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Just The Two

Arlington 9^th August: The going was heavy in Port Elizabeth on Friday and following a protest by the jockey’s after the running of race two the meeting was abandoned because of the inconsistent track condition and poor visibility.

The opener was a maiden plate over 1000m and clearly unphased by the conditions the easy to back MONEY NEVER SLEEPS scored a comfortable victory. He got away well when the gates opened and soon up handy raced prominent throughout. He was ridden to lead as they approached the 200m marker and won well by a length and a quarter.

A maiden plate over 2000m proved to be the last race on the card and having recently relocated from Cape Town where he had been accustomed to racing in similar conditions it was no surprise to see BARREL ‘N BUTT open his account. Racing much closer to the pace than in his most recent outings, Mike Bass’ charge was always well positioned to strike. He did so going through the 300m and drew clear easily in the closing stages of the race to beat ASPEN TREE by four and a quarter.

Titbits

Having only his second career outing here, VARZEE had the rest well beaten when running on from midfield to take second in the maiden 1000m.

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Very Smart Double

Turffontein 10^th August: They raced on the old stand side track on Saturday where we saw a very smart performance in the novice 1400m from the Mike De Kock trained CAPRICORN RIDGE. A fluent winner of his only previous racecourse appearance, the son of Tiger Ridge led throughout. He was always in command and only having to be pushed out at the business end of the race  he easily accounted for the all out MAGIC’S MAGIC by a length and three quarters.

A maiden plate over 1400m was next up and here the stable of Mike De Kock produced another runner to follow in the newcomer SANTA CAROLINA. Backed throughout the day into 6/10 from 5/2, the daughter of Tiger Ridge wasn’t the quickest into stride, but despite that she was soon in touch with the leaders. She was asked to take up the running as they approached the 200m pole and although the deposed favourite WILD ASH (9/10 out to 3/1) tried her best to make a race of it (and did have the rest well beaten) she went on to score with authority by two and a half.

The afternoon’s feature event was a MR86 Handicap over 1160m and in what proved to be a real thriller victory here went to the Lucky Houdalakis trained VIVACIOUS STAR. Allowed to ease right out to 19/2 from 5/1 at the track, the Victory Moon mare raced at the back early on. Once given rein though she quickened best of all and in a race where only a neck separated the first three home, she got up in the very last stride to deny another promising De Kock trained youngster in SAINT ANGELIQUE.

There were three events run over 1160m in total and surprisingly the fastest of these was the MR68 Handicap (apprentice race) won by ANGEL GABRIEL. Freely available at 14/1 on the off, the unfancied son of Sarge led throughout. He kept on strongly over the final 400m and comfortably accounted for another easy to back runner in KING’S WILD by a length and a quarter.

Titbits

After losing two lengths at the start, COMIC BEAUTY ran on well from the rear and won the MR70 Handicap going away.

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Bowing Out In Style

Kenilworth 10^th August: Favourite backers got off to a good start in the soft conditions in Cape Town on Saturday when SIMONSBERG did the business in the opening workrider’s maiden event over 1000m.  Clearly the right one on form, the 8/10 shot was soon up handy. He was asked to take up the running by Sebenzile Tamela shortly after passing the 200m marker and comfortably accounted for TIGER’S WILD by a length and three quarters.

The bookmakers also had to dig deep into their satchels in the second, a maiden plate over 1400m, when the well supported favourite ARION came home smoking. Backed into 21/20 from 18/10, the son of Silvano sat sixth during the early part of the race. He quickened well at the top of the short old course straight and cruised clear to win by three and a half after striking the front 300m from home.

The Gr3 Champagne Stakes over 1200m topped the bill and here it was nice to see the very talented PRINCESS VICTORIA bow out in style. Supported into the red at the track, Glen Kotzen’s charge was always positioned close to the speed. She was ridden to lead approaching the 100m pole by the visibly excited Andrew Fortune (fined R1000 for saluting before the finish line) and went on to score very comfortably by a length and a quarter.

The supporting act was the non-black type Final Fling Stakes over 1800m and here victory went to the 6yo Galileo mare RAIN GAL. Usually one to run on stoutly from off the pace, Justin Snaith’s charge adopted a change of tactics here and raced from the front. She was two lengths clear coming off the bend and kept on strongly late to beat the running on IMPERIAL STATE. The runner up was hampered 150m out en route from the back end of midfield and can be considered a little unlucky.

Titbits

JET INBOMBI (baulked 300m) and SAINT SOPHIA both ran on well from midfield when 1^st & 2^nd respectively in the maiden 1600m.

At the back of the sixteen early on, TRIPPISSA ran on best of all in the MR74 Handicap over 1000m and gaining quickly at the finish only failed to get up by the narrowest of Margins.

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Top speedratings for this weekend include:-

Top rated winners last week included

Notebook:-

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