Each new season throws different horses into the spotlight. Anticipating the waxing and waning of thoroughbred performance is one of the key challenges facing punters. Legislate and Silver Mountain, for example, were prominent stars in the recent past and favoured on their comebacks yet neither were factors in the Drill Hall Stakes and Fillies Guineas
Champions Day in Jozi lived up to its billing with a number of stellar performances being recorded. Abashiri (speed score 103) made it a sweep of the Triple Crown when labouring to victory in the SA Derby at Turffontein. The high class bay made his usual early move to seize control, but then had to
The smart Marinaresco (s/s 96+) won the Winter Guineas in Cape Town, making swift progress to deny the outside run of fast- improving Whisky Baron (s/s 96 +) and Vilikazi (s/s 95) who stayed on from the back of the field. Jockey Aldo Domeyer was impressed, "How was that acceleration - he quickens instantly!" The
Inara won the fourth Grade One of her 17 run career when scoring in the Laurie Jaffee Empress Club Stakes at Turffontein. The field merely jogged along in the early sections which affected the final time, with Inara (s/s 88++) using her superior turn of foot from a handy position to get the job done for Mike
Mambo Mime (speed score 103) eked out a slim victory in the Grade 3 Byerley Turk over 1400m on the turf at Greyville. Aided by an inside gate and with blinkers doing the trick, he remained focussed throughout, just staving off the late rally of Baritone (s/s 103) who ran a tremendous race from a
There were some tremendous performances over the weekend for racing fans to relish. Abashiri (speed score 109) is vindicating the belief of trainer Michael Azzie by winning yet again in dominant manner. This time it was the Grade 1 SA Classic field that he pulverised, coming from midfield off a strong pace to triumph with authority.
The well-travelled Talktothestars (speed score 105) claimed a Grade 2 victory in the Senor Santa Stakes at Turffontein over 1160m. He was all out to deny top notch sprinting filly Lazer Star (s/s 105) in a driving finish. The winner has been trucked around the country - running consistently in all the major centres - not even
There were no feature races staged this weekend, leaving punters to decipher mainly maiden contests and competitive handicaps. Some of the better performances, measured by speed figures, are highlighted here. The feisty Royal Flying Corps (s/s 98) loves a scrap and was game to stave off an improving Icy Trail (s/s 97) in a true run MR
Ormond Ferraris reached a milestone of 2500 winners when Romany Prince (s/s 100) clinched the Drum Star Handicap. The veteran trainer has been around seemingly forever at Turffontein and is an expert conditioner. His charge, a three year old son of Kahal, scored 101 when defeating Malal el Malook in December, and bounced back here to
There were some notable performances at Turffontein on Saturday, currently staging the best quality racing in the country. S'manga Khumalo cleaned up winning six races, including the Juvenile features on well-bred debutant Flying Myth (speed score 85+) and Exquisite Touch (s/s 85++) both of whom flash smart potential. Amongst others, Khumalo also got Buckland (s/s
