Snowdance is well-nigh impossible to oppose in tomorrow’s World Sports Betting Fillies Guineas after the way she demolished half this field in the Western Cape Fillies Championship.

True, she has an extra furlong to travel and Justin Snaith has voiced the possibility of stamina doubts over this distance and the more testing summer course. But she did make all the running last time and apparently she doesn’t have to do it that way. “She will be just as good coming from anywhere,” Bernard Fayd’Herbe said last week.

Lady In Black (Candiese Marnewick)

There were a lot of hard luck stories behind – as Glen Kotzen pointed out in this paper yesterday – and you could certainly see some of those who suffered bad luck or interference finishing closer. But reversing the placings? Almost certainly not.

Recent history also points to Snowdance. Only once in the last seven years has the Western Cape Fillies winner been beaten in the Fillies Guineas. Two didn’t run but the other four all completed the double. In addition tomorrow’s race is a good one for favourites who have won five of the last seven runnings.

The handicappers have the four immediately below her in the racecard rated within two lengths, indicating that the outcome could be a lot closer than impression might suggest. Lady In Black (12-1) is a Grade 1 winner but 4-1 second favourite Magical Wonderland was beaten fair and square and 33-1 shot Rockin Russian has a diabolical draw.

If there is to be a shock Via Seattle at 12-1 just might provide it. Although a Port Elizabeth horse, she went to Johannesburg to stun the locals by winning the Starling Stakes at 66-1. She had Silver Thursday (12-1) a length and three-quarters behind and Mike de Kock thinks so much of that one that he has put her in the Met.

If you think Snowdance is vulnerable and too short at 13-10 but you can’t decide which one of the others to back, the sponsors will give you 6-10 the field. Snaith is evens to train the winner, Candice Bass-Robinson 7-2 with 12-1 and upwards all the others. However, and surprisingly, the winning margin is odds-on to be less than a length

WSB make Legal Eagle 12-10 favourite to become the first dual winner of the WSB Green Point Stakes since Pocket Power. The Sean Tarry star has never been beaten over a mile so it makes sense to stick with him, particularly as he ran so well on his reappearance.

Gold Standard (Liesl King)

It could well be a different story in the Sun Met over a distance at which he is vulnerable, especially given the way Edict Of Nantes won that star-studded 1 400m Pinnacle three weeks ago. Piere Strydom’s mount is 28-10 second favourite but at this stage the advantage surely still lies with the Eagle.

Gold Standard (9-1) will probably need one more run to reach his peak but 2015 winner Captain America should go close at 6-1.

The WSB Cape Merchants has not been won by a three-year-old in the past 16 years but Dutch Philip has been heavily backed and his price has tumbled from 8-1 to 9-2 favourite in the last three days. He seems sure to run well but the history of the race suggests that it is not that simple.

Search Party 12 months ago was the first winning favourite since 2001 and he was only joint favourite. In truth, the Merchants is a desperately difficult race in which to find the winner.

Cuban Emerald is suggested each way at 25-1. He won pulling up on his last start in August and Justin Snaith promptly put him away for this so that the gelding would not risk his handicap mark. It was a bold approach, one reminiscent of the great trainers of a bygone era. If he pulls it off, they will be doffing their hats from their graves.

By Michael Clower

There are likely to be plenty of losing tickets in the Win-if-you-Lose boxes at Greyville tonight where punters face a tricky card. That said, the rewards will be great if you back a winner or find the right combinations in the exotics. Failing that, you get a second chance if your losing ticket wins you one of the R30 000 worth of prizes on offer on Prize Nite.

Turffontein-based Paul Peter is in town for the evening with five runners and given his current form he is unlikely to return home empty handed. However, his five runners all face strong local opposition so it will not just be a case of smash-and-grab.

Arabian Beat

Of all his runners, Arabian Beat looks the most likely to land the spoils especially after the scratching of the crack three-year-old Trojan Harbour (not eating up). Older runners with some mileage on the clock often take to the poly surface and the five-year-old makes his poly debut in the Sachin Bharat Handicap. He also brings some consistent Highveld form into the race and although he steps up in class he has the benefit of a handy weight and a pole position draw.

