Circular Tour

Flying The Flag

Vaal 23^rd September: They raced on the outside track on Monday where four of the afternoon’s eight races were run over 1200m. The fastest of these was the MR77 Handicap won by the 6yo VETO. The field was always tightly grouped and going through the 400m just three lengths covered all seven. Both DON VITO and SAN LIMITES challenged strongly at the business end of the race and in a thrilling three way finish Brett Webber’s charge only got the verdict by a short head.

A workrider’s maiden event over 1200m had gotten proceedings underway and in what proved to be a very slowly run race we saw a smart performance from the friendless newcomer JENNY GREEN. Allowed to drift right out to 36/1 from 14’s at the track, the 3yo daughter of Miesque’s Approval lost two lengths at the start and very quickly found herself many lengths adrift of the leaders in the rear. Once realising what was expected of her though she quickened well and comfortably accounted for the heavily supported CLASSIC TRAVELLER (another newcomer) by a length and a half going away.

Run in a time some two seconds quicker was the maiden plate for professional riders and here we saw a comfortable victory for the 18/10 favourite CAMPBELL BLACK. Always handy, Corne Spies’ charge took up the running approaching the 100m pole and won going away by two.

A MR94 Handicap over 1400m topped the bill and here a bit of an upset was to be had when FLAG OF FRANCE registered his third career victory. Adopting similar tactics to those of Campbell Black, Flag Of France also struck the front 100m out after racing handy and won with authority by a length and a half.

Titbits

ATOMIC RUSH and REBEL FLAME (baulked 400m) both ran on well from midfield when 1^st & 2^nd respectively in the maiden plate over 1600m.

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Veteran Settlers

Durbanville 23^rd September: This was the meeting originally scheduled to take place on Saturday 21^st September.

The best bet on the card for many in the soft going at the country course on Monday was DAVYANA in the maiden 2000m and she didn’t let down her supporters. Sent off a strong favourite at 18/10, the daughter of Ashaawes was soon up handy. She was ridden to lead going through the 400m and comfortably accounted for the easy to back GYPSY TINKER by two.

Race four on the card was a novice place over 1000m and here we saw an impressive performance from ZAMBEZI TORRENT. Racing over a trip which is sure to prove short of his best in this his seasonal reappearance, The son of Captain Al was not surprisingly in the rear as they came off the bend. He cut through the field like a knife in the straight though, and with a ton in hand he easily accounted for the only female in the race MARIA’S DAUGHTER by a length and a quarter.

The listed Settlers Trophy over 2400m topped the bill and first past the post here was the veteran POSH BOY. On leaving the stalls it was NYSEAN BOLT who elected to make the running whilst the 8yo Manshood gelding raced close up in third. Nysean Bolt found extra when Posh Boy moved through to take up the running 250m out and after a thrilling tussle below the distance it was only by a neck that the old man (in terms of racing) got the verdict.

Titbits

DYNASTY’S SECRET ran on well from the rear when only beaten a neck in the thirteen runner MR84 Handicap over 1400m.

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The Wheel Turns

Clairwood 24^th September: The biggest winning margin at the garden course on Tuesday was the 2,5 lengths recorded by EXCUSE MY FRENCH in the MR82 Handicap over 1450m. Winning for the first time since Apr ’11 here, the 6yo son of Jallad raced seventh of the ten for the first half of the journey. Once in the long home straight though he quickened well and won going away after striking the front 100m from home.

Another to win well from off the pace on this card was ROC ‘N ROSE when opening her account in the maiden 1450m. Not the quickest into stride, Duncan Howells’ charge could be found guarding the rear as the fourteen runners turned for home. She cut through the field like a knife over the final 400m and with the rest well beaten she got up late to deny the strongly fancied RESOLUTION.

The faster of the two 1200m events was the graduation plate won by the lightly raced 3yo ETERNAL JET. Allowed to drift right out to 9/2 from 22/10 at the track, the son of Jet Master lost a length at the start, but despite that was soon up handy. The 5yo HARD ROCK was the first to make a move and struck the front going through the 300m. In what was always a very tightly bunched field though Eternal Jet and MIDNIGHT RUN soon moved up to challenge and in a thrilling three way finish it was only by the narrowest of margins that Dennis Drier’s charge got the verdict.

Titbits

Running on strongly after losing a length at the start, PERFECT CIRCLE was gaining rapidly at the finish and only failed to get to the winner by neck.

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Powerful King

Durbanville 25^th September: With a penetrometer reading of 27 the ground was officially slightly softer than it had been at Monday’s meeting.

Five of the eight races were run over 1600m and the fastest of these was the bill topping MR91 Handicap won by MAN FROM JAPAN. On leaving the stalls it was the well supported SHEPHERDS PURSE who elected to make the running whilst Bill Prestage’s charge raced in the rear. SUSSEX SONG was the first to make a move in the straight and on striking the front 300m out the son of Doowaley looked to have done everything right. Man From Japan quickened best of all in the closing stages of the race though and with the rest some three lengths adrift he got up late to win by three quarters.

Also worthy of note in handicap company over 1600m was the performance of the lightly raced POWER KING in the MR73 affair. Confidently ridden by Grant Behr, the 3yo son of Silvano came from midfield. He flew past the steadily improving ROBERTSON 170m from home and won going away with some in hand. Power King has been impressive in winning both of his two career starts and is clearly one to follow.

The final event on the card was a maiden plate over 1600m and here we saw a smart performance from the stable companion to Power King, SEVEN FOUNTAINS. Sent off a well supported second favourite at 5/2, Dean Kannemeyer’s charge was always handy. He moved through to take up the running as they approached the 100m marker and drew clear easily late to beat the favourite COCONUT MAN (led 150m) by two.

Titbits

The newcomer CAPEL TOP ran on strongly from off the pace when runner up in the boy’s division of the maiden 1200m.

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Fastest Secret

Vaal 26^th September: Thursday’s action took place on the sand where the fastest of the four 1450m events on the eight race program, a MR80 Handicap, was won by SECRET MOGOK. Allowed to ease out to 28/10 from 19/10 the second favourite was soon positioned close to the speed. She took up the running going through the 300m and with the rest left trailing in their wake she comfortably accounted for the third favourite MAGIC APPROACH by a length and a quarter.

The easiest victory on the card was recorded by KALAMATA BABY when opening his account in the maiden 1450m. Adopting similar tactics to those used by Secret Mogok, the son of Stagelight asserted his authority passing the 500m pole and drew clear easily in the closing stages of the race to score by five and three quarters.

The faster of the two 1000m races on the card was the MR68 Handicap won by the 5yo JUMBO. Allowed to drift right out to 7/1 from 7/2 at the track as support in the main came for the recent maiden winner ROYAL ROY (6/1 into 6/2), Jumbo was soon in touch with the leaders. The 8yo mare FIGURINE struck the front at the 400m marker and running on strongly from there onwards she had the rest well beaten. Jumbo steadily reeled her in late on though, and in what proved to be a real thriller he got up late to score by a neck.

Titbits

VELDDRIFTER made all when comfortably accounting for KING SCOTT in the MR68 Handicap over 1450m.

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Top speedratings for this weekend include:-

Top rated winners last week included

Notebook:-

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