Rafeef pair Top Floor and Councillor impress

Pick 6 punters received a welcome boost in the form of Mike and Mathew de Kock’s Top Floor (Rafeef, headline photo), a hot odds-on favourite in the opening leg and, following two scratchings, impossible to oppose on paper. It’s never easy – ‘good things’ are beaten often enough – but Top Floor had the race sewn up 200m from home. Challenged briefly halfway down the straight, he responded well and kicked clear late to score decisively, suggesting there is more to come.

Top Floor broke awkwardly but settled comfortably off a strong pace. Jockey Callan Murray said: “The mile is a bit sharp for him, but he builds up to the line and won a nice race. He’s still a big baby. Last time he got too far back on the inside track and couldn’t make up the ground.”

Bred from a Jet Master mare, Top Floor has plenty of scope and should provide plenty of fun in time to come for owners Jayson and Preshalin Murugasa. He was raised at Swellendam’s La Berg Stud by Hanno Joubert.

Devin Heffer and Craig Kieswetter can also look forward to a promising career from another Rafeef progeny, Councillor. She captured Race 7 over 2000m  –  not at her best and unfancied  –  and, with further improvement in the coming days, could play a role in next week’s Oaks Trial.

Councillor carried the lowest weight, but received a bump and was squeezed at the start, racing in open company against older horses, which adds merit to her victory. Jockey Jeff Syster said: “She is strong and will go further. She came from the back in this going and finished well.”

Assistant trainer David Lhamine said: “Councillor picked up condition when she was rested, she’s becoming a proper horse now, with the Oaks around the corner. We could have a few in that race.”

Councillor was bred by the Kieswetter family at Ridgemont Stud.