Jockey Anton Marcus has landed two top rides for the Johan Janse van Vuuren stable on Guineas Day. Marcus will be riding Brazuca in the R1-million Betting World Gauteng Guineas and Negroamaro in the R500,000 Wilgerbosdrift Gauteng Fillies Guineas at Turffontein on Saturday 27 February. Both races are Grade 2 events.

The Gauteng Guineas is the joint first leg of the SA Triple Crown which carries a R2-million bonus for any runner capable of winning the Cape or Gauteng Guineas over 1600m, the Grade 1 SA Classic over 1800m and the Grade 1 SA Derby over 2450m in the same season.

The Wilgerbosdrift Triple Tiara carries a R1-million bonus and goes to any filly who can win the Cape or Gauteng Guineas, the SA Fillies Classic and the SA Oaks.

Van Vuuren has a strong hand in both races as he has New Predator to back up Cape Guineas and Cape Derby runner-up Brazuca. Stuart Randolph has the ride on New Predator.

However, the horse they might all have to beat is Abashiri from the Mike Azzie yard. The son of Go Deputy is in top form currently and unlike the other two who have drawn at Nos 10 and 11, Abashiri, to be ridden by Karl Zechner, jumps from barrier No 3.

It is interesting to note that trainer Sean Tarry did not declare Prospect Strike as a runner in the Guineas. The son of Toreador was making his first appearance in 201 days and Tarry would have been forced to make the declaration before his charge ran on Thursday. Prospect Strike has also been entered in the Grade 2 Hawaii Stakes on the same day and Tarry has until Tuesday to make a final decision.

Prospect Strike finished third in a Graduation Plate over 1000m at the Vaal on Thursday, 5.75 lengths behind Seattle Lady.

Negroamaro has drawn No 5 in the Fillies Guineas and on paper looks hard to beat. However, KwaZulu-Natal-based trainer Kom Naidoo will fancy the chances of Princess Varunya who has won her last four starts but those were over 1900m and 2000m. She could be a Triple Tiara contender if she can win the Fillies Guineas.

Final field and draws for the R1-million Betting World Gauteng Guineas (Grade 2) (1st Leg SA Triple Crown) over 1600m at Turffontein on Saturday 27 February.

1 – 3 ABASHIRI (M G Azzie) K Zechner 60.0 – 109

2 – 10 BRAZUCA (J A Janse van Vuuren) A Marcus 60.0 – 109

3 – 11 NEW PREDATOR (J A Janse van Vuuren) S Randolph 60.0 – 107

4 – 6 CHAMPAGNE HAZE (G M Alexander) A Fortune 60.0 – 106

5 – 13 ROCKETBALL (G H van Zyl) M Yeni 60.0 – 103

6 – 16 SUYOOF (M F de Kock) A Delpech 60.0 – 103

7 – 1 MUWAARY (M F de Kock) C Murray 60.0 – 102

8 – 15 ROMANY PRINCE (O A Ferraris) B Fayd’Herbe 60.0 – 101

9 – 8 LE CLOS (M G Azzie) M Thackeray 60.0 – 99

10 – 4 LUNAR APPROACH (S G Tarry) S Khumalo 60.0 – 95

11 – 2 CELTIC CAPTAIN (G H van Zyl) B Lerena 60.0 – 94

12 – 9 LIEGE (S G Tarry) J P van der Merwe 60.0 – 93

13 – 7 RIKITIKITANA (S G Tarry) C Zackey 60.0 – 93

14 – 5 MALAK EL MOOLOOK (S G Tarry) M van Rensburg 60.0 – 91

15 – 12 OLE GUNNAR (P V Lafferty) K de Melo 60.0 – 87

16 – 14 CORAL FEVER (R R Sage) R Danielson 60.0 – 79

Same Trainer: (1,9) (2,3) (5,11) (6,7) (10,12,13,14)

Final field and draws for the R500,000 Wilgerbosdrift Gauteng Fillies Guineas (Grade 2) (1st Leg Wilgerbosdrift Triple Tiara) over 1600m.

1 – 5 NEGROAMARO (J A Janse van Vuuren) A Marcus 60.0 – 104

2 – 2 SHE’S A DRAGON (C Mayhew) R Munger 60.0 – 101

3 – 13 JUXTAPOSE (S M Ferreira) C Maujean 60.0 – 98

4 – 9 PRINCESS VARUNYA (K Naidoo) A Delpech 60.0 – 98

5 – 6 HEAPS OF FUN (S G Tarry) S Khumalo 60.0 – 95

6 – 4 PERSIAN RUG (M F de Kock) B Lerena 60.0 – 94

7 – 14 FROSTY FRIDAY (G H van Zyl) M Yeni 60.0 – 93

8 – 10 LALA (D I Campbell) I Sturgeon 60.0 – 92

9 – 15 MELLIFLORA (M G Azzie) M Thackeray 60.0 – 90

10 – 8 CRYSTAL GLAMOUR (G M Alexander) A Fortune 60.0 – 88

11 – 11 ALEXA (G V Woodruff) R Danielson 60.0 – 87

12 – 7 KHONZA (W H Marwing) C Murray 60.0 – 87

13 – 17 JUNGLE MIST (M G Azzie) K Zechner 60.0 – 85

14 – 12 BELLA SONATA (G H van Zyl) C Zackey 60.0 – 84

15 – 3 CHRISTMAS CAROL (G V Woodruff) B Fayd’Herbe 60.0 – 83

16 – 1 PENNY SERENADE (M G Azzie) J P van der Merwe 60.0 – 82

17 – 16 POLYPHONIC (A G Laird) R Simons 60.0 – 82

Same Trainer: (7,14) (9,13,16) (11,15)

RELEASED BY: PHUMELELA GAMING AND LEISURE LIMITED