Negroamaro is 14-10 favourite in early betting for the joint first leg of the Wilgerbosdrift Triple Tiara while you can write your own ticket about Crystal Glamour.

“I don’t say Crystal Glamour can beat Negroamaro. She’ll be hard to beat because she’s obviously such a smart filly. But Negroamaro might be looking for a touch further and it’ll depend on the pace. If she fluffs her lines, my filly has as big a chance as any.

“Crystal Glamour is a beautiful horse who packs a lot of class and, the way she’s been working, I think she’ll definitely finish in the first three,” said Alexander.

“Draw a line through her last run because she was drawn very wide in the Three Troikas Stakes and didn’t get cover. She over-raced three deep all the way round the turn and just ran out of steam. She’s drawn midfield this time so things will be easier.”

This two-time winner from four career starts finished 14th behind Madame Dubois in that race – her worst run yet. Alexander points to an earlier race as key to her chances. That was in the Bloodstock SA Ready To Run Cup in October when Crystal Glamour finished a neck second to Lineker over 1400m. “That was a very good run in only her second start,” said Alexander.

This will be her first race over further than 1450m but Alexander believes she will get the trip easily and, depending on how she comes out of the Fillies Guineas, will probably even enjoy the 1800m of the Wilgerbosdrift Fillies Classic in early April.

That race forms the second leg of the Wilgerbosdrift Triple Tiara, with the Wilgerbosdrift SA Oaks on Champions Day as the final race in the series. “We’ll take it one step at a time,” said her trainer. “These races are hard for some of these young horses.”

Alexander has the fourth favourite in the R1-million Gauteng Guineas, Champagne Haze – a 6-1 chance behind Brazuca, Abashiri and New Predator.

This three-time winner beat top-class Rabada by three lengths in the Emperors Palace Ready To Run Cup in a time that equates to about three lengths faster than Lineker won the Bloodstock SA Ready To Run Cup over the same course and distance on the same day in October.

Then rested, he needed his comeback run and he did well last time out in the Tony Ruffel Stakes, finishing a 0.50-length second to Suyoof, who he meets now on 2kg better terms.

He is slightly better drawn this time, while Mike de Kock’s runner has drawn out wide at No 16, and Alexander said: “Champagne Haze has come through his preparation well. So far, so good. With a bit of luck in running he’ll also finish in the first three.”

Alexander believes 1600m might be Champagne Haze’s optimal trip, although he did suggest the other two legs of the SA Triple Crown, the SA Classic over 1800m and the SA Derby over 2450m, would not be out of the question if his charge did well in this race.

“We’ll take it one race at a time with him, too,” said the Turffontein-based trainer.

In the Acacia Handicap (Grade 3) at the same meeting, Alexander will send out Shepard One, who he thinks will be well suited to the 1600m. “She’s a runner,” he said.

He also believes his charge The Elmo Effect has a “place shout” in the Aquanaut Handicap (Listed) over 2450m.

The final fields for the Hawaii Stakes, the Acacia Handicap and the Aquanaut Stakes will be finalised tomorrow. (TABnews)

Gauteng Guineas betting: 28-10 Brazuca; 7-2 Abashiri; 5-1 New Predator; 6-1 Champagne Haze; 8-1 Muwaary; 10-1 Suyoof; 14-1 Rocketball; 16-1 Lunar Approach, Liege; 20-1 Romany Prince, Le Clos; 25-1 Celtic Captain; 33-1 Rikitikitana; 40-1 Malak El Moolook; 66-1 Ole Gunnar, Coral Fever.

Gauteng Fillies Guineas betting: 14-10 Negroamaro; 6-1 She’s A Dragon; 9-1 Princess Varunya; 10-1 Polyphonic; 12-1 Frosty Friday, Alexa; 14-1 Juxtapose; 16-1 Penny Serenade; 22-1 Heaps Of Fun; 25-1 Khonza, Bella Sonata, Christmas Carol; 28-1 Melliflora; 33-1 Persian Rug, Crystal Glamour, Jungle Mist; 40-1 Lala.