Saratoga Dancer (speed score 103) is a progressive three year-old and he won the KZN Winter Challenge 1600m in fine style prompting ace rider Gavin Lerena to describe him as, "a wonderful horse now that he has strengthened up." The runner up Translunar (s/s 97) may only be a one-time winner of 16 outings, yet has the potential to win several races based on his chasing effort.
Jockey Keagan de Melo is enjoying a productive season and he was seen to good advantage on front-running Nineteen Fourteen (s/s 99) dominating an Allowance Plate over 1400m. This was a welcome second win for the Rebel King gelding, who last won 774 days ago, with a whole bunch of placings in-between.
Castlethorpe has run as high as 105 in his prime, tussling with top horses over a variety of distances. The old stager can really zip home when in the mood and in taking a Pinnacle Stakes at Kenilworth on Saturday (s/s 98+) he recorded a ninth career success. He staved off rapidly improving youngster Waiting For Rain (s/s 97) who closed sharply late and Piet Steyn's runner will pick up a few wins during the Cape Winter based on this sterling try.
Legal Eagle (s/s 114) put up a sensational performance to win the Jubilee Handicap at Turffontein on Sunday. He looks a formidable adversary in a potent July. There may be some concerns about how he handles the Greyville circuit, but he has any amount of raw ability and is handicapped as a huge runner to repeat his daddy, Grey's Inn's success. As of Sunday night he was the favourite on Interbet's ante post July book, with some 7/2 available.
