The Equus Award winners for 2021 were announced during the past week to celebrate the current peak level of thoroughbred performances in South Africa. As usual, some divisions were straight-forward with predictable winners selected unanimously, whilst others must have generated plenty of debate amongst the panelists and caused subsequent controversy/public argument. Regular readers of
A game as multi- facetted and with such a long history as horse racing, is rich in quotes. Entire books could be compiled based on the quirky, wise and significant words spoken by a cross section of personalities that have contributed to the sport’s legacy. Below are a few to enlighten us - or
Knicks Go won the Grade 1 Whitney Stakes at storied Saratoga racetrack on Saturday with a dominant front-running tour-de force. Challengers moved up to him and he looked briefly under siege only to rebreak and draw clear. World class dirt horses with such a running style are very difficult to beat – they make
Jet Dark (speed score 110+) confirmed the merit of his Queen’s Plate victory over high class older horse, Rainbow Bridge, when winning the G1 Champions Cup at Greyville on Saturday at a distance of 1800m. He produced a big finish in the centre of the track to defeat a consistent and gallant contemporary in
There was a slight lull in South African racing this weekend before the important season ending card at Greyville next Saturday where some of SA’s divisional champions get a final chance to confirm their status. Thus, the meeting at Turffontein, Kenilworth and Scottsville featured only bread-and-butter type racing. Punters with an international focus were
The best quality racing was at Kenilworth this weekend where a couple of Grade 3 events were staged for fillies and mares, catering for sprinters and middle-distance horses. Phil’s Dancer (speed figure of 102, finishing ratio 102%) won the Champagne Stakes over 1200m, whilst Pretty Betty (s/s 97, finishing section 103%) took out the
We don’t usually touch on breeding in this betting-orientated newsletter, but the passing of one of the greatest stallions of all time, Galileo is a sad, significant occasion to be marked. Coolmore made this announcement on Saturday, “Regretfully our world-renowned Champion Sire Galileo was put to sleep earlier today on humane grounds owing to
Freaky- good three year-old, Kommetdieding (speed score 112) won the 2021 Durban July on Saturday at Greyville’s “behind closed doors” meeting, beating off Linebacker (s/s 111) Got the Greenlight (s/s 111) and Do It Again (s/s 110.) It was a great triumph for stalwart trainer Harold Crawford and his daughter, Michelle Rix for not
Continuing our weekly review of notable performances there were some fine efforts in Cape Town and Johannesburg to report, though next week all the main action shifts to KZN for the iconic Durban July meeting. Crimson King (speed score 99) bolted in to win the Pocket Power Stakes (G3) at a sodden Kenilworth whilst
During the Cape Summer, Silver Host (by Silvano) was flagged up as a most promising stayer by trainer, Justin Snaith. The very smart gelding is now making the expected progress, taking out the Track and Ball Derby at Scottsville over the weekend, earning a figure of 104, with the promise of more to come.