Horseracing highlights from this past weekend – who to keep an eye on and some impressive wins…
Vauclair (speed score 104) put up a fine performance to step up in class and win the East Cape Sprint. Beautifully bred by Var out of Wild Aster, with a sharp career record of 8 wins from 20 starts, he has been an asset to trainer Tara Laing since moving to PE.
The Snaith stable have another useful juvenile prospect in Eros's Girl (s/s 87) who carried her speed 1200m when scoring a second win in a dominant display at Kenilworth. Later on the card, distance specialist, Marchant (s/s 100) showed his capabilities when producing a powerful burst from the back to score. Making runs on the inside rail seemed the preferred strategy both on the straight course and around the turn, with only odds on favourite De Sol A Sol placing first down the center in a laboured victory over weak rivals.
Compared to other racing jurisdictions where extreme weather conditions affect the going, and weirdly configured tracks influence the way races are run, SA racing conditions are typically quite "fair" most of the time. Alert horseplayers can still capitalise on those rare occasions when the track becomes biased, focusing on runners advantaged by the prevailing circumstances. Afterwards, when analysing results, form students should upgrade the efforts of horses that did well against the bias and temper enthusiasm for those that benefited from the way the track was running.
On the Highveld, Lost Island (s/s 96) bounced back from a dismal last start to sudden victory in a MR 92 handicap, whilst the improving Gone Baby Gone (s/s 91) continues to make steady progress through the ranks, recording a third win from 8 starts.
If a fan of UK racing, be sure to catch them live via web streaming, available now on Interbet!
