The nine races carded for Kenilworth on Saturday will be topped by the day’s main feature, the Gr3 Vasco Taverna Prix Du Cap.
Run over 1400m, the Prix Du Cap was won last year by Cuvee Brut (Count Dubois), while previous winners of the contest include Equus Champions Hammie’s Hooker (Trippi) and Mother Russia (Windrush).
Fourteen fillies and mares will line up in Saturday’s R250 000 contest, and much attention will be focused on the clash of Gr1 World Sports Betting Cape Fillies Guineas winners Silver Mountain (Silvano) and Just Sensual (Dynasty).
Silver Mountain, winner of the 2015 Cape Fillies Guineas, has not won a race since beating Our Destiny (Var) in that race and was a bit disappointing last time out when fifth (from the widest draw of all) in the Gr1 Klawervlei Majorca Stakes. However, if Silver Mountain repeats her penultimate run when a close third to champion Bela-Bela in the Gr1 Maine Chance Farms Paddock Stakes, she could well defy her top weight of 60kgs here.
Her year younger counterpart Just Sensual (Dynasty) was another forced to cope with a wide draw last time out when 11th out of 15th behind William Longsword (Captain Al) in the CTS Mile last time out.
Well drawn, and with Anton Marcus up, Just Sensual looks a massive runner here if repeating her win over Safe Harbour (Elusive Fort) in the recent Cape Fillies Guineas.
Ever game filly Goodtime Gal (Royal Air Force) is set to get blinkers for this race, after appearing to idle in front last time out. A smart third in the Gr1 Klawervlei Majorca Stakes last time out sees the four-year-old at the peak of her game. But Goodtime Gal does have a wide draw to overcome which won’t make things easy for her.
Trainer Brett Crawford, who won this race last year, saddles two here, with stable jockey Corne Orffer aboard Alexis (Dynasty). The latter, a former Gr2 KRA Fillies Guineas/Gr2 Tibouchina Stakes winner, is a classy sort on her day but has been well beaten in her recent outings and finishing one from last in the Gr1 Majorca Stakes last time out.
Second of the Crawford runners is Beach Goddess (Kildonan) had consistent form before finding either the opposition too hot or the 1600m trip to far when finishing only 11th of 16 in the Majorca. Downin trip (she is yet to win over 1400m but has finished second), Beach Goddess could well make her presence if the leading contenders fail to fire.
Silver Mountain’s trainer Candice Bass-Robinson will also saddle Come Fly With Me (Jet Master), Miss Marker (Var) and Whose That Girl (Gitano Hernando) in Saturday’s race. Come Fly With Me was not disgraced when five lengths off stable mate Live Life (Trippi) in the Gr2 Cartier Sceptre Stakes and should enjoy the 200m extra of Saturday’s race.
Miss Marker appears to have a tough task at the ratings, while 3yo Whose That Girl ran a good race when just over three lengths off Gr1 Grand Parade Cape Guineas winner William Longsword (Captain Al) last time out, but has a wide draw off 11 to overcome here.
Trainer Justin Snaith saddles A Time To Dream (Dynasty) and Gimme Six (Gimmethegreenlight) here, with the former (who has to overcome a 14 draw) having ground to find with all over Goodtime Gal, Silver Mountain and Captain’s Flame on their last meeting, and the latter is taking a huge leap in class having just won a MR 82 handicap last time out.
In-form trainer Andre Nel has his string firing on all cylinders at the moment and he saddles Captain’s Flame (Captain Al), who was a little unlucky in the Gr1 Klawervlei Majorca Stakes last time out. The former Gr3 Diana Stakes winner had to be steadied in running –but still managed to get within 3.6 lengths of the victorious Nightingale (Silvano).
A filly who relishes 1400m, Captain’s Flame is well drawn and could be the dark horse of the race here.
One time winner Nutbush Citilimits (Horse Chestnut) looks outclassed, while her stable mate Can Cope (National Emblem) drops back in trip after finishing one from last over 2000m last time out.
Former Irridescence Stakes winner Anglet (Biarritz) has been well beaten in her recent outings and needs to improve here.
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