All Under Control

Power House

Fairview 1^st November: After plenty of rain fell in the Eastern Cape at the backend of last week racing was switched to the Polytrack on Friday.

A novice plate over 1400m was first up and here victory went to the aptly named favourite ON THE ROAD. Soon up handy, Justin Snaith’s charge took up the running as they approached the 300m pole and staying on strongly just had enough in hand to beat the running on PATENTADO by a neck. The runner up came from the rear and did well to get as close as he did.

The easiest victory in the maiden ranks was the 3,25 lengths recorded by MARIMBA MAGIC in the 1000m event. Taken straight to the front by Musi Yeni, the daughter of Latino Magic led throughout. She was always at least a couple clear and won without any anxious moments.

A MR78 Handicap over 2400m topped a rather moderate bill and here a major upset was to be had when the veteran WHITE HOUSE (25/1) registered his seventh career victory. Adopting a change of tactics here, the 8yo also led throughout. The strongly fancied SYLVIIDAE ran on strongly in the short home straight, but having been positioned many lengths adrift in the rear rounding the home turn, he couldn’t get closer than three and a quarter at the wire.

Titbits

KANTAKA ran on well from midfield when getting up late to win the MR78 Handicap over 1600m.

OATS followed up on his win in maiden company last time out with a comfortable victory in the MR78 Handicap over 1000m.

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Still Improving

Turffontein 2^nd November: They raced on the old stand side track on Saturday where the bill topping Gr2 Charity Mile November Handicap was won by the lightly raced 7yo ROYAL ZULU WARRIOR. Having only his eleventh career outing here, the Mossman gelding was always positioned close to the speed. He took up the running as they approached the 200m marker and although GLORIOUS JET ran on strongly from off the pace to challenge close home, he did have that one held by three quarters at the wire.

The fastest of the four 1400m events on the card was the Gr3 Graham Beck Stakes and here we saw an impressive performance from the Mike De Kock trained WHISTLE STOP. Not particularly well drawn and a little slow into stride to boot, the son of Silvano raced towards the rear early on and still had four lengths to find on the talented WILLOW MAGIC when that one took up the running 500m out. Whistle Stop fairly flew from there onwards though and in eye catching style he got up late to score by a half.

Also worthy of note on this card was the performance of SARASOTA in winning the Gr3 Starling Stakes over 1400m. After racing handy the favourite COPIAPO was the first to make a move and on striking the front 300m out she looked to have the race at her mercy. Running on stoutly from the rear though (had to switch 300m out) the lightly raced daughter of Kahal reeled her in nicely in the closing stages of the race and with the rest comfortably beaten she got up late to score by a neck.

Titbits

RIGHT ROYAL DIVA (a newcomer) and SOVEREIGN MINT both ran on well from off the pace when 1^st & 2^nd respectively in the R250000 maiden plate over 1160m.

Lightly raced CLOSE THE GAP only had to be pushed out in order to win the MR90 Handicap over 1600m going away by two and three quarters.

Detached at the rear 500m out, JUDICIAL was fairly flying at the finish when third beaten just a length and a half in the R3M Ready To Run Cup.

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Easy Double

Scottsville 3^rd November: This was the meeting originally scheduled to take place on Saturday 2^nd November.

The faster of the two 1000m events in Pietermaritzburg on Sunday was the MR88 Handicap won by MY SANCTUARY. In the red at 15/20 on the off, the daughter of Antonius Pius raced up with the speed throughout. She ran on strongly over the final 400m and although COTSWOLD threw down a determined challenge she won well by a half.

Race six on the card was a graduation plate over 1200m and here we saw a smart performance from the lightly raced AL DON CUMARCO. Freely available at 6/1 on the off, the 3yo son of Captain Al sat fourth of the eight for most of the journey. He moved through to take up the running as they approached the 200m marker and comfortably accounted for the more fancied FLY AT EM by a length and a half.

The easiest victory on the card was undoubtedly that of BRYONYBRIGHTWATER in the maiden 2000m. Running on from the towards the rear, the stable companion to Al Don Cumarco struck the front 250m out and cruised clear in the closing stages of the race to score by seven.

Titbits

Having only his second career outing in the maiden 1000m, runner up RED RED RUBY ran on well from the back end of midfield and was only beaten by a neck.

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Three Cool Dudes

Kenilworth 3^rd November: Surprisingly the fastest of the three 1200m events in Cape Town on Sunday was the opening maiden plate won by the aptly named TELL ME MORE. Positioned in midfield at the halfway stage, Justin Snaith’s charge ran on strongly under a well judged ride from Richard Fourie, and got up late to score by three quarters.

Also worthy of note in the maiden ranks was the performance of ELUSIVE GOLD in winning the 1600m event. Another to run on stoutly from off the pace, the lightly raced son of Sail From Seattle quickened in good style at the business end of the race and beat a very competitive looking field fair and square by a length.

Race six on the card was a MR98 Handicap over 1800m and here we saw another smart performance from the visiting ONE COOL DUDE. Sent off a strong favourite at 2/1, Dennis Drier’s charge ran on strongly from his position in midfield and won well from SHISHANGENI after striking the front 130m from home.

Titbits

CAPEL TOP rallied gamely after being headed when winning the second division of the maiden 1200m.

SUREFIRE ran on strongly from the rear when only beaten half a length in the MR80 Handicap over 1200m.

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Top speedratings for this weekend include:-

Top rated winners last week included

Notebook:-

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