The first three races at Greyville yesterday were for two-year-olds and there were some eye catching runs.

Pack Leader (Nkosi Hlophe)

In the first over 1200m the horses had to circle at the start for over half-an hour, but this did not stop the Glen Kotzen-trained Philanthropist colt Pack Leader running on to win in impressive style by three lengths under Craig Zackey. He will make an impact in the two-year-old Gr 1 features. What A Winter colt Red Eight stayed on well for second. Pathfork colt Mighty Mercury has a long stride and a lovely action and after carving out a big lead he was only just pipped for third by the Oratorio gelding Storm Ruler. Mighty Mercury should come on from the run and is one to follow. Storm Ruler and fifth-placed Crusade gelding Subtropical should also improve.

In the second race over 1200m the Lezanne Forbes-trained filly Light On Her Toes is well-bred being by Gimmethegreenlight out of the Gr 1 Allan Robertson dead-heater On Her Toes. She did well to get up from a wide draw under Alec Forbes in a time which was 0,1 second quicker than the boys in the previous race. Owner Alesh Naidoo will thus have two Gr 1-winning chances at Scottsville’s Festival Of Speed meeting at the end of May as he also owns the top colt Varallo. Querari filly Zarnitsa improved to finish second by 0,75 lengths. The next two in the running, Ideal World filly Luna Child and Visionaire filly Bridal Veil, were both making their debuts and stayed on strongly. Sail From Seattle filly Coral Queen was just behind them, but this was already her third run.

In the third over 1200m, the Dennis Bosch-trained Trippi filly Victory Trip led from start to finish under Eric Ngwane to win in a time which was 0,77 second slower than the previous race. Second-placed Captain Al filly Esteemal is a big horse, who can be watched over further. The fifth-placed Believethisbeauty was unlucky as she was cramped for room for much of the straight and she can be watched, especially in a 1000m race as she has a lot of pace.

However, from a form perspective the third might prove to be the weakest of the three juvenile events, considering Victory Trip was having her fifth start.

By David Thiselton