Early May is a stimulating time in South African racing with stellar fields entered in Joburg on Champions Day, two Guineas’ being run in Durban and even some quality juvenile action in Cape Town. 

Coral Fever (speed score 110) has been a revelation since wearing blinkers and he got a deserved Grade 1 when fending off a revitalized Abashiri (s/s 109). The runner up came back to the best form since landing the Triple Crown in 2016, just as trainer Michael Azzie predicted. Game mare, Silvan Star (s/s 105) ran on from last to sneak third spot. 

Attenborough (s/s 106) is a difficult horse to train, so his career has been a bit spotty. The ability to win a major race has always been there though, and he produced a finely timed challenge to come right at Turffontein in the Grade 1 Computaform Sprint. 

Secret Potion (s/s 99) stayed on best to win the SA Oaks from Flichity by Farr (s/s 98.) Then, Hero’s Honour (s/s 95) racing handy under comeback jock Mark Khan upset more fancied rivals to win a slower run SA Derby. False run affairs are an integral part of turf racing – slow early fractions mean that jockeyship, positioning and finishing acceleration become decisive. 

The Guineas at Greyville went that way, too. Do It Again (s/s 93 ++) flashed the best turn of foot to score fluently. Prior to that Snowdance got toppled in Fillies Guineas after setting the pace. On paper she looked invincible, having run 107 earlier during the Cape Season, yet was somehow outrun by Fiorella (s/s 95) near the line. 

Accolades go to Harold Crawford, an experienced horseman who has been running a low-key operation in Cape Town for decades, where his best horse was arguably, War Raider. He took current stable star Perovskia (s/s 105) up on a a rare Durban raid to win the Drill Hall Stakes, just beating off Undercover Agent, whose jinking around in the closing stages probably cost him the race. 

In the Cape, Trippi juvenile filly, Lesedi la Rona used notable powers of acceleration to startle stable mate Nous Voila in a 1-2 for the Bass Robinson yard. Trainer Joey Ramsden also achieved a stable exacta in the Somerset 1200 when Twist of Fate (s/s 91) staved off Arabian Air. The runner-up suffered a tough beat, only getting beat a neck after crossing right across the width of the Kenilworth straight.

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Fairview hosted a double header over the weekend with Dawnbreaker (speed figure 94) capping a big day for trainer Gavin Smith by winning the East Cape Poly Challenge, followed by Brett Crawford’s American Landing (s/s 97) romping in the EP Derby.

 

Dawnbreaker had only won two of 18 starts, including seeing off moderate MR 62 rivals in January, but he clearly loves the surface and duly produced a career best to defeat Breakfast Club, who also has a sound record on the Poly. 

Reine Tonnerre (s/s 95) clinched a deceptively strong handicap at Friday’s meeting. Followers of PE racing may well find this turns out to be a key race – all of Bid before Sunset (s/s 95) Libra (s/s 94) and Veeipee Club (s/s 93) are useful three year olds who should be worth following at this centre. 

American Landing (s/s 97) proved much the best in the Derby, coming from way off the pace setter to blast home and put five lengths between himself and Go Deputy filly, Widow’s Lamp (s/s 93). The son of Dynasty is now making very swift progress – this was by far his best effort at only his fifth start. 

Other good performances came from stalwart sprinter Exelero (s/s 98) who outdueled Pacific Spirit (s/s 97) in a Pinnacle Stakes, then a much improved Pepper Oak (s/s 96) raced handy all the way to deliver a surprise upper-cut to many bettors in the final leg of the Pick 6. And, Princess Rebel (s/s 95) is also fast, possessing too much zip for a chasing Pata Pata (s/s 91) in the finale.

 

 

 

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