Gold Circle Pty (Ltd)

Today's Racing :

Sidera reaching for the stars

Turffontein hosts four graded feature races on a 12-race card on Saturday and anyone who enjoys the Sport of Kings should make their way to the Johannesburg south venue to see true thoroughbred talent in action.
Although the only Grade 1 race on the programme is the Empress Club Stakes which is carded as the seventh event of the day, the two captivating events of the day are the three-year-old clashes over a mile, the Grade 2 Gauteng Guineas and the Grade 2 Gauteng Fillies Guineas. The fillies edition of the three-year-old Classics is up first and here trainer Mike de Kock appears to hold all the aces. The glob-trotting conditioner saddles no less than six of the carded 16 fillies in the R500 000 contest, including the only unbeaten runner in the field, the Australian-bred daughter of Galileo, Sidera. With just three runs under her belt some might feel that she lacks a little experience, but when one considers that one of her three runs was the Group 3 Fillies Mile over the course and distance, there is little to fear in the experience department. There is obviously also very little to fear from the distance and she has a perfect draw at barrier four, equating to what could be the best bet of the afternoon. Not only does she have all of the above mentioned factors in her favour, but Sidera also has the measure of the majority of this field on her run in the Starling Stakes which she won by nearly two lengths. The imported filly is already rated 99 and this appears to be a mark well below what she is capable of and she looks set to show that and secure the first leg of the Triple Tiara. The battle for the second prize looks set to be bagged by champion trainer Charles Laird’s Generous Anna, yet another Australian bred. This daughter of General Nediym ran Sidera to three parts of a length in the Fillies Mile and if she can repeat that performance here she looks set to make the second berth her own. The second of the three-year-old Classics is the Grade 2 Gauteng Guineas which has a purse of R1-million for which 15 youngsters will be vying. Topping the list of potential winners is trainer Gary Alexander’s Pierre Jourdan. This son of Parade Leader has won four of his five career starts, the most recent being the Tony Ruffle Stakes in which he defeated Galileo’s Galaxy, Echohawk and Curved Ball. That effort was, to say the least, surprising and impressive. Surprising because the two Laird imports appeared to have the form and class to beat the local bred and impressive in the manner in which the gelding won. Pierre Jourdan is a very athletic son of Parade Leader and although this is his first attempt at the mile, he should have little trouble with it and, if anything, should enjoy the extra.The Alexander runner has drawn well at barrier 3 and rider Derreck David need only repeat his last performance aboard the youngster to secure his fourth win on the gelding. Galileo’s Galaxy was beaten by Pierre Jourdan in the Tony Ruffle by a neck but was receiving 2kg from the latter. One may argue that the 1400m distance of the Tony Ruffle did not ideally suit the Cape Guineas and Dingaans runner-up and that may well be the case, but tomorrow he now meets Pierrer Jourdan at level weights which makes this a very tough ask. Charles Laird’s runner is obviously a classy individual and it would be foolish to ignore his chances and he must be included in all exotic bets. Of the remaining runners Nyakatho deserves mention. This inmate of the Ernie Anderson yard was hammered in the Dingaans but came back with a vengeance in his last outing when he ran Dingaans winner Curved Ball to half a length over 1800m at the course in the Sea Cottage Stakes last month. The gelding need only repeat that effort to secure owner Ivan Snyman a healthy stakes cheque and establish himself as one of the best of his generation.

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