Classy Double

Full Of Promise

Vaal 3^rd February: They raced on the inside track on Sunday where victory in the maiden juvenile event over 1200m went to the newcomer MAYNOONA. The lesser fancied of Mike De Kock’s two runners, Maynoona (7/2 out to 16/1), was always in touch with the leaders. She was ridden to lead shortly after passing the 200m marker and comfortably accounted for her stable companion MAGROOMA (the 14/10 favourite) by two.

Five of the afternoon’s nine races were run over 1700m and the fastest of these was the MR72 affair where the lightly weighted CHEDWIN PARK registered his second career victory. Freely available at 8/1 on the off, Leon Erasmus’ charge was soon up handy. He took up the running going through the 700m and went on to score comfortably from the running on TIME SIGNAL by two and a quarter.

The afternoon’s feature event was a MR90 Handicap over 1000m and here the stable of Leon Erasmus were again on the mark when the 6yo BLUE NILE gained a narrow victory. Taken straight to the front by Sherman Brown, the gutsy son of Fanatic Dane was two lengths clear going through the 400m. He kept on strongly at the business end of the race and just had enough in hand to beat the top weight RODEO DANDY by a neck. Third placed ABBOTTSBURY had been seven lengths adrift 400m out, and finishing best of all did well to get within three quarters of a length at the wire.

Titbits

1700m maiden winner RED SILVANO came from midfield and won with some in hand.

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Workrider’s Day

Vaal 5^th February: They again raced on the inside track on Tuesday where all of the races were for workriders.

The fastest of the two 1200m events was the MR72 Handicap won by STRONGMIND. Always handy, Paul Peter’s charge ran on strongly in the closing stages of the race and in what proved to be a real thriller he got up late to deny the front running OH DRISCOLL.

A MR80 Handicap over 1700m topped the bill and here victory went to the well supported INDIAN GIANT. Backed into 4/1 from 11/2 at the track, the son of Giant’s Causeway raced sixth of the seven for most of the journey. Once given reign though he quickened well and after a thrilling tussle with the 9/10 favourite IRISH GIFT (op 4/10) over the final 150m he got the verdict by the narrowest of margins.

Somewhat surprisingly the biggest winning margin was just the length and a half recorded by both TOUCH THE CLOUDS and TWO GUN KID. Touch The Clouds made all in the maiden 1400m whereas Two Gun Kid ran on stoutly from the rear when winning the MR70 Handicap over 2000m.   

Titbits

WILD AIR ran on well from the rear when getting up late to deny the perennial maiden MAGIC OF ROME in the 1200m event.

Many lengths adrift at the rear after being troublesome at the start, the deposed favourite RUBY CHIMES (12/10 out to 33/10) only got going late and did well to get within a length and a half of the 1400m maiden winner Touch The Clouds.

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Gate Speed The Key

Greyville 5^th February: The newcomer PATH TO TRAVEL was all the rage to win the maiden event over 1200m on Tuesday evening and she didn’t let down her supporters. She got away well when the gates opened and soon up handy was always poised to strike. She took up the running going through the 300m and comfortably accounted for the supported second favourite SEBUENG by two and three quarters.

The best bet on the card for most was ICEFIRE in the boy’s division of the maiden 1200m and he too did the business. Confidently ridden by Alec Forbes, the son of Spectrum raced in midfield during the early part of the race. He made his move early in the straight and won well by a length and a half after striking the front 200m out. Although held by the winner, the runner up MR PATMAN also finished well from midfield in this race and he did have the rest well beaten.

A MR95 Handicap topped the bill and in what proved to be the fastest of the three 1400m events on the card the well supported favourite DISTINGUISHED did the business. Backed into 5/2 from 9/2 at the track, Distinguished was taken straight to the front by Anthony Delpech and soon had the field strung out. He kept on strongly in the short home straight and in what proved to be a real thriller he only held on by the narrowest of margins from the ultra consistent ALWAYS AL.

Titbits

VICTORY EMBLEM ran on well in the latter stages when runner up in the maiden 2000m.

Although THE GRAND has failed to win in 26 starts now, he has run on strongly on several occasions and gaining rapidly at the finish (only beaten by a short head) he would surely have won the 1600m maiden event here had he not lost two lengths at the start and then been hampered going through the 300m.

COY BOY came from the rear when getting up late to win the MR74 Handicap over 1200m.

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Smart Start

Kenilworth 6^th February: The locals got off to a rough start in Cape Town on Wednesday when the newcomer JUDDERING ANGEL opened his account. Freely available at 4/1 on the off, Joey Ramsden’s charge raced towards the back end of midfield early on. He ran on strongly from halfway and under a well judged ride from Glen Hatt he got up late to beat another friendless newcomer SUNDAY SUN by a length and a quarter.

Four of the nine races were run over 1200m and the fastest of these was the girl’s novice event in which FLY BY NIGHT landed the spoils. Another to find herself moving the wrong way in the betting market (4/1 out to 13/2), the 3yo daughter of Jet Master was always handy. She took up the running as they approached the 300m pole and comfortably accounted for the running on CULPA MEA by two and a quarter.

The lucky last was a maiden plate over 1800m and here the locals were sent home happy when the 15/10 favourite COLTRANE did the business. On leaving the stalls it was the well tried HOLD ON TIGER who somewhat predictably elected to make the running whilst Joey Ramsden’s charge raced close up in fifth. He took command going through the 400m and kept up to his work all the way to the wire, he won comfortably by two and a quarter.

Titbits

DAN PATCH was finishing best of all when third, beaten just 1,05 lengths to the in form Slip ‘n Slide, in the MR72 Handicap over 1400m

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Winning Move

Vaal 7^th February: Racing took place on the inside track for the third time in just five days on Thursday.

A workrider’s maiden event over 1200m got proceedings under way and here we saw a comfortable victory for the favourite PINNACLE LADY. The regular place getter HELLO POLLY made the running and staying on strongly at the business end of the race, she did have the rest well beaten. Lucky Houdalakis’ charge quickened well from halfway though, and won comfortably going away after striking the front close home.

The easiest victory in the maiden ranks was undoubtedly that of YOUR MOVE in the 1400m event. He got away well when the gates opened and soon at the head of affairs led throughout. He was a length and a half clear at the halfway mark and although both CLIPPERTON ISLAND and ADVENTURE chased hard he extended his lead to five on the run to the line.

The fastest of the four 1400m races on the card was the MR77 Handicap won by FLAG OF FRANCE. He too made all and kept on strongly late to beat the running on KAPELLMEISTER by three quarters.

Titbits

Newcomer PRINCIPLED MAN was finishing best of all when third to Duly Ordained in the maiden juvenile 1200m.

STAVINSKY ran on well from midfield and won the graduation plate over 1000m going away.

STAR DANCE was running on strongly at the finish when third in the MR94 Handicap over 1400m.

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Top rated winners last week included

Notebook:-

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