Speed Figure Notables From Saturday.
Monday, 01 September 2025Milnerton based trainer, Eric Sands has been around a long time and is an astute bloodstock purchaser and horseman. He has trained some high-class thoroughbreds in his time, using a diligent approach to conditioning, nursing them along to full fitness. His abiding principle is to always do what is right for the horse.
Sands’s saddled Magical Place to win the opener at Durbanville on Saturday. The white socked, son of What a Winter got a fine speed score of 94 at this 3rd start, showing sharp gate speed then blasting further away at the top of the stretch. He should be followed.
Justin Snaith’s Happy Verse was advised on the Interbet race day podcast as the banker on the card and got home in the 8th. He appeared to be a class above his rivals, and a speed figure of 95 proved sufficient to narrowly fend off Sands trained, Carriacou s/s 94 who has not missed the money at any of his Durbanville starts.
Snaith’s grey Yamakazi (s/s 93) won the last in what may well turn out a key Maiden. The final time was nearly the same as Happy Verse’s, but the finishing fraction was significantly quicker. Another grey, Konnichiwa (s/s 88) ran second – it is an understatement that Ricky Maingard’s inmate is way overdue to crack his opening win.
Market springer, Bugle Boy (s/s 87) won’t be a Maiden much longer on the evidence of his third placing. Most regular Maidens in the Cape can be won with speed figures around 80, so the money for Greg Ennion’s entry (12’s down to 33/10) was “justified,” even if the plunge ultimately went awry.
Girl on the Run (s/s 93) provided a rare winner for trainer Paul Reeves. He does well enough with limited stock. His What a Winter mare scraped in from Andre Nel’s youngster, Wander Dune (s/s 92) who emerged with credit at only her second start.
On the Highveld, racing was moved from Turffontein to the Vaal due to a fire near the Jozi city track. Top division sprinter, Quantum Theory (s/s 96 + has run 105) sat a perfect stalking trip behind Night Bomber, put that one away with 200m to run, then staved off Kamensky (s/s 95 ++) who kicked on from the back of the pack. The runner-up will be more effective over a bit longer.
Famous Lady (s/s 103) produced the top speed figure on Vaal’s program. She romped in the Lady’s Stakes, going great guns from the front. Her final time was .45 seconds quicker than Quantum Theory’s.
David Niewenhuizen trains the daughter of Talk of the Town who can add to her tally of three wins from 11 starts, on the evidence of this smart speed figure.
Pace analysts are entitled to be a bit leery of horses who attain career top figures when shaking loose on the lead in a short field around a turn. Nevertheless, this bang on form 4YO should be kept onside at her next couple of starts.
