Empire State to rule in Cape

FORM: BASS-ROBINSON RUNNER DROPS IN CLASS AFTER EXCELLENT BIG CAP FIFTH

- Jack Milner

The form of the R5-million HSH Princess Charlene Big Cap will come under the spotlight at Kenilworth tomorrow when Empire State lines up in Race 7, a Class 3 Handicap over 1100m.

That Non-Black-Type event over 1400m has been discussed at many levels in racing circles as the interference suffered by boom three-year-old One Stripe, who was having his last race in South Africa, saw him finish unplaced behind stable companion All Out For Six.

The winner was reported to be the main cause of the interference in a race he won by 1.75 lengths from La Pulga. Behind them came Great Plains, beaten 3.50 lengths, The Grey King (4.70 lengths) and Empire State in fifth, five lengths off the winner.

So far the form has worked out quite well. La Pulga, trained by Candice Bass-Robinson and stable companion to Empire State, came out to win his next start and then finish 3.45 lengths behind Garrix in the Grade 3 Legal Eagle Stakes.