Usually, we focus on weekend racing but it would be remiss to gloss over Thursday’s Turfontein card which featured some of the best horses in the country. Naafer (speed score 103) is a talented three-year-old despite some physical issues, and he came out tops in a Pinnacle Stakes, but it was the comeback performances of champion sprinter Bull Valley (s/s 102 +) and famous miler Legal Eagle (s/s 96 +) that carried most significance. Both ran well, and should be able to get back to their peak numbers of 111 and 116 respectively for their targeted races during Summer.

Nother Russia (s/s 98 +) also made a pleasing return to the races for the in-form De Kock stable. She has run as high as 107 in the past and looms a major threat in middle distance Stakes. The Grade 3 Victory Moon was also part of the same card with a very game, Girl on the Run (s/s 107) staving off Coral Fever (s/s 107) as both hit their career bests. Master Switch got third there, equalling his top effort of 105.

Sommerlied (s/s 101) opened Dennis Drier’s Cape account when proving best in the Laisserfaire Stakes at Kenilworth. She was mentioned previously in this column after edging out Brutal Force at Scottsville in August as both got smart figs of 106. That is plenty good enough to win a Fillies Stakes race, and she duly got the job done despite a valiant try by promising youngster, Casual Diamond (s/s 100) and a late rally by much improved long shot Felicity Flyer (s/s 100) – one of the best Noordhoek Flyer’s around. The speedy Anime (s/s 98) was close up in fourth.

Earlier, Edict Of Nantes, Sail South, Captain America and Black Cat Back completed a perfect quartet for trainer Brett Crawford in an extremely potent Pinnacle Stakes. Jockey Piere Strydom expressed approval after guiding Edict of Nantes (s/s 103) to a fluent victory and the son of Count Dubois must rate a principal candidate for future Grade 1 races from 1600m upwards. Champions Cup winner, Sail South, ace miler Captain America and hard-running pace-setter, Black Cat Back (s/s 101) rounded off this notable Crawford dominated sequence.