Trophy For Jervis
Arlington 25th May: The best bet on the card in Port Elizabeth on Friday always looked to be PLACIDO (39) in the opening juvenile plate over 1400m and he didn’t let down his supporters. Deep in the red at 7/20 on the off, the son of Miesque’s Approval sat in midfield during the early part of the race. He quickened well from halfway and after striking the front 100m from home, he easily drew clear.
The easiest victory in the maiden ranks was that of CAPTIVATOR (31) in the 1600m event. Nicely drawn in gate six, Sean Miller’s charge got away well when the gates opened and was soon up handy. He was ridden to lead as they approached the 400m marker and comfortably accounted for the favourite NEW RESOLUTION who had held every chance.
A MR90 Handicap over 1600m was next up and the combination of Sean Miller and Samanga Khumalo were again on the mark here when the 3yo PARCEVAL (58) registered his third victory from just seven starts. Nibbled at on course into 11/2 from 6’s, the son of Silvano raced towards the rear for most of the journey. Once in the short home straight though, he quickened best of all and in what proved to be a real thriller he got up late to deny the rank outsider of the party WESTERN STAR.
The listed Glenlair Trophy over 3200m topped the bill and here victory went to the lightly weighted JERVIS (71). Another to find some support in the ring (8/1 into 13/2), Gavin Smith’s charge was positioned at he back when the race began in earnest. Once in the short home straight though, he ran on best of all and under a well judged ride from Francois Herholdt, he comfortably accounted for INCA’S SPIRIT (the only female in the race) after striking the front close home.
Titbits
FORENZIC was running on strongly at the finish when third in the MR72 Handicap over 1600m.
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In Full Flight
Scottsville 26th May: The first of the four Gr1 sprinting events to be run inNatal on Saturday was the Allan Robertson Championship over 1200m and here victory went to the lesser fancied of Vaughan Marshall’s two runners ALL IS SECRET (66). Backed into 75/20 from 9/2 at the track, the Anton Marcus ridden All Is Secret was soon up handy. She was ridden to lead as they approached the 200m marker and comfortably accounted for the talented FRANNY by a length and a quarter.
The Gr1 Tsogo Sun Medallion over the same distance was next up and in a slower time than that of All Is Secret POTENT POWER (61) landed the spoils. Freely available at 40/1 on the off, the lesser fancied of Dennis Drier’s two runners came from midfield. He finished best of all over the final 400m and went on to beat the ultra consistent STRAIGHT SET fair and square by a length and a quarter.
The champion filly PRINCESS VICTORIA (2/1 into 9/10) was heavily supported to win the Gr1 SA Fillies Sprint, but after racing in the rear, she never got in a blow. Victory instead went to the once very highly regarded EBONY FLYER (97). Allowed to drift as if having lost a leg at the course (2/1 out to 11/2), Justin Snaith’s charge was positioned at the back going through halfway. Once given rein by the talented Bernard Fayd’Herbe though she quickly made her way through the field and although the strongly fancied WELWITSCHIA also finished well from off the pace, she went on to win going away by a length.
Last, but by no means least, was the Gr1 Golden Horse Casino Sprint over 1200m and here we saw a smart performance from the Charles Laird trained DELAGO DELUXE (97). Sent off a well supported second favourite at 5/1 (op 8/1), the Australian bred son of Encosta De Lago was soon prominent. He ran on strongly over the final 400m and despite the efforts of the usefulSNOWDON, he went on to win comfortably by a length and a quarter. Delago Deluxe has now won seven of his eleven starts.
Titbits
SPARKLE WITH SPEED ran on strongly from the back end of midfield when third in the maiden event over 1600m.
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Season’s Best
Turffontein 26th May: They raced on the inner track on Saturday where we saw a very easy victory in the opening maiden event over 1800m for the Mike De Kock trained WILLIAM CONQUEST (42). Allowed to ease right out to 9/2 from 5/2 at the track as money in the main came for the favourite DIVINE INVITATION (12/10 into 8/10), William Conquest was always handy. He made his move at the top of the short home straight and with the rest well beaten he easily accounted for Divine Invitation after striking the front 150m from home.
