The Gr 2 KRA Fillies Guineas, to be run over 1600m at Greyville on Saturday, has attracted some very decent sorts and even in the absence of Princess Victoria, there is a fair bit to enthuse over.

Topping the ratings is Thunder Dance and not surprisingly so after two sterling Gr 1 efforts during the Cape summer season. Brett Crawford's charge showed improvement with each start as her campaign progressed and followed a creditable third in the Cape Fillies Guineas with a hard-fought win in the Paddock Stakes at the expense of Beach Beauty. It's easy enough to question the form of that win as the race was run at a farcical pace and the runner-up was forced to use completely unsuitable front-running tactics, but Thunder Dance went into that race with only six career outings under her belt and whatever the circumstances, she still had to respond during the sprint to the line and find extra when it mattered. She is a very smart-looking filly who has probably improved plenty in the four months that have ensued. The lack of a run since then is an obvious concern and it may prove her undoing but she should nevertheless make a bold bid if anywhere near her best.

Bambina Stripes has done little wrong with three wins and two places from five starts and she showed massive improvement when stepping up in class to win the Gr 1 SA Fillies Classic last time out. That was an outstanding run as she was poorly drawn and had to come from far back. In the end, she produced a devastating turn of foot that saw her get up in the last stride for a dramatic win, with runaway Oaks winner Ilha Bela just behind her. She may be the type who prefers being ridden that way anyway, but she's much better drawn on this occasion and jockey Alec Forbes may have the option of keeping her much closer to the pace if the race demands it.

Hidden Beauty is the type of filly any owner would be thrilled to have, versatile enough to win over 1000m in three consecutive sand starts and still run a place over a mile on turf in very competitive company. That basically sums her last five starts and it must be said that her two runs in defeat were full of merit. She didn't have the best of luck in running when a close third in the Gauteng Fillies Guineas and then tried to make all when beaten into second by Europa Point in the Empress Club Stakes. We all know how good Europa Point is after her Champions Challenge win and that run alone must bring Hidden Beauty into this race with a strong winning chance. Interestingly, those two mile efforts came at Turffontein where the testing track would have stretched her stamina to the limit. Greyville is a much better proposition for a filly with her natural speed and, if she chooses front running tactics again, she could prove hard to catch.

One would expect the winner to come from the above trio but it would be foolish to ignore the Mike de Kock factor. The champion trainer sends out two runners with contrasting records but either of them could rise to the occasion. Tajmeel is an unknown quantity, having won two of her three starts and now taking a serious step up in class. Her two wins have come by a combined margin of 11 lengths, though, so it may not be such a surprise that she is taking her chances here rather than working her way through the lower ranks. The fact that Anthony Delpech has opted to ride her over her more experienced and proven stablemate, Amanee, suggests that she is ready to compete at this level.

Amanee returns to the scene of her biggest triumph, having won the Gr 1 Thekwini Stakes over this course and distance at the end of last season. She has run four times this season and been on the disappointing side, finishing fifth in each of them. A closer look at her form shows that only one of those runs came against her own age and sex, though, and that was in the SA Classic where she was drawn widest of all and came from well back to finishing just over two lengths behind Bambina Stripes. Her other efforts have seen her taking on male opposition or older fillies and mares and it may well be that returning to this track against her own age group could bring out the best in her - especially as her best form by far has been shown in this province and during the winter season last year. One factor that needs to be taken into account is that her wins have come in wet going and she doesn't seem as effective on harder ground.

Felix The Cat showed genuine ability as a juvenile finishing second in two Gr 1 events. One of the them was behind Princess Victoria and the other was in the Thekwini Stakes when touched off by Amanee. Her form this season has been patchy - she has won twice but also turned in some disappointing efforts as well. She actually beat Bambina Stripes last time out but that was over 1400m and she may struggle to confirm the form over this longer trip on 1kg worse terms - especially as the latter seems to have improved in leaps and bounds since that meeting. Having said all that, Felix The Cat seems to save her best for Greyville and, if she can find her best form, could make the frame here.

The rest look to be up against it although Bermuda Sloop wasn't too far behind in the Cape Fillies Guineas and ran on nicely to win a Progress Plate over this course and distance last time out. With further improvement she may sneak into a minor placing.

It's an engaging race that's going to be well worth watching and with Thunder Dance possibly in need of the run and Hidden Beauty vulnerable late over this trip, it may just open the door for Bambina Stripes, race-fit and with no stamina doubts, to add another big-race win to her tally.