The US$500 000 CTS Mile for three-year-olds at Kenilworth’s big Sun Met meeting will throw male vs female form together and also Cape Town vs Johannesburg form. However, the impressive William Longsword looks the one to beat and the two biggest challengers could be the fillies Just Sensual and Safe Harbour.

William Longsword (Liesl King)

William Longsword won the Gr 1 Grand Parade Cape Guineas in impressive style from a wide draw. The 0,5 length runner up in that race, Gold Standard, gives him the stamp of approval. Gold Standard had won the Gr 2 Selangor Cup in his previous start also over 1600m and had relegated the deemed unbeatable Table Bay to a 2,65 length third.

There were some excuses made for Table Bay afterwards, but the Guineas confirmed the form almost exactly, as Gold Standard beat Table Bay by 3,25 lengths. The Guineas win also confirmed William Longsword’s 4,9 length sixth in the Selangor to not be his run. The form of the Guineas is already working out well and this says a lot as the front two were dominant.

William Longsword is a rangy Captain Al colt with a big action. He also has a lovely temperament, relaxes well in the running and has a superb turn of foot. MJ Byleveld rode a fine race in the Guineas and was able to overcome a high draw of 13. Anton Marcus now takes over and William Longsword might find it easier to overcome a 12 draw this time as it is a weaker field than the Guineas.

Safe Harbour (Liesl King)

Safe Harbour can also be described as rangy and has had an outstanding summer in Cape Town. She won the R2,5 million CTS Ready To Run Stakes over 1400m and beat  four horses in that race who went on to run in the Cape Guineas. She was then touched off by Just Sensual in the Gr 1 WSB Cape Fillies Guineas and was also touched off by the champion older filly Bela-Bela in the Gr 1 Maine Chance Paddock Stakes over 1800m. She has a better draw than William Longsword, seven, and Weichong Marwing remains aboard.

However, Just Sensual could well confirm the Cape Fillies Guineas form, especially as she will come into the race fresher. She also has the legendary Frankie Dettori aboard. On the downside, she has to overcome a draw of 18. However, she was also drawn wide in the Cape Fillies Guineas and had to run wide into the straight. Despite that she still found the necessary extra to beat Safe Harbour, who had the advantage of a number two draw.

Anton Marcus prefers William Longsword to Just Sensual and this swings it in the colt’s favour. It could well be William Longsword’s last run before going to stud, so it will be a good race to win.

The dark horses look to be the relatively unexposed African Night Sky and the filly Epona, although the latter would probably prefer further.

By David Thiselton