Alistair Cohen

The first Grade 1 in Cape Town this season will be held at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth today. The World Sports Betting Cape Fillies Guineas has attracted a lineup of different backstories and horses coming through various avenues to have their tilt at big race glory. The only horse in the field that has tasted Grade 1 success is the Alan Greeff-trained Golden Palm. South Africa’s Champion Two-Year-Old Filly of last season is the horse they all need to beat.

Last season, she conquered Johannesburg with the Grade 2 Wilgerbosdrift SA Fillies Nursery. She conquered her home turf in Gqeberha without any fuss but her noteworthy win came in Durban when saluting in the Grade 1 Douglas Whyte Stakes. Her appetite to travel has been proven. One must remember that her stable companion Anotherdanceforme had a similar profile but her trip to Cape Town last month was a disaster. She reportedly travelled poorly which was documented in the Stipes Report.

Golden Palm has had a run under her belt since winning the Grade 1 at Hollywoodbets Greyville in July. She had an exercise gallop at Fairview in late October when she smashed All Systems Go by 6,75 lengths. To add further impetus behind that win, All Systems Go ran third in the Grade 2 Jackpot City Dingaans at Turffontein last weekend in a mammoth performance behind two stars in Trust and Jan Van Goyen.

Keagan de Melo is back in the country and trainers are taking advantage of his return. He has a full book of rides this weekend across the country. He is carded to take the ride on Golden Palm.

Keukenhof was the eyecatcher in the Grade 2 Western Cape Fillies Championship over 1400m last month when she did good late work to finish third, 1,55 lengths behind her stablemate Princess Of Gaul. The deep draw of No 12 is a concern but she gave the impression that this extra 200m would be to her strengths. Her turn of foot could make her a danger.

Plenty are talking up the chances of Reet Petite and rightfully so. She has taken the low road into this Grade 1 by running against possibly weaker handicappers but the education she would have gained is invaluable. She has won three races on the spin and she has been impressive whenever she turns up at the track. This is her biggest test to date. Richard Fourie has the ride. He is obliged to ride for Ridgemont as their retained jockey.

Quickstepgal would be an underdog story of note. Trained by Tienie Prinsloo who inexplicably has a small string based at Summerveld in KwaZulu-Natal. Her local introduction was pleasing when she finished fourth behind Princess Of Gaul, Lowveld Lily and Keukenhof but she should relish the extra trip and she should be better for the run under her belt. Gavin Lerena takes the ride.

The first of three features on the card is Race 5, the Listed WSB Club Prive Cape Summer Stayers Handicap over 2500m. There are plenty of chances. Ahead Of The Facts impressed when winning the Listed Woolavington over the same course and distance last month. He took a commanding 2,5-length win over Master Of Paris. With only 52,5kg on his back, he must have every chance to back up his victory. Congressman has 2,9 lengths to turn around with Ahead Of The Facts but he is 1kg better off. He must be considered as does the established long-distance campaigner, Triple Time.

The Grade 3 World Sports Betting Southern Cross Stakes over 1000m is always wide open. A chance is taken on She’s My World who showed her mettle to win the Grade 3 Schweppes Diana Stakes over 1400m at Hollywoodbets Durbanville in October. She has always given the impression that she is most comfortable in sprints and this race could show how far she has possibly come.

Green Diamond is the first Sean Tarry-trained runner to hit Cape Town this summer. She is an excellent filly and she would not be a shock winner. She has not been seen since July so her fitness is a valid query.

Unbeaten Direct Hit won at stakes level in Cape Town as a two-year-old before her Grade 1 victory in the Allan Robertson Fillies Championship at Hollywoodbets Scottsville. She definitely has the class to be dangerous.

All cliches and disclaimers apply in race 1 over 1000m. Catwalk King ran a fair race on debut over 800m when fifth behind Querari Dancer. With experience on her side, he could take a huge step forward. Watch the market for his rivals. It would not take a superstar to feature.

Loving Prague was touched off in his last run and he looks due to go one better in race 2 over 1200m. He was turned over by Umzingeli Wenyathi with a 4kg claim on his back. There was only a neck between them at the wire. His improvement from his first start to his second was assuring that he is on the right track. He seems to have found the right opening to exit the maidens.

Give It Laldy turned up at the track on debut with a big reputation. He ran a bold race in defeat when he finished a 1,25-length second behind Foudre at this course over 1200m. He is back over the same track and trip in race 3. He should take a power of beating. Richard Fourie takes the ride for Lucinda Woodruff.

Some highly thought of youngsters are under the spotlight in race 4 over 1800m. Note To Self and Miami Summer are both reported to be targeting the Grade 1 Lucky Fish Cape Derby in February. Note To Self seems one run ahead of the curve for the time being, while Miami Summer is having his post-maiden appearance. Drawn deepest in No 9, Note To Self gets the services of De Melo for Justin Snaith.

Delta Pride galloped with See It Again last week, which must be a good sign that he was asked to keep pace with the multiple Grade 1 winner. Delta Pride lines up in race 8 over 1200m and he must have a good winning chance. His post-maiden run was a pleasing 1,5-length second behind Prince Of Tibet who is a Hollywoodbets Durbanville specialist. He won his maiden in September in the manner of a horse who has plenty of progress to come. He is the horse to beat.

Kattekwaadkwadraad is an intriguing horse to follow in the coming months. Feature races in Cape Town are possibly coming too soon for her because she is very wet behind the ears but she won her maiden at the second attempt like a horse with plenty to come. She was green and hesitant and ran away from her rivals and she still won by 2,5 lengths over 1400m. If she is ready to take on older opposition is the question she needs to answer but she could have enough to come to win race 9 over the same distance.

Pink Pigeon is tipped to win race 10 over 1000m with very little conviction. There are plenty of chances. Trainer Justin Snaith has documented that she is a filly to keep an eye on at a certain level and she showed that she could have a few wins in the tank after her last run when she finished third behind Disting in the Listed Laisserfaire Stakes over 1100m last month. She gets the useful 4kg allowance of Sifiso Bungane without which, she would have to carry 63,5kg.