DAVID THISELTON

BELGARION is the most forward horse in today’s L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate and looks set to add a second Grade 1 victory to his ever impressive CV.

Meanwhile, Summer Pudding is in fine fettle to increase her unbeaten run to ten ahead of the Grade 1 Cartier Paddock Stakes, although she has never faced a horse as classy as the defending champion Queen Supreme and her current price of 7/10 is likely to drift.  

Rainbow has not yet shown any sign of decline as a six-year-old, but he is not going to be getting any better.

Belgarion, on the other hand, put up the best performance of career in his last start in the Grade 2 Green Point Stakes when beating Rainbow Bridge at level weights by 0,40 lengths and looks to be on the up.

He won a tad cosily after running on powerfully from last.

Both he and Rainbow Bridge would have come on from that run as it was their first outing of the season.

However, Rainbow Bridge has shown a tendency to run a bit flat in his second run after a layoff.

That is certainly not a problem Belgarion has as he won the Vodacom Durban July in his second start after a five month layoff. 

Cirillo was beaten only 0,45 lengths in the Green Point but that was his third run of the season. Furthermore, his career record shows him to be consistently just behind the best. 

Whilst Do It Again’s overall performance declined last season, his form in the second half whilst in KZN was a lot better than his earlier Cape Town form.  This was due to an ulcer problem which had led to poor eating habits during the Cape Summer season being treated and cured. This year Do It Again comes into the Queen’s Plate fresh as it his first outing of the season. As a four-year-old he won the Grade 1 Rising Sun Gold Challenge after an identical layoff of just over four months so he is going to be the dark horse. Can he reproduce his best form? 

The time is ripe for a newcomer to burst on to the scene but on form Silver Opreator does not look close to as lively a competitor as his Adam Marcus-trained stablemate Vardy was at this time last year. Silver Operator is held by all of Belgarion, Rainbow Bridge and Cirillo on a line through all of Captain of Stealth, Wild Coast and African Night Sky.

A more likely candidate for an upset is Jet Dark. He flew up from well back in the Grade 1 WSB Cape Guineas for a 1,65 length fourth. The three-year-old male crop’s reputation took a hammering in that race because a 100/1 shot won but there is no doubting the ability of the race’s runner up Linebacker. Jet Dark has beaten Line backer once and finished just 1,45 lengths behind him in the Guineas. He still looked a touch green too so can improve again.

Sovereign Spirit has a tough task at the weights being rated 28 points lower than Rainbow Bridge. However, quickened well off a crawl to win the Grade 2 Campanajo 2200 on Vodacom Durban July day, so it will be interesting to see what he is capable of against this opposition off a likely quicker pace over a shorter trip, but he does strike as one who will be capable of raising his game.  

Hurricane Harry, who is one of four Justin Snaith-trained runners, looks outgunned but as a handy to front-running sort drawn in pole he could ensure a decent pace.

In the Paddock Stakes Paul Peter is not concerned about Summer Pudding’s wide draw as this will give her freedom to travel at her own pace rather than being boxed in. She has clearly come back stronger this season and was super impressive when destroying the Summer Cup field carrying 59.5kg. She will be using that big action to power home today again, although the ground will be faster so she won’t be able to afford the flat spot she hit at the top of the straight as a three-year-old. The handicappers raised her to 129 after the Summer Cup, three points clear of Queen Supreme. 

However, Queen Supreme is Northern Hemisphere-bred so has effectively matured six months into a fully grown mare since winning the Paddock Stakes last year. She was impressive in her last two runs on the Highveld and when winning her last race by 4,25 lengths against decent opposition it was clear that she oozed class. She has a good draw, so it could well be a thriller.           

Clouds Unfold is not out of it either. She does have a stamina doubt though, although trainer Candice Bass-Robinson said jockey Aldo Domeyer believed she would get the trip. He will be bringing her from off the pace as usual so the two principles will be wary of going too early as this could play into her hands. 

Princess Calla is a fascinating runner too as she is still progressing and has always struck as one who was looking for this trip.