The easiest victory on the card was recorded by PRINCESS OF LIGHT (72) when landing the pinnacle event over 2600m. Taken straight to the front by Marthinus Mienie, the daughter of Var led throughout. She was always in command and ran out a very easy winner by three and a half over the 3yo ICE TRIGGER.
A MR89 Handicap over 1600m was next up and here we saw a gutsy performance from the deposed favourite TIGER FLASH (60). Allowed to ease out to 75/20 from 22/10 on course as BEAU BOIS (5/2 into 19/10) found good support, Tiger Flash was soon at the helm. He was headed by CITY OFBELLSgoing through the 600m, but after regaining the lead 200m later he kept on strongly at the business end of the race to beat the running on Beau Bois by a length.
The listed Syringa Handicap topped the bill and here a bit of an upset was to be had when the Announce mare END OF SEASON (60) landed the spoils. Freely available at 20/1 on the off, St John Gray’s charge was always in touch with the leaders. She quickened well coming off the strip and with the rest well beaten she got the better of another easy to back runner in SAUCY SAVANNAH by three quarters.
Titbits
SENATOR ran on well from the back end of midfield when finishing runner up in the maiden event over 1450m.
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Top speedratings for this weekend include:-
Flamingo Park Race 1: No Qualifiers Race 2: (1)AtlanticBeach12 Race 3: (15) Richard’s Grace 11 Race 4:(10) Island Court35 Race 5: (3) Kensington Gore 55 (NAP**) Race 6: (11) Watch The Sunset 59 Race 7: (8) Tory 48 Race 8: (1) Roses For Lizzy 23 Race 9: (2) Raging River 20 Scottsville Race 1: (11) Var Light 15 Race 2: (4) Montelupo 22 (nb) Race 3: (3) Black Platinum 24 (NAP*) Race 4: (2) Extreme West 58 Race 5: (10) Miesque’s Wonder 43 Race 6: (2) Keep On Dreaming 56 Race 7: (4) Surfing Safari 42 Race 8: (4) Imali Mania 20 Durbanville Race 1: (10) Rainbow Dash 14 Race 2: (4) Hickory Hill 15 Race 3: (13) Lee Time 18 Race 4: (8) Our Dizzy Emblem 23 Race 5: (11) Dandyman Can 59 Race 6: (5) Brilliant Cut 72 Race 7: (11) Count My Luck 59 Race 8: (3) Starlight Beauty 16 Vaal Race 1: (13) Victory Call 16 Race 2: (1) Mr Tobin 77 Race 3: (2) My Chelsea Girl 11 (EW) Race 4: (12) Two Wood 39 Race 5: (12) Lucky Wishes 47 Race 6: (11) Delightfull Diva 44 Race 7: (10) Wings Of An Angel 45 Race 8: (14) Empire Ruler 51 Race 9: (6) In The Frame 44
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Top rated winners last week included
Hotel Royale won 8/1 Gianduja won 33/10 National Road won 33/10 Roman Wall won 33/10 Warwickadale won 33/10 Silver Chant won 28/10 LittlePearlwon 22/10 Mannequin won 22/10.
Notebook:-
Delago Deluxe (C Laird, KZN) Ebony Flyer (J Snaith, KZN).
FASTEST TIMES
(Shown in brackets is the number of races run in each category)Arlington 25th May Fastest Sprint 1000-1300 (1) Come Home Smokin Fastest Middle 1400-1800 (6) Parceval Fastest Long 1900-3600 (1) Jervis
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Scottsville 26th May Fastest Sprint 1000-1300 (5) Delago Deluxe Fastest Middle 1400-1800 (4) Roman Wall Fastest Long 1900-3600 (0) No Qualifiers.
Turffontein 26th May Fastest Sprint 1000-1300 (0) No Qualifiers Fastest Middle 1400-1800 (8) End Of Season Fastest Long 1900-3600 (1) Princess Of Light
