Rain in Holland completed the sought after, Triple Tiara with a hard-fought victory over Light of the Moon in the SA Oaks (G2) at Turffontein. She took her winning tally to eight of 12 starts and became the fifth filly to achieve an historic three-legged sweep.

This Duke of Marmalade filly has coped with each successive step up in distance in her stride, running figures of 100 over a mile, 102 over 1800m and another 102 over 2450m on Saturday. She was made to fight for her historic accolade as Light of the Moon (s/s 101) remained difficult to pass all the way down the long straight. Plaudits to trainer, Sean Tarry, jock Richard Fourie and owner/breeders, Drakenstein Stud.

Fourie also gave Aragosta a fine, ground saving rails ride in the SA Derby before launching a perfectly timed rally which was just enough to get by Zeus in a tight finish to this G1. Expert conditioner, Mike de Kock revived this Rafeef gelding, after a slightly dull run when off-color in the SA Classic, to produce his best when it mattered. Aragosta has won half of his eight starts and clearly loves a stamina- sapping journey.

Durban July and Cape Met hero Kommetdieding was all the rage in the Horse Chestnut Stakes (G1) but the odds-on fave ran below best to only clock in third. He was moving well enough midway down the straight yet found no extra in the closing stages of this 1600m contest (perhaps he is better over middle distances) as ultra-reliable, MK’s Pride (s/s 105) kept on stoutly to deny another dependable performer, Puerto Manzano (s/s 104).

MK’s Pride has often run quality figures of 107 – 109 from sprints up to 1450m and he managed to get close to that range at his fourth try over a mile. The winner is sired by Willow Magic and trained by Paul Peter – Muzi Yeni did the steering. The chestnut is being touted for a career at Stud once his racing days are done.

True to Life hit 106 when winning a Pinnacle Stake over Godswood (s/s 100) She was tried over further earlier in her career only to do her best work when returned to the short cuts. She is another quality Duke of Marmalade filly, that has now won 8 of 25 starts, including four of nine over the minimum trip.

Master Archie is a very talented young speedball. Classical weight handicappers were impressed with his penultimate start demolition job of Under Your Spell and, after a duff try in between, bounced back to win the Man O War Sprint (G3).

Based on speed figures, he merits at least 104 + on his best form and could well be better than that assessment so is one for the notebook given that he has only raced 10 times and should have further improvement to come. Cleaver Green got closest to him in Saturday’s tussle – a valiant try at only his fourth start, even if he was receiving 8 kg’s from the impressive victor.

Cat Daddy, who is very consistent and typically runs around 103 (be it on Poly or Turf) took out the 1600m Kings Cup at Greyville on Sunday; followed by Supreme Quest quickening best of all in a false run G3 Umzimkhulu Stakes. Waterberry Lane (s/s 93 ++) got the job done in the colt’s 1400m equivalent – the G3 Byerley Turk, as he sauntered in for a facile victory. He has more to come, for sure.

Full Velocity (s/s 104) was most convincing in the listed KwaZulu Natal Stakes over 1000m flitting in ahead of Favorita (s/s 101). She blitzed through down the inside rail to land some hefty wagers (punted from 3’s into 17/10) and continue the hot hand of jockey Keagan de Melo. He is riding with aplomb – going into this meeting, (where he duly landed a treble,) his box score read 30 recent mounts for 7 wins, 10 seconds and three thirds. Talk about an in-form rider on a winning streak!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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