The same could be said for Chat Ching and Dazzling Sun, who were just behind Princess Calla in the Cape Fillies Guineas.

Silvano’s Pride is always dangerous from the front over this trip and they won’t be able to let her go too far ahead.

Driving Miss Daisy is hard to assess as one who is lazy at home but she was runner up last year and herself and Hearstwings, who is thriving in the Cape, can’t be ignored for the quartet.

The remainder, Miyabi Gold, Kelpie and Sing Out Loud are no slouches either in what is a vintage renewal.

The Grade 2 Glorious Goodwood Premier Trophy looks to be at the mercy of the top class Golden Ducat.

ANDREW HARRISON

SOME fascinating match-ups add loads of spice to the second day of the L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate Racing Festival at Kenilworth tomorrow.

Between Covid 19 and AHS, South African horse racing walks a tightrope of lockdowns and jockeys, trainers and their owners have had to use a crystal ball to plan campaigns. With the Western Cape offering boosted prize money for their season, but more pertinently, important Black Type features like tomorrow’s Gr1 L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate and the Gr1 Cartier Paddock Stakes, it was always going to be a lure for the top horses.

A small but quality field is due to line up in the Queen’s Plate with Rainbow Bridge looking to turn the tables on Belgarion with the front-running Cirillo there to once again keep the field honest and former winner Do It Again looking to regain his best form.

Belgarion is unbeaten since Justin Snaith and owners Gillian and Alec Foster decided to geld the son of Dynasty and although his paddock value was terminated, it was the correct decision as far as the racecourse was concerned.

Belgarion is in line for his seventh straight success since stepping out two-stones lighter, races that included the Vodacom Durban July but more importantly, the recent Green Point Stakes.

He was the best weighted horse in the July as Snaith did a masterful job of getting his charge into the race on favourable weight terms so his win was hardly surprising. More importantly, in the Green Point he met Rainbow Bridge at level weights but still disposed of him in emphatic fashion.

Rainbow Bridge was handy for most of the race as he gave his new pilot, apprentice Luke Ferraris an arm-stretch, while Richard Fourie had Belgarion settled at the tail of the field.

Once Fourie released the handbrake, Belgarion strode past in majestic fashion, leaving no doubt that he is primed for tomorrow afternoon.

The ever game Cirillo made most of the running and while having no answers to Belgarion’s finishing burst, he fought a titanic battle with Rainbow Bridge with the latter edging him out on the line.

Cirillo ran his heart out in his usual fashion but there is a question mark over Rainbow Bridge. Eric Sands will no doubt have left some meat on the bone for tomorrow’s race and what was encouraging is that Rainbow Bridge looked dead-and-buried a furlong out but came back at Cirillo.

Whether he can make the necessary improvement, only the race will tell but given the ease of Belgarion’s victory he has the wood on both rivals.

Former winner Do It Again missed his intended warm-up in the Green Point and with his current form having tailed off, he could prove a better proposition in the Met.

As a mouth-watering appetiser to the Queen’s Plate, Horse of the Year Summer Pudding puts her unbeaten nine-race winning streak on the line in the Gr1 Cartier Paddock Stakes.

Trainer Paul Peter and owners Jess and Stephen Jell could well have taken the safer route and left Summer Pudding with the easier pickings of the Highveld autumn season but they showed in electing to make the trip to Durban for the Woolavington 2000 after a testing Tripe Tiara campaign that they have a filly of rare talent and they are not keeping her wrapped in cotton wool.

With the Paddock Stakes and a likely tilt at the Met on the agenda, Summer Pudding will be fully tested, no more so in her clash with the highly rated Mike de Kock mare Queen Supreme. The Irish import appears to have some temperament issues but on her day is supremely good.

Like Summer Pudding, she makes her Cape Town debut, but as she races in the same silks as Summer Pudding the connections are covered either way.

It is seldom that the local contingent play second fiddle in the market to raiders but Candice Bass-Robinson has not been shy to pit Clouds Unfold against the best males around, taking them on in the Gold Challenge and the recent Green Point Stakes. Just how Summer Pudding and Queen Supreme fare against Clouds Unfold should give us an indication as to just how good the two Highveld raiders are.

