In the Gr 2 Wilgerbosdrift Gauteng Fillies Guineas he leans towards Siren’s Call as his leading contender, but would not discard any of Tamanee, Trophy Wife or Bichette as things have gone well for all of them. Siren’s Call touched off Trophy Wife last time out in the R2,5 million Cape Thoroughbred Sales Book 2 Graduates Race over 1400m at Turfontein, but did get jostled on the turn and also showed that she would palpably prefer further. She and the continually improving Tophy Wife have both come out of that race well.

Tarry reckoned Trophy Wife ran to about a 90 in the sales race, but she remains on an 84 merit rating, as he has decided not to take the optional penalty in case she flops in Saturday’s race and reverts to handicaps.

Tamanee won well over course and distance last time out during a deluge and is now rated 97, while Tarry felt that the 93 merit-rated Bichette, being out of a Badger Land mare and being a half-sister to Woolavington winner Viva Maria, would relish the step up in trip. In Bichette’s previous two starts she first won well over 1400m and then finished a 3,5 length third to Fillies Guineas contender Sensible Lover in the Gr 3 Three Troika Stakes over 1450m. She will be 2kg better off with Sensible Lover, but will be 5,5kg worse off with runner-up Lazer Star, despite being beaten 3,3 lengths. There is rain forecast through to Saturday this week and Tarry believes that softened ground might affect the chances of Trophy Wife in this race.

The yard run the classy trio Zambezi River, Imperial Gold and French Navy in the Gr 2 Betting World Gauteng Guineas. Tarry said that Zambezi River had been “quiet” in the week before the Gr 1 Grand Parade Cape Guineas, where he finished a 6,2 length fifth, and believed it may well have been a “flat run.” He said that this Trippi colt needed to be tried again  to tell whether he had not stayed the Guineas 1600m trip, especially in the light of his good finish before that to win the R2 million Lanzerac Ready To Run Stakes over 1400m.

Imperial Gold ran on well to finish fourth in the Cape Guineas and then finished eight lengths back in the Gr 3 Politician Stakes over 1800m, also at Kenilworth. However, Tarry said that considering he had been brought for his run down the wrong side in the latter race and was carrying joint-topweight and had also over-raced, the run might not have been as bad as it seemed. He should also appreciate the step back to 1600m. Imperial Gold was scratched from his last intended start in the Tony Ruffel, but has “come good” since then and has been working well.

French Navy will be the only one of the trio to go for all of the Triple Crown races. Tarry said, “I am leaning towards Zambezi River as he is a much better work horse than Imperial Gold. French Navy is a much better racehorse than he is a workhorse and is improving all the time.”  Zambezi River is indeed a magnificent looking specimen and would not be a surprise winner and neither would the good-looking Imperial Gold, although the pair to beat will be the Investec Dingaans winner Unparalleled and the Dingaans and Cape Derby runner-up Harry’s Son.

Tarry has Whiteline Fever and Halve The Deficit in the Gr 2 Hawaii Stakes and said, “Whiteline Fever loves the course and distance and I am disappointed about his draw as I would otherwise have been upbeat about his chances. Halve The Deficit ran a really good race last time over course and distance and I am running him here to see whether I can run him in the Horse Chestnut or not. Both horse won’t mind the sting  out of the ground.”

Tarry felt that the Gr 3 Acacia Handicap over 1600m is  typically tough and is just glad to have three contenders, Enchanted Silk, Elusive Spirit and Amber Orchid, who are all “doing well.”

He also has three runners in the Listed Aquanaut Handicap over 2450m, the six-year-old Baracah and the pair of four-year-olds Orchestrated and Gold Bank. He said, “Baracah is drawn nicely and has come down in the weights. Gavin Lerena has won on him before. If the two younger horses stay they could be exciting and they have given me the impression that they will stay. Orchestrated was an immature horse, but is now getting his act together. Gold Bank is 2kg under sufferance but can overcome it as he has improved a lot since gelding.”

Tarry has 18 runners on the day and should be in the winner’s enclosure at some stage.

