Better Weekend

Still Heavy

Kenilworth 29^th August: The going was still heavy in Cape Town on Wednesday where victory in the opening maiden event over 1200m went to the most experienced runner in the field, ALBERT’S CHOICE. Freely available at 12/1 on the off, Piet Steyn’s charge led throughout. She was very quickly four lengths clear and although BABEZEKA did make good headway in the closing stages of the race, she still had a length and a quarter to spare at the wire.

The only favourite to oblige on the eight race program was MALTESE FALCON who did the business in the maiden event over 1600m. Allowed to ease out to 3/1 from 5/2 at the track, the son of National Emblem was always handy. The second favourite SHEPHERDS PURSE was the first to make a move and he did look to have done everything right on striking the front 400m out. Maltese Falcon steadily wore him down in the latter stages though and in what proved to be a real thriller he got the verdict by a neck.

A MR92 Handicap over 1600m topped the bill and here followers of the money were on the mark when the Glen Puller trained TAKEYOUROATH registered her third career victory. Backed throughout the afternoon into 9/1 from 20’s, Takeyouroath raced in midfield for most of the journey. Once in the short home straight though he quickened in good style and after striking the front approaching the 100m marker he easily drew clear.

Race seven on the card was a MR77 Handicap over 1200m and in a thrilling three way finish victory here went to the 3yo JUST B BRAVE. Taken straight to the front by Robert Khathi the son of Windrush led throughout. He kept on strongly over the final 400m and held off both TALENT SCOUT and HARRY HALL to win fair and square.

Titbits

CIGAR BOY ran on well late when coming from the rear to take fourth position in the MR74 Handicap over 1600m.

Runner up PASADERA was continually baulked for a run over the final 300m when only beaten a length in the MR74 Handicap over 1600m. Fifth placed RIVER TIGRIS also caught the eye when running on strongly from the rear to take fifth position in this race.

.

All The Way

Vaal 30^th August: Thursday’s action took place on the turf where victory in the opening maiden event for 3yo’s over 1000m went to the deposed favourite OUR DIVA. Allowed to drift right out to 22/10 second favourite from 15/20 at the track as money came in buckets for the newcomer NEON TIGER, Our Diva was soon at the head of affairs. She kept up a healthy gallop throughout and went on to score comfortably by two and a half. The money horse stayed on to finish third.

The afternoon’s feature event was next up (a MR90 Handicap over 1600m) and here it was nice to see the 6yo SPITFIRE RUN register his fifth career victory. He got away well when the gates opened and soon up handy raced prominent throughout. He was ridden to lead going through the 500m and kept on strongly in the latter stages of the race to fend off the well supported favourite GLORIOUS JET (11/10 into 7/10).

Another 6yo to win well on this card was BLUE NILE in the MR88 Handicap over 1000m. Nibbled at late on to go off at 9/1 (op 12/1), Blue Nile lost a length at the start, but despite that he made virtually all. He was three lengths clear going through the 400m and didn’t relinquish an inch of his advantage on the run to the line.

Race seven on the card was a MR86 Handicap over 1200m and here we saw a nice performance from the improving JOANIE GEE. Content to sit in midfield during the early part of the race, Brian Wiid’s charge made her move as they approached the 400m marker. She ran on best of all in the closing stages of the race and comfortably accounted for the well exposed LADY BEATRIX by a length and a quarter.

Titbits

Unable to get within 6,5 lengths of a winner in his previous six starts, the well supported BARON ZEMO (12/1 into 7/1) Challenged strongly when finishing runner up in the maiden 1400m won by Sugar And Shake, and had the remainder a minimum of 5,5 lengths behind him.

.

Show Time

Fairview 31^st August: The locals got off to a nice start in Port Elizabeth on Friday when FLASHING STAR did the business in the opening maiden event over 1200m. Backed into 15/10 favourite from 5/2 at the track, Alan Greeff’s charge was prominent throughout. She ran on strongly at the business end of the race and in what turned out to be a real thriller she only got the verdict by a short head over both WITH PASSION and SCENTED ASH. With Passion came from the rear and was finishing best of all.

A maiden event over 1400m was next up and here we saw a very comfortable victory for the aptly named SHOW TIME. Freely available at 25/1 on the off, Stephen Van Rensburg’s charge was drawn very wide and as a result she very quickly found herself positioned in the rear. Once given rein though she quickly made her way through the field and won well after striking the front 300m from home.

Race four on the card was a Conditions Stakes over 2700m and here we saw a smart performance from the Tara Laing trained DRILL SARGEANT. Allowed to ease out to 7/2 from 5/2 at the track although still retaining his position at the top of the boards, the son of Dynasty was soon in touch with the leaders. He was asked to take up the running going through the 400m and won very comfortably by three and a quarter with plenty in hand.

The afternoon’s feature event was a MR104 Handicap over 1200m and here the improving RUSSIAN MIG completed a quick double. A winner over 1400m at this circuit last time out, Hekkie Strydom’s charge raced in midfield during the early part of the race. He began to take closer order passing halfway and comfortably accounted for the useful ICEMBERG.

Titbits

Runner up DAFFODIL DAY finished best of all after finding traffic problems in the MR70 Handicap over 1200m and was only beaten by a neck.

.

Easy For Meissa

Turffontein 1^st September: A workrider’s maiden event over 2200m got proceedings underway at the inner track on Saturday and in a race where most had had many chances victory here went to the most experienced runner in the field MER DE MIESQUE. Confidently ridden by the very able Jackson Feni, Mer De Miesque raced fourth in what soon became a very strung out field. She quickened well in the short home straight and after striking the front 250m from home she cruised clear to score by six and a half.

Another to win well in the maiden ranks on this card was FRANCOIS BERNARDUS in the maiden 1200m. Thought good enough to contest the SA Nursery in his latest start, the son of Goldkeeper was soon up handy. He was ridden to lead as they approached the 300m marker and easily accounted for the fancied NIGHT EMBERS by three and a half.

The best bet on the card for most was the highly regarded MEISSA in the MR85 Handicap over 1450m and he didn’t let down his supporters. Confidently ridden by Robbie Fradd, the son of Jallad sat in midfield for most of the journey. He was visibly cruising as they came off the strip and after cutting through the field like a knife early in the straight, he went on to score with some in hand by four.

The lucky last was a MR64 Handicap over 1800m and here the locals were sent home happy when the well supported favourite SENORITA CASEY did the business. Another to have contested a feature event last time out, Joey Soma’s charge raced close up in sixth for most of the journey. She quickened well at the top of the short home straight and drew clear with ease after striking the front 250m out to score by five and a half.

Titbits

Lightly raced HERE COMES BILLY ran out a comfortable winner of the maiden 1600m.

.

Top speedratings for this weekend include:-

Top rated winners last week included

Notebook:-

FASTEST TIMES