ANDREW HARRISON

THE two-day L’Ormarins Racing Festival kicks off at Kenilworth this afternoon and while tomorrow’s meeting is the festival highlight with the running of the Gr1 L’Ormarins Queens Plate and three other Graded features including the Gr1 Cartier Paddock Stakes, there is a lot to look forward to today.

Celtic Sea is as game and sound as they come and she will be in short order to defend her title in the Gr2 Cartier Sceptre Stakes.

With jockey’s locked in to the province of their choice for this month, Gavin Lerena has elected to team up with Sean Tarry’s Cape Town raiders and Celtic Sea should get his month off to a winning start.

Celtic Sea seldom runs a bad race and all things being equal she should prove difficult to beat in a race where she has much in her favour. In spite of giving weight to all of her eight rivals, she is still 3kg to the good given that this is a WFA contest plus penalties.

Versatile, winning from 1000m to a mile, today’s 1200m is arguable her optimum trip and the manner in which she disposed of the top class and distance suited Run Fox Run over 1000m in her seasonal Cape debut, only an unusual ‘off’ day will get her beaten.

A likely threat could come in the form of Brett Crawford’s filly Pretty Young Thing but on current form she looks held safe by Celtic Sea. After showing good pace in the Gr1 SA Fillies Sprint at Hollywoodbets Scottsville, she folded quickly at the business end as Celtic Sea got the better of Run Fox Run in a desperate finish. That was not the case in the Gr1 Jonsson Workwear Garden Province Stakes over 1600m where she finished alongside Celtic Sea beaten a neck, both behind surprise winner Temple Grafin.

Pretty Young Thing could prefer it a furlong further which should again give Celtic Sea the edge.

Of the balance, Glen Kotzen has a knack of priming his runners for the big occasion, Temple Grafin springs to mind, so one can expect a forward showing from both of his runners with Third Runway with stable rider Morne Winnaar aboard the likely pick.

Justin Snaith dominates with numbers and none of his trio can be written off lightly but in the final analysis it should be a scramble for the minor money behind Celtic Sea.

DAVID THISELTON

THE Darling of the South African turf, Summer Pudding, is doing well at Milnerton in preparation for the Grade 1 Cartier Paddock Stakes over 1800m at Kenilworth on Saturday but trainer Paul Peter admitted the defending champion Queen Supreme was the horse to beat.

He said, “Summer Pudding is fresh and bright and eating well but this will most definitely be her toughest task to date. It is her first run in the Cape and her first time around a left hand turn but she does seem to be taking to the Cape.”

Peter continued, “I am scared of Queen Supreme. She has been very impressive in her last two starts and is perfectly course and distance suited. She is the horse to beat.”

Summer Pudding has a wide draw but this is the norm for her.

Peter said, “It might be a blessing. They have the Cape crawl here so better to be in the open where you can go as quickly as you want rather than boxed in.”

Warren Kennedy, in accordance with the lockdown restrictions, has chosen to ride in the Cape for the month of January especially for this ride.

Pater said, “Warren has sacrificed a lot to be here, he loves this filly. He rode her in a grass gallop last Wednesday. She galloped with Heart Stwings and they both went very well.”

Summer Pudding will be attempting to make it ten out of ten, which will put her just one short of the unbeaten record of eleven set by Homeguard in the late 1960s.

Queen Supreme runs in the same familiar black and yellow colours of the Oppenheimer family, which are officially owned by their Mauritzfontein  Stud farm these day.

Heart Stwings is also in the Paddock Stakes and Peter is hoping for a place.

He said, “She is thriving here in the Cape and ran way above her rating when a half-a-length second in the Victress Stakes last time (same course and distance as the Paddock Stakes). She is a natural handy or front-running type and if she had sat closer to Silvano’s Pride last time she might have even got closer. I am hoping she will run into the money.”    

