Pace, or the lack of it, is most often the deciding denominator when it comes to races over ground and Warfarer and Mark Khan took full toll of a sedate early pace in the Michaelmas Handicap (Listed) at Greyville yesterday, the Lezeanne Forbes-trained gelding getting home a length clear of the opposition with two short-heads separating the next three home.

With front-running Run Rhino Run a scratching, there was always doubt about the pace and so it proved as Celtic Captain was a reluctant leader from New Fort. The cheek pieces did not appear to have any noticeable effect on favourite American Landing who was one-paced throughout and tracked by Roy Had Enough.

By the time Anton Marcus realised that he was following the wrong horse, it was too late as Khan had skipped clear on Warfarer who was the one runner that was over his ideal trip.

Sabina’s Dynasty finished her race off strongly but just failed to catch Roy Had Enough while the three-year-old Marchingontogether, was a creditable fourth given that he was way out at the weights.

Can You Feel It, bred and owned by Michael Leaf, was the biggest certainty to look through a bridal and she didn’t let her supporters down. Gareth van Zyl’s filly was probably the highest rated maiden in the country before yesterday and Warren Kennedy took no prisoners. He bounced his mount to the front from the break and once in the straight let her run along in his hands. Can You Feel It was easily 10 lengths clear before being geared down to win by five at the prohibitive odds of 1-8.

Wendy Whitehead scored a back-to-back double with Hard To Play showing a tremendous turn of foot to land the Pinnacles Stakes and Rocking Ruby finishing too strongly for the opposition in the next.

The luckless Dawn Calling picked up the lead some 300m out with the balance of the field off the bit, all except Hard To Play. Once Stuart Randolph released the brake, Hard To Play sailed past the filly as if he had jumped in at the furlong pole.

Randolph and Whitehead teamed up again in the next with Rocking Ruby getting the better of Victory Trip with Shwanky driving home from last in the straight to snatch third.

Backing first timers against seasoned opposition is always risky. Experience counts for much, be it man or beast, and the cash went out the window in the card opener as the heavily backed first timer Coldhardcash raced all at sea.

In a race laced with speed it was always going to be difficult and with a strong tailwind to help them home the filly Miss J and the visiting Pearl Of Siberia kept at it up the straight with Miss J getting her nose in front where is mattered.

Coldhardcash will live to fight another day and judged on this effort, a mile may be more should be within his compass.

The sixth race field was reduced to just five runners after a false start. Good Emperor reared up just as the gates were released and the starter called a false start. However, Noble Duke, That’s Life and Seventh Sun galloped the course in spite of their rider’s efforts to restrain them and Good Emperor was found to have injured himself in the gate and was also taken out.

After the re-start, Warren Kennedy set Royalsecuritypower alight from the jump and kept Kom Naidoo’s gelding running all the way to the line in spite of the best efforts from his rivals. The remarkable eight-year-old took his winning tally to nine from 68 starts.

Paul Gadsby opened and closed the meeting with Arrow’s Mark getting home under a smart ride from apprentice Luke Ferraris who scored his 28^th winner of this season, surpassing the 26 he notched last season.

By Andrew Harrison