The TRC Global Rankings (thoroughbredracing.com) provide food for thought in assessing thoroughbred merit around the world. This is how their Top 20 looks as of end January 2022: LIFE IS GOOD USA ST MARK’S BASILLICA IRELAND KNICKS GO USA GRAN ALLEGRIA JAPAN
The betting market proved an accurate guide to the outcome of the Cape Town Met on Saturday. The four horses that had dominated the betting duly fought out the finish with eventual favourite, Kommetdieding (speed score 115) prevailing over Jet Dark (s/s 114), Linebacker (s/s 114) and Double Superlative (s/s 113). Gavin Lerena rode
Mike de Kock saddled a stable exacta in the Grade 3 Sea Cottage Stakes at Turffontein on Saturday. Richard Fourie judged the pace perfectly to bring Aragosta from the back of a strung-out field and get up in the final jump to deny Clafoutis who had stalked the early speed. The winner is by
Jet Dark recorded a momentous double by winning the 2022 Queens Plate at Kenilworth. Under a perfect rail-skimming ride from S’Manga Khumalo the son of Trippi outran Kommetdieding in the finish getting an excellent speed figure of 109 +. Taking his swift closing sectional into account, that number can be upgraded to around 115,
Due to the Xmas holiday break, there was only Sunday’s Greyville Boxing Day meeting to entertain horseplayers over the weekend. Ikigai (speed core 105) deservedly won the Christmas Handicap, coming to KZN after a solid try in the Merchants at Turffontein. Class came to the fore in this race with Sean Tarry’s runner beating
Double Superlative, who trainer Justin Snaith described going into the race as, “a high-class individual” duly won the G1 Cape Guineas after racing handy in a race run to suit. He got a perfect trip stalking the pacemaker, Pomp and Power, and got past that one after a lengthy battle down the straight. He
“He means the world to me and has given me so many opportunities,” is what jockey Vincent Ho graciously said after guiding Golden Sixty (speed score of 109 ++ ) to his 18th successive win. Arguably the world’s best miler glided past all- comers in the Longines Hong Kong Mile to again confirm his
Kenilworth’s Saturday meeting yielded a host of excellent performances as one would expect for Graded contests during prime time of the Cape Summer season. Chansonette (speed score 104) was turned out in great shape by trainer Andre Nel and received a perfect trip under Grant van Niekerk to capsize 1/3 fave Desert Miracle in
The Grade 3 Fillies Mile fell to Follow Me (speed score 95 +) at Turffontein on Saturday. The Gimmethegreenlight three-year-old filly got within two lengths of then star juvenile, Desert Miracle back in June and is now making the progress expected by trainer, Stuart Pettigrew. She was followed in by familiar foe, Eternity Ring,
Readers of this newsletter know by now that speed figures over 100 are especially noteworthy in the South African context. On Saturday, we were treated to seven races yielding such scores thus making it onto our (extended) highlights package. Warrior (speed figure 107 +) was super-impressive downing Rascallion (s/s 106) and Kommetdieding in the