One of SA’s top racehorses, Questioning s/s 114 won the Gold Challenge at Greyville for his fourth win in a row, and 11th overall from 26 starts.
Vaughan Marshall has really got the best out of him as a five-year-old; this season winning the Matchem Stakes, Diadem, an A Stakes, the Drill Hall and now this prestigious G1 over a mile. He also only just missed in the King’s Plate when pipped by The Real Prince.
The son of Querari is a paragon of consistency and deadly between 1200 and 1600m. He can race forwardly or be anchored near the back – whatever tactics are used he always quickens up with powerful burst of acceleration.
He was backed to win (11/2 – 18/10) the Gold Challenge by punters enamored of those virtues and landed the strike under Richard Fourie – albeit in a desperate finish as Legal Counsel s/s 112 proved a formidable adversary.
This Legislate 4YO gelding ran himself right into major Durban July contention. Racing handy and staying on purposefully are ideal attributes at Greyville. Previously, Legal Counsel used that strategy to nearly pull off a 40/1 upset over See It Again on a galloping track at Kenilworth in the Met and he is transferring that same high-class form to the Durban circuit.
Punters looking for an each way ante post flutter on the HDJ could do worse than side with Justin Snaith’s mighty galloper who weighs between 560kg’s – 570kg’s and can handle himself in a duel.
Fast finisher, Gladatorian s/s 112 [with a sectional upgrade] attained a notable third in the Gold Challenge whilst 4th placed, The Real Prince s/s 109 was a few ticks below his absolute best despite being given every chance.
Quickstepgal s/s 101 also inflicted damage on the bookies, punted from 5/2 into 13/10 to win the HKJC World Pool Stakes though, like Questioning, she only scraped in by a whisker.
Tienie Prinsloo’s stable star was all out to stave off Mon Petit Cherie, who emerged with great credit coming back after another layoff and having to jump from draw 13 over 1400m.
Keagan de Melo rode the 3YO Vercingetorix filly who has now won 6 of twelve starts and is closing in on R1.8 million in stakes. She is an increasingly valuable thoroughbred as not only can she win lucrative prize money whilst racing in Graded contests but also has super- exciting breeding prospects.
Zeitz s/s 104 really thrives in Durban. Andre Nel’s grey son of Vercingetorix runs his best figures in KZN and he was yet another to land a spirited betting plunge [6’s into 3/1] in the Cup Trial.
Positioned midfield on the fence by Serino Moodley he made swift progress up the centre of the straight and comfortably held off I Salute You s/s 103 and JP’s Palace s/s 102.
Regulation who has been heavily traded ante post for the Durban July was one of quite a few high-profile entries who did their claims for the big one no good at all. He came under a hard ride, only managing a modest speed figure of 96 when beaten 4.5 lengths out the places.
In the Highveld’s Sunday meeting, African Pride s/s 99 went start to finish in a Turffontein sprint. Errol Flynn s/s 101 benefitted from a pace meltdown to score in the Egoli Mile. Aladdin’s Lamp who has previously hit figures of 101 took out the Jubilee Stakes (G3) though there was nothing remarkable about the speed figure this time.
Tony Peter saddled a stable exacta when Kisshoten s/s 96 just got up in the centre of the track to deny companion, Money Heist’s inside rails move in a Pinnacle Stakes.
And, Prayersandpromises s/s 90 is a promising youngster – he came from far back to score in an earlier race with a neat adjusted speed score for a juvenile.