Both Stakes races over the weekend at Turffontein produced strong performances measured against the clock. An in-form Vaseem (speed score 100) won the Spring Spree for Roy Magner, with three-year-old Elusive Fort filly, Big Burn achieving a top figure of 104 in a close finish to the Ladies Stakes.
She has done well previously in the Bloodstock SA Sales contests and was winning her third race here from four starts. Paul Peter and Warren Kennedy are a potent force in combination, and they yet again got the job done albeit in a close-run affair.
The super consistent Philanthropist filly Full Velocity (s/s 103) (4 wins, 4 seconds from 8 tries) only succumbed narrowly to Big Burn with Skitt Skizzle mare, May Queen (s/s 101) nearby in the trifecta slot. Top weighted Thumbs Up (s/s 96) also emerged with some credit back in fourth in what could turn into a key race for upcoming fillies and mares sprint features on the Highveld.
In the following race, Vaseem had to battle hard to stave off Mr Flood (s/s 99, has run 105 @ best) The winner, who is sired by Vercingetorix, has really found form recently – this sprint win completed a fine hat trick. Muzi Yeni was the successful pilot.
Conditions were totally different at a wet and slow Kenilworth track. The track variant was around minus 70 after plenty of rain in Cape Town on top of an already high-water table. Some horses relish extremely boggy conditions – others can’t cope at all.
Worlds Your Oyster (s/s 95 +, has run 105 at best) got the race run ideally to suit and duly proved best after pressing the pace in a Pinnacle Stakes to provide Lucinda Woodruff with the first ever winner in her own right. Later on, Baltimore Jack (s/s 98) ran a career peak aided by the track bias as he forced the pace down the inside rail and kept going to beat off What a Man and an unlucky Varistocracy, who both managed 94’s.
Brett Crawford landed three sharp strikes. Upwardly mobile, Zapatillas (s/s 89 ++ was bravely ridden by Louis Mxothwa to sneak through down the inside and nail Safe Return in the Sophomore Sprint; Futura debutant, Future Prince landed a betting plunge in what could turn out a strong Maiden (placed rivals Double Superlative and Gem King show potential) and seven year old mare, Miss Smarty Pants took advantage of her reduced merit rating when getting a good trip to land a FM 90 handicap over 1400m.
Finally, the performance of Queen of Shadows is worthy of mention. She streaked away impressively from admittedly modest opposition in the tenth race and whilst she also benefitted from a perfect rails-hugging ride from a handy position under Craig Zackey, the speed figure of 94 + suggests that she will be winning more races.
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