Early Spring is an important period for horseplayers with an eye to the future as they monitor the better three year- olds stepping out. Trainer Vaughan Marshall has won many Classic’s over the years and he unveiled two very promising youngsters this week. Black Knap destroyed a Maiden field with an eye-popping speed score of 100 at Kenilworth on Tuesday, and his other, Silver Operator (s/s 97) got beat by highly regarded older horse, Belgarion.
The Snaith trained, Belgarion returned fit, this after a lengthy layoff due to a series of physical issues and powered past Silver Operator with a swift closing burst. There was honour in defeat for the second horse who was game at only his third start and should prove competitive pitted against classy contemporaries.
The race before at Kenilworth fell to three year-old Viva Rio who won smoothly with a neat score of 94. Glen Kotzen trains this much-improved gelded son of Oratorio who is well above average.
In the only Listed race programmed over the weekend, Three Two Charlie sprinted through the field to win the Sophomore Sprint. The final time was relatively slow, due to a tepid early pace with the son of What a Winter’s turn of foot proving decisive.
At Turffontein, Baron Rodney (s/s 92) earned a second career win at his twelfth start. Given natural development and maturation, horses often improve to run peak efforts between their 11th and 15th starts with Geoff Woodruff’s entry being an apt case in point.
Also up on the Highveld, class dropping, Vistula won a Pinnacle Stakes after contesting a G1 event at her last start. She recorded a figure of 97 at the beginning of the year and should be able to exceed that number within the next few outings. Saturday’s romp was her fifth victory from 11 starts so look for another leap in her figures pretty soon.