So, Enable won the Arc, just as was universally expected. She is a superb filly, perfectly prepared by John Gosden and skilfully handled by Frankie Dettori. The true champions sometimes make it look ridiculously easy and she drew clear after racing handy to win untroubled. Her best attribute is a quite extraordinary turn of foot for a middle-distance performer; having been clocked galloping at 40 miles per hour when running a 600m finishing sectional in the Irish Oaks at the Curragh, in around 33 seconds!
Bataash also delivered a sensational performance on the same Chantilly card. He slaughtered toiling opposition in the Prix de l”Abbaye, just carrying a startled Jim Crowley along at a speed he’d never experienced before. The jock said, “We were winging it. With Batassh you are just a passenger.” The mightily talented three-year-old can be temperamental, which has cost him in the past, but when focussed on the job is a world class sprinter.
In South Africa, Gavin Lerena guided Forest Fox to victory in The Grand Heritage – they just got past Classify with Starret City and Morpheus rounding off a huge SAFtote quartet dividend in the big field. We are not really used to such large field handicaps on our wagering menu, but in the UK such events have a long history with, the Cambridgeshire another handicap with loads of runners. It was held on the same day as The Grand Heritage, and also produced a wacky result, yielding a record UK exacta dividend of 18 290 pounds, only half of which was won to a 50 pence stake, split amongst a few inspired winners. Dolphin Vista at 50/1 led the procession of outsiders with a 100/1 shot and another 50/1 spook following.
Plaudits are due trainer Louis Goosen who savoured a fantastic day at Greyville. He, and his horses, are relishing the new environment after relocating down from Jozi. Goosen sent out Di Mazzio (speed score 91 +) and Zen Arcade to win good races, and he also, most notably, saddled the first three past the post in Race 6. Here Gratuity (s/s 95) edged out Captain’s Girl (s/s 94) with Yaas (s/s 84) rounding off a fine stable trifecta.
The best speed figure of the weekend award went to enduring Highveld campaigner Captain Aldo (s/s 107). Trainer St John Gray’s seven-year-old understandably suffers from aches and pains nowadays, but he seemed rejuvenated when bouncing back to his first win since December 2016 in a competitive sprint at the Vaal. Behind him, Romi’s Boy (s/s 104) and particularly, the youngster, Alfolk (s/s 103) are also worth taking out of the race as worth following.
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