Change Of Scenary

Run Forest Run

Fairview 10^th February: The locals got off to a rough start in Port Elizabeth on Friday when the well tried SURFER BUZZ shed his maiden tag in the opening maiden event over 1800m. Allowed to ease right out to 14/1 from 8/1 at the track, Jacque Strydom’s charge raced in the rear for most of the journey. Once in the long home straight though, he quickened best of all and went on to score comfortably by two and a half.

The biggest upset on the card was undoubtedly the victory of BERMUDA PRINCE in the MR82 affair over 1000m. Priced up as the rank outsider of the nine horse party at 40/1, the 7yo son of Muhtafal led from pillar to post. He kept on strongly at the business end of the race and still had half a length to spare over the running on THE FORD at the wire.

The first of the afternoon’s two feature events to be run was the non-black type Sophomore Plate over 1400m and here we saw an impressive performance from the Mitch Wiese trained FOREST DIGGER. Backed into 7/2 from 6/1 at the track, the son of Classic Flag raced in the rear and didn’t find the clearest of passages when the race began in earnest. He quickened in eye catching fashion after being switched out for a run though and in what proved to be a real thriller he got up in the very last stride to deny the uneasy favourite SOWETO SLEW (14/10 out to 5/2).

The only favourite on the eight race program to oblige was CELTIC FIRE who did the business in the bill topping Fairview Mile. Sent off in the red at 8/10, Yvette Bremner’s charge was always in touch with the leaders. He was ridden to lead as they approached the 400m marker and although TIK TAK TOE chased hard in the closing stages of the race, he went on to score comfortably by a length and a quarter.

Titbits

Lightly raced LE SALLE (50/1) caught the eye running on strongly after not getting the clearest of runs when second in the maiden 1400m.

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Preparing A Plan

Kenilworth 11^th February: The Count Dubois filly Countess Rhynie was all the rage to win the opening maiden juvenile event over 1000m at Kenilworth on Saturday and she didn’t let down her supporters. Deep in the red at 1/4 on the off, Vaughan Marshall’s charge raced up with the speed throughout. She began to assert her authority going through the 300m and only having to be ridden hands and heels in the closing stages of the race, she easily accounted for the unfancied BREATH OF AUTUMN by three and three quarters.

Another to win comfortably in the maiden ranks on this card was BRONCO BUSTER when opening his account in the 1600m event. Sent off a strong favourite at 16/10, Joey Ramsden’s charge was soon up handy. He was ridden to lead shortly after passing the 200m marker and went on to score comfortably by two from the nibbled at second favourite ORATIUS (7/2 into 28/10).

LUNO had gone nineteen starts without finding the number one box prior to his victory in handicap company last time out and so it must have been very enjoyable for his connections to see him win again in the MR78 Handicap over 2500m. Always handy, the top weight made his move early in the home straight. He struck the front 350m out and found extra late to hold off a determined challenge from the 11/10 favourite SYLVIIDAE.

The afternoon’s feature event was a MR90 Handicap over 1600m and here we saw a smart performance from the most lightly raced runner in the field MASTER PLAN. Pitched in against some very useful older horses in this just his sixth career start, the 3yo son of Jet Master raced sixth for most of the journey. He quickened best of all in the straight and after striking the front 150m out he won going away by a length and a quarter.

Titbits

Newcomer INTIMATECONNECTION wasn’t given a hard ride when running on from the rear to take third place in the race won by Countess Rhynie.

PELICAN POINT battled to find a clear passage before running on late to finish fourth in the MR78 Handicap over 1200m.

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Workrider’s Day

Vaal 12^th February: They raced on the turf on Saturday where are all of the horses were partnered by workriders. Chamu Mabaya guided four of the eight winners home, the first of which was TIBOUCHINA (18) in the opening maiden event over 1200m. Soon up handy, the lightly raced daughter of Black Minnaloushe raced prominent throughout. She was ridden to lead shortly after passing the 200m marker and kept on strongly in the closing stages of the race to beat the heavily supported LONDOLOZA (6/1 into 33/10) by two and a quarter.

Sean Patterson also regularly finds the winners’ enclosure in workrider’s events and he was on the mark here with JAVA JUNKIE (17) in the maiden event over 1800m. Racing in the rear after being a little slow into stride, Geoff Woodruff’s charge looked to have plenty to do as they entered the long Vaal straight. Once given rein though the son of Modus Vivendi steadily worked his way through the field and in what proved to be a real thriller, he got up in the very last stride to deny the outsider MORTGAGE BOND.

The easiest victory on the card was recorded by REINE D’IVOIRE (33) in the MR67 Handicap over 1200m. Taken straight to the front by Chamu Mabaya, the Kahal filly led throughout. She quickened well 400m from home and extended what had been just a one length advantage to four before reaching the line.

The lucky last was a MR72 Handicap over 1400m and here the locals were sent home happy when the nibbled at favourite JET DOT COM (7/2 into 28/10) registered his sixth career victory. The second winner on the card for Abram Makhubo, Jet Dot Com raced in midfield during the early part of the race. He ran on strongly from halfway and after striking the front going through the 400m, he comfortably accounted for the running on AHOY CAPTAIN by a length and a half.

Titbits

After racing in the rear, RODEO DANDY was gaining quickly at the finish when a runner up in the MR80 Handicap over 1000m.

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Top speedratings for this weekend include:-

Top rated winners last week included

Notebook:-

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