Zillzaal (speed score 105) went from start to finish under Dennis Schwarz to stave off the centre run of top weight Soqrat and win the G1 Summer Cup at Turffontein. The victor was trained by Sean Tarry, who is an expert at extracting peak efforts from his charges when it counts on big days.
The KZN Summer Challenge series took place at a foggy Scottsville on Sunday over 1200, 1600 and 1950 meters. Celebration Rock (speed score 89) won the sprint race, coming out fit after a ten week pause. He beat off the Mogok filly, Marsanne (s/s 88) who was already a three- time winner from only
This newsletter usually focusses on the best of the weekend’s racing action, but a digression is in order given the return to races on Thursday of two of SA’s elite thoroughbred’s, Hawwaam and Celtic Sea. Hawwaam (speed score 108) resumed over 1200m at the Vaal and had no trouble defeating G1 sprinter, Chimichuri Run
There were three Graded races staged this weekend, with each race throwing up notable performances and good speed figures. Russet Air (speed score 104) took the G2 Cape Merchants, Summer Pudding (s/s 102) clinched the G3 Citizen Fillies Mile and King of Gems (s/s 101) produced a withering run from last to deny Sachdev
Old timers were accustomed to seeing high class horses lump heavy weights to victory. They would have enjoyed seeing Soqrat (speed figure of 108) tote 62kg’s when pulverizing rivals in the G3 Victory Moon Stakes at the Vaal on Saturday. This son of Epaulette has tangled with the very best around in South Africa,
Mike de Kock unleashed a succession of high- class winners at Turffontein, including a stand- out performance by Barahin (s/s 111) in the Charity Mile. The Gimmethegreenlight colt swept past handy rival, Chijmes (s/s 106) to quickly put the result beyond doubt. He is developing into a pretty formidable racehorse in the distance range
Trainer Glen Kotzen celebrated an awesome weekend, striking a notable treble in the Racing Association Stakes with Viva Rio, a Grade 2 in Cape Town courtesy of emergent filly, Third Runway and again on Sunday in the Eastern Cape with convincing Algoa Cup victor, Cat Daddy. Chatting to Glen at Fairview, at a table
A keen bettor called Shorty revealed one of his best betting angles to a punting friend which is to focus on recently gelded thoroughbreds. It can be a powerful indicator of improved performance as the horse suddenly becomes more manageable in training, changes physically and is more determined to race than before the operation.
Soqrat ran huge figures of 113 and 114 during his three year-old campaign so his return in a Pinnacle Stakes at Turffontein on Saturday was much anticipated. Ridden confidently to race handy under 62kg’s from a wide draw by Callan Murray, this classy colt had no trouble in holding off Like a Panther’s closing
“Class on the grass” is an enduring racing adage. Punters who swear by this maxim would have collected in both the G3 Diana and Matchem Stakes, where Front and Centre and One World proved best. Front and Centre duly disposed of Freedom Charter as the top two on official ability ratings fought out the