The 94 merit rated Kileigh is drawn eight in the Fillies Guineas with Bernard Fayd’Herbe up and Van Zyl said, “We’re happy with her gallops. Things didn’t pan out for her in the Fillies Mile so we are drawing a line through that run and rather judging her on her previous runs and her last run.”

Kileigh reeled off a hat-trick between June and October last year from 1400m to 1600m and has a fine turn of foot from off the pace.

Last time out over 1400m at Turffontein she turned for home near the back in a small field and after being sat on until the 400m mark she initially appeared to be a touch outpaced after the horses had gone for home. However, she fought back and was doing her best work late to finish a 1,5 length second to the Fillies Guineas contestant Bichet.

She will clearly appreciate the step up to 1600m and will be 6kg better off with Bichet.

In her run before the Fillies Mile in the Gr 3 Starling Stakes over 1400m, she made little inroads from behind and finished 9,25 lengths behind the mighty Majmu, and that outing also suggested that she needed further.

Kileigh could be an interesting outsider to fill a trifecta or quartet position on Saturday and will also be one to consider in the Gr 1 SA Fillies Classic over 1800m next month.

Van Zyl said about the improving Classic Flag  gelding Qatar Springs, “This race is up in class and he is entering unchartered waters, but he did win with 61kg on his back in heavy going (over 2400m at Scottsville) last time. He is only carrying 53kg on Saturday and hopefully the going will be lighter. This will be a run to see where we go with him. Travelling to altitude for a distance race is always a risk. He will arrive at Turffontein on Thursday.”

Qatar Springs settled beautifully in the Scottsville race and despite being squeezed for a stride or two in the straight managed to fetch the promising stayer Crime Victim, to whom he gave 1kg, with a telling finishing effort.

Van Zyl had fine success with the like of Seal in Gauteng and KZN staying races, so knows a thing or two about preparing them over this distance. MJ Byleveld rides from draw nine.

Van Zyl also has a lively chance with the Seul Amour gelding Heart Of A Lion in the fourth race, a Pinnacle Stakes race over 1800m.

He said, “He was a little bit unlucky in the Gr 3 London News Stakes as he was drawn badly, missed the kick and was squeezed. He was doing his best work at the finish and was only 3,5 lengths back with excuses.”

Van Zyl’s two-year-old Captain Al colt Redcarpet Captain is on track for the Gr 1 SA Nursery, via the Ruffian Stakes, after producing a superb finishing burst to win a competitive Juvenile Plate on debut over 1000m. His Warm White Night filly Miss Nightingale also won on debut on the Greyville  polytrack last Sunday. On Tuesday at the Vaal the yard’s Lion Tamer colt Richiethelionheart finished a decent third on debut and earlier they had a second on debut with Ashaawes filly Well Dressed at Scottsville and a third in that same race with the Ideal World filly Work Ethic.

Both horses have been at Turffontein for about a month, so will have had plenty of time to see the course and acclimatise to the new environment.

Bass’s assistant trainer Robert Fayd’Herbe said about Ashton Park, “He has settled in nicely and is doing well enough.”

Fayd’Herbe added that horses’ first runs at altitude were normally fine, but can take a lot out of them, so it was the second runs that were often the worrying ones, unless there had been sufficient recovery time This will be both Ashton Park and Readytogorightnow’s first runs on the Highveld.

Snaith said about Readytogorightnow, “His work has been good and he has acclimatised well, I just would have liked a better draw.”

Ashton Park showed his class when running three wide in the Gr 2 Lanzerac Le General Green Point Stakes yet still finishing second and followed with an unlucky fifth in the Khaya Stables Diadem Stakes over 1200m. He was then a decent 3,3 length sixth in the L’Ormarin’s Queen’s Plate – a race run at a crawl – that he looked at one stage that he might steal from the front, as he led for much of the straight.

Readytogorightnow was beaten 2,1 lengths by Ashton Park in the Green Point, but earlier had beaten him by 1,25 lengths over the 1400m trip of the Hawaii, despite conceding 0,5kg. He is in fact unbeaten in two starts over 1400m this season. The Queen’s Plate was deliberately avoided with a Johannesburg campaign in mind, so he will likely be a touch fresher than Ashton Park.

