Astrix (by Vercingetorix) took out a Pinnacle Stakes over 1600m at Turffontein in impressive style, recording a fine speed figure of 103. Placed fourth behind Ikigai in the G2 Gauteng Guineas earlier this year, he is a talented miler with upside potential.
Fired Up (s/s 102) ran second in receipt of 4 kg’s – a solid effort by this son of Rock of Gibraltar. It was quite a tussle down the Turffontein straight as Fired Up tried tenaciously to hang on to his lead, with a determined Astrix only able to assert himself close to the finish.
Crank it Up (s/s 95) has come well the past few months winning three of four races. He attained a hard-fought victory in the “lucky last” from Somasonic (s/s 93) who was having just his second start. The runner up could be worth following, assuming he makes the expected development of typically maturing horses.
Kayson (s/s 94) scrambled home over Double Espresso (s/s 93), Letaba (s/s 92), Winter Chill (s/s 91) and Dieci (s/s 91) to earn the days best speed figure at Greyville on Sunday.
The winner scored on juvenile debut at odds on before duffing it over 1400m in the Gatecrasher Stakes. He’s done better since reverting to sprints and was cleverly placed by Interbet-sponsored, Crawford Racing as a low weight in this MR 88 with claiming apprentice Jabu Jacobs. Heavily punted from 7/2 into an SP of 16/10, the son of Gimmethegreenlight snuck in by a whisker – the first eight past the post finished within 2 ½ lengths of each other.