Battle Force won his sixth race from 12 starts, and by far the most important one of his career, when landing the G1 Golden Horse Sprint carrying bottom weight of 52kg’s. He raced prominently on the crown of the Scottsville straight and just kept going to thwart Eden Roc’s inner rails rally with MK’s Pride and Captain Tatters in close proximity. Befitting a competitive handicap, the first six home were within a length of each another at the wire.

The 16/1 winner is a three year- old son of Act of War and is trained by Paul Matchet, who also campaigns high class filly, War of Athena, out of the same previously underestimated sire who has now clearly proven he can drop the bomb! Battle Force improved to register a speed score of 105 here – War Of Athena’s career best is around 112!

Singforafa (s/s 105) maintained her excellent record over the Scottsville 1200m, when going gun to tape in the G1 SA Fillies Sprint. She only just got beat in the Allan Robertson as a juvenile, was again narrowly denied as a three year-old close to Celtic Sea and Run Fox Run in this SA Sprint before getting third time lucky on Sunday. Despite that notable C & D history she was a 33/1 longshot who caught many punters looking the wrong way as her recent form was suspect.

Singforafa is a daughter of Potalo Palace imbued with natural speed. She is erratic though, (and hard to catch right as a result) but can run her rivals ragged when striding and breathing comfortably. Vernichey, Gallic Princess and favourite True to Life slugged it out for the placings.

Ambiorix was hugely impressive on debut during the Cape Summer before finishing second to high class, Cosmic Highway in late February. Trainer Marshall is a dab hand at targeting this prestigious meeting and he produced the Vercingetorix bay in fighting trim after a three month freshening to out-gallop all comers in the Gold Medallion (G1.)

Places were filled by Bard of Avon, Gallic Chief and Captain Lannister who tried hard to make up ground, but Ambiorix (s/s 97) was another to maximise optimal forcing tactics on the day.

One to come from slightly off them was Under Your Spell in the G1 Allan Robertson. Market rivals, Sheela and Sound of Warning were dueling in the centre of the track for much of the 1200m journey, but neither could cope when the Capetown Noir filly launched her bid towards the middle outside of the rain softened course.

Whilst Under Your Spell had duffed it in the Nursery on the Highveld – this after reeling off a hat-trick – she regained her true form in no uncertain manner to draw off by nearly four lengths. Her speed figure of 100 conveys a very fine effort for a juvenile filly.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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