Both KZN Guineas were run at Greyville on Saturday with odds on favourite Under Your Spell quickening up best to win a false- run Fillies edition, and Zapatilla’s mugging Supreme Warrior in the final jump in the Colts version – a race that was also not run at a true pace in the early stages.
That makes it too difficult to arrive at accurate speed figures based on final time, a problem compounded by the absence of valid sectional times. What can be confirmed is that Under Your Spell is clearly a very classy filly, just as the market anticipated. She had run figures of 102 ++ as a juvenile and is training on to be tremendous at three up to a mile. She is by Capetown Noir and trained by Sean Tarry, who praised jock Calvin Habib for a cool ride.
Zapatillas has been held in high regard by trainer Brett Crawford from day one. It’s unusual for his runners to score first up – only his naturally gifted entries tend to win their first outings, as its not Crawford’s style to wind them up fully on debut.
So, the ability has always been there – this talented Master of my Fate colt ran 99 + when just succumbing to Trip of Fortune in the Cape Classic back in October last year and has not enjoyed the best of luck nor trips at subsequent starts.
Supreme Warrior was being called the winner, only to get lumbered on the post. It was a fine try from draw 12 by the Azzie trained, Joburg raider. In order behind him came, Pomp and Power, Cosmic Highway and Double Superlative all of whom had to overcome adversity to finish where they did.
One race that stood up to the time test was the furiously fast, Drill Hall Stakes over 1400m. Silver Operator (s/s 112) was brilliant in exceeding his previous best of 109 obtained behind Seeking the Stars in the Matchem. It was a close-run thing however as Russian Rock (s/s 111) performed with great honor after being taken back and having to race slightly wide.
Both are seriously smart 1400/1600m horses. Russian Rock has the pedigree for further (so holds an entry in the Durban July) but his inability to settle properly means his absolute best form has come in races over shorter when the early pace is strong.
Smorgasbord got third place running a notable figure of 108. That’s a pretty big number for a three-year-old and he should be followed during the KZN together with the other top-quality horses highlighted in this newsletter.
To end off this week’s offering – the Kentucky Derby produced an amazing spectacle (& back-story) with an also- eligible, 80/1 longshot (who only got into the race on Friday after a late scratching) Rich Strike weaving his way through the kickback from miles behind in the historic Run for the Roses in front of 150 000 fans.
The opening half of 45.36 seconds was the second fastest ever, leading to a pace meltdown and teeing things up for a judiciously ridden deep- closer that relished the distance.
Loud applause for unheralded Venezuelan jockey Sonny Leon’s stunning ride (he’d never even ridden a Graded winner up to this point) and to trainer Eric Reed, who claimed the horse for just 30 000 USD, spaced his prep races ideally five weeks apart and retained faith that Rich Strike could compete with the best when eventually getting a true test of stamina. Rich Strike is by Keen Ice with links on the dam side to the legendary, Mr Prospector.