The month of September is when the better Gauteng based horses start prepping for the Highveld Spring season. MK’s Pride and Under Your Spell had competed with distinction at the top-level last term and they duly resumed with assured victories at Turffontein.
The early pace is Mk Pride’s 1450m race was very slow, so it turned into a sprint down the straight. With his distinctive running style of head tucked towards his chest and quite high knee action he quickened strongly in an encouraging manner. He should be a force in Graded races over extended sprints.
An outstanding juvenile during the 2020/21 season, Under Your Spell (speed score 95, finishing ratio 106%) was emphatic on Saturday, just coasting through towards the inside for a resounding win that also bodes well for her feature race prospects. She ran an excellent figure of 100 when winning a G1 at Scottsville so is clearly high class and appears to be training on, too.
Down in Cape Town, African Rain (s/s 94 +) caught the eye at Durbanville. Reportedly now more manageable after gelding, this son of Soft Falling Rain has plenty of natural speed and with the course running quick due to a tailwind and firmer surface he was not for catching over 1000m. Maybe he remains and out-and-out sprinter or perhaps he will learn to ration his speed and last home over further?
Sachdev won a strong Pinnacle Stakes from the front under an excellent ride by Louis Mxothwa, who dictated the terms throughout; Irish Tractor has really found form and, under the same jockey, fought with determination to outduel Fast Love in an exciting finish whilst three-year-old filly, Dancetildaylight confirmed the high regard in which she is held by Bass Racing as she zipped through a 34 second final 600m to win a handicap in some style.
Love the View (s/s 86), who is trained by Carl Hewitson, didn’t show much last year but has done nicely in 2021. He completed a third career win when taking out a MR 75 handicap at Scottsville on Sunday afternoon. S’manga Khumalo is a forceful jockey, and he kept the well-backed, Global View gelding focused for a two-length victory.