One Stripe sets Guineas standard

FORM: MARSHALL'S CHARGE HAS EVERYTHING IN HIS FAVOUR IN CAPE'S GRADE 1 SHOWPIECE

- Muzi Yeni

• Main Defender and Dyce headline top Turffontein card.

Racing today takes place at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth and punters will witness another fabulous day's racing because the headliner on the card is the Grade 1 Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas.

This is one of the greatest races in South Africa and the history books show that the very best horses our country has seen, have won this race.

Let's touch on this year's renewal where potential superstar One Stripe sets the standard. He is having his third run after a rest and should be cherry ripe for this event.

Trainer Vaughan Marshall's stable star's first start this season was extremely classy as he gave Snow Pilot weight and was able to get close to him.

His win last time out was very impressive. He had many of his rivals in this race behind him and a repeat of that form will see him prove very hard to beat.

Heather's Boy is the unbeaten raider from Joburg and he could be anything. He has been impressive in his wins although his last start was workmanlike.

This is his toughest test and we'll know exactly where he stands in the pecking order of three-year-olds after this race.

Great Plains won a really good race on seasonal debut, showing he has trained on nicely and he is one that should run into the money.

Eight On Eighteen is the horse I believe will improve most of all out of the race with One Stripe, and while I think he is a definite runner in this, he is my early selection for the Cape Derby next year, so watch him very closely.

Overall, I think One Stripe has everything in his favour and I'll be disappointed if he isn't able to win - and win well.

Racing on Monday (public holiday), takes place at Turffontein racecourse and that is the card we will be previewing for our readers.

The headliner is the Grade 2 Mike De Kock Ipi Tombe Challenge over 1600m, and what a lovely race it should be.