Monks Hood (speed score 104)won the Gauteng Guineas convincingly at Turffontein over the weekend. Experienced KZN based trainer A.D. Gordon is relishing working with a classy thoroughbred again after a long,lean spell. Monks Hood scored 105 when winning the Digaans back in November, and had no problem dispensing with outgunned rivals Surcharge and Royal Crusade over five lengths back at the finish.
Takingthepeace (s/s 92 +) used a good turn of foot to sweep by stable mate Silver Thursday in the Gauteng Fillies Guineas in a slower run contest compared to the colt’s Guineas. With her head held to one side, she ran on from the back of the field to land the upset, taking her career record to four wins from eight starts.
Will Pays (s/s 105) is a rarity in South Africa, having now won ten races. This durable Imperial Stride gelding knows how to get the job done in extended sprints, earning a peak figure in the Hawaii Stakes over 1400m. Coral Fever (s/s 104) dropped back in distance and wearing blinkers, closed late in a game try but could not get past Will Pays.
Simply Royal (s/s 103) and Redberry Lane (s/s 102) had clashed in mid- December 2017 and a similar outcome resulted when they met in the Acacia Handicap, as the latter checked in second for the fifth time in a row. Redberry Lane competes valiantly yet has been repeatedly outrun in the finish. Give credit though to the sparingly campaigned Simply Royal, who won fluently and is a talented filly. She goes especially well for jockey Raymond Danielson – they’ve a perfect 3/3 record in combination.