Class droppers have a higher probability of winning than those rising in grade. Punters following that angle honed in on Saturday entries, Prince of Kahal and Wonderwall who were dropping into Pinnacle Stakes after previously competing in much stronger races.
The son of Kahal ran two lengths off Pacific Trader and Chimichuri Run in recent Grade 1’s so was predictably odds on against a small field. He is one of the most consistent horses in training, regularly running figures in a narrow band between 105 and 107, and duly scored 106 in a Turffontein victory over Dalai’s Promise (speed score 95.)
It was slightly tougher for Wonderwall (s/s 103) as he had to stave off Rock of Africa’s challenge. The Querari gelding’s overall record is somewhat erratic but the key form pattern is that he runs best fresh – he’s won four times and placed second twice from seven comeback outings.
In contrast to the bone- dry surface on the Highveld, the Kenilworth ground was heavy after still more Winter rain fell during the week. My track variant was calculated at minus 61 slow – an indication of just how heavy the track conditions were on the day.
The best performance was delivered by Cane Lime N Soda who splish- splashed his way to a convincing Maiden win earning a particularly neat figure of 96. The Gimmethegreenlight colt does not show much at work, according to trainer Vaughan Marshall, but can turn it on when it counts on race-day and is worth following.
Queensbarns (s/s 85 +) cruised in to shed her Maiden by a wide margin. The passing from colic in May 2018 of Irish sire, Kingsbarns is a big loss to our breeding industry as the few progeny that he’s produced here have showed precocious signs of really being able to scuttle.
Tweed Valley (s/s 95) managed the top speed figure at Greyville’s Sunday meeting. The Pathfork mare sustained good pace to win a feature sprint on Flamingo Park’s dirt a year ago and after being lightly raced at intervals since then, recorded a somewhat belated next victory. Ocean City (s/s 91) was punted to win this event but could not hold off Kom Naidoo’’s versatile runner who coped fine back on the weeds, after a few fair Poly tries.
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