The two Guineas’ run at Greyville on Saturday produced polar opposite results. Charles Dickens (speed score 109 +) romped in the colt’s version at 6/10 just as the masses expected, but Peach Daiquiri caught most punters unawares as she surprised at 33/1 in a slow run and rough Fillies race.
Charles Dickens settled midfield before jockey Aldo Domeyer cleverly made a move down the inside rail. Running straight and true (he’s tended to shift about before due to a difficult mouth) the brilliant son of Trippi sauntered to a commanding victory. He was chased in by See It Again, Dave the King and Cousin Casey, who all attained speed figs of 105.
Peach Daiquiri started her career off with a bang in the Eastern Cape, winning her first three starts. She failed at subsequent tries in Cape Town and Joburg, but wily conditioner Alec Laird revived her for a sterling tilt at G2 glory in Durban.
Whilst bad things were happening in a traffic snarl- up to most of her more fancied rivals towards the middle outside, the daughter of Vercingetorix cruised through unmolested down the inner.
The biggest figure on the day went to Trip of Fortune in the Drill Hall Stakes. He earned an outstanding 113 to stay a perfect five from five over 1400m. This win comes just a few weeks after his romp in the G1 Horse Chestnut over 1600m at Turfontein. He is truly top class.
Gimme a Prince (s/s 111+) emerged with honour in defeat, dropped out to the back from a wide draw then closing gamely for second just ahead of King’s Plate hero, Al Muthana (also 111).
Mage won the 149th Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs. This was a form of redemption for top jock, Javier Castellano who had gone 15 rides in this historic race before finally coming up garlanded in roses. Mage, trained by renowned, Venezualan conditioner Gustavo Delgado, benefitted from a pace meltdown to run by rivals with a powerful move on the turn and in deep stretch, in front of 150 000 mint julep- marinaded fans.