Armchair Ride

Lonely Winners

Flamingo Park 25^th March: A maiden plate over 1200m was first up in the Northern Cape on Monday and here we saw a very easy victory for the Cliffie Miller trained SARACENO. Initially priced up as a joint favourite at 4/1 (eased out to 11/2), the son of The Sheik was taken straight to the front by Francois Herholdt and led throughout. He soon had the field well strung out and won without any anxious moments by three.

There were three 1200m races on the card in total and the fastest of these was the MR80 Handicap in which TOBE’S LASS registered her fourth career victory. Another to do it all the hard way, Tobe’s Lass held just a slender lead during the first half of the race. Once given rein though she quickened away well and went on to score very easily by four and three quarters.

Another to win very well here was SAKKIE SAKKIE when opening her account in the maiden 1800m. Making her 33^rd appearance at a racecourse here, the Tiger Hunt mare was always in touch with the leaders. She made her move coming off the bend and drew clear easily to score by five after striking the front 350m out.

The easiest victory on the card though was undoubtedly that of AFRICAN GLADIATOR in the MR71 Handicap over 1800m. Usually one to make the running, Cliffie Miller’s charge only got into his favourite position 800m out. Once there though he quickly began to assert his authority and with nothing else running on, he cruised in by twelve and a quarter.

Titbits

LACONIC ran on well from the back end of midfield when winning the maiden 1600m.

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Shrewd Choice

Vaal 26^th March: They raced on the sand on Tuesday where the easiest victory on the eight race program was recorded by FLAG PARADE in the maiden 1600m. Running on from midfield Geoff Woodruff’s charge took up the running at the top of the straight and drew clear easily over the final 500m to score by seven.

Another to win very easily on this card was REBEL QUEEN when springing a surprise in the non-black type Nkosazana Stakes over 1450m. She got away well when the gates opened and soon up handy raced prominent throughout. She was ridden to lead shortly after FORMATION struck the front 400m out and cruised clear in the closing stages of the race to win by five.

Run in a faster time than that of Rebel Queen was the non-black type Riverside Handicap in which the Sean Tarry trained THE MOUSEKETEER registered his first win since landing the prestigious Emerald Cup over this course and distance way back in Sep ’11. Ridden by Fanie Chambers at the request of one of the owners Neil Andrews, The Mouseketeer was always handy. He moved through to take up the running 200m out and won comfortably by a length and a half.

The stable of Sean Tarry were also on the mark in the pinnacle stakes over 1000m when the best weighted runner in the race ACROSS THE ICE landed the spoils. Ridden by national jockey’s log leader Pierre Strydom (the replacement rider), Across The Ice was always positioned close to the speed. He quickened best of all at the business end of the race and won going away after striking the front 100m from home.

Titbits

PASSION PLEASER came from the rear when winning the maiden 1200m going away.

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Game Double

Kenilworth 27^th March: Racing in Cape Town on Wednesday got underway with a maiden juvenile event over 1000m and in a race where only a short head separated the first three home victory here went to the nibbled at newcomer KEEN ON MAGIC. Backed into 11/1 from 20’s, Darryl Hodgson’s charge sat in midfield during the early part of the race. He finished best of all and in what proved to be a real thriller he got up in the dying strides to deny the joint market leaders TOUR DE VAR and TIGER ISLAND.

The afternoon’s feature event was a MR96 Handicap over 1400m and here the combination of GAME OVER and apprentice Girish Goomany completed a double. Unlike last time out when making all, Eric Sands’ charge sat fourth here. He was ridden to lead as they approached the 200m pole and comfortably accounted for the running on PRESIDENT OF POP by a length and three quarters.

There were three 1400m races in total and the fastest of these was the MR78 Handicap won by the improving 3yo ASHTON PARK. On leaving the stalls it was his more fancied stable companion SUPERSONIC SAM who elected to make the running whilst the son of Battersea Park raced in midfield. SOUTH KENSINGTON returning from a 14 month break was the first to make a move and struck the front 250m out. Ashton Park was already on his heels at that stage though and finishing best of all he went on to win fair and square by a length.

There were also three 1200m races on the card and the fastest of these was the MR86 Handicap in which LIFES DESIGN registered her second victory. Another winner for apprentice Goomany, the daughter of Bezrin was soon up with the speed. She began to assert her authority going through the 200m and went on to score comfortably by a length and a quarter.

Titbits

Lightly raced FAIRYINTHEWOODS ran on very well from the rear when winning the maiden 1200m going away by a length and a quarter.

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Smart Start

Vaal 28^th March: Thursday’s action took place on the inside track where we saw a very comfortable victory in the opening maiden juvenile plate over 1200m for the form horse KINGS ROSE. Allowed to start at 7/2, Tyrone Zackey’s charge was soon up handy. She was ridden to lead as they approached the 200m marker and only having to be ridden with hands and heels she cruised in by three.

In terms of distance the easiest victory on the card was recorded by the newcomer VERCINGETORIX in the maiden 1400m. Sent off a rather uneasy favourite at 22/10 (op 13/10 and touched 3/1), Mike De Kock’s charge was always handy. The son of Silvano quickened well when given the nod and won with authority after taking up the running 400m out.

A MR89 Handicap topped the bill and in what proved marginally to be the fastest of the three 1700m events on the card victory here went to the 4yo DANCE ALLEY. Having only her second outing following a seven month break, St John Gray’s charge raced third. She ran on stoutly at the business end of the race and with the rest well beaten she got the better of the uneasy favourite MYSTIC TIGRESS by three quarters.

Titbits

BOLD FLASH was finishing best of all when running on from the rear to take second position in the MR72 Handicap over 1000m.

KINGSTON didn’t find the clearest of passages when flying up late to finish runner up in the MR72 Handicap over 1200m.

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