All Improvers

Steeplechase Double

Fairview 16^th March: A very interesting looking juvenile plate over 1100m got proceedings underway in the Eastern Cape on Friday and here we saw a smart performance from the Corne Spies trained LORD JONATHAN. Sent off a well supported second favourite at 3/1 (op 4/1), Lord Jonathan was always in touch with the leaders. He made his move going through the 400m and after quickly getting the better of the highly regarded favourite SEDGE (16/10 into 12/10), he went on to win going away by a length and a half.

The first of the two listed feature events to take place was the Breeders Guineas over 1600m and running out an impressive winner here was the visiting Captain Al filly OCEAN’S SWIFT. A winner of the listed Lady’s Slipper on her last sortie to the Eastern Cape, Ocean’s Swift raced second early on. She was ridden to lead going though the 500m and with some in hand, she drew clear easily from there onwards to score by seven.

It was a similar story in the listed East Cape Fillies Nursery where her stable companion THE BLACK ROSE also won by a steeplechase margin. Taken straight to the front by Richard Fourie The Black Rose led throughout. She was always clear and without any anxious moments she cruised in by six and a quarter.

The not so lucky last was a MR72 Handicap over 1200m and here victory went to the Hekkie Strydom trained ICY ZONE. Beaten by the narrowest of margins when running on best of all in a similar event just four days earlier, Icy Zone was always handy. She quickened well going through halfway and after striking the front 300m from home, she comfortably accounted for the easy to back AIR POCKET by two.

Titbits

Having only her second outing here, the filly QUICK DELIVERY ran on nicely from midfield when a runner up to Riveret in the maiden event over 1200m.

Regularly supported FORT WILLOW raced detached at the rear before running on to take second in the boys division of the maiden 1200m.

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Joe’s Gone

Turffontein 17^th March: They raced on the inner track on Saturday where we saw a very easy victory in the opening maiden event over 1450m for the newcomer GO JOE GO (21). Freely available at 10/1 on the off, Brian Wiid’s charge raced in midfield during the early part of the race. He began to take closer order going down the strip and after striking the front 200m from home, he drew clear in good style to score by five.

Another to score very easily in the maiden ranks on this card was THE CLUB KING (35) when opening his account in the 2600m event. Taken straight to the front by Pierre Strydom, the son of Fan Club’s Mister led throughout. He stepped on the gas early in the short home straight and ran out a very easy winner by six.

A maiden event over 1600m was next up and in a race where just 2,6 lengths separated all eleven runners victory went to the favourite OLYMPIA BEIJING (22). After racing handy, Luchelle Kruger’s charge took up the running 200m out and just held on from the faster finishing KEVIN’S GOTCHA by a neck.

A MR92 Handicap over 1800m topped the bill and here we saw a smart performance from the 3yo WAGNER (64). The second of three winners on the card for Pierre Strydom, the son of Tiger Ridge raced close up in second for most of the journey. He was asked to take up the running as they approached the 400m marker and kept on strongly in the closing stages of the race to beat the improving TROUBLED WATERS by two and a quarter.

Titbits

THE OAKS was running on strongly from midfield when badly hampered and losing her position 250m from home in the MR72 Handicap over 1600m.

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All The Way

Kenilworth 17^th March: The easiest victory in Cape Town on Saturday was recorded by Albert Mooney in the opening maiden juvenile event over 1000m. Backed as if unbeatable at the track into 3/10 from 5/10, Justin Snaith’s charge led throughout. He began to assert his authority going through the 300m and only having to be pushed out with hands and heels, he went on to score very easily by four and a half.

Another to win particularly well on this card was HAMMIE’S BOY when registering his sixth career victory in the MR96 affair over 1600m. Soon at the head of affairs, the son of Kabool was always in command. He ran on strongly in the straight and went on to score unchallenged by four and a quarter.

Race seven on the card was a MR96 Handicap over 1200m and here we saw a nice performance from the talented 3yo DEPARDIEU. Confidently ridden by Karl Neisius, Dean Kannemeyer’s charge raced in touch with the leaders in sixth. He quickened well when asked for his effort 400m out and doing no more than was necessary he comfortably accounted for the Cape Merchants winner SHADES OF INDIGO by a length.

The final event on the card was a MR70 Handicap for the girls over 2000m and in a race where only three quarters of a length covered the first four victory here went to the 3yo HIJACKED. Guarding the rear as the thirteen runners swung for home, Hijacked ran on best of all and in what proved to be a real thriller he only got the verdict by the narrowest of margins over WINTER MIST who also finished very well.

Titbits

Heavily supported CAPTAIN’S LULLABY (4/1 into 15/10) ran on strongly from midfield when winning well in the maiden juvenile event over 1000m.

Running on from the rear, EDEN ROSE had to switch out for a run 150m from home and was only beaten three quarters of a length in the maiden event over 1600m.

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Top speedratings for this weekend include:-

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Top rated winners last week included

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Notebook:-

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FASTEST TIMES

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