Horseracing highlights from this past weekend – who to keep an eye on and some impressive wins…
Big, vociferous crowds attended the feast of racing on July day and together with off course business helped boost turnovers to record levels with the Pick 6 pot growing to R13 million. Apart from 50 -1 "spook" Bilateral, who made a winning rails run from way back, most of the results were quite form-ful with a number of favourites getting the job done. Beach Beauty (speed figure 110) was the most popular winner, but also well- backed were Master Sabina, Hot Ticket, Afrikaburn and Lockheed Jetstar (speed figure 107.)
The July itself was controversial with Wylie Hall getting relegated after a bumping tangle with Legislate down the stretch. The slow early pace was the undoing of all the off pace runners, only the sparingly raced Futura distinguished himself by closing late, but Wylie Hall and Legislate both raced handy and had the race to themselves when skipping clear at the top of the straight. Legislate has been written up before in this newsletter as an outstanding star having run figures as high as 113, close to the career best of his sire, Dynasty. It is perhaps that he should emulate the July win of his father back in 2003. Wylie Hall had run a career best of 110 when racing fresh late last year, so it was a clever stroke by trainer Marwing to bring him out after a break, even if they were denied the ultimate reward.
The juvenile races panned out differently in that deep-closers took the honours as Bilateral and Afrikaburn produced strong finishes to win from off the early speed. Earlier distance events went to top performers Master Sabina and Hot Ticket who proved too good for their rivals - Hot Ticket, in particular, is a very classy and game stayer - a real credit to trainer Dean Kannemeyer.