Horseracing highlights from this past weekend – who to keep an eye on and some impressive wins…
Interbet followers were treated to high class racing at Turffontein on Saturday with a number of outstanding performances worthy of recognition. The best figure of all went to Yorker (speed score 113) who just held off Capetown Noir (s/s 113) in an excellent rendition of the Grade 1 Horse Chestnut Stakes. To put that rating in perspective, Dubai night hero, Variety Club regularly notches similar figures over a mile, so both Yorker and Capetown Noir would hold their own at that level if embarking on international campaigns.
The SA Fillies Classic was a triumph of skillful jockeyship with Kevin Shea waiting as long as possible before darting through on Athina (s/s 95) to pip Along Came Polly. This division has repeatedly failed to produce any real speed figure stand-outs and another blanket finish confirmed just how tightly these three year old fillies are rated.
Louis The King (s/s 103) is on track for the Triple Crown after repeating his effort in the Guineas and placed first in the SA Classic. It required a sustained stretch battle against the Alec Laird tag team of Mister Cricket (s/s 101), Bouclette Top (s/s 101) and As You Like (s/s 100). Trainer Laird was successful earlier though, with a resilient Orator's Daughter (s/s 98) in the Grade 3 Jacaranda Handicap, under a typically powerful driving ride from jock Fayd'Herbe, resisting Tip Toe (s/s 97) who ran really well stepping up to this level from a wide draw.
Trip Tease (s/s 100) won the Man O' War Sprint in another nip and tuck decision from Aurum Pot (s/s 99), Dollar Dazzler (s/s 99) and Tee Jay Ar (s/s 99), all of whom are going to win plenty of races as they mature. But the performance most indicative of serious potential was delivered by juvenile filly Majmu (s/s 98) in the Pretty Polly Stakes - attaining that score at only her second start is truly laudable.
On Sunday, champion Via Africa (s/s 102) eased to a comfortable win on her Scottsville comeback. She has previously run as high as 113, so will be formidable when extended in slightly stiffer sprints through the season.
