The Avontuur Estate Cape Fillies Guineas raceday at Kenilworth Racecourse on Saturday, 2 December promises to be a splendid one of fun in the sun.
Along with the running of the R500 000 opening Grade 1 event of the Cape's Sizzling Summer Season, the Avontuur Estate will be staging a Miss Fillies Guineas Lovely Legs competition, which, accompanied by the prospect of free public wine tastings, could prove to be very entertaining. There will be prizes for all participants, and the competition entry fee of R30 (per pair of legs) will be donated to FARR - The Foundation for Alcohol Related Research. Avontuur will also be using the day to raise additional funds for FARR at their luncheon function by having appointed 10 celebrity Charity Ambassadors who will be placing bets on behalf of FARR, with all profits being donated to the Charity.
Entrance to the racecourse is free, and families are welcome to pack a basket and enjoy a picnic on the lawns and join in the fun.
The final field of 16 fillies boast 39 wins between them, and includes a strong up-country contingent, headed up by the Roy Magner trained daughter of Count Du Bois ASYLUM SEEKER, who will be partnered by Glen Hatt. Also raiding from Gauteng are Mike De Kock with the Australian bred LAN AIR CEL, and Geoff Woodruff with FESTIVE OCCASION. From KwaZulu-Natal have come Herman Brown and Paul Lafferty, with HOT RECEPTION and ORACLE NEWS respectively. Local hopes appear to rest mainly with Jeff Lloyd's ride SUN CLASSIQUE, from the stable of Mike Bass (who also has a useful second string to his bow with the unbeaten MYST), and the Joey Ramsden trained PRINCESS ASHARAF. Both will be coming from wide draws, but with the race being contested on the 'new' course (in use for the first time this season) with it's longer run-in, the draw will be less of a factor.
In addition to the R312 500 going to the winner of the race, the Avontuur Estate Fillies Guineas also forms the first leg of the S A Triple Tiara, which offers a bonus of 1 million Rand to the winner of all 3 legs - the other races being the SA Fillies Guineas and the Woolavington 2000.
It remains to be seen which filly is to join the exclusive and illustrious (Empress) club - by winning the Avontuur Estate Cape Fillies Guineas.