From The Horse's Mouth - Mark Van Deventer

Gladatorian and Flower Island won the respective Joburg Spring Challenge races at Turffontein on Saturday. Both events were Grade 2’s staged on the inside track over 1450m.

There is an art to compiling speed figures. The final time is important, but it must be placed in context with the class of race and prevailing track conditions.

And sections within the race also matter – pace plays a role in the time recorded and ultimate finishing positions.

Gladatorian’s overall time was a fifth of a second slower than Flower Island, but he finished much faster. That can lead to what speed figure exponents term a sectional upgrade, to more accurately reflect the true merit of a performance.

Based on adjusted final times on a slow variant course, Stuart Ferrie’s high class galloper’s speed figure was just 102. But after the crunching the numbers by factoring in his swift closing sectional, he returned a figure of 112, right up with his career peak scores.

The son of Vercingetorix is remarkably consistent and adept from 1400m to 1800m. He also goes especially well fresh. A solidly run 1450m on a softened track fitted the 7YO’s profile and running style perfectly – jockey, Tristan Godden judged it to a tee in running down, I’m A Fireball.Punters who took the 10/1 on offer in early trade must have been cheering loudly! Gladatorian, a 12 x winner from 36 outings, was sent off as the 4/1 fixed odds favourite.

As for Flower Island s/s 104, she is a very talented 3YO who, most probably is now Cape Fillies Guineas bound. Muzi Yeni drove the lightly weighted, M.M. de Kock conditioned entry through a gap in deep stretch to snare Hazy Dazy and Miss World, who both ran 103’s.

In hitting 104 at only her fourth start, Flower Island indicates that she possesses loads of natural ability. This daughter of Rafeef is one to follow!

4YO Hazy Dazy impressed at her seasonal bow to attain a career top. She can add to her tally over longer trips.

The game mare, Miss World got a perfect ground saving rails ride by Serino Moodley, only to succumb in a wild finish.