Only The Best

Moving Forward

Scottsville 3^rd September: The faster of the two 1000m maiden events in Pietermaritzburg on Monday was that in which the uneasy favourite TRIX OF THE TRADE opened her account. Ridden by Anton Marcus, the daughter of Lion Tamer led throughout. She was always clear and won without any anxious moments by four.

The easiest victory in the maiden ranks was undoubtedly that of ROY ROYALE who came home smoking in the 1400m affair. Sent off a well supported second favourite at 5/2, Kom Naidoo’s charge also made all. He led by just a length and a half for most of the journey, but once given rein he easily drew clear and came home lonely by seven.

Also worthy of note in the maiden ranks on this card was the performance of GLENSHEE in the 1200m event. Soon up handy despite being a little slow into stride, the Tiger Ridge filly was already at the head of affairs 500m out. She quickly went clear and although the well supported outsider CAYENNE tried her best to make a race of it, she went on to score very comfortably by two and three quarters.

The final event on the card was a MR74 Handicap over 1200m and in a time slower than that of Glenshee victory here went to the 4yo Jallad gelding ALDRIC. Prominent throughout, Aldric was ridden to lead shortly after passing the 400m marker and just had enough in hand to beat the running on SADHU by a neck.

Titbits

CARIBBEAN DAY ran on strongly from midfield and was gaining at the finish when only beaten half a length in the MR73 affair over 1600m.

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Smart Maidens

Kenilworth 4^th September: There were some smart performances in the heavy going in Cape Town on Wednesday and none more so than that of LEGISLATE in the final event on the card, a maiden plate over 1600m. Initially priced up as the favourite (3/1 out to 4/1), Justin Snaith’s charge was soon up handy. He was ridden to lead as they approached the 200m pole and won with plenty in hand by three.

The first division of the maiden 1200m had opened up proceedings and here we saw a nice performance from the lightly raced son of Dynasty, DYNASTIC POWER. The focus of some solid outside support, Stan Elley’s charge quickened well from midfield and beat the best bet on the card for many HEADSTRONG HARRY by two and three quarters. Recently gelded, Headstrong Harry also finished very well from off the pace. 

Another to win very well in the maiden ranks on this card was EMPEROR’S FOREST in the second division of the maiden 1200m. Positioned in midfield at halfway, the son of Count Dubois ran on best of all at the business end of the race and showing a nice turn of foot he got up late to deny another Stan Elley trained runner CAPTAIN REI.

A MR94 Handicap over 1400m topped the bill and here we saw a comfortable victory for the 6yo SWEET ARIA. Confidently ridden by Glen Hatt, Brett Crawford’s charge raced in midfield early on. She quickened well at the top of the short old course straight and won well by two after striking the front 100m out.

Titbits

BONIFACE ran on well from off the pace and was gaining at the finish when only beaten half a length in the MR77 Handicap over 1400m.

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8 From 9 On Sand

Vaal 5^th September: Thursday’s action took place on the sand where as expected victory in the bill topping conditions plate over 1800m went to the talented PYLON. As per usual well away, the son of Fort Wood made virtually all. He began to assert his authority after seeing off his only serious rival in the betting market (JET JAMBOREE) 600m out, and went on to score very easily by six and a half with some in hand. A winner of 9 of his twenty career starts, Pylon has now won 8 from 9 on sand.

Even easier a winner, in terms of distance, was THE ANGELUS in what proved to be the fastest of the three 1450m events on the card, a MR68 Handicap. Nibbled at on course into 25/2 from 18/1, Dominic Zaki’s charge was soon up handy. She was ridden to lead shortly after passing the 400m marker and drew clear easily from there onwards to score by seven and three quarters.

Another to win with lengths to spare was COUNTESS BACARDI in the MR64 affair over 1200m. Usually one to run on stoutly from off the pace, the Countess Dubois mare adopted a change of tactics in the experienced hands of Robbie Fradd and raced close up in sixth. She moved through to take up the running at the 300m marker and won well by five and a quarter.

Finding good outside support to win the maiden 1000m was the lightly raced MARTIN. Backed

into 14/1 from 22’s in this only his second career outing, Paul Peter’s charge was soon prominent. He was ridden to lead as they approached the 200m pole and found extra late when challenged by the regular place getter SALUTE THE SUN.

Titbits

DEFENDER OF PEACE came from the rear when only beaten three quarters of a length in the MR68 Handicap over 1200m.

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Outgunned

Arlington 6^th September: The non-black type Founders Trophy topped the bill in Port Elizabeth on Friday and in what proved to be the faster of the two 1600m events on the card victory went to the former Gauteng campaigner TWO GUN KID. Now a winner of three from five since relocating to the province, the 5yo son of Toreador was always in touch with the leaders. He took up the running going through the 300m and after a thrilling tussle with CELTIC FIRE below the distance he held on to score by a neck.

Three of the nine races were run over 1400m and the fastest of these was the MR91 Handicap won by SCENTED ASH. Taken straight to the front by Musi Yeni the daughter of Ashaawes set a brisk pace and very quickly had the field well strung out. Indeed, other than the second placed runner (4 lengths) she had the field a minimum of eight lengths behind her turning for home. She kept on strongly all the way to the wire and although the well supported 19/10 favourite DAFFODIL DAY was gaining quickly, she won with a half length to spare.

Albeit just a length and a half, the biggest winning margin on the card was recorded by RANSOM OF CHOICE when landing the progress event of 1300m. On leaving the stalls it was ASPEN TREE who elected to make the running whilst Tara Laing’s charge raced close up fifth. He took up the running shortly after passing the 100m pole and won going away from the much more fancied PROTEST SONG.

Titbits

PAX AFRICANA ran on well from the rear when only failing by the narrowest of margins to open her account in the girl’s division of the maiden 1000m.

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Top speedratings for this weekend include:-

Top rated winners last week included

Notebook:-

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