Keagan de Melo stayed up late at his new Hong Kong base to watch Green with Envy’s second start, in a show of faith in Dean Kannemeyer’s exciting prospect who he rode to a debut victory at Greyville in October. And the handsome son of Gimmethegreenlight did not disappoint.
Gallic Dream (s/s 91) had stalked the speed and moved up with purpose down the inside, looking like a winner only for Green with Envy to come hurtling down the center under Craig Zackey and win going away. This was a fine performance by the 3-year-old, worthy of a speed figure of 94 which, after factoring in the powerful closing burst can be upgraded to 101.
Long term readers of this newsletter know by now that any three-year-old able to get a triple digit speed score is very smart (particularly if attained so early in the season) and is worth consideration for the Classics.
A few older horses either hit or came close to that mark at Durbanville’s Saturday meet. Mufasa (s/s 100 +,) is one tough sprinter and he prevailed in a rough Pinnacle Stakes whilst Rod the Mod (s/s 99) zipped around the reconfigured (and thankfully dried out) bends to stave off Barney McGrew (s/s 97) in the last.
Two horses for followers of Cape Town racing that might be added to Horse Watch notebooks are Gimmelightning (s/s 92 +, could even be upgraded to the high 90’s after an eye-catching try in Rod the Mod’s race) and Enchanting Choice. The latter was also noted running on nicely at her sprint debut and will not be long in winning her Maiden when put over a more suitable trip – 1600m?
Waterberry Lane’s (s/s 104 +) win at Greyville on Sunday was impressive. Coming back after 239 days off and lumping 62kg’s did not prove a hindrance at all and he blasted away from the opposition. Now with Ricky Maingard, the Soft Falling Rain gelding got close to his career best of 107 achieved in the 2022 G1 Daily News when fourth to Safe Passage, so is another worth watching over the next few starts.