Greaterix keeps Fire Attack at bay, although the latter put in the better performance on paper. (JC Photos)
The Mike de Kock-trained Vercingetorix colt Greaterix proved his class on Saturday in the Gr 3 Betway Got The Greenlight Stakes over 1400m and will have more to come as he actually needed the outing, whilst the runner up Fire Attack put in a better performance at the weights and is also proving a fine sort.
The Al Adiyaat homebred Greaterix, who is also owned by M F de Kock, C S Haynes, G Ragunan and N P Malherbe, beat a good field comfortably despite not having had a perfect preparation and the race did not pan out perfectly either.
The question now is whether he will stay the mile of his next target race, the Gr 2 Gauteng Guineas.
De Kock said this colt had so much speed he was unable to work him with anything else as he just left them behind.
He said he had given the grey a two week rest after the Gr 2 Betway Dingaans as he had finished a bit distressed after being caught in front and then doing too much.
Given a more conservative ride on Saturday he reversed Dingaans form with Fire Attack, although it was over 200m shorter and he was also receiving 2kg from the latter.
Guru racing analyst Karel Miedema awarded Greaterix a 100 AR (ability rating) for the run, while he gave Fire Attack a 102.
Yeni, in just his fourth meeting back from a broken collar bone, had a fine day and Greaterix gave him a hattrick.
Muzi’s aim at home and on Saturday was to get Greaterix to relax into his big stride, so it did not augur well when he was short of room from the off jumping after from draw four as there was a horse on his heels.
Muzi did have cover in a one out position in fourth place, but said the horse had never felt comfortable. He said when the pace stacked up and considering Greaterix’s big stride he had had to let the grey colt roll early.
Greaterix showed a fine turn of foot under the hands to hit the front at the 400m mark. He was able to keep going under the hands after shifting to the rail.
Muzi used the stick for the first time in the last 50m to keep the Dingaans runner up Fire Attack at bay, as the latter had run on strongly from last.
Greaterix won by 0,70 lengths from Fire Attack. Both will be big players in the Gauteng Guineas.
Cosmic Speed will also be a player as he ran on strongly from well back for a 3,10 length third and was doing his best work late.
Potberrie was a maiden for ten starts so has shown amazing improvement lately and he finished a 3,70 length fourth with the recently disappointing The Specialist putting in a performance that was more like it, finishing a staying on 5,80 length fifth.
The highly regarded Choisaanada disappointed, leading from draw five and finding no extra to be beaten six lengths into sixth place.
Musical Score actually started second favourite at 4/1 (Greaterix started at cramped odds of 67/100), but it did not pan out well for him. He was taken handy from draw five but was caught wide one out and one back and duly found nothing to be beaten eight lengths into seventh.
Greaterix will have a fitness improvement advantage over the others in the Gauteng Guineas, having needed Saturday’s outing.
However, the question is whether he prefers shorter trips than a mile.
Furthermore, he has been outperformed twice in succession by Fire Attack, so the latter should be receiving more accolades than he has been accorded.
