### Clue: Compensating quality of South Africa's very popular horse competition (6,5)
### Answer: SAVING GRACE 
 ### Explanation: Definition: Compensating quality
 SA(abbrev. for South Africa) + V(abbrev. for "very") + IN(popular;in fashion) + GG(shortened spelling for "gee-gee";childrens' term for a horse) + RACE(a running competition).