Horseplayers around the world were enthralled by the action from Royal Ascot which stretched over five days, culminating on Saturday. Two prominent SA owners savored extra special triumphs as Mary Slack’s Claymore won the Hampton Court Stakes and the Kieswetter family’s Candleford (bred at their Barnane Stud) romped in the Duke of Edinburgh Stakes.
Al Muthana (speed score 111) took out the G1 Gold Challenge with a withering run down the center of the course which proved just too good for Linebacker (s/s 110). The winner (sired by Deep Field in Australia) produced some seriously smart figures on the Highveld before a below par run in the Horse
On Saturday, Scottsville was the scene of four G1 sprints down a 1200m straight course. Most of SA’s best sprinters across age and gender categories converged in ‘’Maritzburg for these coveted Stakes. The prestigious Golden Horse Sprint went to well punted second favourite, Alesian Chief, in a special triumph for the “underdog”. He is
Safe Passage (speed score 110) was ultra-impressive when scorching clear in the Grade 1 Daily News at Greyville on Saturday. He put a two-length margin between himself and closest pursuers, Pomp and Power, Aragosta and Waterberry Lane, all who got scores of 107. The race was not that hard run early on, making the
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