Red Saxon (speed score 104) sprung a big upset in the G1 SA Classic at odds of 33/1 when denying heavily punted favorite Safe Passage (s/s 104) in a rousing finish.

The winner (by Red Ray and trained by Joe Soma) reversed a three-length deficit in the Gauteng Guineas to exact revenge over Safe Passage. Soma has an excellent record in the Classic and must be lauded not only for winning it yet again but also for showing faith in jockey Julius Mariba who was scoring his first Grade 1! Captain Lannister (s/s 102) also cracked the triple digit speed figure barrier close by in third spot.

Rain In Holland (s/s 102) is on course to lift the Triple Tiara after sweeping past rivals in the G1 SA Fillies Classic. The Duke of Marmalade filly (owned and bred by Drakenstein Stud) is trained by Sean Tarry and she yet again put a couple of lengths between herself and nearest pursuer, Sprinkles (s/s 97).

As a juvenile Rain In Holland scraped in by a whisker to win the G1 Thekwini Stakes but this follow up G1 victory under Richard Fourie was considerably more assured. She has now won seven out of 11 starts and will be very difficult to dethrone in the final leg of the series, the SA Oaks over 2450m.

Al Muthana (s/s 107) was delivered with perfect timing off a strong pace by S’Manga Khumalo to narrowly thwart three-year-old, filly Freed From Desire (s/s 106) in the Grade 2 Hawaii Stakes over 1400m. This son of Deep Field has now won five of his last seven starts and is especially deadly over 1400/1600m. The runner up tried very hard and was only outrun late, putting up a notable career peak figure which would make her a big threat when pitched back against her own sex.

Pin Up (s/s 100) was much the best in the G3 Acacia Stakes. Rouge Allure and Opera Glass were slugging it out on the inside rail but neither could keep pace with the mid track move through the slush of Paul Peter’s Oratorio mare, who is sustaining a rich vein of form this year.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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