ANDREW HARRISON

THERE is a low-key meeting at Hollywoodbets Greyville today where punters will be thoroughly tested. Nothing stands out as a solid exotic bet banker but if one is looking to cut down on expenses, then Rock Flight in the fourth may fit the bill. Gavin van Zyl’s filly has is showing steady improvement over shorter but is bred to stay this trip.

The opposition is no great shakes but Duquesne Whistle looks to be coming along the right way and is another who should do well over this trip judged on pedigree. Magikos was a distant third last run over ground but gets first time blinkers which could see her improve further.

In the card opener, Dandolo has been rested and gelded but has shown promise. He may just have needed his last run where he showed good pace before fading late but Tony Rivalland’s charge is way better than that showing.

Thumbs Up is a filly taking on males but has useful Highveld form in good company. She is never far back and could give Dandolo most to do. Another threat could come from Ziva La Winter who has been close-up in both handicap starts. He goes well this trip and should contest the finish.

The second is a minefield with plenty in with chances.

Twice As Cold has run two disappointing races in the soft but in her first run on a solid surface she was only caught ate after leading for most of the journey. On exposed form she should take to the poly.  Storm Chaser has put in two promising efforts since being gelded but has been caught a little one-pace over the final furlong over a mile. He makes his poly debut and this trip should suit. has shown up nicely in his last two on the turf. The shorter trip on the poly should suit. What A Ryder showed promising improvement in his first local start and looks to be coming to hand while West Coast Lover is showing improvement with each outing and should enjoy the extra.

It may pay to load up this, the first leg, of the PA.

If Dandolo obliges then Tony Rivalland could make it a double with Let’s Go Fly in the opening leg of the Pick 6. The gelding has put in two decent efforts on the poly and meets a particularly weak field here and should make a bold bid.  August Red has had plenty of chances but probably needed his last run from a wide draw and can come on from that while Silver Celebrity showed some improvement in cheek pieces last run in weak maiden company.

The fifth is a tricky handicap with most in with chances. Gentleman’s Wager ran below par on the turf last run but his poly form before that was excellent. With a 2.5kg claimer up he should be up there when the whips are cracking. Galway is looking for a winning hat-trick but he did get a five-pound penalty for his last win. He should never the less be competitive again. Run To Denmark has found recent form and stays the trip well. The ‘lurker’ could be Born To Perform. The grey has let the side down lately but may now be looking for this trip and is more than capable on his day.

Herecomestherain only won a maiden last start but was a comfortable winner in spite of losing a shoe. He looks to have some scope and although he meets some hard-knocking handicappers he does appear capable. Running Freely has come on nicely since a rest. He has a good draw and the extra furlong could bring out the best. Lord Wylie is 1.5kg better off with Bedazzled Jocker and can turn the tables although Bedazzled Joker won his last two but is back up the handicap and a wide draw could further hamper his chances.

In the seventh Vihaan’s Pie shows promise and just needed her last run. She can go much closer here. Marsanne comes from a very much in form stable and is back over her best course and distance. She is better off at the weights with Elusive Current but there should not be much between them. Meet At The George was caught out by a wide draw last start so can do better in this small field.

The last is another wide-open affair but Bordeaux showed up well from a wide draw last start. He has run two good races in useful company and from a plum draw should at least contest the finish. Vunderbar has been close-up in fair company since his maiden win and looks capable in this field while Tromso didn’t feature when tried over further from a wide draw but can do better this trip as he was in fair form before his last effort.

ANDREW HARRISON

DONOVAN DILLON has had to weigh up his options regarding the current lock-down with jockeys restricted to a single province as from yesterday.

It will have been a tough decision given that the he will miss the ride on Golden Ducat in both the Gr1 Queen’s Plate on Saturday and the Gr1 Met. However, he pointed out that he has to make a living and staying in KZN he was more likely to keep food on the table.

Dillon got his afternoon off to a good start at Hollywoodbets Greyville yesterday as he steered Wendy Whitehead’s filly Reckless Love to a comfortable victory. It was a more than satisfying success as Whitehead revealed that the daughter of Marchfield had been close to death, suffering from a bad colic.

