Three sires set to stand in the Cape in 2017 will be represented by close relatives in two of this weekend’s major classic races.

Klawervlei’s highly promising young sire Twice Over, whose two recent winners include the impressive debut scorer Sand And Sea, is from the same family as 2017 G1 Kentucky Derby contender Patch.

A son of Union Rags, the one-eyed Patch, who will jump from the outside barrier in the Derby, was a close second last time out in the G2 Louisiana Derby. The lightly raced Patch, whose second dam is a sister to US champion Banshee Breeze, is a descendant of the mare Lost Virtue -third dam of four time G1 winner and champion Twice Over.

Another sire standing in the Cape with a connection to Saturday’s Kentucky Derby is Moutonshoek’s resident sire Marchfield. The dual Canadian champion, and son of  A P Indy, is from the same family as US champion and leading Kentucky Derby contender Classic Empire, who recently captured the G1 Arkansas Derby.

Moutonshoek’s latest sire acquisition The United States could be in a big update this weekend.

Not is the G1 Ranvet Stakes’ winning sister Hydrangea a leading contender in Sunday’s G1 QIPCO 1000 Guineas, but his sire Galileo appears to hold a strong hand in both the 1000 and 2000 Guineas.

Galileo, sire of 2000 Guineas favourite Churchill and 1000 Guineas favourite Rhododendron, is also strongly represented as a grandsire in the 2000 Guineas with his legendary son Frankel responsible for the fancied runners Eminent and Dream Castle.

The great sire has already enjoyed success in both classics, with his sons Frankel and Gleneagles both having won the 2000 Guineas, while Galileo’s champion daughter Minding captured last year’s QIPCO sponsored 1000 Guineas.

Galileo’s growing plethora of sons at stud in South Africa, include not only The United States but also Ascot Stud’s popular young sire Global View and Drakenstein Stud’s G1 Racing Post Trophy winner Kingsbarns.