William Robertson must be one of the most honest horses in training in South Africa - especially one at the top level anyway.

The son of Rafeef is also most likely the best Grade 2 winner not to crack a Grade 1 as yet, the Corne Spies runner has had 30 starts for 9 wins and according to his ratings, he's never been better.

The five year old gelding best home rivals in hot and humid Pietermaritzburg for his 9th win on Sunday at Scottsville when he took out a Pinnacle Plate, race 2, over 1400m. This was win number two in four attempts this season but the seasoned campaigner has run from 1000m in top level Grade 1 Sprint races to 2000m at the testing Turffontein track in none other than the Summer Cup of last year.

The versatile sort was prepared for the Summer Cup last year starting with the Gr2 Spring Challenge last October. The race was remembered as much fir his performance as for his rider change at the start after Smanga Khumalo refused to ride him and he was replaced by Muzi Yeni resulting in a lengthy delay. He duly won that event and then ran a credible 4th in the Victory Moon Stakes beaten only 2.4 lengths by a well handicapped rival. His Summer Cup run was a little disappointing under 60kgs but he proved he was as versatile as any even when put over 2000m. Once brought back to his favored sprints he sparkled again. His win over 1160m at Turffontein at his next start and then a ran just out the placings in the Gr2 Hawaii Stakes made for great form. In what was likely his career best run, he ran the classy Isivunguvungu to 2 lengths in the Gr1 Computaform Sprint. He ran in Gr1 and Gr2 company the next few times until a back to back win at his latest two.

Just off the best of them, he is as nice an earner as they come in South African racing amassing just over R1. 7m in stakes and is as versatile as any we've seen recently. A true stable star.

William Robertson
Sire: RAFEEF (AUS)
Dam: MASSACHUSETTS
Dam Sire: TRIPPI (USA)
Breeder: Ridgemont Highlands
Owner: Messrs R P Macnab, Keegan Govender, X Spies & Corne Spies Racing (Pty) Ltd, Waste Glass Recovery (Pty) Ltd (Nom: J H de Lange)