Sea and Clouds clash

DUEL. TWO TOP FILLIES RESUME THEIR RIVALRY

ʂ Ronnie’s Candy looks to be the danger.

Round three of what could be described as the greatest equine duel of the year will be played out tomorrow when Clouds Unfold and Celtic Sea are set to take centre stage – for the third time in 2020.

They will meet in Race 8, the Grade 1 Jonsson Workwear Garden Province Stakes over 1600m.

Round one was fought over 1200m at Kenilworth in January with Sean Tarry's Celtic Sea outsprinting Candice Bass-Robinson's charge by 2.5 lengths in the Grade 2 Cartier Sceptre Stakes.

Three weeks later that result was reversed when Clouds Unfold won the Grade 1 Bidvest Majorca Stakes over 1600m by 0.3 lengths, also at Kenilworth.

Round three will see Celtic Sea defend her title as the Garden Province Stakes champion. In last year's race she beat the legendary Oh Susanna as well as Snowdance and she is the bookmakers' favourite to retain the title.

Over 1600m Clouds Unfold does have a slightly better record than her arch-rival, with two victories from four runs. Celtic Sea has one victory from six runs over this distance, but that victory was in last year's race.

Celtic Sea has the slight advantage of the number 7 draw, with Clouds Unfold jumping from gate 13.

Both horses also have the services of their regular recent jockeys in Gavin Lerena and Aldo Domeyer and it would take a very brave punter to exclude one of them from their exotic bets.

The dark horse in the race could be Ronnie's Candy, trained by St John Gray.

She scored an impressive victory recently in the Grade 1 HSH Princess Charlene Empress Club Stakes over 1600m at Turffontein, defeating a number of runners she faces tomorrow.

Gray also gave her a look at the Greyville track, entering her in the KwaZulu-Natal Breeders Mile (Non-Black Type) six days ago. She ran fourth, two lengths behind Running Brave, but that run also gave her and jockey Grant van Niekerk time to get to know each other as he will be holding her reins tomorrow. That could prove to be a very clever move by Gray.

Picture Gold Circle DING DONG BATTLE Celtic Sea will be out to defend her Garden Province Stakes title at Greyville tomorrow, but can expect another strong challenge from Clouds Unfold. The two top-rated fillies are locked at one win apiece this year.