Nother Russia (speed score 104) followed up an excellent win in the Acacia Handicap when landing the Group 1 Empress Club Stakes at Turffontein. She made a decisive move in mid-stretch and proved much the best. Just as in their previous clash, she was chased home by a very game Bella Sonata (s/s 101) with Tahini (s/s 100) and Safe Harbour (s/s 100) rounding out the quartet. Nother Russia has now won five of nine starts, without ever missing the frame. This consistent and dependable filly has handled each step up the class ladder without any dramas and is a credit to her connections.
Amazing Strike (s/s 105) is an erratic customer, yet he can motor when in the mood and he swept aside rivals in a strong handicap at the same venue. Jockey Delpech handled him expertly as they proved too strong for Coral Fever (s/s 102) and Forest Fox (s/s 101). The runner up is quite sparingly campaigned due to breathing issues but produced a career best here and will win again soon if maintaining form.
La Favourari (s/s 103) notched the highest figure on the Kenilworth card. He went start to finish over the 1200m trip for a fifth win and is a solid top division sort suited to the short cuts, though he has tried further. In earlier sprint action, the sire Var provided the first three juveniles past the post in Race 1 – Virtue (s/s 90) Henry Tudor (s/s 87) and Forest Prince (s/s 85) – the winner is a precocious talent and may be worth following.
Elusive Silva (s/s 104) could be an early “find” for KZN’s big race season after a fluent runaway at Greyville. A horse troubled by physical issues at three and difficult to get right, he was gelded in October 2016 and had not run for 302 days since winning the Winter Derby where he flashed a sharp turn of foot. If now physically more robust, then he can go on to beat stronger – the son of Silvano swatted the opposition away in the Sledgehammer with contemptuous ease.