The recent spate of wet weather that has bedevilled Gauteng racing once again had a say, forcing Saturday's meeting to be switched from Turffontein to the Vaal. The relocated fixture went ahead without any problems, apart from punters having to endure a beaten favourite in each of the three listed features - all over 1000m - that jointly headlined the card.

Disaster struck first up in the Ruffian Stakes for juvenile fillies as 55/1 shot Waywest Goddess showed startling improvement to annihilate her opposition. Form students can be excused for being left a bit bemused as Louis Goosen's charge had been unplaced in her only previous start and looked to have no chance in a field containing five previous winners. She obviously didn't know that as she paced it out with Lydia Listen early on and then found herself alone in front entering the last 300m.  Favourite Empire Rose started to run on from behind and Giggs, who had been thereabouts throughout, also tried to close in but they were left chasing shadows as the daughter of Way West pulled further and further away to win by over four lengths. Empire Rose got up to secure second from Giggs and Oochee Agent.

The juvenile males then went on show in the Storm Bird Stakes and the damage was nowhere near as great this time around. Favourite Zanzamar was beaten into third but the honours fell to fancied stable companion Burmese Cat and Pick 6 punters - such as had survived the carnage from the previous race - were able to breathe a sigh of relief.

The race itself saw all of Archangel Michael, Torch Singer and Legislature and Juan Belmonte showing good early pace with Burmese Cat racing about two lengths off the leaders and Zanzamar - who had broken well enough - falling behind and having about six lengths to make up as the race entered its decisive phase.

Legislature (40/1) continued to run a big race up front as he shook off his fellow pacemakers and it briefly looked like another catastrophe for punters but Burmese Cat (ridden by Johnny Geroudis, pictured) was going about his business with some purpose and he asserted himself in the closing stages to win going away and add another feature win to trainer Mike de Kock's tally. Zanzamar is clearly looking for more ground as he ran on late to grab third from Archangel Michael.

The Bauhinia Handicap featured twelve fillies and mares and confirmed the return to form of Esterel who notched up a second successive win. The Diane Stenger-trained 3-year-old had shown some promise last season before briefly appearing to lose her way but she was very much on target here as she raced just off the early pace. Forest Lecture showed her usual early speed up front from Noble Heir with Kesha, Mary Lou and Picadilly Miss all in touch.

Noble Heir took it up 300m out and looked as if she might just do enough to notch a second successive feature win raiding the Highveld. She managed to hold off the challenge of favourite Mary Lou but had no answer to the sustained effort of Esterel who ran her down late to win by half a length. The runner-up was game in defeat, lugging 60.5kg and conceding 5kg to the winner while Mary Lou continues to hold form well enough and was only beaten a further half-length into third. 

Earlier in the day, the Egoli Mile, a non-black-type event, offered a chance for some relatively unexposed 3-year-olds to show any classic potential that might be on offer. It was not to be, as battle-hardened Smanjemanje came through at 16/1 to register  a comprehensive victory. Tyrone Zackey's charge was beaten out of sight in the Gauteng Guineas a week ago but clearly enjoyed the drop in class as he ran on from well off the pace to trounce long-time leader Red Dancer by nearly four lengths. Smanjemanje has been beaten often enough against the big guns of his age group, but was impressive here and showed that he has a few more wins in him if pitched against the right level of opposition.