However, one reason Readytogorightnow would have preferred a better draw than eleven in the 14 horse field is that he appears to have quite a short run in. He will need cover for a good portion of the long Turffontein straight, so jockey Bernard Fayd’Herbe will need to tuck him in rounding the bend, which could be tricky from that draw. On the plus side there should be a good pace with the like of Chekilli and Chestnut’s Rocket in the line up.

Snaith said about the tactics, “I will leave it to Bernard.” Ashton Park is drawn seven and top jockey Anthony Delpech, who has plenty of experience of the Turffontein Standside course, will be a big bonus.

Ashton Park and Readytogorightnow are both merit rated 108 and are officially the joint best weighted horses in the conditions event.

The Hawaii Stakes is a conditions event and the joint best-weighted horses are the Mike Bass-trained Ashton Park and the Justin Snaith-trained Readytogorightnow.

Ashton Park was raised from a 101 merit rating to 107 after finishing a 3,5 length second to Legislate in the Gr 2 weight for age Lanzerac le General Green Point Stakes over 1600m despite running three wide. He was then a highly unlucky fifth in the Gr 2 Khaya Stables Diadem Stakes over 1200m, which earned him another point, and last time out he ran a cracker in the L’Ormarin’s Queen’s Plate.

His optimum trip is likely Saturday’s 1400m and he is drawn nicely in seven. Altitude shouldn’t be a factor over a 1400m trip and he has Anthony Delpech up, which is a big bonus as this top jockey has plenty of experience of this track and will know exactly when to press the button.

Sabadell was a gangly type as a youngster, but has grown into his frame and is improving continually. From a good draw with Strydom up he can get into his favoured handy position and stay on strongly.

Lockheed Jetstar has a good turn of foot and could well relish this trip, so will be a player too from a nice draw.

Readytogorightnow was beaten about two lengths by Ashton Park in the Green Point, but the last time they met over this trip Readytogorightnow gave the latter 0,5kg and beat him by 1,25 lengths. This More Than Ready gelding has in fact won both his starts over this trip this season and the Queen’s Plate was deliberately avoided with Johannesburg in mind, so he will be nice and fresh. He does have a tricky draw of eleven, which means he might have to be dropped out as he looks a type with quite a short run and will need cover in the early part of the long straight.

Whiteline Fever defends his crown and will have come on from his decent comeback from epistaxis. He has a wide draw to contend with, but does have a decent turn of foot so can come from off them.

Halve The Deficit has quite a tough task at the weights, but is perfectly drawn in pole for his handy style and is sure to make a bold bid.

Bezanova has come into his own and ran on strongly from a handy position when winning the Peermont Emperor’s palace Charity Mile. He would prefer the 1600m trip, but is interesting running fresh here, although he has a tough draw.

Chestnut’s Rocket has a tough task on paper but has always been well regarded and could be dangerous from the front over his optimum trip. However, Chekilli will also be trying to make all and this pair could tire each other out up front.

The best has probably not yet been seen of Sovereign Mint. He has a fine turn of foot and this is a trip he loves, but it is his comeback run and he is widely drawn.

Those mentioned are the ones that make most appeal. The Gr 3 Acacia Handicap for fillies and mares over 1600m is always one of the toughest races of the season to assess and this year is no different.

The enigmatic Amber Orchid could be the one to side with as she has everything in her favour with a nice draw and handy galloping weight.

The in form Whatalady should be included, while Mike de Kock’s charge Maria Theresa probably did not enjoy the testing going when last running over course and distance in the Fillies Mile and if the going is faster she could be a threat. Euphoria and Be Mine Tonight both have good draws over this suitable trip and will also likely be involved in the finish. De Kock’s Will I Do has shown glimpses of class and will appreciate the step up in trip from her last run.

Aki Bua has always been well regarded and showed that staying is his game last time out, so he could be the one to beat in the Aquanaut Handicap. Savage Wind is only 0,5kg under sufferance and is a good stayer on his day so has a chance with this light weight from a nice draw. However, just about any one of the runners could win it, so it is probably wise to go wide in this race.

