Premiers Champion winner Eyes Wide Open misses the Cape Classic to go for the mile Pinnacle when racing returns to Kenilworth on Saturday.

Glen Kotzen said: “It’s partly because of his wide draw but also he would have had to give 5kg to much of the field in the Classic – and it’s only a prep race so why kill him? Also he would prefer a mile – seven furlongs is too short for him.”

Eyes Wide Open (Candiese Marnewick)

Ancestry, beaten half a length in the Greyville Grade 1, was also not declared for the Classic but entered for the Pinnacle. However Joey Ramsden said on Saturday that the colt will not run, citing a lack of grass gallops.

Richard Fourie rides the supplemented Sir Frenchie but Justin Snaith reckons stable companion Cot Campbell could be the one, saying: “He will be a big runner at the weights. He has a good draw and a good jockey (Grant van Niekerk). We’ve got Tap O’Noth to beat.”

Top weight Dutch Philip faces a massive task, giving away a minimum of 5kg and nearly twice that to the Sean Tarry filly Rockin Russian who was only beaten half a length in the Thekwini.

In the Western Cape Fillies Championship the champion trainer’s Thekwini fourth Desert Rhythm renews rivalry with the winner of that race Lady In Black. Both have wide draws and penalties to overcome whereas the unbeaten Magical Wonderland races off the standard 58kg and is reasonably drawn at seven.

By Michael Clower