Many of the best Highveld horses stepped out at Turffontein on Saturday. Bingwa attained the highest speed figure of all (109) as he repeated his Onamission Charity Mile (Grade 2) success of 2021.
On that occasion the quality son of Pathfork got virtually the same figure of 108 and is very good when encountering suitable conditions such as a true run 1600m on soft going. Bingwa was chased in by ultra-consistent, Puerto Manzano who regularly spits out figures of 105, to complete a stable exacta for trainer JAJ van Vuuren.
Anfield’s Rocket (s/s 97) won the G3 Graham Beck Stakes in a triumph for owner/trainer Grant Maroun who cleverly acquired this talented yet unfashionably bred Coup de Grace colt. He was perfectly ridden by Kaidan Brewer as they somewhat fortuitously staved off the late dash of Shoemaker (s/s 96 ++) who had been blocked at a crucial stage.
Miss Daisy won the G3 Starling Stakes in a slower time than the Graham Beck for colts. This was also a close-run thing with favorite, Feather Boa and 20/1 chance Gimme a Shot narrowly denied in an exciting sprint to the finish.
Gilded Buttterfly (s/s 98) took out the G3 Yellowwood Handicap after being heavily punted. Opening at 4’s her SP was halved, and Stuart Pettigrew’s entry duly vindicated the market confidence getting in nearly two lengths clear of Crimson Princess.
Cruise Control has been mentioned in these dispatches before and he ran a career best speed fig on Friday in PE of 104. That proved plenty good enough to win a Pinnacle Stakes at Fairview and provide Gavin Smith with yet another winner on a bountiful day where he really cleaned up!
One of only a few races to elude the dominant Smith was the headliner, the Algoa Cup, where his charge Jaeger Moon (s/s 99) was mugged late by Glen Kotzen’s favourite, Han Solo (s/s 100.) The deserving winner, a six-year-old gelding, has really come into his own since being fitted with blinkers and going over middle distances.