Sand And Sea, 10-1 for Saturday week’s Cape Guineas, was yesterday reported doubtful by Dennis Drier. The Gold Medallion winner was found to be making an abnormal respiratory noise when he managed only seventh of nine when odds-on for his reappearance last month.

Sand And Sea

The handicappers have raised last Saturday’s runaway WSB Fillies Guineas winner Snowdance by five points to a new rating of 108 but there is some surprise that she has not been given a higher mark. Just Sensual has a rating one point higher yet she only just got up when she won last year’s Cape Fillies Guineas. “Any time they want a match race I’m on,” quipped Justin Snaith yesterday

Runner-up Oh Susanna has been put up seven points to 98 and Fresnaye, a short head away third, has been raised eight points to the same mark while Green Point runner-up Edict Of Nantes (reported by Brett Crawford to have come out of the race in great shape) has gone up five points to 118. But the four-year-old is still five points below his half-length conqueror Legal Eagle.

Dean Kannemeyer has already declared unbeaten 3-1 favourite Last Winter (Anthony Delpech) for the Premier Trophy on Saturday week. The early decision was prompted by a convincing workout at Kenilworth last Saturday.

Kannemeyer said: “Cape Speed, ridden by my head work-rider, led him in the 1 400m spin and MJ Byleveld rode Last Winter. He is not a horse who normally exerts himself in his work and I was very pleased with the way he went.”

By Michael Clower