The Equus Awards showcase outstanding thoroughbred achievement in South Africa. By way of summarizing the 2015/16 season, here are the National nominees together with the best speed figures they earned during the year under review. HORSE OF THE YEAR: ABASHIRI - 100, 103, 109. LEGAL EAGLE - 105, 112. SMART CALL - 104, 109 +.
Flamingo Park hosted three feature races on Saturday. Lebeona won the RA Diamond Stayers in a runaway to complete a 9th career success. Cleverly procured by Leon Setaro's Sport of Kings syndicate in KZN then sent to seek his fortune in Kimberley, the son of AP Arrow has thrived on the red dirt going a
Marinaresco (speed score 110 +) nimbly darted through a small gap on the outside to win the Grade 1 Champions Cup, fittingly named in honour of his retiring trainer Mike Bass. The little gelding was an unlucky second in the July (s/s 109) when coming on too late from far back - this time he
Harlem Shake (speed score 95) won the Grade 3 Final Fling Stakes at a swampy Kenilworth over the weekend. The Warm White Nights filly loves it when it comes up mud and is a forceful pace-pressing type. She got beat a wart by Francia in the Winter Oaks when caught late over further, and was
High class entire Red Ray (speed score 108) won the Grade 1 Mercury Sprint at Greyville, using stalk and pounce tactics which were ideal under the circumstances. A very strong tailwind blowing down the straight made it impossible for anything to come from way off the pace, and canny jock Anton Marcus followed up an
It was a mistake to write off The Conglomerate as an awkward horse fated not to fulfil early promise. On Saturday at Greyville, he stunned the masses when winning the Durban July under expert handling from Piere Strydom. Earlier in his career he had run a speed figure of 108, which meets the par required
About half of Sunday's Pick pool of R3.5 million was carried over after a succession of rough results bamboozled most punters at Scottsville. Handshakes to the geniuses who found 75/1 spook Gallic Fire (merit rating of 42) in the final leg and outsider Witchcraft in the Oaks. She ambled around the circuit untroubled in the
Greyville hosted top quality racing over the weekend. Grade 1 honours in the Gold Challenge fell to Mac De Lago (speed score 104) via an objection, which was upheld due to interference caused by Trip To Heaven (s/s 104). The deposed "winner" made a bold move from last on the turn and is all the
Talktothestars has been a revelation, improving with age to become a star sprinter after appearing to be no better than a top-division handicapper a few months back. His figures have improved from 102 midway through his fourth year, up to 107 (last start behind Carry On Alice in April,) now to a career high of
The Daily News and Woolavington Stakes were the big races staged at Greyville over this past weekend. Lack of a good early pace may have scrambled things, but it's estimated based on past numbers and collateral form that Rabada ran a speed figure of 105 with Bela Bela scoring 102. Rabada was primed for a
