Ethel to set up SA Oaks tilt
MORE IMPROVEMENT EXPECTED FROM FRANCES ETHEL OVER LONGER TRIP IN OAKS TRIAL Greaterix made an impressive debut and is one to follow.
Racing today takes place at Turffontein where there is a ninerace card on offer headlined by three Listed features, the TAB Aquanaut Handicap, the Ormand Ferraris Oaks Trial and the recently renamed TAB Hawwaam Stakes which was previously the Derby Trial.
As mentioned on numerous occasions, I am in favour of renaming certain races in order to reflect horses relevant to our generation and it’s superb to see a race named after Hawwaam who was an absolutely brilliant racehorse.
He won 10 of his 13 starts, including five Grade 1 races – the SA Classic, the Premier’s Champions Challenge twice (at three and four), the Daily News 2000 and the HF Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut Stakes.
He also won the Dingaans, Premier Trophy and the Tony Ruffel Stakes in a glittering career.
On the topic of Superstars, last week we saw the running of the second day of the Championships 2024 which included three Grade 1s and a number of other feature races. We witnessed some unreal performances and overall, it was a great day put on by 4Racing, so well done to all concerned.
We witnessed what I believe could be the best horse in the country when Gimme A Nother romped to victory in the Grade 1 Wilgerbosdrift SA Fillies Classic.
For a second or two it looked as if she came under pressure, but with a change of gears, she put the race to bed and destroyed her rivals easily.
Interesting to note that she will not be going for the final leg of the Triple Tiara on Champions Day, but rather the Grade 1 Empress Club Stakes over 1600m on the same day.
Either way, I think she’ll be extremely difficult to beat and I’m excited to see her back in action.
Well done to Mary Slack and Jessica Jell on breeding and owning such a superstar. Also, congrats to Mike de Kock and JP van der Merwe.
We saw Sandringham Summit bid to capture the second leg of the Triple Crown after his dominant win in the first leg, but it was not to be. It was another top-class horse, Purple Pitcher, who came away with victory in the Grade 1 TAB SA Classic for Robyn Klaasen and Kabelo Matsunyane.
Purple Pitcher confirmed his win in the Dingaans last year was no fluke and he is one of the best three-year-olds around.
It was an extremely special win as this gave Robyn her first Grade 1 victory – and may there be many more.
It was also extremely special for owner “Stinky” Pooe because he is someone who invests so much into the game and this win was a deserved return.
We then saw one of the performances of the season when three-year-old Main Defender romped to victory in the Grade 1 Wilgerbosdrift HF Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut Stakes over 1600m, confirming himself as the standout colt in the country.
This was only his second attempt at 1600m and on this performance he’ll be dominant in all the weight-for-age races coming up, and I believe he’ll even get further.
He put some of the country’s best horses to bed with ease after a shaky jump out the pens, but he has always shown he is a topclass racehorse and this now cements that status.
A special well done to all the owners involved, who mentioned this is their first Grade 1 winner after many years as owners.
Congratulations to Tony Peter on a great training feat and a wonderful day with four winners, as well as to Calvin Habib for an outstanding ride.
The rest of the card was filled with some classy performances and special mention must be made about the two baby races where Almond Sea and Pistol Pete both won in the easiest of fashions.
Both look to be among the best juveniles in the country and it will take something special to beat them in the upcoming features if they arrive in the form they were in last Saturday.
For the followers of this column, I was extremely impressed by the debut performance of my ride in the Storm Bird Stakes, Greaterix, and I think he will go on to bigger and better things, so follow him closely.
Now on to today’s card and I am unfortunately not going to be riding at the meeting as I am serving another week’s suspension, so I’ll be hoping to guide you to a successful day.
Race 1 is a Maiden Plate over 1800m and my best bet on the card comes up in the form of To The Rescue.
He has been an enigma and somewhat disappointing after some early promise, even though he finished second last time there have been much bigger expectations for him.
He has now been gelded and that could make all the difference, and this is the perfect opportunity for him to open his account.
Karoo Gold has some good form and looks to be the main danger.
