The two three-year-old features, run in officially “very soft” going, at Turffontein’s Inside Track on Saturday served as interesting pointers to the Highveld Autumn classics.
In the Gr 3 Tony Ruffel Stakes over 1450m, the Mike de Kock-trained Australian-bred More Than Ready filly Ektifaa beat the boys to remain unbeaten in four starts this season. The Sean Tarry-trained favourite Matador Man was slotted in behind the other six runners after his usual slow start but, was within 2,5 lengths of the filly as the field fanned off the elbow. However, Ektifaa’s superior turn of foot saw her stealing another length and she then staved off Matador Man’s strong finish to win by 0,6 lengths.
Sean Tarry (Nkosi Hlophe)
There has always been a question mark about Ektifaa’s stamina, but her time was almost two seconds faster than the Three Troikas winner’s time and this fact has given the De Kock yard the confidence to run her in the Gr 2 Wilgerbosdrift Gauteng Fillies Guineas.
Matador Man will relish the step up in trip in the Gr 2 Betting World Gauteng Guineas and will also enjoy the long straight of the Standside track. He was receiving 3kg from the 98 merit rated Doosra on Saturday and gave him a 2,9 length beating, so probably ran to a merit rating of around 100.
This puts Ektifaa’s performance into perspective as she was giving Matador Man 1,5kg.
All Fahad, beaten ten lengths into fifth, was disappointing again and will now be gelded and prepared for the Gr 1 SA Classic over 1800m.
Well beaten fourth-placed Chili Con Carne was also a touch disappointing, finding little from the front.
The Three Troikas for fillies over 1450m saw the Roy Magner-trained Anna Pavlova bursting into the Gauteng Fillies Guineas picture as she gave the Gr 1-placed Visuality 2kg and just got up to beat her.
The St. Petersburg filly has impressive hindquarters and an effortless turn of foot. The slower time does not detract from her chances of beating Ektifaa in the Gauteng Fillies Guineas as she was over racing a bit behind a slow pace. She also actually had to be eased at one stage in the straight.
The unplaced Babbling Brooke had little luck in the running and will appreciate a step up in trip as well as the long straight of the Standside track.
By David Thiselton
