Grade 1’s galore boosted excitement at Greyville on Saturday with Return Flight (s/s 96) Soqrat (s/s 95) Will Pays (s/s 98 +) and Captain America (s/s 110) being honoured.
20K bargain Pomodoro filly Return Flight made a race-winning early move under Anton Marcus to lift the Thekwini Stakes for juvenile fillies, then Soqrat proved way superior in the Premier’s Champion Stakes for young colts. Soqrat had run to an excellent figure of 100 behind stable mate Baharin last time and is a high class thoroughbred that trainer, Mike de Kock says can compete anywhere around the world.
The Mercury Sprint was muddling, with many runners not performing to their true potential. Will Pays (has run 108 at best) was full value for the victory though, storming down the inside rail to hold off deep closers Attenborough and Trip To Heaven.
Captain America has often featured in this newsletter during a stellar career. He epitomizes the effectiveness of pace- pressing tactics. C.A. possesses a huge stride and can gallop relentlessly at a strong, sustained pace. This makes it hard for those trying to tangle with him early, and tough to run down late. Captain America repeatedly runs scores in the 110-112 range which is close to as good as it gets in SA, and he again carried out that style to perfection for another Grade 1 win.
The three year olds Eyes Wide Open, Undercover Agent and Tap o Noth all ran to 107’s two lengths off Captain America. No disgrace in that, and they should win multiple features between them in future. Their contemporary Miyabi Gold is a progressive filly with a similarly bright future after holding off her retiring stable-mate Gimme Six to win the Grade 2 Gold Bracelet.
Others to catch the eye were runaway victor, Chimichuri Run (s/s 97+) in the Ukhomazi Stakes and It’s My Turn, who confirmed his status as the best stayer in the country with an assured win in the historic Gold Cup.