Tyrconnell (s/s 99 +) earned the highest speed figure on Sunday afternoon at Scottsville when he drew off in a 1400m event. His final time was faster than Cat’s Pajama’s (s/s 94 ++, has run 105 before) achieved in the preceding, jog-first-then-sprint race over the same distance.

Tyrconnel is a five-year-old by The United States who has only once missed a drum from 12 starts. His career best fig is 102 achieved over 1400m on firm ground on the Highveld, so it seems he can handle cut too, as the going was soft on Sunday. Promising 3YO, Mr Hotstepper (s/s 97) and Imposing (s/s 97) followed in Mike de Kock’s runner.

Due to all the rain up North, Turffontein also had a slow track variant. After crunching the numbers, Almond Sea (s/s 96 +) got the day’s best fig. She was made to work hard though, only getting past Poblano (s/s 96) near to the wire.

Spumante Dolce (s/s 93 +) also goes into the notebook. This beautifully bred filly by Vercingetorix ex Espumanti put many lengths between herself and toiling opposition as she recorded a second win from as many starts. She too comes out of de Kock Racing stables.

Nothing remarkable happened at Kenilworth – I guess much of the excitement will have to wait till next week’s stakes-laden Met program.

That said, AlltheboysI’velovedbefore (s/s 91 ++) came out best on the clock and could be worth following.

Lucinda Woodruff explained that all her filly had to do was settle properly and then she would run up to her good morning work. That is indeed what transpired under Grant van Niekerk as she romped clear down center track away from duelling pair, Swiatek and Golden Angel locked on the outer rail.

It will be interesting to see how the Kenilworth track plays next Saturday. Around the turn there have been occasions at recent meetings where horses have been making race-winning moves up the stand-side rail. The opposite has applied down the sprint course where the inside path seems optimal.

Ideally the track will offer a fair racing surface for the big day of G1’s. When all the horses are gunning for a narrow strip of real estate it leads to safety concerns and becomes a crap-shoot for punters.