Keagan de Melo is a regular pilot for Peter and has partnered Arabian Beat in his last two starts on the Highveld. He also rode Trojan Harbour at the colt’s seasonal debut so if you believe in conspiracy theories!

Prince Ponti and Midnight Messenger look the most likely to fight out the Jazmin Hawkesworth Qualified Maiden. Prince Ponti has been disappointing but was not far back when making his seasonal debut racing in pacifiers. Charles Laird’s runner will appreciate the step up in trip and also jumps from an inside gate. The draw could prove to be the Achilles heel for Midnight Messenger who will be dodging cars on Marriot Road but he gets the benefit of Anthony Delpech and with Anton Marcus aboard Prince Ponti we could be in for an intriguing tactical battle.

Winning first up out of the maidens is never easy but recent maiden winners Regent Seven and Slightly Scottish get the opportunity in the Docter Ngoyo Handicap although they will be up against it. Both made steady improvement leading up to their wins but Regent Seven strikes as the more progressive and landed an inspired gamble when shedding his maiden.

But the list of possible winners is a long one with the Peters-trained Seventh Of June in the line-up along with Plymouth Rock, Spanish Captain and Waltzed Home all in with good chances.

It could be Delpech against Marcus again in the Rebecca Saneka Handicap as Gadget Man comes up against Air Chief Marshall. Gadget Man made a cracking local debut when slamming course and distance specialist Fire The Rocket. This was the first run on the poly for Dean Kannemeyer’s charge and bodes well as he steps up to what looks to be a more preferable trip this evening even though he takes a rise in class.

However, Air Chief Marshall has been improving steadily and looks cherry-ripe for this encounter. His last two outings were over course and distance and a drop in class is also in his favour.

Of the balance, Graduate was well supported on debut and won with the minimum of fuss. He could be anything but that form does appear to be a little suspect. Kings Empire, Late Autumn and Scrabble are others that warrant attention.

By Andrew Harrison

In last year’s Grade 1 WSB Cape Fillies Guineas a relatively unexposed horse, Just Sensual, came from handicap form against older horses and beat the horses who had Graded form against their own age, so Saturday’s race is far more open than the betting suggests.

The favourite Snowdance overcame a wide draw to lead from start to finish in the Grade 2 Western Cape Fillies Championship (WCFC) over 1400m. She loped along in front before displaying a fine kick and it was race over. She was allowed an easy lead and Magical Wonderland was stuck in midfield before running on well. The latter will not be caught napping again on Saturday and there is little in it.

Both have good draws but both fillies have stamina concerns on pedigree, although Magical Wonderland’s racing style suggests she will stay the trip.

Lady In Black (Candiese Marnewick)

Mayfair Speculators retained jockey Anton Marcus is not aboard Magical Wonderland, but instead rides stablemate Rings and Things, who is amazingly the biggest outsider in the betting despite running on in eyecatching fashion last time out in a 1400m handicap. She is now having her third run after a layoff from a good draw of eight.

Silver Thursday caught the eye staying on strongly in the Grade 3 Starling Stakes over 1400m last time out at Turffontein. Subsequent form points to the runner up Folk Dance having needed the run. However, Silver Thursday will relish this trip on pedigree. She jumps from last year’s winning draw of 12.

PE raider Via Seattle won the Starling Stakes, but unlike Silver Thursday has a slight stamina doubt on pedigree.

Lady In Black won a Grade 1 over this trip as a two-year-old. The form of that race is muddled, but it should be taken into account that the race did not pan out for her. In the WCFC she was caught hopelessly wide but should come on a lot from the race and now has a good draw of five.

Love Supreme is by Silvano out of dual Grade 1-winning miler Thunder Dance and this big, strong, long-striding sort must have a big shout from draw nine as she was still green when winning comfortably over this trip last time off an 82 merit rating.

Lanark is in a similar mould and won well from the front in a handicap last time.

Midnight Moonlight also won well in a handicap over 1700m coming into this race.

Long-striding Oh Susanna had no luck in the WCFC but stayed on in eyecatching style.

Elusive Heart beat Snowdance two runs ago and if settling better than she did in the WCFC has a shout.

Rose In Bloom stayed on from a handy position in the WTFC but has a tough draw now.

Fresnaye needs further and Princess Peach might not stay. Too Phat Too Fly looks held and Rockin Russian has to reverse form with Lady In Black from the widest draw of all.

