Another Surprise?

Making News

Scottsville 19^th January: The listed Michael Roberts Handicap topped the bill in Pietermaritzburg on Sunday and in what proved to be the fastest of the three 1750m races on the card victory here went to one of the top weights ASTRO NEWS. Well supported throughout the day into 6/1 from 12’s, the 5yo son of Silvano was always in touch with the leaders. He ran on stoutly at the business end of the race and under a well judged ride from Anton Marcus he won going away after striking the front 100m out.

The faster of the two 1600m races was the MR87 Handicap won by BLOUBERG BEACH. On leaving the stalls it was PREAMBLE (not persevered with) who elected to make the running whilst Glen Kotzen’s charge raced close up in fifth. She was ridden to lead shortly after passing the 300m pole and comfortably accounted for the 3yo CAPTAIN’S DAUGHTER by a length and a quarter.

Also worthy of note on this card was the performance of the newcomer CASTELNOVA in winning the opening maiden event over 1200m. Soon up handy despite being a little slow into stride, the daughter of Judpot took up the running 75m from home and won going away by a length and a quarter.

Titbits

After being slow into stride, CHOIR MAIDEN ran on well from the backend of midfield when getting up late to win the conditions plate over 1000m.

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Going Clear With Ease

Clairwood 21^st January: The locals got off to a rough start at the garden course on Tuesday when the 50/1 short JOSIE’S GIRL won the opening maiden event over 1450m. Unable to get within 9,60 lengths of a winner in each of her two previous racecourse appearances, Michael Miller’s charge made all. She was shifting around like a drunkard for parts of the final 200m, but despite that she still won comfortably by a length and three quarters.

The first of just two favourites to arrive on the nine race program was CLIPPERTON ISLAND in the maiden 1600m. Always handy, the Fort Wood gelding was ridden to lead 200m out. He had the remainder some five lengths adrift, but he did have to give his all in the closing stages of the race to hold off the determined challenge of BERMUDA (led 400m, rallied gamely when headed).

The only other favourite to oblige was SERRURIA in the MR68 affair over 2000m. The best bet on the card for many, Mike De Kock’s charge was soon up handy. She moved through to take up the running shortly after passing the 200m marker and won going away by three and a quarter.

Titbits

CINCHONA (midfield) and AUCTION KING (in rear after losing two lengths at the start) both ran on well when 1^st & 2^nd respectively in the MR70 Handicap over 2000m.

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Much Travelled

Turffontein 21^st January: They raced on the old stand side track on Tuesday evening where the easiest victory on the card was recorded by MARY’S JET in the opening maiden event over 1000m. Always in the red (sent off at 17/20), the daughter of Toreador was soon up handy. She was ridden to lead going through the 200m and drew clear easily in the closing stages of the race to score by three and three quarters.

The faster of the two 1000m races on the card was the pinnacle stakes won by the much travelled MISS OCTOBER. Now with Geoff Woodruff, the 5yo Var mare raced fourth for most of the journey. The speedy pacemaker JADE BAY held a six lengths advantage over her passing the 400m pole. She did well to get up late.

The listed Swallow Stakes over 1160m topped the bill and in what proved to be a real thriller victory here went to last season’s Fillies Nursery winner (over the same course and distance) VIRGO’S BABE. Freely available at 12/1 on the off, David Nieuwenhuizen’s charge was positioned fourth (two lengths behind) when SAMBA SERENADE took up the running at the 500m marker. She ran on stoutly at the business end of the race and with the rest well beaten it was only in the very last stride that she got up.

Titbits

Poorly drawn WILHELMINA came from the rear and was finishing best of all when third beaten a length in the maiden 1400m.

Easily 8 lengths off the front running winner CHEKILLI (only did the necessary) going through the 400m, MERCADO fairly flew in the latter stages and was only beaten by a short head in the progress plate over 1160m.

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Supreme Effort

Kenilworth 22^nd January: The easiest victory in Cape Town on Wednesday was undoubtedly that of CAPTAIN REI in the maiden 1000m. Sent off a well supported joint favourite at 5/2, Stan Elley’s charge was soon positioned close to the speed. He was asked to take up the running going through the 300m and drew clear easily in the closing stages of the race to score by four and a quarter.

Another to win comfortably on this card was SURRUPTITIOUS in the MR72 Handicap over 1800m. Freely available at 11/1 at the off the top weight raced close up in second. He was ridden to lead as they approached the 200m pole and won without any anxious moments by a length and three quarters. Running on from the rear the runner up PHIRI E KWATILE was five lengths behind Surruptitious going through the 400m.

A MR78 Handicap over 2500m topped the moderate bill and here we saw a gutsy performance from the 5yo ROYAL PERFORMANCE. Taken straight to the front by apprentice Xavier Carstens, the Black Minnaloushe gelding was easily ten lengths clear at one stage of the race. He was still five clear entering the straight and all out at the finish he only held on by a short head from the running on COMBATTIMENTO.

Titbits

Positioned towards the rear turning for home SUPREME SUNSET had to switch out for a run at the 100m pole and showed a nice turn of foot when getting up late to win the MR67 Handicap over 1600m.

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Progressing Nicely

Vaal 23^rd January: Thursday’s action took place on the inside track where four of the afternoon’s nine races were run over 1200m. Not surprisingly the fastest of these was the bill topping MR92 Handicap won by the best bet on the card for Sporting Post DOLOMITI. Backed throughout the afternoon into 12/10 from 22/10, Sean Tarry’s charge was always in touch with the leaders. She quickened well when asked for her effort 400m out and comfortably accounted for the ultra consistent TZIGANE (now a runner up in five of her last six starts) by three quarters.

There were also four races over 1700m and the fastest of these was the MR68 Handicap won by the 3yo LAVENDER LANDSCAPE. Gavin Van Zyl’s charge broke well when the gates opened and soon up handy raced prominent throughout. He was ridden to lead going through the 200m and won well by two.

The easiest victory on the card was recorded by WEEKEND SPECIAL in the MR76 affair over 1200m. Soon a length and a half clear, Paul Matchett’s charge kept up a healthy gallop throughout and went on to score with authority by three and three quarters.

Titbits

OLIVE LEAF was always clear when opening her account at the first time of asking in the maiden 1000m.

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Top speedratings for this weekend include:-

Top rated winners last week included

Notebook:-

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