Busy Weekend

Unexpected Surprise

Flamingo Park 18^th November: Surprisingly the faster of the two 2200m races in the Northern Cape on Monday was the maiden event in which the well tried SUPER GROOVE got off the mark. Pitched in against what looked to be a rather moderate bunch, Corrie Lensley’s charge was taken straight to the front and led throughout. He was always in command and won without any anxious moments by five and a quarter.

Another to win with authority was SILLY MID-ON in the MR78 Handicap over 1600m. The son of London News got away well when the gates opened and was soon up handy. He was ridden to lead at the top of the home straight and won well by four and a quarter.

The afternoon’s feature event was a pinnacle stakes over 1200m and here a bit of an upset was to be had when the aptly named SUDDEN SURPRISE registered his seventh career victory. On leaving the stalls it was the more fancied WOZA FRIDAY who elected to make the running whilst the Kahal gelding raced close up in second. The two leaders ran on strongly over the final 400m and with the rest a minimum of six lengths adrift Sudden Surprise got up late to score by a neck.

Titbits

The hat-trick seeking Hlamba came from the rear when winning the MR68 Handicap going away by three and a quarter.

Racing for the first time at the circuit since relocating from the Eastern Cape, WOLF’S GIRL won the MR68 Handicap over 1000m in good style going away.

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Bullseye

Scottsville 19^th November: The Mike De Kock trained newcomer DUBAI DANCING was all the rage to win the second division of the girls’ maiden 1200m and she didn’t let down her supporters. She broke well when the gates opened and soon up handy raced prominent throughout. She ran on well at the business end of the race and despite being clearly green she comfortably got the better of the luckless CHAMPAGNE SHOWERS by a half.

The best bet on the card for most was MASTER ARCHER in the maiden 1400m and he too did the business. Soon up handy the son of Jet Master only had to be ridden with hands and heels over the final 400m and won very well by three from the running on GEMINI GOLD.

In terms of distance the easiest winner on the nine race program was SUPERCEDE in the novice 1600m. The second winner on the card for Anton Marcus, the lightly raced daughter of Stronghold was always handy. She was ridden to lead as they approached the 300m marker and cruised clear in the closing stages of the race to beat the recent maiden winner POMFRET by five and a quarter.

Titbits

MALUTI ran on well from midfield when winning the MR83 Handicap over 1600m going away.

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Inspired Performance

Turffontein 19^th November: They raced on the old stand side track on Tuesday evening where the fastest of the four 1160m events on the eight race program was the MR90 Handicap won by CASA NOSTRA. Not the quickest into stride Alec Laird’s charge raced towards the backend of midfield during the early part of the race. She quickened well from halfway and comfortably accounted for the lightly raced TIP TOE after striking the front 250m from home.

Three of the evening’s events were run over 1400m and the fastest of these was the Graduation Plate won by BOLD INSPIRATION. Thought good enough to contest the prestigious Gr3 Graham Beck Stakes in just his second career outing in his latest start, the son of Horse Chestnut was always handy. He moved through to take up the running as they approached the 400m marker and kept on strongly in the closing stages of the race to beat ZANZIBAR MAN fair and square by three quarters.

A MR108 Handicap over 1400m topped the bill and in what comparatively proved to be a slowly run affair victory here went to the 5yo CAPTAIN HADDOCK. At the head of affairs from pillar to post, Ormond Ferraris’ charge kept on determinedly at the business end of the race and beat the well supported LINK MAN honestly by a length and a quarter.

Titbits

CITY TREASURER came from the rear when getting up in the very last stride to win the MR72 Handicap over 1160m.

Sean Tarry’s lightly raced 3yo RAINY DAY ran on well from midfield and won the MR74 Handicap over 1160m going away by two and a quarter.

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A Nice Pair

Kenilworth 20^th November: Surprisingly the fastest of the three 1200m races in Cape Town on Wednesday was the maiden event won by the newcomer SILICONE VALLEY. Supported throughout the day into 5/2 joint favourite from 10’s, Glen Puller’s charge was soon up handy. He was ridden to lead shortly after passing the 200m pole and drew clear in good style below the distance to score by two and three quarters.

A MR97 Handicap topped the bill and in what proved to be the fastest of the three 1600m events victory here went to Silicone Valley’s stable companion TAKEYOUROATH. Positioned towards the backend of midfield as the ten runners turned for home, the Mellifont mare ran on stoutly down the short home straight and in what proved to be a real thriller she got up in the very last stride to deny LADY KELPIE. Fifth placed LONDON THEATRE came from the rear and was only beaten by 0,65 of a length.

In terms of distance the easiest victory on the card was recorded by BLAZE OF NOON in the maiden 1600m. Sent off a strong favourite at 11/10, Justin Snaith’s charge was soon prominent. He moved through to take up the running as they approached the 200m marker and drew clear easily form there onwards to score by three and three quarters.

Titbits

VALDIVIA and DORIS DUKE both ran on well from off the pace when 1^st & 2^nd respectively in the MR88 Handicap over 1200m.

SATCHMO didn’t find the clearest of passages when running on from midfield to take fifth position (beaten two and a quarter) in the second division of the maiden 1200m.

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Simply Dashing

Vaal 21^st November: Following a severe electric storm in which 20mm of rain fell in twenty minutes the meeting on the inside track on Thursday had to be abandoned after the running of race five. That didn’t stop us from seeing an impressive performance from the newcomer DASHING SCARLET though. Deep in the red at 11/20 on the off, Mike De Kock’s charge raced close to the pace and was always doing it easily. Anthony Delpech had barely moved a muscle when she struck the front 400m out and with a ton in hand she went on to win easing down by two and three quarters.

Also worthy of note was the performance of CASTLE ROCK in the first baby race of the season a maiden juvenile plate over 800m. The rank outsider of the seven horse party CAPTAIN’S DIVA (25/1) elected to make the running and she soon had the field well strung out. Nicely positioned in third though, the daughter of Announce quickened well over the final 300m and with the remainder some four lengths adrift she got up late to score by a half.

Titbits

PAPA JOE ran on well from midfield when opening his account in the boys division of the maiden 1200m.

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Top speedratings for this weekend include:-

Top rated winners last week included

Notebook:-

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