The Mike de Kock-trained Captain Al colt Like A Panther struck a blow for three-year-old form at the Vaal on Tuesday and was one of a number of sophomores who have caught the eye over the last few days.

At Greyville on Sunday another Captain Al colt, Captain And Master, proved his class and the exciting Dynasty filly Hashtagyolo remained unbeaten, while at Durbanville on Saturday Trippi colt White River won a handicap comfortably despite being green, and two fillies, Dynamic Diana and Midnight Moonlight, also defied 80+ merit ratings and wide draws in an open handicap.

Captain And Master

The imposing Like A Panther has a stout female line being out of a Galileo mare who is a half-sister to the Gr.2 Reserve Stayers winner Blake. He has SA Derby winner stamped all over him. On Tuesday he travelled like a winner throughout in a MR 84 handicap over 2000m and beat toughened older handicappers going away by two lengths. This was no mean feat for a horse having his first run out of the maidens off an 89 merit rating. He has been raised to 94 and is just one of many exciting De Kock-trained three-year-old prospects, including two winners he had on Saturday, Alshibaa and Alfolk.

Captain And Master has a huge action and, having fought for his head in his last two starts as a two-year-old, was allowed to use his action from the front on Sunday in a 1400m Progress Plate. He set a blistering gallop and stretched again up the straight to win by a comfortable 1,75 lengths from the talented but problematic older horse Red Chesnut Road. The handicappers have raised Captain And Master three points to 99 and time will tell whether he enjoys a mile.

Hashtagyolo made it two from two when winning the KZN Fillies Guineas Trial from start to finish by 1,75 lengths. She was raised six points to 89 and part-owner Bruce Le Roux hinted she would avoid the Cape season and instead might be campaigned in the classics in Jo’burg next year before running in the SA Champions Season.

Last Saturday at Durbanville the rangy White River cosily beat older horses in a 1400m handicap and has been raised three points to 87. He has plenty of scope and should enjoy a further step up in trip.

Dynasty filly Dynamic Diana enjoyed the step up to 1600m on Saturday and showed a good turn of foot to win by 1,5 lengths. Runner-up Midnight Moonlight, by Jay Peg, gave her 1,5kg and was staying on strongly. Both fillies look promising and can be followed.

The first three-year-old colt of the season to showcase the crop was the Querari colt Wonderwall, who comfortably beat a number of classy older horses in the Gr.2 Joburg Spring Challenge over 1450m, albeit in yielding going. Wonderwall represents the form of last year’s champion two-year-old male Mustaaqeem and also some of last season’s best two-year-old form in Cape Town. He is now merit rated 107 and on pedigree should stay a mile and more.

By David Thiselton