RUNNER-BY-RUNNER GUIDE TO THE FOUR GRADE 1 SPRINTS
Race 5: R1-MILLION ALLAN ROBERTSON CHAMPIONSHIP (Grade 1) over 1200m (two-year-old fillies)
1 QUID PRO QUO: Aims to complete a hat-trick over the course and distance and rates a big runner.
Career: 4 Runs; 2 Wins; 2 Places. Earnings: R206,500
2 FIERY PEGASUS: Disappointed when backed on debut, but made up for it second time out. Faces much stronger opposition now.
Career: 2 Runs; 1 Win; 1 Place. Earnings: R76,250
3 GIMMIE’S COUNTESS: Demolished the field on debut at very short odds and obviously talented. Rates a big runner.
Career: 1 Run; 1 Win; 0 Places. Earnings: R71,875
4 DISTING: Found her running shoes at this track last time and won decisively. Could be the surprise if building on that run.
Career: 3 Runs; 1 Win; 2 Places. Earnings: R114,625
5 SORCERESS SUPREME: Produced a jaw-dropping performance first time out in KZN under Muzi Yeni and could go in again.
Career: 4 Runs; 1 Win; 1 Place. Earnings: R130,312
6 JUST RECKLESS: Class act, winning the Grade 3 Strelitzia Stakes after finishing runner-up in SA Fillies Nursery. The one to beat.
Career: 6 Runs; 3 Wins; 3 Places. Earnings: R440,250
7 KINDRED HEART: Excellent Highveld form and capable of surprising in her first run in KZN.
Career: 6 Runs; 1 Win; 5 Places. Earnings: R142,500
8 SYMPHONY IN WHITE: Ignore her penultimate when tested against top males in a Grade 3. Should place in this field.
Career: 3 Runs; 2 Wins; 0 Places. Earnings: R178,125
9 RODEO DRIVE: Improving at a rate of knots and should benefit from the coastal conditions. Richard Fourie takes the ride.
Career: 3 Runs; 1 Win; 2 Places. Earnings: R94,250
10 FROZEN FANTASY: Won over 1200m on debut and may then have found 1400m too far. Could surprise back over 1200m.
Career: 2 Runs; 1 Win; 1 Place. Earnings: R79,375
11 PROM QUEEN: Looks slightly outclassed in this company and will battle to get loser to Just Reckless after a 5.60-length beating last time.
Career: 3 Runs; 1 Win; 0 Places. Earnings: R95,312
Race 6: R1-MILLION GOLD MEDALLION (Grade 1) over 1200m (two-year-olds)
1 CHINABERRY: Has run on best of all in all of his races, proven at the track and could run into the Quartet.
Career: 4 Runs; 1 Win; 1 Place. Earnings: R103,000
2 PISTOL PETE: Speedy runner who did not enjoy the yielding going in the SA Nursery. Strong contender.
Career: 4 Runs; 3 Wins; 1 Place. Earnings: R321,875
3 BELIEVE IN FATE: Most impressive when winning his maiden last time and has a lively chance.
Career: 2 Runs; 1 Win; 1 Place. Earnings: R66,250
4 COMMANDING: Won well in a moderate field last time, but will need to up his game now to feature.
Career: 5 Runs; 1 Win; 2 Places. Earnings: R158,000
5 CYMRIC: Looked good when winning the Godolphin Barb at this course last time. On the shortlist.
Career: 4 Runs; 2 Wins; 2 Places. Earnings: R287,625
6 TWENTY ONE MAY: Narrowly won a maiden last time and looks held in this company.
Career: 3 Runs; 1 Win; 1 Place. Earnings: R87,250
7 TRUTH: Has won both starts convincingly and appears to set the standard in this line-up.
Career: 2 Runs; 2 Wins; 0 Places. Earnings: R146,875
8 COLD SHINE: Won a maiden in his first run in KZN at this course. All out that day and will need to improve to trouble them.