“The vets couldn’t do anything so we finally decided to leave her out in the paddock overnight and what would be would be. Next morning, she was looking for her food,” she said.

After a lengthy quiet spell and the covid virus putting some owners under pressure and deserting, Duncan Howells is now one of the biggest owners in his yard. However, those runners now sporting his colours are paying their way.

By Howells’s own admission, Straight Up has been a touch disappointing and stands accused of not being the bravest but that opinion may have to be reassessed after apprentice Thabiso Gumede punched him through the tightest of gaps before going on to win comfortably with second-placed Fever giving Raymond Danielson a difficult ride as he looked to shift in under pressure.

Howells has been giving the laid-back Gumede plenty of chances and the young apprentice is repaying the faith shown in him.

Wave Crest in the next was another runner sporting the Howells silks and managed a third-pace cheque under Gumede but proved no match for hot favourite It Must Be Love. It was something of an armchair ride for Antandiwe Mgudlwa as Gareth van Zyl’s filly powered home under the hands with Indigo Moon getting up late to touch off Wave Crest.

Arctic Princess is unbeaten in two starts since Ashburton-based Gary Rich took her over and has won well on both occasions. The addition of blinkers may have a lot to do with it but her manner of victory suggests that she will not stop with this win. A furlong out, almost the entire field was spread across the track and the race was there for the taking. However, Stuart Randolph, having navigated from a wide draw, got his mount going up the outside fence and Arctic Princess popped clear like a cork out of a champagne bottle.

Foxy Lady, drawn widest of all fought clear for second with the luckless Colour Of Light being edge out of third by outsider Satara.

It’s has been a long time between drinks for Rocket Fire, another sporting the Howells silks with Gumede aboard, and the gelding was given no time to think as he came wide into the straight with Gumede rousting him along. For once Rocket Fire lived up to his name as he put it all together. The mare Noemi came out of the pack for second with Justaguything staying on for the shallow end of the purse.

One rider who will be spending the next month in Cape Town is Keagan de Melo. As stable rider to Dean Kannemeyer he will have opportunity in the big races. Making the most of his absence is Raymond Danielson who has chosen KZN over Gauteng and he got his month off to a winning start. After a close-up second on Fever he was on the mark with the Kannemeyer-trained To The Max but it was a close call. Sean Veale, has forsaken Cape Town and boss Dennis Drier, to stayed home and help out Drier’s stable assistant Stuart Ferrie. But it was aboard Paul and Beth Gadsby’s runner Capriccio that he came up a nose short of To The Max in a desperate finish.

Global Ash won on debut in PE and had put in two solid performances in his local starts for Carl Hewiston. He put it all together yesterday and cruised to a comfortable win in the seventh.

Lasata looked to have the last wrapped up 50m from home as Randolph produced him with what looked to be a winning run but apprentice Jabu Jacobs got Miss Charlotte going strongly in the closing stages to run Lasata down in the dying strides.

DAVID THISELTON

SEAN TARRY is still undecided whether Celtic Sea will have another tilt at the Grade 1 Majorca Stakes on Cape Town Met day or take on the boys in the Grade 1 Cape Flying Championship.

Meanwhile, Cirillo is on track for the Met and Tarry is lining up his troops for the Johannesburg Autumn season.

Tarry said, “I will nominate Celtic Sea for both races and then have a look at the opposition and the draws before deciding.”

The twice Equus award-winning Captain Al mare has won two Grade 1s over 1200m in her career and one over 1600m.

However, in her last start she ran over 1000m for the first time in the Grade 2 Southern Cross Stakes and she gave the Cape’s best sprinting filly, and the race’s defending champion, Run Fox Run 1kg and a length beating. It was her first start of the season which gave the victory even more merit.

If she runs in the Majorca she will face the Cape’s best female miler Clouds Unfold on 1kg terms than in a handicap. However, Clouds Unfold did beat her by 0,30 lengths in this weight for age event last season. She might also be up against the Equus Horse Of The Year Summer Pudding in The Majorca if the connections decide to avoid the Met.

