Saratoga Dancer shows the way

THE Duncan Howells-trained Mambo In Seattle gelding Saratoga Dancer proved he will be a force to be reckoned with in the Gr 2 Peermont Emperor’s Palace Charity Mile when sauntering to his fifth career win over 1600m at Scottsville yesterday in a Pinnacle Stakes event under Muzi Yeni (pictured).

Saratoga Dancer sat about five lengths off the pace and it was soon clear in the straight he was going to beat the favourite, the Dean Kannemeyer-trained Gr 1-winner Afrikaburn, who was a little headstrong early.

Saratoga Dancer was receiving 4,5kg from Afrikaburn. He won cosily by 1,5 lengths from the progressive Charles Laird-trained Stormy Eclipse, who proved himself more than just a polytrack horse as he ran at level weights with the winner.

Afrikaburn was beaten two lengths into third, but will come on from the run.

Another hot race on the day was a Graduation Plate over 1200m in which the Charles Lairdtrained 11/2 shot, the four-year-old Brave Tin Soldier gelding Split The Breeze, returned from a four month layoff to produce a strong finish under Anton Marcus and overtake the second favourite, the Mike Miller-trained Executive Power, who was having only his third start and is full of promise.

Beat The Retreat

The Alistair Gordon-trained Gr 3 runner up and Gr 1 fifth placed Beat The Retreat started favourite but proved just in need of the run and was 3,5 lengths behind the winner in third.

Mark Dixon had a 1950m double on the card, winning a maiden with the Mogok gelding Red Red Ruby under Athandiwe Mgudlwa and a MR 70 Handicap for fillies and mares with the Eyeofthetiger filly Timeforatiger, who was ridden by Sean Veale.

Alistair Gordon’s winner of the first over 1000m, the Warm White Night three-year-old colt Sublime Code, caught the eye when winning effortlessly under Alec Forbes and looks to be a fair sort.

Forbes scored a quick double when the consistent Wendy Whitehead-trained A. P. Answer filly Hannah’s Answer won the second over 1200m.

James Goodman’s hard knocking six-year-old gelding Piano Man gave Mogok a quick double when winning the fifth over 1000m under Ian Sturgeon. It was Piano Man’s sixth career victory.

Yogas Govender had his first winner since going on his own when winning the last over 1950m with the Horse Chestnut fill Roy’s Gold and this gave Marcus a double.