Dual horse of the year Pocket Power is to make a surprise appearance in the six furlong Diadem Stakes at Kenilworth on Saturday.
Trainer Mike Bass had planned to wait until the Queen's Plate on 10 January. Pocket Power has won the last two runnings of this prestigious Grade 1 and no horse has won it three times.
The six-year-old has run well in sprints in previous seasons and he will meet his 13 rivals in Saturday's Grade 2 on at least 10lb better than handicap terms. Bass confirms him a runner even though the Milnerton trainer has serious reservations about the way the going has firmed up.
He said: "I have decided I would like to give Pocket Power a run in a sprint but I am very worried about the track. It's only the beginning of summer and it's already very hard.
"It didn't use to be like that at this stage of the season. They watered more and there wasn't as much racing as there is now."
Sparkling Gem, winner of the Cape Fillies Guineas nine days ago, heads the 16 final declarations for Saturday's Cape Guineas but she is far from certain to take on the colts.
Trainer Justin Snaith said: "She is only 50:50 because she is so badly drawn (only one from the outside). She also had a bad draw in the Fillies Guineas, and luck is not on our side in that department at the moment."
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