Career: 3 Runs; 1 Win; 1 Place. Earnings: R151,000
9 ONE MORE: Highly regarded and won well at first time of asking. Four of his victims won their subsequent starts. Big chance.
Career: 1 Run; 1 Win; 0 Places. Earnings: R62,500
10 WILD AT WAR – Won his maiden against older horses last time and stable in form but others preferred.
Career: 5 Runs; 1 Win; 2 Places. Earnings: R82,250
11 PROCEED – Grade 3 Protea Stakes winner, has Fourie in the irons and cannot be ignored.
Career: 5 Runs; 2 Wins; 3 Places. Earnings: R305,000
12 UNITED NATION – Lone win was on the Polytrack and against older horses. Could place.
Career: 2 Runs; 1 Win; Places 0. Earnings: R71,875
13 WINDS OF CHANGE – Runner-up in all four starts, all but one in feature races. Talented; could place.
Career: 4 Runs; 0 Wins; 4 Places. Earnings: R384,000
14 COSMIC SPEED – Runner-up behind SA Nursery winner on debut and then won easily after gelding. Could be anything.
Career: 2 Runs; 1 Win; 1 Place. Earnings: R82,500
Race 7: R1-MILLION SOUTH AFRICAN FILLIES SPRINT (Grade 1) over 1200m (fillies and mares at weight-for-age)
1 KWINTA'S LIGHT – This five-year-old somehow ends up the bridesmaid too often, but she’s in with an outside chance.
Career: 26 Runs; 5 Wins; 15 Places. Earnings: R786,700
2 REEFWAY – Judged on ratings and current form this daughter of Rafeef faces an impossible task.
Career: 13 Runs; 2 Wins; 5 Places. Earnings: R185,000
3 BALTIC SECRET – After a runner-up finish in a Grade 3 race last time out over the course and distance, she’s the value proposition at 20-1.
Career: 8 Runs; 2 Wins; 3 Places. Earnings: R283,312
4 OCTOBER MORN – This red-hot three-year-old is the one to beat – he’s the highest rated, best weighted and in top form.
Career: 11 Runs; 4 Wins; 7 Places. Earnings: R722,512
5 MRS BROWNING – With Grade 2 and 3 victories on her resume, a win in this Grade 1 would not be out of turn. Will be there at the line.
Career: 14 Runs; 6 Wins; 5 Places. Earnings: R772,875
6 WHITE PEARL – If hitting the front early with Striker up, she could go all the way. Does tend to over-promise and then under-deliver, though.
Career: 13 Runs; 2 Wins; 9 Places. Earnings: R628,000
7 SHANTASTIC – Started her career with a bang but has fizzled out a bit. Unlikely to challenge for top honours.
Career: 16 Runs; 4 Wins; 6 Places. Earnings: R443,325
8 SHIPHOLIA – Having run only twice this season, she could be anything. A Polytrack specialist, she did surprise at this track last time out.
Career: 11 Runs; 4 Wins; 4 Places. Earnings: R315,875
9 CONVOCATION – Punters who love an underdog, will get to adore this daughter of Flying The Flag. Has won all three starts in 2024.
Career: 10 Runs; 5 Wins; 2 Places. Earnings: R324,000
10 TIME FO ORCHIDS – Needed time to mature and is now rewarding her followers. She’s much better than the 10-1 on offer.
Career: 16 Runs; 5 Wins; 6 Places. Earnings: R548,812
11 ONE FELL SWOOP – This daughter of Lancaster Bomber has been prolific under trainer Tony Peter and has won four of the last six.
Career: 10 Runs; 5 Wins; 3 Places. Earnings: R526,625
12 WINTER GREETING – Set off the fireworks last time out when only a length behind Lucky Lad in a Grade 2. Include in all bets.
Career: 10 Runs; 5 Wins; 1 Place. Earnings: R360,625
13 ASIYE PHAMBILI – Loves the course, loves the distance. Has scored a hat-trick before and knows how to ride a winning wave.
