The Corne Spies stable has enjoyed a terrific start to the new season with 9 winners and 13 places in the first five weeks, equalling a winning strike rate of higher than 20,9%! The stable occupies a Top 10 position on the National Log.

Following the wins early in August of William Robertson, Me Time and Attentive, five-year-old Fast Draw (Chase Maujean) finally and deservedly broke his Maiden at the Vaal on 19 August. The Crusade gelding has placed 18 times before this and this win is a timely success for his owner/breeder, Ben Sahd.

Next up, on 26 August, Corne saddled a double with five-year-old mare Me Time, who enjoys the services of Muzi Yeni, and six-year-old Mare Louvain, who won again for her favourite jock, Deon Sampson.

Me Time, by Gimmethegreenlight, proved to be well suited to the 1450m on the Classic Vaal track and she’s tenacious once she gets her head in front. She races for Vic Bouwer, Gawie Diedericks, Xander Spies and Corne Spies Racing.

Louvain has been a good servant to owner Gavin Jooste, with 5 wins from 28 starts. She’s always effective in the lower merit rated handicaps and Deon has won four races on her.

Linganomore (Sherman Brown), fifth on a good debut to Tullamore Dew, wrapped up a quick first win on 31 August, also at the Classic Track. She’s by Byword from a mare by Jet Master and looks like she has more in her armoury for owner/breeder, David Makins.

Last Saturday, Eastern Belle and Imperial Ruby racked up another double for the yard on the inner track at Turffontein.

Three-year-old Eastern Belle has raced with some of the better fillies of her generation and she’s taken 10 runs to win her Maiden, but she would have found confidence from her 1200m win over Beltway and won’t stop here. She races for Stergio Poriazis, Gerald Sadlier, Jannie de Lange’s Waste Glass Recovery and Xander and Corne Spies.

Stable soldier Imperial Ruby (headline photo) can match strides with some of the best over 2000m and further, but showed his talents are not limited to that with an impressive 1800m in a strong field, ridden by Ryan Munger. The 2020 G3 Gold Bowl winner ran on strongly to beat his former stable mate, Golden Pheasant, in an exciting finish.

The son of Silvano is 5 from 27 for Alfie Pawson, Suzette Viljoen, Spies & Son, and should never be ignored as he has plenty of ability.