A couple of Grade three races were held over the New Year weekend. On Saturday at Turffontein, Rivarine was most impressive getting a big speed score of 108 in the Lebelo Sprint when bouncing out fresh after three months off track. This was a fourth win from just 10 starts for the super-quick son of Var out of champion race mare River Jetez. He did very well over the short cuts as a juvenile, then was tried over further but seems to take after his sire who was a noted speedball.
Credit is also due trainer Grant Maroun for getting the best out of unheralded Great Britain’s progeny. He saddled Queen Laurie and Wrecking Ball in the sprint- both got smart figures of 101 and these young fillies are capable of going on to win multiple races.
Fort Ember (s/s 97) used stalk and pounce tactics under clever rider Lyle Hewitson to win the Flamboyant Stakes at Greyville. The daughter of Elusive Fort has now won five of nine starts, and is especially effective over 1600m. She proved too strong for Impala Lily (s/s 93) who could not quite keep up.
The best performance at the Cape was delivered by Ngaga (s/s 94) who is a perfect three from three. She won a fillies handicap at Kenilworth easily enough and will next be tried over ground either in an appropriate fillies feature later this month or might even take a stab at the Investec Derby, depending on nominations. Another to catch the eye was What a Winter baby, Dutch Philip (s/s 90.) He ran straight and true on debut earning a neat figure for a juvenile, so looks a promising sort worth following.
Wishing Interbet punters all the very best for the New Year – hopefully the racing gods will grant you some favourable short head decisions when most needed!