The Australian-bred colt by Haradasun was taken to Greyville last Friday for a gallop. He sat in behind two horses and passed them as if they were standing still in the straight drawing clear in effortless fashion and crossing the line about ten lengths clear.  His rider in the workout, apprentice Nicholas Patel, “couldn’t believe” how well he had quickened.

Harry’s Son will begin his journey from Summerveld to Johannesburg at midnight on Friday.

He has drawn reasonably well in eight in the nineteen-horse field and regular rider Piere Strydom will be aboard.

This is only one position inside of the draw over the same course and distance he had in the level weights Gr 2 Investec Dingaans, where he was beaten 4,25 lengths by Unparalleled.  The latter was drawn three that day and has landed another plum draw of two in the Guineas.

However, the Lafferty team are hoping there is not a repeat of the deluge which turned the Dingaans into a mudbath. They believe the sticky ground was the reason he could not find the necessary extra that day having moved up well.

Harry’s Son was flown down to Cape Town for the Cape Guineas but the journey did not go according to plan. He stood on the tarmac at King Shaka airport in Durban for about three hours due to a “hiccup.” Furthermore, the flight was also a two-legged one as it stopped over in Port Elizabeth. Lafferty was still full of praise for the organisers of the flight who did everything to ensure the comfort of their precious equine passenger. Interestingly one of the pilots of the boeing 737 was the former Summerveld trainer Dylan Cunha, who knows a thing or two about horse care. Harry’s Son over raced early in the Cape Guineas, which was out of character, so did well to still finish runner-up, just 1,75 lengths behind Act Of War.

Lafferty mentioned Unparalleled and MLJet as the main dangers on Saturday, but added that he had “great respect for the others” too.

MLJet has been disappointing this season but has recently been gelded and could begin fulfilling the potential he showed as a two-year-old, which included a 0,25 length third to Harry’s Son in the Gr 1 Premier’s Champion Stakes.

Other notables in the field are Anjaal, Mutamakkin, Belong To Me, Zambezi River, French Navy, Imperial Gold, Captain’s Tune and the only unbeaten horse in the field Amsterdam.

Anjaal dead-heated with MLJet in the Premier’s and obviously needed his seasonal reappearance two weekends ago when staying on for a 3,75 length fourth in a Novice Plate over 1600m of the inside track. The Guineas might come a little soon but he is a striking looker and could play a part.

Mutamakkin gave the impression last time out when a 0,3 length second to Belong To Me in the Gr 3 Tony Ruffel Stakes over 1450m that he would relish a step up in trip. However, he was receiving 2kg, so has no easy task on Saturday.

Belong To Me’s class is not in question, but he has a stamina doubt and looks safely held by Harry’s Son on the form of the Gr 3 Graham Beck Stakes over 1400m.

Zambezi River was beaten into fifth in the Cape Guineas, about 4,5 lengths behind Harry’s Son, but had excuses. Trainer Sean Tarry believes that was not his run.

French Navy looks to have scope and was only beaten 1,25 lengths by Harry’s Son in the Dingaans, although that means he has 5,5 lengths to find on Unparalleled.

Imperial Gold could be a threat if repeating his Cape Guineas fourth, where he was ahead of his more fancied stablemate Zambezi River.

Amsterdam has only had two starts and after winning his debut over 1600m at the Vaal, he came out and beat older horses cosily over the Gauteng Guineas course and distance in a handicap, running off an 83 merit rating. He strikes as still being immature so should continually improve.

Last year’s winner Louis The King came into the race unheralded, despite having previously won three out of four starts, and went off at 15/1. Geoff Woodruff’s entry this year, The Captain’s Tune, is almost as interesting. He was fancied for the Lanzerac Ready To Run Stakes, but just as he was poised to strike he appeared to want to run in behind another horse and became difficult to control.

He wasn’t given the opportunity to repeat this antic when leading from start to finish over the Gauteng Guineas course and distance in his penultimate start and beat older horses in a handicap by 3,25 lengths off a merit rating of 88. Next time out he ran in a deluge so wasn’t disgraced in second behind the known mudlark Earl Of Derby. The Captain’s Tune could be the dark horse on Saturday.