Al Muthana (speed score 111) took out the G1 Gold Challenge with a withering run down the center of the course which proved just too good for Linebacker (s/s 110).

The winner (sired by Deep Field in Australia) produced some seriously smart figures on the Highveld before a below par run in the Horse Chestnut set back his progress. Rested by trainer Mike de Kock for ten weeks since that flop, he returned with a vengeance at Greyville over the 1600m trip.

Al Muthana is an exciting entry for the Durban July (though there will be a slight query over about his efficacy over middle distances,) whilst Linebacker will be trying to go one better after finishing half a length second to Kommetdieding in the 2021 race. This Gold Challenge effort was a perfect prep for Vaughan Marshall’s high-class entry.

Another Durban July fancy, Jet Dark, stayed on from the back of the field to get third and he too is heading in the right direction. He is not an easy horse to work with, yet his personal best of 115 makes him a principal candidate – that’s if trainer Justin Snaith can get him primed and focused on the job for the big race.

Homely Girl (by Querari) won the G2 Tibouchina Stakes getting a perfect stalking trip in a 1400m race that was not true run throughout. She beat off Ecstatic Green’s late rally with Supreme Quest filling third place in a clustered finish.

Airways Law (by Legislate) (s/s 103) handled the rise in class admirably when outdueling Mount Anderson in the G3 Cup Trial. Andre Nel’s charge has now won five of 8 starts and is thriving since being gelded and stretching out to middle distances.

William Robertson (s/s 103) gave a front-running tour de force in the Durban Dash, routing the opposition. Odds on favorite, Master Archie was completely run off his feet and, though making belated progress, could not seriously threaten Corne Spies’’ pacy three-year-old gelding sired by the hugely promising, Rafeef.

Puerto Manzano (s/s 102) won the G3 Jubilee Stakes at Turffontein on Sunday over 1800m. He is a remarkably consistent gelding who has scored between 102 and 104 multiple times throughout his career. Perfect Witness (s/s 101) and Naval Guard (s/s 101) followed him in.

Whilst placed at G1 level that is perhaps a bridge too far for the Seek Again gelding. Nevertheless, he has been a stalwart. Puerto Manzano is trained by J A J van Vuuren and was ridden by uber-industrious jockey, Keagan de Melo, who won the Tibouchina Stakes on Homely Girl for the same connections, on his incessant and productive cross-country travels.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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