A GUINEAS TRIAL WHERE ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN

In 2019 Opaque carrying 52 kgs, starting price 44/1, won the Guineas Trial and the more fancied Action Jackson (59 kgs) was second – and that tends to happen in the Guineas Trial which is now run under the conditions of a Plate race, based on number of wins.

On Sunday Wantage, the only two-time winner in the 2020 Guineas Trial, concedes weight to the rest of the field and it will be interesting to see if he can manage this over 1600m.

When the three-year-olds finally meet up in the actual Zimbabwe Guineas colts and geldings will carry 58 kgs, and fillies 55.5 kgs. This Guineas Trial is likely to be quite exciting but don’t place too much faith in the outcome – unless Wantage wins.

Bridget Stidolph will saddle Wantage and Jericho, while Kirk Swanson fields Tree Of Wisdom and Donegal Glen. Gokhan Terzi’s satellite yard is pinning its hopes on the two fillies, Widjaan and Little Miss Gee. This race is due off at 14.55.

The first race at Borrowdale Park on Sunday is scheduled for 12 noon.

2020 GUINEAS TRIAL RUNNERS 1 WANTAGE (R:9 W:2 P:6) Draw 1 – 60 kgs (MR 75) M Thackeray – B Stidolph
3 B c Ato – Angora by Tamburlaine (IRE) Won first start in April 2019, beating Lily Blue by two lengths but since then Lily Blue has turned the tables. On December 15 Wantage won the 1600m Tote Free Handicap – his first attempt at this trip. He carried 52kgs and Sunday’s runner Tree Of Wisdom (56.5) was 3.55 lengths back. Tree Of Wisdom receives 2.5 kgs from Wantage this time. Wantage is the only two-time winner in the race.

2 TREE OF WISDOM (R:8 W:1 P:2) Draw 3 – 57.5 kgs (MR 73) N Takawira – K Swanson
3 B g Soft Falling Rain – Minerva by Western Winter (USA) Has raced three times at Borrowdale over 1600m, winning the first one (beating Moxie) and finishing behind Wantage and Bam Bam Pebbles subsequently. When Wantage won, Tree Of Wisdom conceded 4.5 kgs. He will receive 2,5 kgs from Wantage on Sunday. Jericho was in the Bam Bam Pebbles race and was well held by Tree Of Wisdom then, but meets him on better terms now.

3 DONEGAL GLEN (R:2 W:1 P:1) Draw 6 – 57.5 kgs (MR 69) Wes Marwing – K Swanson
3 Ch c Biarritz – Yakety Yak by Silvino (USA) Only two starts to date. Went down by 0.10 lengths to Jericho over 1100m at level weights on November 30. Won a 1600m Maiden Plate on December 15 beating Seattle Frost by 2.50 lengths at level weights. Not much to go on but I fancy his chances.

4 JERICHO (R:4 W:1 P:2) Draw 4 – 57.5 kgs (MR 66) K Steyn – B Stidolph
3 B c Master Of My Fate – Ze Evah (IRE) by Amadeus Wolf (GB) Has finished in front of Donegal Bay and Lil Miss Gee up the straight. He was nine lengths behind Bam Bam Pebbles over 1600m on November 30, having won his previous start over 1100m. Hard to assess.

5 WIJDAAN (R:8 W:1 P:5) Draw 2 – 55kgs (MR 63) D Sampson – G Terzi
3 Ch f What A Winter – Cha Cha Queen by National Assembly (CAN) After three seconds to Lily Blue, Moxie and Double Dab, Wijdaan won over 1100m on January 5, beating Tequila Man. Likely to once again have supporters.

6 LIL MISS GEE (R:8 W:1 P:3) Draw 5 – 55 kgs (MR 60) B McNaughton – G Terzi
3 B f Gimmethegreenlight (AUS) – More Than Words by Latino Magic (IRE) Won her last start over 1700m beating Seattle Frost by 2.50 lengths. Probably has more to do here. On November 30 in a 1700m Maiden won by Moxie, Wijdaan and Lil Miss Gee met at level weights and Wijdaan finished a quarter of a length ahead. These two fillies appear to be well-matched, but time will tell.