Prestic went close from a poor draw in last year's edition of the Garden Province Stakes (Gr 1) and Gavin van Zyl's mare could go one better this time around when she once again lines up for this prestigious 1600m contest at Greyville on Saturday, writes Mark Anthony.

A model of consistency throughout her career, Prestic was rested for seven months after finishing third in this race in 2009 but has looked as good as ever since her return. She was conceding 3.5kg to Milk And Honey when going down narrowly in the Acacia Handicap over this trip and followed up with a creditable second in the Gr 1 Empress Club Stakes, also over a mile, where she had the misfortune to bump into an in-form Mother Russia. Her class got her through in the Gerald Rosenberg, despite the 2000m in wet going appearing to stretch her somewhat and she warmed up for the Garden Province with a respectable fifth in the Tibouchina Stakes last time out. She will prefer the step up to a mile here, is drawn in pole position and could provide young Aldo Domeyer with a notable big-race triumph here.

There are plenty of dangers, of course, as this is traditionally one of the most competitive races on the card on July day and one horse who rates an obvious threat at her best is Captain's Gal. Sean Tarry's charge has stamped herself the best sprinting filly around but is versatile enough to go this trip and in fact kicked off 2010 with a hugely impressive win in the Flamboyant Stakes over this course and distance. She was not disgraced when staying on for fourth in the Mercury Sprint behind sprint superstar J J The Jet Plane. The problem she faces is the draw, which proved her undoing in the Tibouchina Stakes two runs back. If she can get across into a good position, then she is a big threat here.

There is a strong 3-year-old challenge this year and, almost inevitably, it is spearheaded by trainer Mike de Kock who sends out two well-performed fillies in Here To Win and Flirtation. Here To Win already has a Gr 1 victory under her belt, having shared the honours in the SA Fillies Classic and she ran on well for second in the recent Gold Circle Oaks. Stablemate Flirtation is lightly raced but has shown good improvement with each run, finishing just behind Here To Win in the Oaks last time out. They both have to contend with awkward draws and may prefer a bit further to be fully effective, but they still have scope for improvement and it wouldn't be a huge surprise to see either of them taking a hand in the finish.

Glen Kotzen's Imperious Star was a brilliant winner of the Woolavington Stakes, her first Gr 1 win, and followed up with a fair fourth behind River Jetez in the Gold Bracelet. She is another one who may prefer a bit further these days but she is dangerous if allowed to dictate the pace and a bold showing could be on the cards if she gets to the front early.

There are three other 3-year-olds in the race. Secret Babe has some good form around this trip, having finished third in the KRA Fillies Guineas and also the KZN Breeders, the last run coming from a dreadful draw, but she still needs to step up a notch to make an impact here. Tassie Belle has run well since coming to KwaZulu-Natal this winter but needs at least another furlong while Tree Of Perfection looks outclassed.

Moving back to the older brigade, Autumn Gold has finally found some consistency with a string of good recent efforts, chasing home River Jetez in a Pinnacle Stakes and then running a cracker behind Gibraltar Blue in the Tibouchina Stakes, before scraping home in a Conditions race. A repeat of that Tibouchina effort would bring her right into the reckoning here.

Precedent is holding form very well and showed she cannot be underestimated when coming from last to run second behind River Jetez in the Gold Bracelet. She has shown a distinct liking for this trip and could make the frame if not undone by a terrible draw.

Justin Snaith's pair of Sparking Gem and Dance With Al both have ability, with the former having gone desperately close to winning this race last year. They haven't looked at their best in KwaZulu-Natal thus far this winter and both have some question marks having over them. A return to their best form would, however, give them a chance of making the frame there.
Kiribati pops up from time to time and while it's a stretch to see her actually winning this, she is quite well drawn and could sneak into a place if she's in a galloping mood while Mochachino has also shown flashes of form recently and may have an outside place chance at her best.

Lady Windermere capped a fantastic season by winning this race last year but has been beset by problems this year and is hard to fancy on current form.

Mitra completes the line-up and she is another one who seems to have had a few setbacks after having shown some early promise and it is going to take some serious improvement for her to be competitive here.