Rainbow Bridge can underline his class and potential by becoming the fifth Winter Guineas winner in six seasons to go on to land the Highlands Stud Winter Classic at Kenilworth tomorrow.

The only unbeaten horse in the field, the Eric Sands-trained gelding produced an impressive turn of foot to come from almost last to first inside two furlongs four weeks ago and earned raved reviews from Richard Fourie who is bidding for his third success in this race.

Justin Snaith

The favourite (who shortened from 16-10 to 11-10 with World Sports Betting yesterday morning) is again drawn one from the outside but the field is slightly smaller this time and there is an extra furlong to make up the leeway, albeit the straight is significantly shorter.

The handicappers rate six of the field better than him but that is because they have to assess their ratings on factual margins, and under strict rules, rather than on visual impression.

Durban July supplementary entry Rocket Countdown (33-10) is also rated the selection’s superior by the sahorseracing computer (or rather by the people who feed it the information). He has to give weight all round but is a kilo better with Rainbow Bridge for a length and a quarter. Even so it is hard to see him reversing the placings unless the effects of yesterday’s rain should unexpectedly floor the favourite.

Love Happens (8-1) and 11-2 stable companion Doublemint were close behind in the Winter Guineas and should again not be far away, particularly as Justin Snaith is bidding for his fifth Winter Classic and has won three of the last six runnings.

However Ancestry (fifth and a 7-1 chance this time) was reported by Joey Ramsden to be short on fitness that day and is expected to put up much more of a fight tomorrow.

This is not a race for outsiders and you have to go right back to Sweet Virginia 13 years ago for the last real upset. She won at 33-1 and since then the longest priced winner started at 8-1. Indeed the favourite has won four of the last five.

Fresnaye started favourite for the Winter Guineas but she disappointed and was afterwards found to be suffering from an infection. She reverts to her own sex in the Stormsvlei Mile and heads the market at 12-10. She was good enough to take third in both the Fillies Guineas and the Paddock Stakes and she should prove too strong for 28-10 shot Platinum Class and the others.

By Michael Clower