Horseracing highlights from this past weekend – who to keep an eye on and some impressive wins…
No Worries (speed figure 107) deservedly recorded a third career win when securing the KZN Breeders Million Mile at Clairwood. He overcame a wide draw, raced handily and then kicked past pace setter Distinguished (101). The wіnner is extremely talented having run as high as 110 during the Cape Summer season, and seems to go best when ridden up with the pace.
The Mark Dixon stable were in sharp form when their promising filly, African Dream (speed score 98) and speedball Showmetheway (s/s 100) proved best in their respective sprints. On a day of competitive, quality racing, Jozi trainer St John Gray's raiding party was successful with two grey sons of Sarge:Everest and Norgay (s/s 96.) Everest looked the business having run a fig of 105 in the Daily News, and was well handled by Anton Marcus to trounce weaker rivals.
Super-stallion Dynasty sired both the Winter Derby and Winter Oaks winners - Dynastic Power and Irish Myth. The former denied Silvano's son, Power King a sweep of the Winter Series, whilst Irish Myth came from stone last to outrun her shorter-priced stable companion, Acrostar.
Universally, favourites win around a third of all races, but that stat was trashed at Kenilworth on Saturday, with just one obliging from eight starts, and a number of odds-on faves getting rolled. Priceless Jewel was one of those "hotties" to be capsized, as 20 - 1 long shot Butterfly Girl (s/s 98) receіved an outstanding ride from Grant van Niekerk to pip the “chalk”.
This coming Saturday promises to be a betting feast with the Vodacom Durban July, Garden Province Stakes, Golden Slipper, Golden Horseshoe, Gold Vase, Campanajo and KZN Yearling Sale Million carded for Greyville's premier race day. Interbet offers the best odds for punters and the Tote facility on Interbet's website is bound to be buzzing with projected turnovers exceeding R100 million, including a likely record Pick 6 pool of R11 million to tempt exotic speculators.