If Celtic Sea runs in the Cape Flying, also a weight for age event, she will receive a 2,5kg female allowance. The 126 merit-rated filly will thus face 128 rated Kasimir on 1,5kg better terms than she would in a handicap and she would be 3kg well in with the defending champion and Equus Champion Sprinter Russet Air and she will be 2kg well in with Run Fox Run.

The first entries for both races are on January 6.

Cirillo has been doing “very well” and is quoted at 20/1 for The Met. This five-year-old has consistently proved to be just behind the best and has achieved six Grade 1 places from 1600m to 1800m. 

However, Tarry pointed that Cirillo is one of the few older stalwarts in the country who was still an entire. 

Tarry said he would like to think Cirillo had a future at stud and added, “There is a lot to be said for an honest, solid and sound horse. Such types are worth their weight in gold at stud. Our breeders are always looking overseas to improve our bloodlines but they often overlook what we have locally.”

Tarry is well aware that winning a Grade 1 is of paramount importance as far as support at stud goes but he would be able to point to the like of Skitt Skizzle as an ordinary performer on the track who has become a decent stallion. This Tarry-trained son of Jet Master won his first start by ten lengths but was never able to fulfill his potential because as an entire he just became too big and he ended his career without a black type win. However, at stud his first crop consisting of a handful of foals from moderate mares included the like of Tierra Del Fuego, Cordillera and River Jordan.

Cirillo will continue a Tarry legacy if he does go to stud. His sire Pomodoro gave Tarry his first Vodacom Durban July victory and Pomodoro’s dam Golden Apple, bred by Sean’s brother Mark, provided him with his first Graded winner.

So, it is no surprise that one of Tarry’s best three-year-olds, the Gimmethegreenlight gelding Paisley Park, is from the family of Pomodoro. Paisley Park’s second dam is a half-sister to the dam of Golden Apple.

Paisley Park’s debut win provided one of the best form maidens of the season on the Highveld and he followed up by winning the Listed Secretariat Stakes over 1400m despite still being green. He beat the promising Copper Mountain in the latter race by half-a-length, although he was receiving 4.5kg. 

Tarry said, “He was immature as a youngster and has scope. I can’t get too excited yet but he is on the up and is one of the horses on my shortlist for the Autumn classics.”

Others on the shortlist are Eagle Alley, Silver Tycoon and Flying Carpet.

Eagle Alley also unbeaten in two starts, is by Silvano out of a full-sister to the legendary four-times Ascot Gold Cup winner Yeats so has a Derby pedigree. Tarry said, “He has  done well over less ground to date and has a bright future. If the SA Derby does become a target he will have a reliable pedigree for it.”

Silver Tycoon, by Silvano out of the Grade 1-winning Jet Master mare Soft Landing, was beaten 10,25 lengths into second on debut over 1400m by the ultra promising Reunion but followed up with a 6,25 length win over 1400m.

Tarry said, “He had strengthened up a bit and was very impressive.”

Flying Carpet finished a close third in the Emperors Palace Ready To Run Cup as a maiden but then failed in the Dingaans. He then came out and won his maiden impressively this week over 1400m. Tarry confirmed about the 103 rated Judpot colt, “He ran below par in the Dingaans.”

Chimichuri Run, Eden Roc and Warrior’s rest will be having Johannesburg and KZN campaigns. 

The former pair, by Trippi and Var respectively, are both still entries and Tarry also has stud careers in mind for them. 

DAVID THISELTON

THE Paul Matchett-trained War Of Athena laid claim to being the best three-year-old in the country on Saturday when downing her arch rival, the previously unbeaten Stuart Pettigrew-trained Anything Goes, by 1,75 lengths under Muzi Yeni in the Grade 3 Three Troikas Stakes over 1400m at Turffontein Standside.

Later, the Paul Peter-trained Dingaans winner Catch Twentytwo made a similar claim when winning the Grade 3 Tony Ruffel Stakes over the same course and distance under Gavin Lerena.

