We usually review only weekend highlights in this Interbet newsletter but Thursday’s Pinnacle Stakes on the inside track at Turffontein proved significant. Main Defender was favored at 7/10 to win it having run some seriously big figs for a three-year-old (s/s 115 @ best), but he came under pressure late, drifted about, then stumbled
Barbaresco ran a cracker behind Main Defender in the Got the Greenlight Stakes but due to some kinks in the handicapping system was not fully penalized. He was therefore weighted to win comfortably at his follow up in a handicap and after being punted from 2/1 into odds on, duly sauntered home. Barbaresco earned
Sandringham Summit, under Gavin Lerena, and Gimme a Nother produced two excellent performances to win their respective Gauteng Guineas on Saturday at Turffontein. Both started favourite at around even money, both are sired by Gimmethegreenlight and both won as such short- priced horses ought to if the market is correct – totally dominating rivals.
Karl Neisius is a riding legend, now retired, but he remains involved in the game. We were chatting a week ago about the pecking order amongst SA’s current crop of three-year-olds and I asked him who is the best in his opinion. “Let’s wait and see till after the Derby.” was his sage response.
Double Superlative (s/s 111) bounced back after a serious tendon injury, to dart past long time leader Rascallion (s/s 110) and win the Met at Kenilworth. The winner is trained by Justin Snaith who must be commended for reviving Double Superlative’s fortunes – he was an outstanding three-year-old and has now got another coveted
Main Defender is such an exciting horse! The son of Pathfork won the Got the Greenlight Stakes running an excellent figure for a three-year-old of 108; the same number he attained in the Graham Beck, also over the Turffontein 1400m. Prior to that he hit a towering 115 in the Spring Challenge – he
Brilliant. An annihilation. Spectacular… were some of the adjectives after Charles Dickens won the King’s Plate of ’24. Fans could appreciate his dominance as he streaked clear, (running straight and true this time) leaving See It Again in his wake. For a speed figure fanatic, it was a revelation crunching the numbers. A final
Snow Pilot (speed score 100) received a perfect steer from JP van der Merwe to win the Cape Guineas at Kenilworth on Saturday, in an adjusted time bang on standard for this class. Plaudits to winning connections; Justin Snaith and Drakenstein Stud - what a loss to the SA industry is the late, lamented
See It Again’s facile win in the G2 1600m Green Point Stakes, a race intended merely as a gentle come- along- prep for the King’s Plate and ultimate target the Cape Town Met, spells trouble for his rivals. He won under a hands ride (speed score 106 +) and was much the best. It’s
Main Defender (speed score 108) and Sandringham Summit (s/s 108) fought out an epic at Turffontein in the G3 1400m Graham Beck Stakes on Saturday with Tony Peter’s runner gaining a narrow margin revenge over Sandringham Summit, who was coming back after a rest. Both three-year-olds are high class thoroughbreds (Main Defender, by Pathfork,