After not being given much chance in this column last week, Set Afire came home smoking in the Grade 1 Horse Chestnut Stakes at Turffontein, showing what a loss David Ferraris will be to the South African trainers’ ranks when he departs to pursue his career in Hong Kong.

Suddenly, South African horseracing has a new superstar. Eventuail’s victory in the Summer Cup in December was a performance that moved him right into the top echelon of horses to race in this country.