Feature races were staged right around the country over the weekend, kickstarted by the East Cape Derby won in emphatic manner by Chollima (speed score 98). Glen Kotzen’s Pathfork ex Chillon three-year-old had run well in the first Leg of the Winter Series at Kenilworth behind Gem King and Future Prince over a mile
Both KZN Guineas were run at Greyville on Saturday with odds on favourite Under Your Spell quickening up best to win a false- run Fillies edition, and Zapatilla’s mugging Supreme Warrior in the final jump in the Colts version – a race that was also not run at a true pace in the early
Master Archie (speed score 111) dazzled in the Grade 1 Computaform Sprint to add further credence to sire Rafeef’s burgeoning credentials as a versatile and top-quality producer. The winner is trained by Paul Peter, who enjoyed a stellar Champions Day at Turffontein, taking out both G2 Nursery’s (Maharanee & Miss Cool) as well as
Princess Calla (speed score 103 +, has previously run a career best of 108) justified 15/10 favoritism when outrunning classy three-year-old Under Your Spell by three quarters of a length in the Empress Club Stakes, a Grade 1 over 1600m at Turffontein. This quality daughter of Flower Alley has tangled with Captain’s Ransom often
Rain in Holland completed the sought after, Triple Tiara with a hard-fought victory over Light of the Moon in the SA Oaks (G2) at Turffontein. She took her winning tally to eight of 12 starts and became the fifth filly to achieve an historic three-legged sweep. This Duke of Marmalade filly has coped with
Dubai hosted the World Cup meeting at Meydan featuring some awesome performances called with aplomb by SA commentator, Alistair Cohen. Frankie Dettori got Country Grammar to swoop late in the World Cup as odds on fave Life is Good caved in the final 80 yards; Shahryar staved off deep closer, Yibir in the Sheema
Big Burn proved just how accomplished a filly she is when romping in the Grade 3 Sycamore Sprint on Saturday at Turffontein. She was excellent from the get-go winning four of her first five starts including a defeat of Under Your Spell in the Spring Fillies and Mares Challenge (a G2.) Towards the end
Two features at Turffontein on Saturday illustrated opposite situations - emerging youngster, Smorgasbord showed that he is on a swift upward trend when leaping from a previous best speed figure of 99 up to 105 in the Grade 2 Senor Santa Stakes whilst older Grade 1 campaigner, Zillzaal eventually regained his mojo in the
Red Saxon (speed score 104) sprung a big upset in the G1 SA Classic at odds of 33/1 when denying heavily punted favorite Safe Passage (s/s 104) in a rousing finish. The winner (by Red Ray and trained by Joe Soma) reversed a three-length deficit in the Gauteng Guineas to exact revenge over Safe
Pomp and Power was an emphatic winner of the Cape Derby, proving that not only is he a very smart horse up to a mile but is even more effective over middle distances, as one would expect based on his pedigree. He came through down the inside rail to out-finish Universal (speed score 105),