Starting with Carlita recording a smart speed figure of 95 in winning the Nursery at Fairview on Friday, there were other good efforts in South African racing this weekend. 

Silvan Star (s/s 97+) and Gimme Six (s/s 95+) completed a Cape sourced exacta in a Pinnacle Stakes at the Vaal. Both fillies have attained triple digit numbers when at a peak and are being teed up for lucrative Highveld features. 

Shortstop (s/s 96) is one of the better Rebel King’s around. In winning a MR 72 handicap the gelding completed a hat-trick. Shortstop has belatedly come good the last few months – up to that point only a one-time winner, since December he’s reeled off four wins from six starts from a total of 31 career outings. 

Stalk and pounce tactics usually are the best way of racing at Durbanville. But that does not mean that off pace types should stay in their boxes. Lesedi La Rona, Northern Corner (s/s 97) and Love Happens (s/s 91) all came from last to win at the revamped country lay-out. 

Shadow Warrior, however reverted to the more typical profile of a Durbanville winner, racing upfront and keeping on to win despite a glacier slow closing sectional. Jockey Devon Ashby rarely salutes and has suffered more than his fair share of injuries yet still soldiers on staunchly. It was he who skillfully piloted Shadow Warrior to an upset victory. 

The Kings Cup at Greyville produced a tight three way go. Social Order (s/s 104) just edged out Platinum Prince and It’s My Turn, who both managed 103’s. Those are pretty decent figs for a grade 3 race, suggesting that these horses might enjoy a productive spell during the KZN Winter season.

 

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