There was no fairytale ending for South Africa’s champion sprinter What A Winter when he suffered a shock defeat in his final career start in the G1 Mercury Sprint at Clairwood on Saturday.

Impressive filly Via Afrika recorded a stunning win in Saturday’s G2 Southern Cross Stakes over 1000m at Kenilworth, first race of the three-legged Fillies and Mares Sprint series.

Trainer Mike de Kock has dismissed Link Man's recent failure when last in the G1 Golden Horse Casino Sprint and predicts a big turn around in his form in the G1Rising Sun Gold Challenge over 1600m at Clairwood on Saturday.

The R500 000, Group 1 WFA South African Fillies Sprint(1200m) may have been billed as a showdown between brilliant three-year-old Princess Victoria and classy Ebony Flyer, but in the end the day belonged to Justin Snaith's Ebony Flyer, who stamped her authority on the race in no uncertain terms.

Summerveld has been abuzz with talk about Saturday's Festival Of Speed meeting at Scottsville with the Mike de Kock yard holding a strong hand in the jackpot of Grade 1 features.