Captain America (speed score 110) is a truly high class and consistent galloper who garnered another well deserved Group 1 when winning the Gold Challenge at Greyville. He has a long stride pattern and is most effective pressing a strong pace. He was rather headstrong earlier in his career yet has settled down with maturity and did everything right under Corne Orffer to fend off slow starting, Trip To Heaven (s/s 107) and the very smart grey filly, Bela Bela (s/s 107.)

Trainer Brett Crawford has been doing really well with a strong string in KZN – he plans specific campaigns for each individual runner then gets them super fit and primed for their chosen races. Earlier, he scored in a Pinnacle Stakes with dependable filly, Louisiana (s/s 94) who had won the Scarlet Lady in April to kick start Crawford’s hot streak.

Just Sensual (s/s 103) justified favouritism in the Tibouchina Stakes. The sweet way she moved entering the stretch made it appear that she would draw clear comfortably, but she came under pressure in the drive only just staving off Nightingale and long shot Anna Pavlova, who both attained 102’s. Just Sensual has now won five of eight starts and can add to that tally given her versatility, having run triple digit speed figures between 1200m and 1600m.

Some promising juveniles stepped out in the Devon Air and Gatecrasher Stakes. Meryl (s/s 87 +) won the fillies version, then Trojan Harbour (s/s 92 +) held off the improving Ancestry (s/s 89) and heavily punted Monks Hood (s/s 88) who only got underway late. In other notable performances, Duncan Howells trained stable-mates, Chicago Beat and Wild Wicket fought out a nip and tuck finish to the KZN Winter Challenge 1600. There was honour in defeat for Wild Wicket – he scored a fig of 101 which is pretty neat for a three year old, plus he was conceding weight to his older rival. This talented son of Dynasty is certainly worth following in races at the right class level.