Saturday will see the first leg of the 2017 Winter Series, the Gr3 Highlands Stud Winter Guineas, take place at Kenilworth over 1600m.
This race has been won by some outstanding horses in years gone by, most notably Horse Of The Year champions Pocket Power and Variety Club, and was won by subsequent Equus Champion Marinaresco last year.

Fourteen 3yos have been declared for Saturday’s R250 000 contest, with Gr1 Investec Cape Derby fourth Newlands (High Chaparral), the highest rated horse in the contest and preceded his Derby run with a good second to subsequent winner Horizon (Dynasty) in the Gr3 Cartier Politician Stakes. He is, however, drawn wide out at 12 for Saturday’s race and is making his first start since his good Derby run.

His stable mate I Travel Light (Mambo In Seattle) is the only 3 time winner in the race and impressed a few starts back when a close second to the top class Gold Standard (Trippi) in the Listed Racing Association Stakes. He was not disgraced when beaten just over three lengths by the outstanding William Longsword (Captain Al) in the CTS Mile last time out, but riding arrangements ,however, suggest Newlands is the preferred one of the Ramsden pair.

The ever game Elevated (Elusive Fort) would be a runner on his fourth to William Longsword in the Gr1 Grand Parade Cape Guineas but has been well held at his last two outings and needs to recapture his better form to feature here.

Justin Snaith saddles two in the Winter Guineas, with his African Night Sky (Dynasty) unfortunately drawn widest of all at 14. Turbulent Air (So You Think), in contrast, is drawn nicely in two, and with Anton Marcus up, could well be a runner –he has won his only outing over a 1600m and could be a dark horse here.

Candice Bass-Robinson is another trainer well represented here –she has no fewer than four runners here, with all of Our Mate Art (Artie Schiller), Ollivander (Silvano), Rinjani (Choisir) and Candid (Elusive Fort) representing the yard. Highest rated of the Robinson runners is last season’s promising 2yo Our Mate Art, who unfortunately has a poor draw of 13 to overcome. If jockey Aldo Domeyer can overcome the draw, Our Mate Art would be a definite contender. Politician Stakes third Ollivander would have a shout on his effort behind Horizon and Newlands, while Rinjani was not disgraced when second in the Listed East Cape Guineas last time out. Candid looks to have a tough task at the weights.

Loadshedder (Gimmethegreenlight) bids to give both his in-form trainer Andre Nel and hot young sire yet another feature race winner. He reeled off two wins on the bounce before finishing third to Gyre (a subsequent winner next time out).
Perovskia (Russian Sage), who has made just two starts, faces a massive jump in class coming off a maiden win. While the runner up is yet to win, Perovskia did beat subsequent dual winner Twilight Trip (Trippi) when breaking his maiden.

One time winner Mangrove (Ideal World) looks outclassed at the ratings and is poorly drawn, while Best Nut Ever (Horse Chestnut) was well held last time out and is having his first run over 1600m.