It’s great when a plan comes together. Trainer, Andre Nel’s team selected the right target for their well-performed, grey Zeitz s/s 105, as it turned out, when winning the Charity Mile at Turffontein on Saturday.
Nel explained that the Graded mile races in the Cape are a bit too strong, hence the decision to campaign him upcountry. Zeitz has done especially well in KZN, and he proved equally adept on the Highveld. A true run mile is his game, further than that is a bit of a struggle, an insight provided by canny jockey, Andrew Fortune who said that Zeitz has the finishing burst of a sprinter/miler.
That turn of foot, perfectly judged by Serino Moodley, was required to reel in Cosmic Speed s/s 104 and Otto Luyken, with Greaterix s/s 104, Splittheeeights s/s 103 and Grand Empire in close proximity at the wire.
Moodley is riding at the top of his game – he was to bring home a treble for Nel the following day at Kenilworth with Sani Pass s/s 77 +, Superhero s/s 92 and Cutie Patootie s/s 98 all saluting.
Moodley is highly professional in his approach, always looking for an edge be it in riding style, physical fitness or boosting tactical awareness by making his own speed maps to anticipate the pace of a race.
Going back to the Turffontein action, the final times for the two supporting features for 3YO’s were almost the same, leading to speed figures of 97 for Alice B Toklas in the Starling Stakes and 96 ++ for the really gifted, Fierceness in the Graham Beck.
Both were Grade 3 contests, and the winners should be able to improve upon those numbers as they mature.
The runner up in the Starling Stakes, Flower Island s/s 95 + is one to note when put over a longer route.
Kubu s/s 99 was given a masterful front running steer by Richard Fourie to go all the way in the Yellowwood Handicap (L). She came under a vigorous ride midway down the long stretch but kept going to outduel Tomyris s/s 98.
Fourie could tell the moment she jumped that the sprightly, Kubu was in a galloping mood, saying out loudly in a cheeky warning to fellow jockeys soon after the start, “this is going to be fun…”
Kalahari King s/s 100 + galloped his way right onto the Cape Guineas picture with an emphatic score in the Cape Classic. Andrew Fortune, an excellent judge of thoroughbred merit, rates this handsome chestnut in the elite echelon, drawing comparisons with the great Variety Club!
Described by connections as being like a “troublesome child”, Kalahari King, who battled with shin soreness as a juvenile, needed gelding to get over unmanageable behaviors and show his best.
The way he stalked a strong pace, then drew off to win untroubled, marks him as a tremendous prospect.
Defending champion of the Southeaster Sprint, The US of A s/s 101, retained his title. Covered up by Richard Fourie, he burst past heavily backed, Objet D’Art s/s 99 (11’s into 4/1) and had just enough in reserve to hold out Gold Giboski’s s/s 100 bid down the inner.
Trainer Paddy Kruyer explained that his charge required several months of box rest after cracking a carpal bone, earlier in his career. The fact that The US of A has gone on to win quality sprint races and campaign so consistently is a credit to the handsome, 6YO’s brave temperament, and the experienced Kruyer’s skills as a horseman.