War Of Athena had been beaten twice before by Anything Goes. The latter ran as if she needed the run yesterday after a three month layoff and she also had to give War Of Athena 1kg. Furthermore her saddle slipped back in the running.

The pair’s rivalry will be one of the features of the season and their next clash will likely be in the Grade 2 Wilgerbosdrift Gauteng Fillies Guineas on February 6.

However, of the pair, War Of Athena looks more likely on pedigree and running style to handle the step up to the 1800m of the Grade 1 SA Fillies Classic.

War Of Athena, who was bred by Summerhill Stud and is by Act Of War out of Requiem maiden Qaphela, cost a mere R30,000 but has it all as a racehorse. She has good gatespeed and early pace and can be switched off in the running. At the business end she possesses an electrifying turn of foot and has a heart as big as the great outdoors. Lastly, she is sound and consistent. Saturday’s race was her eleventh career start and her fifth victory. She has not been out of the first two this season and her only run out of the first three was on debut when fifth.  

The feeling last season was that the two-year-old fillies were superior to the colts and geldings and it was proven on Saturday  when the filly that won the Grade 1 Premier’s Champion Stakes against the boys, Sentbydestiny, was beaten six lengths by War Of Athena despite receiving 3kg.

This season the male three-year-olds made an early impact and there were predictions of it being a special crop. However, they begun fluffing their lines in the Dingaans when the previously unbeaten Grade 2 Hawaii Stakes winner Mount Pleasant ran unplaced. The Grade 1 Cape Guineas then produced a 100/1 shock winner in Russian Rock, who had won only one of his previous four career starts.  

However, among the fillies there is no doubting the class of Anything Goes and War Of Athena, whose form has also been franked by Princess Calla down in Cape Town. The latter, beaten 3,30 lengths and three lengths respectively by Anything Goes and War Of Athena in the Grade 1 Thekwini Stakes over 1600m last season, won the Grade 2 Western Cape Fillies Championship over 1400m and then finished a 2,25 length second in the Grade 1 WSB Cape Fillies Guines to the smart Captain’s Ransom.  

Catch Twentytwo is one of the male sophomores’ who could still save his crop’s dwindling reputation as this rangy Narrow Creek Stud-bred Elusive Fort gelding proved he is progressive when beating stablemate MK’S Pride by half-a-length at level weights. The interesting formline here is MK’S Pride’s short-head victory over War Of Athena in the Peermont Emperor’s Palace Ready To Run Cup over 1400m in which the latter received a 2.5kg female allowance, although it has to be said that not much went right for the filly in that race.

The other interesting formline from the Tony Ruffel is Copper Mountain being beaten two lengths into third at level weights. Copper Mountain  was an easy winner in the only defeat to date suffered by the promising Second Base and later he gave another promising sort in Paisley Park 4.5kg  when losing by just half-a-length.

Catch Twentytwo and War Of Athena were both rated 116 going into yesterday’s respective races, but the latter beat the 120 rated Anything Goes whereas the former’s runner up MK’S Pride was rated only 112.  

Mount Pleasant remains the highest rated three-year-old on 127 based on his cosy victory over the top class older pair Cirillo and Chimichuri Run in the Hawaai.

The other feature on Saturday’s card was the London News Stakes over 1800m and it saw Muzi Yeni converting a Grade 3 double on the Fanie Bronkhorst owned-and-trained Running Brave. She began over-racing a touch when not getting to the front from a wide draw but Zillzaal did her a favour by setting a good pace. This allowed Yeni to skilfully ease past Chijmes and slot in behind Zillzaal.  Running Brave showed just how courageous she is when taking the lead at the 500m mark and fending off the classy ExpressFromTheUS to win by three-quarters-of-a-length. However, she was well in at the weights with most and ran at level weights with the runner-up, to whom she would have had to give 3kg in a handicap. Running Brave, a Summerhill Stud-bred five-year-old mare by Brave Tin Soldier, has now won eight times and this was her third Graded victory. She has substance and can go on to win more features. A Grade 1 win this season would not be completely out of the question either.