Career: 16 Runs; 6 Wins; 6 Places. Earnings: R584,125
14 GIMME A SHOT – Doesn’t seem to enjoy a trip to the coast but might make more of the opportunity this time round.
Career: 18 Runs; 4 Wins; 5 Places. Earnings: R570,525
15 WINTER CLOUD – A three-time Grade 3 winner going for three in a row. Obviously a big runner.
Career: 11 Runs; 6 Wins; 1 Place. Earnings: R1,117,937
16 ELEGANT ICE – Fitted with a tongue tie when finally posting second career last time out. Much tougher opposition now.
Career: 9 Runs; 2 Wins; 5 Places. Earnings: R283,750
Race 8: R1-MILLION GOLDEN HORSE SPRINT (Grade 1) over 1200m
1 I AM GIANT - Consistent form but is 3.5kg worse off with Lucky Lad who beat him last time. Chance.
Career: 11 Runs; 4 Wins; 6 Places. Earnings: R447,125
2 SWING UPON A STAR – Played up pre-race last time but could place on earlier form.
Career: 17 Runs; 4 Wins; 7 Places. Earnings: R489,625
3 SURJAY – Third in this race last year and rarely out of the places. Well weighted and should go close.
Career: 24 Runs; 4 Wins; 13 Places. Earnings: R805,475
4 ZIYASHA – In good form but untested over 1200m and looks held by Lucky Lad. Could place.
Career: 15 Runs; 4 Wins; 7 Places. Earnings: R396,250
5 HITHEMHARDSUNSHINE – In good form, enjoys the track but takes a jump in class. Place chance.
Career: 14 Runs; 4 Wins; 6 Places. Earnings: R355,850
6 QUASIFORSURE – Consistent runner and not without a chance. Could provide each-way value.
Career: 16 Runs; 6 Wins; 7 Places. Earnings: R541,275
7 DYCE – Had his issues but was recently gelded and at best has a strong winning chance. G1 winner so include in all bets.
Career: 16 Runs; 7 Wins; 6 Places. Earnings: R1,733,875
8 AT MY COMMAND – Drops in trip and last two runs were disappointing. Needs to improve to feature.
Career: 18 Runs; 4 Wins; 10 Places. Earnings: R933,325
9 COUNTDOWN – Last success was a narrow victory at Fairview. Held by others on form.
Career: 25 Runs; 5 Wins; 7 Places. Earnings: R636,550
10 CRUISE CONTROL – Been competing well at Fairview but big jump in class could prove too much.
Career: 17 Runs; 11 Wins; 2 Places. Earnings: R754,688
11 LUCKY LAD – Remarkable last win in first-time blinkers, won at this course from No 11 draw last year and can do so again from same barrier.
Career: 8 Runs; 5 Wins; 2 Places. Earnings: R1,325,000
12 SUN BLUSHED – Has won his last two but jumps in class and has a lot more to do this time.
Career: 16 Runs; 5 Wins; 6 Places. Earnings: R435,750
13 CLIFF TOP – Little to choose between him and Cruise Control on Fairview form and will face the same problems.
Career: 23 Runs; 6 Wins; 12 Places. Earnings: R834,438
14 PRAY FOR RAIN – Runs well at this course but looks held on form.
Career: 34 Runs; 5 Wins; 15 Places. Earnings: R574,125
15 ZINOVI – Jumps in class but is in good form and loves the distance. One for Trifectas and Quartets.
Career: 12 Runs; 4 Wins; 5 Places. Earnings: R423,000
16 MELECH – Unbeaten over the distance including a win over Main Defender three runs back. Chance.
Career: 12 Runs; 6 Wins; 3 Places. Earnings: R519,875
Reserve Runner
17 FIRE 'N FLAMES – Good last win but looks outclassed in this line-up.
Career: 19 Runs; 3 Wins; 7 Places. Earnings: R331,750