Bursting With Speed

Punters Day

Scottsville 26^th February: There looked to be a few good things at Scottsville on Tuesday and unusually for this Pietermaritzburg circuit they all arrived. The first of these was IZORA in the opening maiden event over 1200m. Taken straight to the front by Anthony Delpech, the daughter of Western Winter led throughout. She was always in command and just has her starting price of 1/3 had suggested she won going away with plenty in hand.

Another to win easily at cramped odds was MY SANCTUARY in the juvenile plate over 1000m. She too made all and only having to be pushed out at the business end of the race she cruised in by three and three quarters.

In terms of distance the easiest victory on the card was recorded by GENUINE SILVER in the maiden 1600m. Always in the red, Glen Kotzen’s charge raced third for most of the journey. He took up the running at the top of the straight and kept up to his work all the way to the wire he came home lonely by eight and three quarters.

A MR94 Handicap over 1000m topped the bill and here the 3yo son of Mogok MR WHATEVER completed a smart hattrick. He got away well when the gates opened and soon at the head of affairs led throughout. He kept on strongly over the final 400m and although the ultra consistent KRACKERJACK ACE tried his best to make a race of it, he won comfortably by a length and a quarter.

Titbits

AL SAYAAF ran on well from midfield when winning the fastest of the three maiden events over 1600m going away.

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Improving Rand

Turffontein 26^th February: They raced on the old stand side track on Tuesday evening where victory in the faster of the two maiden juvenile events over 1160m for the girls went to the newcomer GREY AREA. Freely available at 15/2 on the off, Michael Azzie’s charge was always handy. She ran on strongly over the final 400m and in a race where only half a length covered the first four home, she only got the verdict by the narrowest of margins.

At the other end of the scale the easiest victory on the card was recorded by LUCKY GAMBLER in the maiden 2000m. Regularly supported during the course of her previous fifteen outings, the daughter of Silvano was content to amble along in the rear during the early part of the race. She made up the ground quickly when asked for her effort and in this her first outing for her new stable, she went on to win very easily by eight and a half.

Another to win very easily on this card was RAND CLUB in the maiden 1600m. Sent off a rather weak favourite at 33/10, the lightly raced son of Fan Club’s Mister raced in the back end of midfield for most of the journey. Once given rein though he quickened well down the long home straight and after striking the front 200m out he won going away by four and a quarter.

The evening’s feature event was a pinnacle stakes over 1800m and here victory went to the uneasy favourite ILHA BELA. Allowed to ease out to 2/1 from 14/10 at the track, Mike De Kock’s charge ran on from midfield. She struck the front going the 400m and at that stage it looked as if she would go on to score easily. STRAW MARKET was also running on stoutly at that point though and in what proved to be a real thriller it was only by the narrowest of margins that the favourite got the verdict.

Tibits

BAY OF BENGAL ran on well from off the pace when winning the MR78 Handicap over 1600m.

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In The Country

Durbanville 27^th February: Racing returned to the country course on Wednesday and as is often the case at this circuit there were some pretty unsavoury results. Indeed, the only favourite to oblige was BORDERED IN GREY in the maiden 2400m. Making his ninth racecourse appearance here, the 3yo son of Greys Inn raced fifth for most of the journey. He made his move early in the home straight and won very comfortably by two after striking the front 200m out.

Another to win well on this card was PRINCESS SALME in the MR72 Handicap over 1400m. Freely available at 20/1 on the off, Joey Ramsden’s charge raced ninth of the twelve early on. She quickened well at the top of the long home straight and won easing down after hitting the front close home.

The fastest of the three 1400m races on the card was the second division of the MR72 Handicap in which VICTORY CRUISE registered his second career victory. Freely available at 10/1on the off, the son of Victory Moon was always handy. LEISURE JET made the first move and struck the front going through 300m. He ran on strongly from there onwards and it was only in the very last stride that Victory Cruise got his whiskers in front.

The not so lucky last was a maiden event over 1600m and here victory went to the 10/1 shot DIZZY FEET. She broke well from her gate nine draw and soon up handy raced prominent throughout. She moved up to dispute matters with the well supported favourite QUEEN OF DIAMONDS (7/2 into 2/1) 300m out and with the rest well beaten she got the upper hand by three quarters.

Titbits

Lightly raced WALTON HEATH showed big improvement when getting up late to win the maiden 1400m.

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Easy For Pylon

Vaal 28^th February:

They raced on the sand on Thursday where victory in the opening maiden event over 1000m went to the uneasy favourite VAN LOVEREN. Allowed to ease right out to 2/1 from 13/10 at track, the lightly raced daughter of Var was soon positioned close to the speed. She was asked to take up the running as they approached the 300m pole and drew clear easily in the closing stages of the race to score by four and a half.

There were a number of easy victories on the nine race program, but none more so than that of the Fort Wood gelding PYLON. Sent off a strong favourite at 11/10, Pylon as per usual, was soon up handy. He was ridden to lead going through the 600m and cruised in by eight despite being eased down late.

Four of the nine races were run over 1200m and the fastest of these was the bill topping non-black type Autumn Sand Sprint in which the 6yo CALANISH registered his eighth career victory. On leaving the stalls it was the rank outsider of the party DANZIG’S ODDS who elected to make the running whilst Stuart Pettigrew’s charge (drawn 11) sat in midfield. Calanish quickened by far the best when the race began in earnest and won going away by four and a quarter after striking the front 200m from home.

Titbits

Ridden out after hitting the front 500m from home, the poorly drawn HUNTER VALLEY opened his account by five in the maiden 1800m.

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Top speedratings for this weekend include:-

Top rated winners last week included

Notebook:-

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