Saturday’s quality Scottsville meeting had four G1’s on the card, run down the 1200m straight. Fastest of them all was the Golden Horse Sprint won in dramatic fashion by Lucky Lad (s/s 110) who had to be extricated from major traffic congestion before bursting through and getting up to win by a short head in a blanket finish.
At My Command (s/s 110) I am Giant (s/s 110) and pace-setting Cruise Control (s/s 109) were narrowly denied in a thriller.
The high- class winner, trained by Sean Tarry and ridden in some style by Richard Fourie, is a three-year-old son of Gimmethegreenlight that has now scored in six of nine starts. He started heavy favourite at 18/10 as he looked well in carrying just 54.5kg’s in this contest, though punters had to sweat before collecting. This was Lucky Lad’s second G1 victory having taken the 2023 Gold Medallion over the C/D as a juvenile.
The same connections won this year’s Gold Medallion, too – also with a “Gimme” baby, called Proceed (s/s 95). Again, Fourie conserved his mount for a decisive closing burst, propelling the market springer (backed from 8’s into 33/10) past stable companion, Cosmic Speed (s/s 94) to prove himself much the best and land this prestigious G1 for colts.
The Fillies version, the G1 Allan Robertson, unfolded in similar fashion and fell to Quid Pro Quo (s/s 94). Again, the heavily punted winner (6’s down to 3’s) was hemmed in and needed the breaks to get home safely. S’Manga Khumalo was the victorious jockey on the Barend Botes trained filly, sired by unheralded Lance, and shrewdly acquired for just 60K.
The places were filled by Rodeo Drive and Symphony in White (s/s 93), who were having their own private dule before Quid Pro Quo surged by.
Favourite, Gimmie’s Countess (s/s 92 ++) was a desperately unlucky loser as she was blocked practically the whole way down the inner and only lost by under a length, despite not moving out of second gear.
October Morn (s/s 103) won the SA Fillies Sprint, getting a clear path on the inside, (whilst bad things were happening to rivals in the centre of the congested track) and using her characteristic turn of foot to run down the free-striding, Mrs Browning (s/s 102).
October Morn is a daughter of Trippi out of the extremely quick Var race-mare, Miss October. She can now proudly add a G1 to her resume, after scoring in the G2 Sceptre Stakes earlier this year @ Kenilworth.
October Morn is trained by Candice Bass Robinson and got a perfect steer by Ray Danielson, who was also on board when she won the Sceptre Stakes.