Magical Wonderland has only been beaten once in five starts but, by common consent, the 4-1 second favourite has it all to do in the World Sports Betting Cape Fillies Guineas at Kenilworth on Saturday – and her trainer is no exception to the general belief.
“Justin Snaith’s filly is going to be hard to beat and we have over four lengths to make up,” acknowledges Candice Bass-Robinson who played a key role in Silver Mountain’s success two years ago. There just might be stamina problems too if the pace is searching.
“I think a mile is her limit,” the Milnerton trainer continues. “But she is very well in herself and she is drawn well so we can hope.”
Stable companion Rings And Things is the 50-1 rank outsider. “She’s a long-shot but she is a hard-knocking sort and her form out of the maidens is pretty consistent. If she runs a place we will be happy.”
Dutch Philip, a star juvenile, has been considered more of a sprinter by his stable and he is 8-1 to prove the point in the WSB Cape Merchants – “He is doing very well, he will enjoy the trip and he must have a shout.”
Seemingly, though, it’s the last chance saloon for Tevez, twice a winner of this race, once second and fifth last year. “He is getting on and he didn’t run so well on his first run back. If he doesn’t shape up I am going to retire him.”
No horse has won this with 62kg in the past 16 years at least but then much the same was said about Marinaresco before the July. “This is a gallop before the Queen’s Plate and it will be a bit sharp for him but he will run well.”
Edict Of Nantes (Liesl King)
You can get 15-1 about Our Mate Art in the WSB Green Point and the four-year-old’s trainer is being realistic – “If he beats two home he will be doing well.”
Brett Crawford, who runs the hat-trick seeking 12-1 chance Love Supreme in the Fillies Guineas, provides strong three- handed opposition to 11-10 favourite Legal Eagle in the WSB Green Point Stakes – most notably with Edict Of Nantes who is 28-10 second favourite.
Will he confirm the recent Pinnacle placings with Captain America (5-1) and Sail South (8-1)? “There is no reason why he can’t – I feel he has come on since that race,” is the in-form trainer’s answer.
And can he beat Legal Eagle? Crawford carefully considers the question before giving his answer: “Legal Eagle is a top horse, he has never been beaten over a mile and he is rated 123 whereas Edict is on 113 so on paper it’s going to be difficult – but they don’t race on paper!”
Search Party won last year’s WSB Cape Merchants with 52kg and now he has 59.5kg yet he is 5-1 second favourite. Can he do it? “He is a big horse, he can carry the weight and I think he is a huge runner.
“Al Mariachi (8-1) is in top form but he is a little bit under sufferance. Coming back to six furlongs is a little bit on the short side for Black Cat Black (15-1) but he comes into it off bottom weight and has a chance of running into the money.”
By Michael Clower