Race 2 is a Maiden Plate for fillies and mares over 1800m and I really like the look of Say It With Roses. She was unlucky at the start last time and that meant she had to come from further back than I’m sure they wanted.
She also gets the cheek pieces and a tongue tie added which suggests connections have been expecting a win already, and off draw No 3 I think she is the filly to beat.
Volare E Mambo continues to improve with each run and her last run was her best, so on that performance she is the main danger and can definitely win a race of this nature.
Erupt The Dawn has run two decent races and rates a massive runner again.
I believe these three horses should fight out the finish.
Race 3 is a MR 88 Handicap over 2000m and I think Trois Trois Quatre will take all the beating and looks a banker in most bets.
His last run in blinkers for the first time was really good and he beat Jet Dynasty comfortably, who I make the main danger.
This is the perfect opportunity for him to get another win under his belt and I’ll be disappointed if he fails to do so.
Pewter Sky comes in with bottom weight and finished off the race well last time, which suggests he’ll enjoy the slight step up in trip and must be included in wider bets.
Race 4 is a Pinnacle Stakes over 1160m and I think the horse to beat is I Am Giant. He was extremely impressive in his latest win and it looks as if he can go on to bigger and better things.
Swing Upon A Star ran a lovely race last time out and the form has been franked in no uncertain terms, with the third-placed horse - Main Defender going on to win the Grade 1 convincingly.
On that, he is a massive runner and one to include in all bets.
Moon shining through is once again the best weighted horse and off bottom weight, needs to go into all bets.
Cold Fact returns from a small break but her form prior to that was good, so she’s another to include int your bets.
Race 5 is the Listed Ormond Ferraris Oaks Trial over 2000m and my value bet on the card comes up in the form of Frances Ethel who really impressed me when winning last time out. On the way she won, she’ll be even better now stepping up in trip.
Mary’s Greenlight was slightly unlucky last time as I couldn’t get the run when I wanted, but her stamina is a slight concern although I would make her the danger.
Sukhumvit ran well following her maiden win and I think she’ll also love the step up in trip so also rates a massive runner.
Explosive Bond beat the older horses well in the Listed Spook Express Stakes and is one that must go into wider bets.
Race 6 is the Listed TAB Hawwaam Stakes over 2000m and this is the most open race on the card so go as wide as the budget allows.
Hawkbill sets the standard on form and even though he is carrying top weight, he is probably the horse to beat.
Eiffel Tower has always given me a good feel and off a good draw, provided he settles, he should be right there.
George Handel ran well last time out and will really enjoy the step up in trip so must go into all bets.
Dubai Hills is another to include in all bets.
Race 7 is the Listed TAB Aquanaut Handicap over 2400m and I think Red Maple is the runner to beat.
She comes in with a good weight and will be cherry ripe for this contest so a massive run can be expected.
Good Council has the best form over this trip, so he rates the main danger.
Crimson King disappointed last time out but if he enjoys this trip and returns to best, he will be a massive runner.
East Coast won a really good race last time out and if that win gives him confidence then he is another to include in all bets.
Race 8 is a Middle Stakes over 1600m and I make Player the horse to beat. He comes in with bottom weight, and although he is drawn widest of all, his last start over this trip was a comfortable win, so I think he sets the standard.
Silent War ran a lovely race last time and the form has been franked by the winner again. Unfortunately, he comes in with 62kg and it won’t be easy to give so much weight away but he needs to be included in all bets.
Another Level has been disappointing in his last two starts but if he returns to best form, he is a definite runner.
Tirpitz is a consistent horse who has the ability to win a race of this nature and must be included in all bets.
Race 9 is a Pinnacle Stakes over 1800m and what a lovely race this is.
I think the value in the race and the horse to beat is Shoemaker who comes in with a really handy weight. On some of his best form, he is really well weighted with some of his rivals.
Litigation has won two feature races in his last two starts and is in the form of his life, so he rates the main danger.
Zeus goes for three in a row, and although he drops in distance and carries top weight, he is a very classy horse who must be included in all bets.
Meridius and Gilded Butterfly are others to consider for wider bets.