Saturday sees the running of one of the first traditional preps for the Gr1 Cape Guineas. The Gr3 Cape Classic, sponsored this year by the Drakenstein Vet Clinic, has an impressive list of previous winners, with all of Jay Peg (Camden Park), Red Ray (Western Winter), Act Of War (Dynasty) and Solo Traveller (Western Winter) among the past Classic winners who have gone on to taste subsequent Gr1 success.

The 1400m Classic has a wide open look to it this year, with Gr3 Langerman winner Table Bay (Redoute’s Choice) the top rated runner. A winner of three of his five starts to date, Table Bay was a creditable third when making his seasonal reappearance at Durbanville. He does have to give weight away to the whole field however –although riding arrangements suggest he is the pick of the four Mayfair Speculator owned runners in the race.

Our Mate Art (Artie Schiller) looked hugely promising as a two-year-old, having won first time out before being close up in both the Gr3 Cape Nursery and Gr3 Langerman –when appearing to need more ground.
The second highest rated runner in the Cape Classic, Our Mate Art (who has a merit rating of 95) receives 5kgs from Table Bay –having finished just a neck behind him in the Langerman. Last time out he finished 3.45 lengths behind Sergeant Hardy (Captain Al) over 1200m at Durbanville –and he should have come on from that run. Looks a big runner here.

Trainer Brett Crawford has three runners in the race, with the Crawford representatives being Edict Of Nantes (Count Dubois), Boldly Respectable (Bold Silvano) and Sunset Eyes (Western Winter). The latter has a lot to do and is coming off a maiden win, and he appears the third string to the Crawford bow.

Edict Of Nantes, well drawn in barrier four, appears to be a progressive three-year-old, having won his last three on the bounce, but does not face an easy task here, as he has to give away weight to all but Table Bay. However, the 1400m trip should suit him. Stable mate Boldly Respectable has done nothing wrong in his brief career thus far and impressed when beating older horses at Durbanville last time out. He is, however, taking a big jump up in class here.

Le Harve (Var), who represents the deadly Justin Snaith yard, has been expensive to follow since winning impressively on debut and tries the 1400m trip for a first time. His stable mate, Turbulent Air (So You Think) is promising, and has won two of his four outings, but appears like he could be looking for further. However, the well related Australian could well have the class to put up a big effort here.

Highly rated Elevated (Elusive Fort), who looked a little unlucky not to win last season’s Listed Somerset 1200, was second on his 1400m debut last time out when conceding plenty of weight to an older rival.

Vaughan Marshall’s representative, Elusive Path (Pathfork) is another with no stamina doubts having already won over the 1400m trip. A winner of his last two on the bounce, Elusive Path unfortunately is cursed with a poor draw of ten which is unlikely to improve his chances.

Veteran trainer Dennis Drier is always to be respected but his representative, Lee’s Star (Western Winter) does look to have it all do here. The lowest rated horse in the field, Lee’s Star will be making his Cape debut here and has not won since breaking his maiden on polytrack in April.

 Image of Table Bay from Joey Ramsden Racing Stables