Heavenly Blue and Furiosa are vying for favouritism at the top of the sponsor’s boards for the R1-million Betting World Gauteng Guineas (Grade 2) over 1600m at Turffontein on Saturday.

The Gauteng Guineas is the joint first leg of the SA Triple Crown, which is worth R2 million to a horse who can win the Cape Guineas or Gauteng Guineas, the SA Classic over 1800m a month later and the SA Derby another four weeks later.

Heavenly Blue, one of three runners from the Mike de Kock stable, is currently board topper at 7-2. The Australian-bred grey is the joint top-rated runner in the 10-horse field alongside stablemate Janoobi but has drawn widest of all.

Another Australian-bred runner, Furiosa is to be ridden by the Sean Tarry stable’s first choice S’manga Khumalo. He was always in control last time out, when beating Amsterdam by two lengths over 1800m on the Inside track last time out.

His stable companion, unbeaten Al Sahem, is third favourite. He has not raced for 79 days but is an unknown factor in this class of field and must have lots of room for improvement.

De Kock and Tarry also saddle the fourth and fifth favourites, Janoobi and Matador Man respectively.

Betting World Gauteng Guineas betting: 7-2 Heavenly Blue, 15-4 Furiosa, 4-1 Al Sahem, 9-2 Janoobi, 5-1 Matador Man, 8-1 Doosra, Unagi, 10-1 Chili Con Carne, 25-1 Daffiq, Tilbury Fort.

– TABNews