One of the best aspects of horseracing is how the game constantly renews itself. Every year, the cast of characters change with young horses beginning their careers and old stagers bowing out. It’s an exciting time for connections who have laid out capital in buying new stock based on pedigrees and athletic conformation. Hopes and dreams can be dashed however when it soon becomes apparent that they have bought a slow-poke. Most satisfying of all though, is when those early racetrack appearances lead to a convincing victory, as was the case on Tuesday when precocious talent, Universal obliterated a Maiden field at Kenilworth.
Universal is a three- year -old by champion stallion, Gimmethegreenelight out of the Jet Master mare, Cupid which makes him a half -brother to 2020 Queens Plate winner, Vardy. That is potent breeding combining speed and stamina influences, and his owners, (Messrs Sarkis, Blank and the Yutars) who have been in the game a long time and know how tough racing can be, must nevertheless harbour high hopes for their handsome colt with a distinctive white blaze.
Universal did not let the side down. Despite racing green through inexperience at only his second start, he quickened up smartly from off the good early pace to draw clear into a different time zone, far ahead of toiling rivals on a very soft surface. The official margin of victory was over nine lengths, the adjusted time producing a fine speed figure of 94 + in combination with a swift finishing fraction. All told – a visually impressive display that shows up really well on the clock!
Statistically, “big win” horses – defined as those that win by more than five lengths, turn a profit when bet at the next start. Universal is now “public property” and he will be closely scrutinised from now on. One of the owners, Greg Blank, is not getting ahead of himself and remains grounded in a sensibly conservative assessment of Universal’s ability.
Based on this victory, it’s safe to say that Universal is a natural talent with a most promising future. Trainer Adam Marcus knows how to maximise a horse’s potential (his handling of sibling, Vardy was admirable) so fans can follow Universal’s unfolding career with confidence.
Speed Machine was another eye catcher at Kenilworth’s midweek meeting. This big strapping son of Legislate came from the back of the pack in a Pinnacle Stakes over 1400m to win in some style. This was his 4th victory from ten starts. He loves the slush with his best performances as a juvenile coming on wet ground, witness his trouncing in the 2020 Sophomore Stakes of subsequent Cape Guineas winner, Russian Rock.
Speed Machine was good for a notable speed score of 106 + on Tuesday and the impressive time of his closing burst suggests that a sectional upgrade could peg his true ability even higher. If those calculations are accurate then Justin Snaith’s runner will see off even stronger fields.
His foray to Durban during Winter was unproductive. Three starts in KZN yielded only a third and a tame ninth slot at Scottsville, together with a second placed finish at Greyville, though he abjectly failed to hit the really high notes of which he seems capable.
The niggling query will be if he needs soft ground to deliver his absolute best. But when he gets his preferred muddy ground and a strong pace to run at, (and is in the right racing mood,) we now know that, over extended sprints, Speed Machine is a formidable foe. And, if he proves as adept on firmer surfaces then this gelding is worth following into the Cape Summer, too.