Climb Every Mountain

Cutting It Fine

Turffontein 4^th August: They raced on the inner track on Sunday where the easiest victory on the card was recorded by GREYSTONE in the opening workrider’s maiden event over 1600m. Always deep in the red, Mike De Kock’s charge led from pillar to post. He was three lengths clear coming off the strip and cruised clear in the straight to score by eight and a half.

Another to win very easily in the maiden ranks was THE SAINT in the boys’ 1160m affair. Allowed to drift as if a win was out of the question at the track (14/1 out to 55/1), Erico Verdonese’s newcomer raced up with the pace throughout. He began to assert his authority going through the 300m and won well from the slightly more fancied JUDGEANDJURY by three and a half.

There were four races run over 1160m in total and the fastest of these was the MR90 Handicap won by STAVINSKY. At the back for most of the journey, Leon Erasmus’ charge was still five lengths off the pace going through the 400m. Once into gear though, the son of Stage Call ran on best of all and in what proved to be a real thriller he got up to beat his stable companion THE DISCIPLE in the very last stride.

The fastest of the four 1600m events on the eight race program was the bill topping MR97 Handicap won by BARACAH. The field was always closely grouped and going through the 400m just three and a half lengths covered all seven. Baracah quickened well from his position in sixth at that stage though and in another classic finish he too got up in the dying strides.

Titbits

NUGGETS ran on well from the rear when getting up late to win the MR72 Handicap over 1160m.

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8 From 19 For Pylon

Vaal 5^th August: They raced on the sand on Monday where we saw a very comfortable victory in the opening maiden plate over 1200m for the well tried HIGHLAND LAD. Sent off third in the betting market at 3/1, Wallace Tolmay’s charge raced in midfield early on. He quickened well from halfway and drew clear easily to score by three and a half after striking the front 300m out.

A pinnacle stakes over 1600m was next up and as expected victory here went to the best weighted runner in the race PYLON. Sent off at the prohibitive odds of 2/9, Michael Azzie’s charge was soon positioned close to the speed. He took up the running passing halfway and kept on strongly at the business end of the race to beat the running on MR TOBIN by a length.

Three of the afternoon’s eight races were run over 1200m and the fastest of these was the graduation plate won by PRINCE JAZEEM. On leaving the stalls it was the friendless AUTHENTICATED who elected to make the running whilst Sean Tarry’s charge raced close up in third. Authenticated kept on strongly over the final 400m and did have the remainder some six lengths adrift. Prince Jazeem though finished slightly the stronger and won going away by three quarters after striking the front close home.

Also worthy of note on this card was the performance of SHATTERED IMAGE in the conditions plate over 1450m. Roy Magner’s charge attempted to make all and when the favourite FORMATION struck the front 450m out it looked as if she would have to settle for a place. Once headed though the Damage Is Done mare rallied gamely and went on to win very easily by five and a half after regaining the lead 200m from home.

Titbits

TAYBA won the conditions plate over 1000m in good style going away by four and a quarter.

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Couple To Follow

Scottsville 6^th August: The newcomer COOL ANNE found good support to win the opening maiden 1200m in Pietermaritzburg on Tuesday and she did the business in good style. Backed into 5/1 from 9’s, Kom Naidoo’s charge was always in touch with the leaders. She made her move going through halfway and cruised clear to win by four and a quarter after striking the front 150m from home.

Just as impressive was the victory of AL DON CUMARCO in the maiden 1000m. Sent off as the lesser fancied of the two Deon Visser runners, the son of Captain Al didn’t find the clearest of passages when looking to make his move going through the 400m. Once seeing daylight though, he cut through the field like a knife and won going away by three with plenty in hand.

Three of the afternoon’s eight races were run over 1000m and the fastest of these was the bill topping MR93 Handicap won by the 18/10 favourite RACONTEUR. The runners were quite strung out for a small field of five, but nicely positioned in second Dennis Drier’s charge was always poised to strike. He did so as they approached the 300m pole and drew clear easily from there onwards to beat the Gauteng raider GOLDSTREAM by four.

The stable of Dennis Drier (3 winners on the afternoon) were also on the mark in the faster of the two 1400m events (a MR89 Handicap) when DANSEUSE registered her fourth career victory from just eleven starts. Well supported at the track into 18/10 from 3/1, the market leader was always handy. She was ridden to lead passing the 100m marker and comfortably accounted for the supported REASON TO BELIEVE by a length and a quarter.

Titbits

ALIBABA’S JEWEL broke a bloodvessel for the second time when finishing third in the MR73 affair over 1000m and will now be suspended for 6 months.

TEGAN’S DREAM came from the rear when getting up in the very last stride to win the maiden 1750m.

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Money Money Money

Turffontein 8^th August: Backed as if unbeatable to win the girl’s maiden event over 1800m at the inner track on Thursday was the Weiho Marwing trained BLUEBELL GLADE and she didn’t let down her supporters. Deep in the red at 11/20 on the off (op 18/10), the daughter of Fort Wood raced in midfield early on. She worked her way through the field quickly travelling down the strip and cruised clear to score by four and a quarter after striking the front 330m from home.

Another to win with authority after finding heavy support was JET FEVER in the boys’ 1800m maiden event. Backed into 8/10 from 22/10 at the track, Gavin Van Zyl’s charge was always handy. He was ridden to lead at the top of the short home straight and won very easily by four and a quarter.

At the other end of the scale the biggest upset on the card was recorded by the former KZN campaigner GANESH when winning the fastest of the three 1800m events, a MR72 Handicap. Freely available at 29/1 on the off, Stuart Pettigrew’s charge ran on strongly from midfield and in what proved to be a real thriller he only got the better of the in form WILLIAM CONQUEST by the narrowest of margins.

Titbits

Positioned in the rear after setting off from the widest of draws, the well supported HENRY OF YORK was flying at the finish when third in the maiden 1450m.

STORM WARNING and EASTERN COBBLER both ran on well from the rear when 3^rd & 5^th respectively in the pinnacle stakes won by Gothic.

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Top speedratings for this weekend include:-

Top rated winners last week included

Notebook:-

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