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The race of the Cape season to-date is likely to be run on Saturday at Kenilworth in Cape Town, when the cream of the three-year-old crop line up at level weights in the R 1 million, Group 1 Cape Premier Yearling Sale Guineas (1600m).

The Group 2 Selangor Cup (1600m), run three weeks before the Cape Guineas, has long been a favourite of trainers in gauging the readiness of their top Guineas contenders and this year proved no different.

Champion-Two-Year colt, the grey King Of Pain, from the stable of Champion Cape trainer Joey Ramsden stepped out to take on the black colt, Capetown Noir, from the stable of Guineas Master Dean Kannemeyer.

Both stables had good Guineas credentials with Ramsden winning the race in 2011 with Horse of the Year, Variety Club, while Kannemeyer had collected the trophy four times in six years. King of Pain had four victories to his name and had never been unplaced, while his worthy opponent, Capetown Noir, had had a lighter two-year-old campaign with three victories and one second.

Despite being drawn far apart King Of Pain and Capetown Noir came together in the closing stages with Capetown Noir having to chase down front-running King Of Pain. In the end, it needed the help of technology to separate the two, with King Of Pain eventually getting the nod after a lengthy wait for the photo finish.

On Saturday they meet again and the outcome is likely to be as exciting.

The only potential challenger to the pair was the Johannesburg contender, The Hangman, from the stable of top trainer Sean Tarry. But regretfully The Hangman pulled up lame after his gallop at Kenilworth on Thursday and will be watching the race from his box.

The Guineas therefore can be expected to be a match-race again between King Of Pain and Capetown Noir.

They are drawn side by side in barriers four and five this time and their respective jockeys will have all of 1600m to stare each other down as they plot the other’s demise.

Bernard Fayd’ Herbe, best known for his partnership with the legendary Pocket Power will be aboard King of Pain, while multiple Cape Champion jockey, Karl Neisius will hold the reins of Capetown Noir.

The longer run in of the summer course at Kenilworth will suit both horses and both trainers are extremely confident that they will be holding the trophy aloft come Saturday.

The Cape Premier Yearling Sale Guineas is race seven of the eight race porgramme at 16.45pm (South African time).