There were three Grade 1’s at Turffontein on a rain interrupted Saturday, which renders making speed figures quite difficult. If conditions remain constant during the meeting, then we can deduce an accurate variant across all carded races. However, a major change in the weather requires more imagination when crafting the numbers.

The variant needed to be split after the rain delay as the track was softened by the downpour. Beforehand, things were quite straightforward with the track running 10 points fast, so the ratings attached to Silver Hills in the Acacia (speed score 100) and Gimme a Nother (s/s 104 +, with sectional upgrade 110) and Purple Pitcher (s/s 107) in their respective 1800m Classics are most probably on the mark.

Gimme a Nother remained perfect when strolling to victory and Mike de Kock’’s charge can hit even bigger figs when more mature and extended by stronger opposition. She is a potential star!

Robyn Klaasen’s Purple Pitcher pulled off a start to finish coup under Kabelo Matsunyane in the SA Classic and though Sandringham Summit (s/s 106) tried to close, he fell short as the odds-on favourite, running a figure a few ticks below his previous best in a grueling altitude test at nine panels.

William Iron Arm (s/s 105, Pure Predator (s/s 104 and Hotarubi (s/s 102) also emerged with credit – any three-year-old able to get triple digit speed scores on my scale is part of an elite minority for that generation.

What happened after the thunderstorm is harder to peg with confidence due to the small sample (two races around the turn and one down the straight) and shift in the going.

Main Defender merits a guestimate 110 for his uber-stylish Horse Chestnut romp, due largely to a powerful closing sectional. He is a remarkable talent, having already run 115 at best.

Mover and Shaker (s/s 104) took the JJ the Jet Plane Stakes (G3) and Maiden winner Judgement Day is tentatively awarded an 87.

To put all these figures in some historical context, super-sprinter JJ the Jet Plane’s career peak number was 115 recorded down the Clairwood straight.

The other performance worthy of inclusion in the highlights package is that of Pistol Pete (s/s 94 +, sectional upgrade 98). The Buffalo Bill Cody colt, racing for the same Tony Peter/Calvin Habib combo successful with Main Defender, remains unbeaten and is a seriously smart juvenile.