Mike de Kock saddled a stable exacta in the Grade 3 Sea Cottage Stakes at Turffontein on Saturday. Richard Fourie judged the pace perfectly to bring Aragosta from the back of a strung-out field and get up in the final jump to deny Clafoutis who had stalked the early speed.
The winner is by Rafeef out of the Galileo mare Miss Galidora and has now won three of five starts. Aragosta got a figure of 93 + here and will soon be running scores of around 100 given natural improvement. He will also prefer an even greater test of stamina than 1800m and looms a threat over Derby- type distances.
Bon Vivant and Supreme Warrior are others to take out of the Highveld meeting. The former, a William Longsword filly, was landing her third victory from 7 starts and attained a neat figure of 97 +. She is trained by JA Janse van Vuuren.
Supreme Warrior (s/s 93 +) is a promising Vercingetorix colt, now two from two after demolishing rivals over the 1450m trip on the inside track. The Azzies will be excited about his prospects.
Vaughan Marshall unveiled a hot juvenile at Kenilworth on Sunday. Trompie was backed to make a winning debut and won easing up. The speed score of 86 could have been much higher if he was extended, so this son of Captain of All should be marked up as one to follow.
Regular readers of this blog are aware of the maxim, “pace makes the race.” Interbet fans are by now familiar with the exploits of Golden Sixty in Hong Kong, who was going for record 17 wins in a row. However, not even a world class miler such as he, able to bomb sub 22 second fractionals, can make up too big a deficit when the stalkers have got away with soft fractions up front, as he found out to his cost.
Zac Purton delivered a masterclass on Waikuku in the Grade 1 Stewards Cup at Sha Tin to track the pace, go early and keep off the belated rally of the hot favourite who closed in 21.95 seconds but was left with too much ground to make up against pace pressers that were not stopping.
Followers of Hong Kong racing might choose to follow The Golden Scenery (s/s 105) during the remainder of the season. He won a Class 2 race over 1400m on Sunday most impressively and has scope to keep winning. He was partnered by another legendary jock who gets all the nuances of shifting pace scenarios, the Brazilian sensation Joao Moreira.