Excellent racing from Turffontein was the highlight for Interbet horseplayers this weekend, though glitzy World Cup action in Dubai also commanded attention.
Best figure went to quality filly Carry On Alice (speed score 108) who blitzed her rivals in the Man O War Sprint. She was ridden with intent, showing sharp gate speed to get over to the better strip near the outside, and then keeping on strongly accounting for Doing It For Dan (s/s 104) who put up a valiant career best effort.
In Grade 1 events, Captain America (s/s 102+) relished the soft ground and torrid early pace, settling better this time to win the Horse Chestnut Stakes in an assertive romp. This powerful galloper has been inconsistent due to a tendency to over-race, and seems to reserve his best for similar circumstances to what he encountered on this occasion. He has run as high as 110 in the past, making him a genuinely classy thoroughbred when at a peak.
Siren's Call (s/s 104) and Same Jurisdiction (s/s 104" fought out a gut-busting tussle in the SA Fillies Classic, with the former again getting the better due to a determined final flourish. Both are high class performers and a credit to their respective trainers Sean Tarry and Duncan Howells. Tarry was to enjoy a brilliant day, winning four feature races - Amber Orchid (s/s 95) won the Jacaranda Handicap, Siren's Call and French Navy (s/s 103) were his Grade 1 heroes, plus the afore-mentioned Carry On Alice's Grade 3 victory.
French Navy had produced a strong finish when getting beat at his most recent starts after racing too far back. This time he accelerated powerfully through a narrow opening to secure the SA Classic, though he was made to battle by a progressive sort, Amsterdam (s/s 102) who enjoyed the choppy track. Quite a few failed to cope however, favoured Ertijaal in particular and Harry's Son ran way below par.
Entisaar who had run a towering 99 on debut, also never looked at ease with clods of soggy turf flying about and she got rolled at 1-5 in the Pretty Polly Stakes. She may well have been the most likely winner, but after beating Speedy Suzy by only a length last time the discrepancy in odds seemed distorted. That rival blew like a gale to an outrageously generous 13-1 on Interbet - a price that value orientated punters gleefully snaffled.
In the other Juvenile scurry, Redcarpet Captain's sustained speed (s/s 93) proved too much for his opposition. Described by trainer Gavin van Zyl as "a super horse" he looks to have a bright future.
