Interbet There were four Grade 1 races at Scottsville - all 1200m sprints down the straight. The juvenile contests were run in virtually the same time (68.30 and 68.34), and both the SA Fillies Sprint (67.81) and Tsogo Sun (67.72) for older horses were also run in comparable times. The track seemed fair enough
The exacta returning R711 for the Greyville 1900 featured two horses that had finished stone last at their most recent starts - nobody said this is an easy game! Ten Gun Salute (s/s 106) galloped into the July picture at Greyville, quickening up smartly from the top of the straight. This was a massive turnaround
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
