One World (speed figure 104) again proved his fighting qualities when just prevailing over Vardy (s/s 104) in an exciting G3 Winter Guineas at Kenilworth on Saturday. Both are seriously high class three year- olds, and they went at it in a knock down brawl over the final 400m with One World (who has run as high as 112 before) rallying to get it on the bob.

There was honour in defeat for the second horse who was having only his sixth start since beginning his career in November 2018 – Vardy is capable of winning high- level contests as he matures.

Followers of the merit rating system would have celebrated after Helen’s Ideal got the job done in the Sweet Chestnut. She towered above the opposition on official ratings after her valiant Cape Derby showing versus the guys, and duly went start to finish to score as a firm favourite.

Keep an eye on Shamrock Wind, who closed well late with a 23.4 400m to finish sectional – she will win her share of races pitched at the appropriate class level.

Kenny Trix is a tough campaigner. He has made a sterling comeback from tendon troubles to reel off successive figures of 104,105 and 102 racing on or near the speed. The son of Philanthropist garnered a fifth career win when seeing off Man about Town (s/s 100) in a competitive Pinnacle Stakes earlier on the Kenilworth program.

On Sunday, Orpheus raided from the Highveld to give a galloping tutorial in the listed Sledgehammer over 1800m on the Greyville poly. Despite a history of breathing issues and racing in front bandages on the day, the son of Western Winter used forcing tactics to win by a steeplechase margin.

Without accurate sectional timing it’s hard to know for sure what enabled him to win so convincingly. Less likely is that he suddenly ran sensationally faster from the front than he’s ever done before, making it impossible for pursuers to get into the same time zone. The adjusted final time was not that quick suggesting a more probable explanation – jock van Rensburg poached a soft lead and stole the race. You be the judge.

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