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Follow in form Gavin Lerena at Kenilworth

She’s A Giver, despite being drawn widest of all and drifting in the market, can give Gavin Lerena his second successive super Saturday in the World Sports Betting Cape Fillies Guineas at Kenilworth on Saturday.

The Johan Janse van Vuuren-trained filly was a revelation in the Starling Stakes at Turffontein, leading just under two furlongs out and drawing further and further away to beat Maleficent by the best part of four lengths without being fully extended.

The handicappers promptly upped her 25 points to the same mark as Querari Falcon. True, she has a bad draw – and presumably this is why punters have allowed her to ease from 4-1 to 11-2 – but when you are riding as well as Lerena few things are impossible.

Favourites have won the last three, and five of the last six, so Querari Falcon should not be ignored at 33-10 even though she was beaten last time. “She was caught a little flat-footed,” Mike Azzie recalls. “Anthony moved very early on her, she pricked her ears and started loafing but I am very impressed with her at the moment.”

Sail has just over a length to find with the favourite on Thekwini running. “She was very immature then but she ran a cracking race,” remembers Dennis Drier. “She has run very well in her last two races but she has a **** draw.”

Final Judgement (12-1) won the Golden Slipper and was only a neck behind Sail in the Choice Carriers despite having to check approaching the final turn. “She fluffed her lines when she was drawn wide in the Thekwini,” says Glen Kotzen. “But she is very talented and her prep has been phenomenal.”

The money continues to come for the unbeaten Quick Brown Fox who was down to 5-1 joint second favourite with Sail in the sponsors’ book yesterday after opening at 8-1. She is untested over the trip and, despite her obvious ability, she looks short enough.

Maleficent has also been backed – 11-1 to 7-1 – but Safe Harbour has drifted disturbingly, easing from 10-1 to 15-1. Dawn Calling (12-1) and Choice Carriers fourth Smokey Affair (20-1) have place prospects, as does fellow 20-1 shot Red Light Girl who jumped a shadow in that race, while Just Sensual (16-1) is on a hat-trick but the rest are hard to fancy.

Legal Eagle finished like a train over a distance far too short for him in his first race for over six months at Turffontein three weeks ago so he should be able to make his class tell in the WSB Green Point Stakes. Captain America has been backed from 11-1 to 7-1, receives a kilo, is fit and comes from a very much in-form stable but the favourite should still win.

Red Ray has shown that he can run well after a lengthy lay off and is 4-1 favourite for the WSB Cape Merchants – or at least he was yesterday – but he faces a horrific task at the weights and it could pay to follow the money.

Search Party has been backed as if there is no tomorrow. He opened at 25-1 last weekend and at the time of writing was 6-1 second favourite. Corne Orffer is understandably keen on his chance and says he will have no trouble getting down to 52kg although his dieting method may be too drastic for many to even contemplate – “It’s simple. I’ve given up alcohol.”


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