Crest Of A Wave

Gutsy Veteran

Fairview 11^th February: The faster of the two juvenile plates over 1100m in Port Elizabeth on Monday was the boy’s affair in which the newcomer MOD BARLEY opened his account. Freely available at 10/1 on the off, Dorrie Sham’s charge was soon at the head of affairs. He kept up a healthy gallop throughout and won comfortably from another newcomer BE THE BEST.

The easiest victory on the card was recorded by WILD BLU in the maiden 1200m. Always in the red, the son of Caesour also made all. He was always clear and won without any anxious moments by four and a quarter.

A MR90 Handicap over 1400m topped the bill and here victory went to the veteran ROYAL TERRACE. On leaving the stalls it was HAVASHA who elected to make the running whilst the 7yo Royal Terrace raced close up in second. He was ridden to lead as they approached the 300m marker and in what was always a wide open affair he fought on gamely in the closing stages of the race to hold off a wall of horses.

Titbits

Always handy, GIANT’S NEICE ran on strongly in the closing stages of the maiden 1100m and won well.  

.

In Good Spirits

Scottsville 12^th February: Heavily supported to win the opening maiden juvenile event over 1200m in Pietermaritzburg on Tuesday was the newcomer GLORIOUS MOMENT and she didn’t let down her supporters. Backed into 2/1 from 12’s during the morning, Mike Miller’s charge was soon positioned close to the speed. She quickened well going through halfway and won going away after striking the front 100m from home.

Another to win well in the maiden ranks on this card was MAN TO MAN in the faster of the two 1400m events. Confidently ridden by Anton Marcus, the 5/2 favourite raced in fourth for most of the journey. He was ridden to lead as they approached the 200m marker and easily accounted for STRONG BLAZE by three and a quarter.

There were a number of easy victories on the card but none more so than that of JOYFUL SPIRIT in the novice 1200m. Sent off favourite at 22/10, Dennis Drier’s charge sat in midfield during the early part of the race. Once given rein though she quickened well and putting her nose in front 200m out she easily drew clear.

Titbits

Even money favourite BESHAYER was a very easy winner of the girl’s maiden event over 1600m.

.

Speedy Juveniles

Turffontein 12^th February: They raced on the old stand side track on Tuesday evening where we saw a very smart debut performance in the opening juvenile plate over 1000m from the Rock Of Gibraltar filly ARCETRI PINK. Allowed to ease right out to 33/10 from 2/1 on the bookmaker’s boards as money in the main came for SAMBA SERENADE, Geoff Woodruff’s charge lost two lengths at the start. Once given rein though she quickened well from her position in midfield and only having to be ridden with hands and heels she won going away by a length and a half.

Run in a much faster time than that of Arcetri Pink was the boy’s juvenile plate over 1000m and just as they had in their only previous outing TOMMY GUN and JIMMI CHOO did battle. Whereas Jimmy had managed to keep Tommy at bay last time out though, Tommy ran on stoutly on 3kg better terms and in a thrilling finish he got up in the very last stride.

The Gr3 Tommy Hotspur Handicap over 1000m topped the bill and in a time only 0,39 seconds faster than that of Tommy Gun, the progressive SHARP DESIGN registered his fifth win from just eight starts. Sporting blinkers for the first time here, Ormond Ferraris’ charge was taken straight to the front by Nooresh Juglall and led throughout. He was almost two lengths clear for most of the journey and although the Natal raider SHOWMETHEWAY did make some headway in the latter stages of the race, he still had a length to spare at the wire.

Titbits

GALILEO’S DESTINY won well on his return from an eight month break in the conditions plate over 1400m.

.

First Mission Accomplished

Kenilworth 13^th February: Four of the eight races run in Cape Town on Wednesday were maiden events and the most notable performance here was that of WHAT A MISSION over 1400m. The focus of solid support last time out, Joey Ramsden’s charge was allowed to ease in the betting market here and eventually left the stalls at 5/1. He was always handy and only having to be ridden with hands and heels at the business end of the race, won well.

The first of the two MR86 Handicaps that topped the bill was the 1000m affair in which What A Mission’s stable companion GOGOTINE ran out a comfortable winner. The son of Var got away well when the gates opened and soon up handy raced prominent throughout. He was ridden to lead approaching the 100m pole and drew clear easily late on to beat the pacemaker VARDASHIAN by two and a quarter.

The fastest of the three 1600m events on the card was the MR86 Handicap won by the up and coming PRICELESS JEWEL. Although soon at the head of affairs the ten runners were still very closely grouped going through the 300m and most still held chances. Indeed, the hard knocking MARGARET COURT briefly put her head in front 100m later, but the 3yo daughter of Ashaawes found extra below the distance and in what proved to be a real thriller she got the verdict by a short head.

Titbits

Friendless COVARIANCE won the maiden event over 1000m with authority.

.

Four By Four

Vaal 14^th February: The action on Valentine’s Day took place on the sand where victory in the opening maiden event over 1200m went to the uneasy favourite ITSGOTTOBEPERFECT. Nicely drawn in gate one, the son of Tobeornottobe was soon positioned close to the speed. He was asked to take up the running shortly after passing the 300m marker and easily accounted for the battling ROAMING IN ROME by three and three quarters.

The afternoon’s feature event was a MR94 Handicap over 1600m and albeit by the narrowest of margins the 18/10 favourite TAPTAP MAKHATINI completed a smart hattrick. Now unbeaten in four starts on the surface, Sean Tarry’s charge led throughout. He always looked to be travelling well and going through the 400m a comfortable victory appeared to be forthcoming. EASTERN COBBLER ran on stoutly in the closing stages of the race though and only failing to get up by the narrowest of margins only Taptap’s jockey Pierre Strydom knows how much was left in the tank.

Much easier a winner was WHERE’S MY CHOP in the MR67 Handicap over 1200m. Visibly cruising throughout, St John Gray’s charge ran on well from midfield and won very comfortably by two and three quarters.

Titbits

The favourite DRAGON FAY ran on well from off the pace when runner up to his well supported stable companion BARON ZEMO (7/1 into 9/2) in the maiden 1600m.

.

Top speedratings for this weekend include:-

Top rated winners last week included

Notebook:-

FASTEST TIMES