to win over 1200m next time out and is drawn well here. None of the first three behind Trippi’s Girl when the latter won, have run since, so assessing the form is tricky, but this well bred filly has a good draw and clearly must rate a chance in what looks a wide open race.

Another daughter of Trippi to line up here is the Sean Tarry trained Water Lily Lake, who beat subsequent G2 SA Fillies Nursery winner Fursa when making a winning debut. Off the tracks for six months, she was a beaten favourite when third last time out, but may have needed that run. From a very powerful yard, Water Lily Lake is another who could be better than her bare form suggests. However, a widish draw of 11 won’t help this Chris Van Niekerk owned filly.

Riding sensation Lyle Hewitson gets the ride on Shebang. The latter, a daughter of G1 SA Derby winner Greys Inn, won first time out at odds of 40-1 but was well beaten subsequently by the promising Safe Harbour. She drops back to 1200m but is another with a wide draw.

The likes of Flash Fire, Shizam, Zadora (last in the Golden Slipper last time out) and maiden Roy Is Second appear to need to improve to feature here.