Anthony Delpech rides promising Australian-breds in both the Triple Crown and Triple Tiara races at Turffontein’s big Guineas day meeting this Saturday and admits  both have tough tasks.

He rides the Kumaran Naidoo-trained Princess Varunya in the Gr 2 Wilgerbosdrift Gauteng Fillies Guineas from a draw of nine and said, “Kumaran has placed her very well, so she hasn’t had to beat much. This is her first time against this class, so we will have to wait for the race to see whether she is up to it. It’s a bit short for her, but she is going for all three legs, so had to run in this one.”

Delpech believes the likely favourite Negroamaro is going to be very hard to beat.

Princess Varunya (Nkosi Hlophe)

Princess Varunya, as a strongly-built, long-striding daughter of Epsom Derby winner High Chaparral, will love the galloping nature of the Turffontein Standside track as well as its long straight.

This beautiful looking bay filly has won her last four on the trot from 1900-2000m and has done it easily, so is without doubt the dark horse in Saturday’s race.

She was defeated three times in the Maidens over 1600m, but wide draws, immaturity and unsuitably tight tracks looked to be more responsible for the defeats than anything else.

Meanwhile, Negroamaro flew late last time out to finish a neck second in the Gr 3 Three Troikas Stakes over 1450m and will relish the step up in trip. However, the overall form of the three-year-old fillies crop this season is uninspiring to date and the Cape’s Silver Mountain is the only one who has stood out. Therefore, an unexposed horse like Princess Varunya has to be more respected than would normally be the case.

Delpech rides the Mike de Kock-trained Magic Albert gelding Suyoof in the Gr 2 Betting World Gauteng Guineas, where he has to overcome the widest draw of all, 16.

He said, “He is a nice horse but being drawn badly it’s going to be very hard. Abashiri is a nice horse and New Predator and Brazuca are the others who look good but this is a very hard Guineas.”

Suyoof was narrowly defeated by the more experienced Brazuca when making his debut over 1200m, but he followed up with three wins on the trot from 1160m to 1450m, including the Listed GVSC Communications Secretariat Stakes over 1400m on the Turffontein Standside Track and the Gr 3 Tony Ruffel Stakes over 1450m on the Turffontein Inside track. He quickened well in both the latter races and on each occasion held off a challenger gallantly.

De Kock believes he will stay the 1600m, although his sire was a sprint-miler and his dam’s two wins were over 1400m, so there is plenty of speed in the pedigree.

By David Thiselton