Erupt filly, Strange Magic (speed score 96) thwarted an attempted plunge on Passchendaele (s/s 95) on Friday afternoon at Fairview. She hadn’t run badly behind local heroine, Luna Halo on her first start at the coast since moving down from Jozi yet started at 16/1. 96 is a tidy number for this venue and
A cleverly conceived campaign and precise conditioning by Crawford Racing, combined with a perfect front-running, stay- out- of- trouble steer by JP van der Merwe got Oriental Charm home in the 2024 Durban July. In an exciting finish, the energetic three-year-old warded off Cousin Casey’s spirited rails run, Royal Victory and Flag Man in
Betting on big days, such as the upcoming Durban July, is akin to being at a buffet feast. There is so much on offer to tempt us that indigestion is a common consequence. Likewise, undisciplined bettors who dive indiscriminately into every betting pool may also be left with an uncomfortable feeling afterwards. The act
Command Pilot (speed score 99) attained the top figure at Turffontein’s inside track on Saturday. The Lancaster Bomber colt received heavy betting action from 20/1 into 33/10 and landed the plunge by over a length from Royal Guide (s/s 97) with Professor Snape (s/s 95) Trident King (s/s 95) and La Moohal (s/s 94)
Saturday’s quality Scottsville meeting had four G1’s on the card, run down the 1200m straight. Fastest of them all was the Golden Horse Sprint won in dramatic fashion by Lucky Lad (s/s 110) who had to be extricated from major traffic congestion before bursting through and getting up to win by a short head
Thunderstruck (s/s 107) received a brilliantly time ride from veteran Piere Strydom to win a Pinnacle Stakes sprint at Turfontein, getting up in the last leap to deny Ziyasha (s/s 106). Both horses are sired by Rafeef. Thunderstruck is poised for another productive KZN Winter as he regularly clicks out figures between 107 and
Future Swing bolstered his Durban July claims with an emphatic score in the Greyville 1900 on Saturday. Justin Snaith’s entry got a smart figure of 105 + which can be sharply upgraded due to a very strong 400m to finish closing sectional of 22.6. Future Swing could well be better than 111, which brings
The stakes laden end of April meeting at Turffontein is one of the most significant staged on the Highveld with a bunch of Graded races, and the ’24 vintage duly delivered some high-class performances. Lucky Lad (s/s 108, with sectional upgrade 110) took out the Jehan Malherbe Senor Santa Stakes (G2) with a withering
Mystik Dan won a thrilling three- way photo-finish in the 150th Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on Saturday. In front of 156 000 spectators, the Ken McPeek trained, Brain Hernandez ridden colt secured an impeccable rail hugging trip which proved the difference between winning and losing. Sierra Leone charged late as did unlucky Japanese
Champions Day at Turffontein showcased the best of the Highveld horses, with a sprinkling of Cape and Durban raiders adding to the occasion. In fact, it was a KZN invader Royal Victory (speed score 106 +, sectional upgrade 112) who yet again made a successful foray to Jozi when winning the Premiers Champion Challenge