Fierce weather up North curtailed the racing program so attention switched to Port Elizabeth where Dorset Noble won the EP Derby on Saturday. The Candice Bass Robinson entry is a promising stayer and proved much the best winning comfortably from local hope Story Of My Life. Another Cape horse to waltz in was Captain Alfredo,
Deo Juvente (speed score 107) snuck in between hot favourite Legal Eagle and Nother Russia to score a dramatic victory in the Premier's Champions Challenge at Turffontein on Saturday. This was a deserved change of fortune for Geoff Woodruff's runner who succumbed in a knock down brawl with stable mate Master Sabina in the 2015
Racing action shifted to P'Maritzburg on Sunday where a succession of sprint races were staged in preparation for the upcoming festival of speed down the Scottsville straight. Fans were treated to exciting finishes and can draw some positive early season insights about the smart performances of Attenborough (speed score 106) and The Secret is Out
Nother Russia (speed score 104) followed up an excellent win in the Acacia Handicap when landing the Group 1 Empress Club Stakes at Turffontein. She made a decisive move in mid-stretch and proved much the best. Just as in their previous clash, she was chased home by a very game Bella Sonata (s/s 101) with
Giant chestnut, Brutal Force (speed score 103) outsprinted opposition in the Hennenman Memorial over 1000m at Turffontein over the Easter weekend. He has put together a consistent record all around the country and will try crack a bigger prize over the next few months, but will need to up his figs somewhat to win a
Africa Rising (speed score 102) has traversed the country in his short career and now seems set to make the most of things with the formidable Sean Tarry in control. The son of Visionaire made a swooping run on the rail to get by Copper Force (s/s 100) in the Byerley Turk at Greyville on
Internationally, the big news was Arrogate's demolition job of rivals in Dubai to become the all-time highest stake earner in the World. It was a towering performance as he came from last to power through the field to universal acclaim. His Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert reckons he is a dirt version of renowned
The Elmo Effect (speed score 102) appreciated turning back to a shorter trip when causing an upset in the Drum Star Handicap at Turrfontein. The son of Admire Main had been grinding it out over long distances with occasional success but he got his reward coming into this Listed event off a low weight. He
Both the Storm Bird Stakes and Bauhinia Handicap at Turffontein on Saturday were run in virtually the same final time. After adjusting for the day's track variant, Barrack Street and Exquisite Touch earned fine scores of 100 and these two Sean Tarry trained entries seem worth following. Barrack Street has now won two of three
Fans on the Highveld were treated to quality racing at Turffontein's rain soaked track on Saturday. Only really good horses can record triple digit speed figures on the scale I use, so Nother Russia (s/s 105) Rafeef (s/s 103) and Janoobi's (s/s 103) winning efforts gets a big thumb's up. In the Acacia Handicap, Nother
