Early May is a stimulating time in South African racing with stellar fields entered in Joburg on Champions Day, two Guineas’ being run in Durban and even some quality juvenile action in Cape Town. Coral Fever (speed score 110) has been a revelation since wearing blinkers and he got a deserved Grade 1 when
Whilst Cape horses are running on bone-jarringly firm ground (pen at 19mm), weekend meetings on the Highveld and in Pietermaritzburg were cut short due to thunderstorms and rain- softened turf considered too dangerous for participants. Before the meeting was aborted, Return Flight (speed score 83+) romped in by a steeplechase margin at Turffontein and
Lobo’s Legend (speed score 105) won the Grade 1 SA Classic at Turffontein, downing favoured Surcharge (s/s 103) who ran gamely from a wide barrier. Regular readers know the value of a triple digit speed figure for three-year-olds, so it was a most laudable effort by Joey Soma’s Trippi gelding. Placed runners, Like a
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Starting with Carlita recording a smart speed figure of 95 in winning the Nursery at Fairview on Friday, there were other good efforts in South African racing this weekend. Silvan Star (s/s 97+) and Gimme Six (s/s 95+) completed a Cape sourced exacta in a Pinnacle Stakes at the Vaal. Both fillies have attained
In South Africa, we're typically used to racing under pretty benign conditions. Sure, a big thunderstom on the Highveld can dramatically change the state of the going or very windy conditions often prevail at the coastal circuits, but more extreme standards seem to apply in Europe and Britain. Despite freakish winter storms bought in
After crunching the numbers, a potent effort from juvenile, Bold Eagle (speed score 99) was revealed, as he proved way superior in the Storm Bird Stakes at Turffontein over the weekend. The son of Bold Silvano stretched well clear of Royal Italian (s/s 89) and is clearly very talented. Mrs O (s/s 100) delivered another
Monks Hood (speed score 104)won the Gauteng Guineas convincingly at Turffontein over the weekend. Experienced KZN based trainer A.D. Gordon is relishing working with a classy thoroughbred again after a long,lean spell. Monks Hood scored 105 when winning the Digaans back in November, and had no problem dispensing with outgunned rivals Surcharge and Royal
Accurately crafted speed figures are especially useful in putting > reputations to the test. Whilst juvenile form can be notoriously difficult > to assess using conventional handicapping methods, the excellent debut > figure of 97 obtained by highly rated Var colt, Zinedine at Kenilworth > suggests that he is indeed extremely talented. His dam,
Frederico's Dream (speed figure 103) is an up and coming young daughter of Gimmethegreenlight. She made a powerful mid race move to win a sprint handicap at the Vaal on Saturday and is worth following. The grey was chased home by Winter Watch (s/s 101)and Myfunnyvalentine (s/s 101) with La Bella Mia and Arissa