Course Should Suit

Clearly Announced

Clairwood 10^th May: Followers of the money got off to a nice start at the garden course on Tuesday when the heavily supported newcomer UNANNOUNCED (40) did the business in the opening Juvenile Plate over 1200m. Backed in to 11/20 from even money at the track, Charlie Laird’s charge was taken straight to the front by Anton Marcus and led throughout. He was always in command and only having to be pushed out hands and heels in the closing stages of the race, he went on to win very cosily by three and a quarter.

The afternoon’s feature event was a MR82 Handicap over 1450m and here we saw a smart performance from the Glen Kotzen trained TISANE (48). Freely available at 14/1 on her return from a seven month break here, this 3yo daughter of Jet Master wasn’t the quickest into stride and as a result sat back in eighth for most of the journey. Once in the long home straight though, she ran on well and after striking the front approaching the 200m marker, she went on to score comfortably from the nibbled at ARTISTICALLY DONE (7/1 into 11/2) by two. Tisane has now won two from four and clearly won’t be stopping here.

The easiest victory on the card though was undoubtedly that of MAGNANIMOUS (66) in the MR72 affair over 1700m.Well supported on course to go off second favourite at 33/10 (opened 4/1), Glen Puller’s charge was soon up handy. He was asked to take up the running shortly after passing the 500m marker and with nothing else able to quicken off the steady early pace, he cruised clear to score by seven.

Titbits

In the rear some seven lengths off the pace 400m out, National Carrier ran on best of all when winning the MR72 affair over 1200m and is clearly better than this bare form line would suggest.

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Just The Three

Turffontein 10^th May: After being sent off in the red when fifth in the Fillies Nursery in her only previous start, AMANEE (27) looked to be a good thing in the opening maiden juvenile event over 1160m, but it was by no means as easy as her starting price of 1/6 would suggest. On leaving the stalls it was the newcomer ESKIMO INN who elected to set the pace whilst Amanee raced some four lengths away in sixth. She had moved to within two lengths of the leader going through the 300m and at that stage it looked as if she was coming through nicely. The 50/1 shot Eskimo Inn kept on strongly at the business end of the race though and with the rest left trailing in their wake, it was only by a neck that Amanee got the verdict. Keep an eye on Eskimo Inn. She bumped a good one here and had the rest some twelve lengths behind her at the finish.

The boys division of the maiden juvenile 1160m was next up and here victory went to the newcomer ALBRACCA (25). Despite being troublesome at the start and also a little slow into stride, Robbie Sage’s charge was soon up handy. He ran on strongly over the final 400m and under a well judged ride from Gunter Wrogemann, he got up late to beat the Miesque’s Approval colt DAN’S APPROVAL by three quarters.

After a delay because of thundershowers and lightning, it was the favourite PERO VALIENTE (34) who landed the third race on the card, a maiden event over 1160m. Up with the speed throughout, Mike De Kock’s charge ran on strongly at the business end of the race and with the rest well beaten, he comfortably accounted for the well supported MJ THRILLER (9/2 into 7/2) by a length. The remainder of the meeting was abandoned after the running of race three.

Titbits

Fourth in the maiden event over 1160m, DONE RIGHT has caught the eye running on strongly from the rear in both starts.

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Ton In Hand

Kenilworth 11^th May: The easiest victory amongst the six maiden events in Cape Town on Wednesday was undoubtedly that of FABULOCITY. Sent off a strong favourite at 8/10, Glen Kotzen’s charge was content to amble along in the rear for most of the journey. She was visibly cruising as she cut through the field early in the straight and without really having had to race, she went on to score by two and a half with a ton in hand.

Another to win well in the maiden ranks here was SANTORINA who did the business for followers of the money in the handicap event over 1400m. Backed throughout the day into 9/10 from 15/10, the best bet on the card for many was always in touch with the leaders. He put his head in front shortly after passing the 300m marker and only really asked for an effort when both KEILANI and TUNED IN threw down the gauntlet 100m later, he drew clear easily late to win by two and a quarter.

