South African fans got to see the patented Frankie Dettori “flying dismount” when he won a couple of races during the International Jockeys Challenge at Turffontein on Sunday. The legendary rider has won over 3000 races during a stellar career around the world, and has lived a flamboyant life full of zest and good humour. During the Challenge against some of SA’s best jocks, racegoers in Port Elizabeth and in Jozi were treated to the varying styles and methods of Dettori, Hayley Turner, Pat Cosgrave, Robert Havlin, Fergus Sweeney and Aurelien Lemaitre.
The strongest racing over the weekend was staged in Cape Town with significant wins by Safe Harbour (speed figure 102) in the Lanzerac Ready to Run over 1400m and then by Gold Standard (s/s 110) in a frenetically paced Selangor Cup. Safe Harbour came into the race off a perfect prep and seemed poised to run big. Despite being hampered early on, she worked out a good trip down the inside in deep stretch as leader Sergeant Hardy (s/s 100) faltered near the line. It was an inspired ride by jockey Weichong Marwing on a smart, improving filly. Elusive Path (s/s 100) was very game to fill the trifecta slot after racing prominently from an outside draw.
The two horses running at the back of the field scythed past exhausted rivals to fight out the finish to the Selangor Cup, as torrid early fractions caused a complete pace meltdown. Off pace runners, Gold Standard (s/s 110) and Edict of Nantes (s/s 109) ended up with huge ratings, though the efforts of handy horses Table Bay (s/s 106) and A New Dawn (s/s104) were still credible, even if they caved in late due to their early exertions. All these three-year olds seem sure to play leading roles in upcoming feature races.