Truth (s/s 105) hit a neat number at the Vaal in a strong sprint field during the week. He kept out Karate Kid (s/s 103), Sheldon (s/s 102) and Taxi to the Moon (s/s 101) with Dreamland (s/s 99) just behind the placed horses.
The Candice Dawson trained winner attained a figure of 108 at Scottsville in a Gr 2 in May over 1200m. The fact that the grey son of Heavenly Blue got close to meeting that previous best on seasonal bow over 1000m suggests he can improve past that number and contend in big sprints down the straight on the Highveld.
Karate Kid has placed at his last five starts and is overdue a turn of fortune. He has paired figures of 100 and now 103 so is poised to crack it against slightly less formidable opposition.
Dawson also saddled Chronicle King (s/s 94 +) to a hard-fought victory over the mare Sukhumvit on Saturday at Turffontein. Heavily backed Echo Force (s/s 93) was close by in third spot after trying to lead from start to finish.
Chronicle King who won a Gr 2 as a juvenile and placed third behind Jan van Goyen in the Premier Champion’s Stakes was made to fight hard in this Graduation contest. Echo Force proved hard to pass and Sukhumvit was coming with a late dart, but Chronicle King just got there under Serino Moodley.
Tin Pan Alley came out of the same Jan van Goyen Greyville formline to win the Spring Challenge with a figure of 98 last week, so Chronicle King can improve on Saturday’s number as his spring/summer campaign gets fully underway.
Pennsylvania (s/s 96) received a fine ride from a wide draw by Calvin Habib to record another neat figure, just 2 points below what he managed behind Bjorn Ironside three weeks ago. He is holding form nicely – this is his third win from nine starts.
Habib is keenly aware of the importance of early speed in turf sprints, and he handled Tony Peter’s Lancaster Bomber 4YO gelding with appropriate assertiveness.
I am Giant (s/s 103 +) has run 107 and 109 in the past and he beat off a powerful field of sprinters at Greyville on Sunday. He accelerated from midfield to hold off O’Tenikwa, with Cat’s Pajamas running on from the back into the trifecta position.
I am Giant blew like a gale in the betting for 5’s out to 10/1 as money flooded onto O’Tenikwa. Punters who kept faith in Stuart Ferrie’s smart charge were rewarded as I am Giant recorded a sixth win from 20 starts.
There were a bunch of notable speed scores at Durban’s meeting: Miss Twinkle (s/s 95), Cognac (s/s 95) Forward Motion (s/s 92) Quickstepgal (s/s 97), Kanaal Skater (s/s 94) and Gotta Go Eddie (s/s 93) all did well for the class in which they were competing.