Race eight on the card was a MR87 Handicap over 1800m and here we saw a smart performance from the Justin Snaith trained OCEAN OF TIME. Freely available at 11/2 on the off, the top weight Ocean Of Time was positioned at the back of the seven turning for home. Once in the straight though, she ran on best of all and after striking the front 250m out, she easily drew clear.

Titbits

MATEUS the runner up in the Allowance Plate over 1500m ran on stoutly from the rear and was only beaten a whisker.

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Blanket Finish

Vaal 12^th May: They raced on the turf on Thursday where the first of three favourites to arrive was the well supported OSCAVAR (31) in the maiden event over 1400m. Backed throughout the day into 16/10 from 3/1, Robbie Sage’s charge was soon up handy. He was ridden to lead going through the 400m and although the improving GAZ MAN ran on very strongly and had the rest well beaten, he did have that one held by a length at the wire.

By far the easiest victory on the card was that of WINTER DESIRE (38) who came home smoking in the maiden event over 2000m. Always in touch with the leaders, the favourite was asked to take up the running 600m out. He quickly went clear and with the handily placed runners all steadily fading into oblivion from there onwards, he came home lonely by eleven.

A MR90 Handicap over 2000m topped the bill and in what proved to be a real thriller victory here went to the top weight MPUMELELO (76). The field was always very tightly bunched and when Joey Soma’s charge struck the front 400m from home, there was barely 2,5 lengths covering all. He kept on determinedly at the business end of the race and in an event where just over a half length covered the first five at the line, he only got the verdict by the narrowest of margins. Keep an eye open for the runner up TAPUYA next time. Baulked for a run between the 400m & 200m poles, Geoff Woodruff’s charge was flying at the finish and would surely have gotten up in another stride.

Titbits

SPECTABOOLOUS had been five lengths behind the strongly fancied winner HOUSE OF WAX passing the 400m marker in the MR74 affair over 1400m and running on from the rear did well to get within two and a quarter lengths at the wire.

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What A Beauty

Greyville 13^th May: This was the meeting originally scheduled to take place in the afternoon last Sunday (8^th March).

The first of the two feature events to take place on Friday evening was the Gr2 Korean Racing Association Fillies Guineas and here we saw another smart performance from the up and coming Beach Beauty. Sent off favourite at 17/10, Dennis Drier’s charge sat sixth for most of the journey. She quickened with all her usual zest after taking a gap 300m out and after striking the front 100m later, she quickly grabbed a two lengths lead. Both Berry Blaze and Legal Account ran on strongly at the business end of the race and were steadily closing in. Unbeaten since going beyond sprint distances though, Beach Beauty had only been ridden hands and heels prior to being asked to race close home. Keep an eye on the runner up Berry Blaze. Behind at weight for age, Mike De Kock’s charge lost three lengths at the start and did well to get as close as she did after racing in the rear.

The Gr2 KRA Guineas was next up and in a race where two of the three market leaders were badly hampered at a crucial stage of the race, victory here went to the Western Cape Guineas winner Solo Traveller. Always handy, Solo Traveller took up the running shortly after passing the 200m marker and went on to score very comfortably by two from ELUSIVE RIVER.

Also worthy of note on this card was the performance of ESTECO in winning the MR95 Handicap over 1900m. Taken straight to the front by Musi Yeni, the son of Hennessey made all. He led by just a length coming into the straight and at that stage most, including the previously unbeaten ICE AXE, were well within striking distance. Once given rein though, Mike De Kock’s charge kept finding and despite the efforts of the chasing pace, he extended his lead to three on the run to the line. Esteco has now won four from six and is clearly still improving. 

Titbits

Third in the betting RUN FOR IT and the favourite LINK MAN were both badly hampered and lost any chance they had held in the Gr2 KRA Guineas when something went amiss with Ridethebreeze 400m out.

Although held late by the winner, the newcomer CHANGINGOFTHEGUARD ran on well from the rear when a runner up in the maiden juvenile event over 1400m.

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Top speedratings for this weekend include:-

Top rated winners last week included

Notebook:-

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