Back In Form

Causing A Storm

Scottsville 6^th December: There was a bit of an upset in the opening maiden event over 1200m in Natal on Tuesday when the easy to back LUNATEX (25) opened her account. Allowed to ease out to 12/1 from 7’s at the track, Craig Eudey’s charge wasn’t the quickest into stride, but despite that, she was soon up handy. She was ridden to lead shortly after passing the 200m marker and kept on strongly in the closing stages of the race to beat another unfancied runner in ISLAND MISCHIEF by a length. Island Mischief had raced in the rear and finished well.

Jockey Musi Yeni lost his whip at the start of the maiden event over 1400m and taking that into account he did well to score aboard the 17/2 shot GOVERNOR GENERAL (37). Soon at the head of affairs, the son of Strike Smartly led throughout. The 5/2 favourite MIGHTY OAK threw down a determined challenge over the final 200m, but voluntarily finding extra he held on gamely to score by a neck.

There were a number of very easy victories on the card and none more so than that of FLAVIO (33) when registering his fourth career victory in the MR70 affair over 1600m. A little slow into stride, Des Egdes’ charge was positioned in the rear as the twelve runners turned for home. Clearly relishing the soft underfoot conditions though, Flavio quickened by far the best in the straight and after striking the front 200m out, he drew clear easily to score by four and a half.

The only favourite on the card to arrive was STORM VANIDOSO (33) who did the business in the MR86 Handicap over 1000m. He got away well when the gates opened and in what was a tightly bunched field for most of the journey he shared the lead with the well supported JAGERBOMB (9/2 into 33/10). He began to assert his authority going through the 300m and although the money horse did have the rest well beaten, he went on to score with some in hand by two.

Titbits

MYSTIC ROSE made all in the maiden event over 1200m and despite her apprentice rider dropping his whip 200m from home, she cruised in by four.

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Royal Performance

Turffontein 6^th December: They raced on the old stand side track on Tuesday evening where victory in the opening maiden juvenile event over 1000m went to the heavily supported favourite GRECIAN FRIGATE (18). Backed throughout the day into 9/20 from 12/10, Joey Soma’s charge broke well when the gates opened and was always up with the speed. She kept on strongly over the final 400m and although the nibbled at BALUGA (7/1 into 6/1) was finishing the stronger, she held on to win by a neck. Other than the third horse BANCHORY who was beaten a length and a half, the remainder were some fifteen lengths adrift.

The best bet on the card always looked to be ROYAL RIDGE (48) in the maiden event over 1160m and he couldn’t have won more easily. A son of Tiger Ridge, Royal Ridge raced close up in second early on. He took up the running going through the 600m and with Anton Marcus barely having to move a muscle, he cruised clear on the run to the line to score by twelve.

The biggest upset on the card was recorded by LEGAL ACTION (44) in the novice 1000m. Freely available at 12/1 on the off, the son of Second Empire was soon up handy. He was ridden to lead shortly after passing the 400m marker and kept on strongly in the latter stages of the race to beat the running on MINING PROSPECT by a length and a quarter.

A MR92 Handicap over 2000m topped the bill and in what proved to be a very tactical affair victory here went to the ultra consistent son of Wolfhound MASAI WARRIOR (67). On leaving the stalls it was the recent runaway winner ECHOHAWK who set the pace and a brisk one it was too. Indeed, in quickly getting the field well strung out, he went a little too fast and once in the straight, he faded into oblivion. Masai Warrior meanwhile had been nicely positioned in third and on taking up the running 450m out, he very quickly found himself in command of a useful lead. He kept on strongly on the run to the line and had he not been eased down late, he would have won more easily than the official winning margin of two and a half lengths will reflect.

Titbits

Positioned in midfield after losing two lengths at the start, ZAP THE STARS ran on strongly in the closing stages of the maiden event over 1600m and was only beaten a length and a quarter by the well supported second favourite Prince Igor (4/1 into 28/10).

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No Favs

Kenilworth 7^th December: The locals got off to a rough start in Cape Town on Wednesday when the totally unfancied ALBERT’S MOMENT got off the mark in the opening maiden event over 1200m. Freely available at 66/1 on the off, Izak Cronje’s charge got away well when the gates opened and was soon up handy. She was ridden to lead going through the 300m and went on to score comfortably from another unfancied runner in OPT FOR OPERA (50/1).

On a day when no market leaders found the winner’s enclosure another major upset was to be had in the graduation event over 2000m when SATIN SILVER landed the spoils. Priced up as the rank outsider of the eight horse party at 22/1, Mike Bass’ charge was content to sit in the rear for most of the journey. Once in the long new course straight though, she quickened best of all and in a thrilling three way finish she got up in the very last stride to deny RESPECTABLE LADY.

The afternoon’s feature event was a MR78 Handicap over 2000m and here victory went to the 3yo PUNTA ARENAS. Allowed to ease out to 11/2 from 4/1 at the track, Stan Elley’s charge was always handy in what was a tightly bunched field. He made his move going through the 300m and in another race where less than a length separated the first three home, he just got the better of the more fancied GIN AND TONIC by a neck.

Also worthy of note on this card was the performance of XERXES in winning the MR72 Handicap over 1600m. Freely available at 9/1 on the off, the son of Muhtafal sat in the rear during the early part of the race. He steadily made headway all the way down the straight and under a well judged ride from Brandon Morganrood he got up late to deny the front running STUNNING TIGER.

Titbits

After racing in the rear, lightly raced RIVATORIO ran on well at the business end of the MR76 affair over 1000m and gaining at the finish was only beaten a neck by the pacemaker THERESE OF LISIEUX.

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Rough Stuff

Vaal 8^th December: With only one market leader finding the winner’s enclosure at Thursday’s turf meeting, it was another tough day for punters.

The one who did do the business was VALIANT BE (46) in the MR66 Handicap over 1400m. Sent off at 4/1 in what looked to be a very competitive field, Dominic Zaki’s charge led throughout. He kept on strongly at the business end of the race and just had enough in hand to hold off the faster finishing AL FELON by a neck.

There was another very tight finish in the qualified maiden handicap over 1000m where VIVA LA FRANCE (22) landed the spoils. Nibbled at on course into 9/2 from 6’s, the son of Grey Eminence was soon up handy. He ran on strongly over the final 300m and no doubt aided by IN TO BEEP shifting around across the track in the closing stages of the race, he got up to beat that one in the very last stride.

The biggest of a number of upsets on the card was recorded by NASEEM (27) in the MR60 Handicap over 1400m. Unable to get within eleven lengths of a winner in her last four outings, the 40/1 shot Naseem raced in midfield for most of the trip. In a tightly bunched field she got to the front quickly when asked for her effort though and despite her rider losing his whip 200m out, she comfortably accounted for SPERO MELLIORA going away.

The not so lucky last was a MR62 affair over 1000m and here victory went to the 20/1 shot PRINCESS RUE (31). Soon at the head of affairs, Kom Naidoo’s charge led throughout. She quickened nicely going through the 400m and went on to score very easily by four and a quarter.

Titbits

RODEO DANDY ran on strongly over the final 400m of the MR66 Handicap over 1000m and won going away by two and a quarter.

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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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