Mr Winsome (speed score 100) won the “so-called” Derby at Scottsville, open to older horses, to follow up on his figure of 103 in the Greyville 1900 and try stake a claim in the July field. He is one of the fringe contenders to make the line up, after outduelling Sun on Africa (s/s 99) in Sunday’s showdown. The field is to be announced early this week and is bound to generate debate with a number of marginal contenders trying to sneak a spot.
Zante (s/s 89 +) got the Oaks prize under a smart ride from Ian Sturgeon, who seized control around the bend then kept on to beat off the closing pack, including Girl on the Run, 75/1 spook, Estimation and last year’s winner, Witchcraft. Zante had run as high as 99 before, so certainly is deserving in terms of raw ability, but all credit is due jockey Sturgeon for seizing the initiative, just as Anton Marcus had done about a year ago at Greyville when the same daughter of Ideal World stole a feature at Greyville after poaching a lead.
Table Bay’s performance in a Pinnacle Stakes was seriously impressive. In the biggest figure of the weekend, he scored 107 to build on top notch performances as a three year old, and this Redoubte’s Choice colt is definitely worth following when next trainer Joey Ramsden sends him out. Strong front runner, Winter Prince (s/s 102) proved no match, but still ran gamely to keep second.
The back straight pace was strong in a mid level fillies handicap at Kenilworth enabling Katies Jay (s/s 97) to come from stone last in the short stretch and get up to win. Her stable-mate Red Ginger (s/s 96) also made sharp progress to pass long time leader White Rose (s/s 96) who staggered sideways in the closing part of the race when those early exertions took their toll. The runner up, Red Ginger seems worth following – she is only a one time winner with an official merit rating of 72, yet the neat speed score recorded suggests that she is capable of landing a few wins in suitable races at the right class level.
