Down In Class

Outgunned

Vaal 2^nd February: A maiden plate over 1200m got proceedings underway on the inside track on Sunday and here we saw a comfortable victory for the Scot Kenny trained PATRONE. Freely available at 8/1 on the off, the daughter of Toreador was soon up handy. She was ridden to lead shortly after passing the 400m marker and kept on strongly in the closing stages of the race to beat the similarly priced ANNIA GALERIA by two.

There were three races run over 1200m in total and the fastest of these was the graduation plate won by TOMMY GUN. Allowed to drift right out to 4/1 from 18/10 joint favourite at the track, the Sail From Seattle gelding made all. He was always in command and won well by two and a quarter.

The faster of the two 1700m events on the card was the novice plate in which ZANZIBAR MAN registered his second career victory. He got away well when the gates opened and soon up handy raced prominent throughout. He was asked to take up the running as they approached the 400m pole and easily accounted for the nibbled at ROMAN EXPRESS (25/1 into 18/1) by three and three quarters.

A pinnacle stakes topped the bill and in what proved to be the faster of the two 2400m races victory here went to the 5yo BARACAH. On leaving the stalls it was the 20/1 shot WINNING LEAP who elected to make the running whilst Sean Tarry’s charge raced close up in third. He made his move going through the 500m and after striking the front 250m later he easily drew clear to score by three and three quarters.

Titbits

After losing three lengths at the start of the maiden 2400m TUSCON DREAM ran on well from the rear, and won going away by five and a half.

Lightly raced ZEPHIRA ran on well from midfield when winning the MR76 Handicap over 2000m with authority by three and a half.

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Workrider’s Day

Vaal 4^th February: They also raced on the inside track on Tuesday where all of the runners were ridden by workriders. There were a number of very easy victories on the afternoon, but none more so than that of GOOGLE IT in the opening maiden event over 2000m. Always handy, the uneasy 18/10 favourite (op even money) took up the running as they approached the 400m marker and cruised clear in the closing stages of the race to score by eight and a quarter.

Another to win by a steeplechase margin was the heavily supported SUPERTUBE in what proved to be the faster of the two 1700m events, a MR76 Handicap. Backed throughout the afternoon into 18/10 favourite from 7/2, Sean Tarry’s charge sat close up in second for most of the journey. He took command going through the 500m and won going away by six and a quarter.

Four of the afternoon’ nine races were run over 1400m and the fastest of these was the maiden event won by the costly to follow CLUB FLAG. Making his seventeenth racecourse appearance here the 3yo son of Fan Club’s Mister raced in midfield early on. He quickened well at the business end of the race and won comfortably from the lightly raced CREW by a length and three quarters.

Titbits

Easily twelve lengths off the pace going through the 600m the lightly raced WINDHOVER fairly flew in the latter stages of the third division of the maiden 1400m and in eye catching style she won going away by a length and a half.

MATILDA’S LOVE ran on well from the rear when runner up in the MR64 Handicap over 1400m and that despite being disadvantaged by a slipped saddle.

BREATHLESS ran on well from the rear when third in the MR68 Handicap over 1000m.

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Corny Plan

Kenilworth 5^th February: Trainer Justin Snaith has been dominating the 2yo races in Cape Town this season and he was again on the mark in the maiden juvenile event here when the newcomer RED DISA did the business. Backed into the red at one stage in the ante post market before being allowed to ease back out to 12/10, the daughter of Captain Al made virtually all. She kept on strongly at the business end of the race and won comfortably by two and a half.

In terms of distance the easiest victory on the card was recorded by CORNY AL when stealing the MR72 Handicap over 1400m. Taken straight to the front by apprentice Xavier Carstens, the well supported son of Albert Hall (8/1 into 9/2) was always well clear. He was visibly going well as he entered the home straight eight lengths clear and although the pack headed by BLACK PEGASUS did manage to make headway in the latter stages he still had three and three quarter lengths to spare at the wire.

Three of the afternoon’s nine races were run over 1200m and the fastest of these was the maiden plate won by AL MAHARA. Backed into favouritism at the track (3/1 into 15/10), Al Mahara raced up with the speed throughout. He commenced battle with the deposed favourite CAPE SISKIN 200m out and with the rest left trailing in their wake the son of Dynasty got the verdict by three quarters.

The only 1000m race on the card was a MR70 Handicap and here we saw an eye catching performance from PRINCE OF PANAREA. Never the quickest into stride, the son of Lake Coniston lost three lengths at the start and raced in the rear. He quickened well when the race began in earnest though, and won going away by a length and a quarter after striking the front 100m from home.

Titbits

After being backed into favouritism at the track, ZAKUSKA won the maiden 2000m very comfortably by two and a quarter.

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Feature Race Double

Vaal 6^th February: Thursday’s action took place on the sand where the fastest of the three 1000m events was the non-black type Lightning Stakes won by TIGER TERRITORY. The son of Trippi got away well when the gates opened and led throughout. He was soon two lengths clear and went on to win with authority by three and three quarters from his stable companion NICE STRIDE.

The girls contested the non-black type Summer Speedsters Stakes and in a time some half a second slower victory here went to another stable companion of Tiger Territory in CLUB CAPTAIN. Freely available at 8/1 on the off, the Captain Al mare was soon up handy. She was ridden to lead shortly after passing the 300m pole and kept on strongly in the closing stages of the race to beat the nibbled at SHIVER ‘N SHAKE by a length and three quarters.

The easiest victory on the card was that of SIAMESE FIGHTER in the maiden 1450m. Sent off a firm second favourite at 3/1, the 3yo son of Ecomium was always in touch with the leaders. He moved through to take up the running as they approached the 300m marker and drew clear easily from there onwards to score by six and a quarter.

Titbits

After racing some five lengths adrift in midfield early on, BLAZING AL won the maiden 1000m going away by four and a quarter.

FLAMING FORGE ran on well from midfield when winning the MR67 Handicap over 1600m going away with plenty in hand.

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Top speedratings for this weekend include:-

Top rated winners last week included

Notebook:-

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