One of the major developments for modern horseplayers is being able to watch and get a bet on all around the world. This past weekend there was big jump racing in the UK, lucrative prizes in Saudi and G1 fare in Hong Kong to complement the usual local meetings and Australian/Singapore/U.S.A menus.

20/1 shot Mishriff upset the world’s most valuable horse race, the 20 million U.S.D. Saudi Cup. Prepared in snowy Britain by master conditioner, John Gosden for the desert showdown, this French Derby winner (on turf) showed his versatility to jump alertly and stalk the pace set by two champion American dirt horses, Knicks Go and Charlatan. Knicks Go caved in first as Charlatan went on down the rail, only for Mishriff to assert his class in deep stretch by outrunning the favourite.

It’s rare for any horse to show world class form on different surfaces. More typically, thoroughbreds will display a clear preference for either dirt, poly or the green stuff. Mishriff is unusually adaptable – he may have flopped on deep ground at Ascot but is seemingly able to reproduce his best on either dirt or a firm lawn. Second in last year’s Saudi Derby, he made the return visit to Riyadh seriously worthwhile for his connections on Saturday!

Golden Sixty (projected speed score of 121) took out the Hong Kong Gold Cup in a nip and tuck decision with Furore. The winner has featured in these columns before during a remarkable 13 race winning streak where his turn of foot has proved decisive time and again up to a mile. That again proved the case as he finished with verve after a wide trip over 2000m for another close margin victory, over the accomplished Furore.

It’s rare for us to mention racing in the Eastern Cape when reviewing outstanding speed figures for South Africa but Roll in the Hay recorded one of the highest scores in PE for ages (s/s 108) when romping in the Ladies Pendant over 1200m at Fairview, so certainly deserves a shout-out.

This Gimmethegreenlight filly was highly tried at two, suffering a tough passage when close up in the G1 Allan Robertson. Her record since then has been patchy due to a wind problem, but on her day she sure can run big!

To illustrate, she produced a remarkable effort when upsides of Celtic Sea and Run Fox Run in the Southern Cross at Kenilworth, attaining an excellent score of 108, which she repeated on Friday in a tremendous performance. Only Racine (s/s 102) got within hailing distance as Roll in the Hay proved much the best.

Jet Start (s/s 100) took out a Pinnacle Stakes at Turffontein on Saturday over her favourite course and distance. The mare really has compiled a fine record as a specialist over 1800m at the Joburg track and notched up her 9th career victory on Saturday.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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