Starting at 14h00 on Saturday is a sequence of four Graded Sprints down the Scottsville 1200m. The field sizes are big [16,9,16,15] which makes it tempting for bettors taking P6’s/Jackpots, or single race exotics such as Trifectas/Quartets.
Fixed odds punters should try seeking out generous overlays on the Interbet Exchange as the markets form closer to racetime.
This preview will check out Races 5 – 8, focusing on the most likely contenders in each contest, using speed figures as the main handicapping analytical tool.
RACE 5 ALLAN ROBERTSON CHAMPIONSHIP (G2)
Going into this 2YO showpiece, it seems a score of 90 should already be evident in the past performances.
Secretary Bird s/s 92,
Get Up s/s 91 +,
Flower Island s/s 91 +
Querari Dancer s/s 90,
Kavady s/s 90,
Lady Nancy s/s 90,
Venutura Boulevard s/s 86 ++ and
Palace of Arvernia s/s 83 ++ have already achieved that, or seem capable of breaching that par threshold.
Juveniles are apt to improve significantly between starts so there may be other lurkers worthy of inclusion such as
Top Secret (well bred, heavily backed on winning debut)
Ferrari Flair (closed best of all in the
Strelitzia Stakes when finishing near to
Querari Dancer) and
Good Day Sunshine who is 2/2 on firm ground and is out of a former winner of this race,
Miss Florida.
4
Get Up, 5
Flower Island, 1
Querari Dancer and 8
Secretary Bird qualify for the trimmed- down shortlist.
RACE 6 GOLD MEDALLION (G1)
It will take a very special foe to knock off
Rich Man’s World s/s 95 +++ as Vaughan Marshall’s entry has recorded the highest scores of any juvenile in SA this term, without ever being extended. Any baby able to score in the mid 90’s is imbued with tremendous natural talent and the performance of this striking son of
One World is eagerly anticipated.
Grey,
Rafeef colt,
Haute Couture s/s 89 +++ won as he liked on debut and has considerable upside. Mike and Mathew de Kock’s charge rates a genuine danger.
These two thoroughbreds tower above the opposition and are quoted at 6/10 and 5/2 respectively.
Next best is 40/1
Nursery winner,
Better Never Ends but his peak score is 89 which falls short of what
Rich Man’s World and
Haute Couture have hit – and that’s without drawing deep breaths.
Egremont s/s 83 + and three-time winner
Time is Precious s/s 84 + can be used underneath in single race exotics.
Summary: 6
Rich Man’s World vs 8
Haute Couture.
RACE 7 GOLDEN HORSE SPRINT (G2)
Whilst the
Gold Medallion narrows down to a “boat race”, this Sprint is considerably tougher to solve as it is a handicap which, theoretically, gives all contestants an equal chance.
Tenango s/s 117,
O’Tenikwa s/s 114 and
King of the Gauls s/s 110 ran 1-2-3 in this race last year, but none have run anywhere close to those remarkable numbers since.
Tenango has battled with unsoundness through an unproductive Cape Summer, and comes back after 112 days off.
O’Tenikwa should give it a good go racing on the pace, but he is now 7kg’s higher in the weights than 2025.
Rachel Venniker is an interesting booking on
King of the Gauls – she seems to get the best out of this tricky customer so he should not be ruled out on these weight terms.
Based on historical trends, typically a speed score of 105 is required to be in the frame. That doesn’t help us much as practically all the horses this year meet that minimum standard including the 3YO’s
One Eye on Vegas s/s 102 +,
Miami Mountain s/s 101+ and
Fox on the Run s/s 101+ who can improve to that level.
Raising the filter to around 108, and demanding that they hit those figures recently means we can also kick
William Robertson s/s 110 ex and
Texas Red s/s 108 ex into touch) leaves us with these qualifying beasts:
Taxi to the Moon s/s 108 but this 1000m specialist looks vulnerable going six panels; 5/1 ante-post fave,
Cosmic Speed s/s 108 is a high class entry who put forth a quality run turning back to sprints in the
Senor Santa;
Outlaw King s/s 108 reserves his best for stiff 1200m races, but has been heavily penalized since running only 6th in this last year and faces a daunting task at these weights;
Café Culture s/s 109 is another that should relish a true run 1200m and Richard Fourie will roust the neatly handicapped, 6YO who is 20/1 in early betting;
Jerusalema Rain s/s 107 remains in hot form with a tongue tie fitted and light-weight rider, Mikaela Michel on board;
Ziyasha s/s 107 will give a good sight handy yet could be vulnerable to the late “swoopers” and
Great Plains s/s 109 is unreliable and best over seven furlongs, but capable of a big finish when in the mood.
This is a very tough call. Bookies go 5/1 the field, showing how open this race is.
With some trepidation, the picks are:
12
Café Culture over 7
Cosmic Speed, 14
Jerusalema Rain, 16
King of the Gauls & 15
Great Plains.
RACE 8 SOUTH AFRICAN FILLIES SPRINT (G1)
The winning standard is 102, which is what
Mia Moo achieved in the 2025 edition of the
SA Fillies Sprint. She is again a big contender with her chances boosted should the draw bias favour those with low gates.
However, she was arguably most fortunate to win it last year as bad things were happening to her major rivals,
Asiye Phambili (rolled in, unlucky is the comment in Computaform) and
Double Grand Slam (no clear run from the 300m.)
Double Grand Slam s/s 109 is a multiple G1 winning filly at her peak over 1400/1600m. Jockey Andrew Fortune has won all three times he’s sat on board. With a clear passage in a true run 1200m she has the class and turn of foot to gain retribution for last year’s miscue.
Asiye Phambili s/s 106 is a redoubtable mare who rates just a few ticks below
Double Grand Slam. Her record over 1200m is excellent, and she loves this track, too.
So, 10
Double Grand Slam, at even money and 9/s second choice, 8
Asiye Phambili stand out, with defending champion, 1
Mia Moo sure to run to her rating yet again.
Just be Lekker s/s 100,
Rodeo Drive s/s 101,
Perfect Miracle s/s 99,
Hierarchy s/s 102,
Princess of Gaul s/s 100 and
One Fine Winter s/s 98 have similar speed scores and, whilst unlikely to win, are worthy inclusions in the lower slots of tris and quartets.
Bio: Mark van Deventer has been refining his speed figures for thoroughbred racehorses over three decades. A full-time racing journalist since 2013, he’s known for his integrity and imaginative handicapping, adapting the principles of Andrew Beyer’s figures to South African racecourses.
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