Love Supreme and Oh Susanna are hard to separate and are taken for the boxed exacta ahead of Lady In Black, Silver Thursday and Snowdance.

By David Thiselton

Glen Kotzen is expecting a good run from Gold Standard in Saturday’s WSB Green Point even though last year’s Cape Guineas runner-up has only had one run since finishing fourth in the Sun Met.

Kotzen said: “We galloped him at the course last Wednesday, we are really pleased with him and he is ready. I think he will give them all a run for their money.”

Gold Standard (Liesl King)

Interestingly the Woodhill trainer, who won the 2011 Fillies Guineas with Princess Victoria, believes the Snowdance form just might be a little suspect, reasoning: “There were so many hard luck stories that I’m just wondering about it even though Snowdance is obviously a very talented filly.”

He runs 25-1 chance Too Phat To Fly – who was fourth to Snowdance in last month’s Grade 2 test – as well as 40-1 shots Princess Peach and Elusive Heart who is the only horse ever to have beaten Saturday’s favourite.

He said: “Too Phat To Fly worked like a steam train on Tuesday and I’m expecting her to run a super race. We think a lot of Elusive Heart who was caught wide in the Western Cape Fillies. I’m not quite sure whether Princess Peach will get the mile but, if she does, she will be competitive.”

Joey Ramsden, in the winner’s box with Just Sensual 12 months ago, is under no illusions about the chances of a follow-up – “Snowdance looks pretty special and Rose In Bloom (16-1) has a lot do from draw 15. She is certainly Grade 2 material but it’s a tough ask.

“Fresnaye (50-1), though, has a lovely draw and the new course will suit her. She wants a bit further but she could surprise and run into a place.”

Ramsden expects both 10-1 shot Attenborough and Brutal Force (14-1) to run well in the Cape Merchants, saying: “Brutal Force always needs one run and he has had that while Attenborough ran a great race last time. On his day he is the real deal.”

By Michael Clower

It’s rare for Mike de Kock to run horses in Kenilworth maidens and so punters seem sure to seize on Afdeek in the Bradbury Finance Maiden at the Cape Town course tomorrow.

The Australian-bred has twice gone close at the Vaal in races over 1 200m and the booking of Bernard Fayd’Herbe underlines the impression that the maestro means business. The only drawback is the price because World Sports Betting opened the gelding at 11-20 yesterday and the chances of him easing to a more backable even money are just about zero.

Mike De Kock

Second favourite at 22-10 is newcomer Power Of Peace. This Dynasty colt is a well bred sort and Joey Ramsden has shown a few times this year that he is not averse to having a horse ready to collect first time.

The Glen Kotzen-trained The Goon Show is interesting at 7-1 as he was an encouraging third to Red Eight in the middle of the month and looks an obvious danger.  However Milden Spell (10-1) has been off since January.

Another stand-out is Billy Silver in race nine, not least because Anthony Delpech is in town for just this one ride. Sadly Dennis Bosch’s Cape Classic fifth is already odds-on but he should beat 9-2 second favourite Bobby Dazzler who is on a hat-trick.

This is the meeting that France Galop asked to be switched from the previous day and extended to 11 races so that their punters have something to bet on each side of the French meeting. The National Racing Bureau has done well to come up with ten, albeit with gaps of between 30 and 55 minutes between races.

Four of the ten are maidens, a category that has proved difficult for punters at this course in recent weeks, but Flower Of Carmel should start the ball rolling in the opening Samson Foundation Maiden Plate. The Candice Bass-Robinson filly had U For Me three and a half lengths behind when both made their second starts over this trip at the beginning of the month and, although third-placed Vase has since let the form down, there was a valid excuse for that filly’s run.

The Ica Laboratories Maiden half an hour later is more tricky and presents punters with the perennial problem of whether to go for a lightly raced horse that has shown considerable promise or one who has a lot more experience but doesn’t appear to have as much potential. Surprisingly, and frequently costly, it is the latter which often comes out on top at Kenilworth.

That said Hello Summer gets the vote in preference to Love Dove and Bikini Model as the Andre Nel filly was beaten a lot less on debut than the ground she lost at the start. Star Burst, third in a big field last time, can also pose a threat.

By Michael Clower