Dazzling Start

Still Flying

Flamingo Park 29^th August: Favourite backers got off to a good start on the first day of the Flamingo Park festival when CADOR did the business in the opening maiden event over 2200m. Backed into 16/10 from 22/10 at the track, the 4yo was soon in command of a very useful lead. He was five lengths clear turning for home and with some in hand he extended his advantage to seven and a half on the run to the line.

The afternoon’s feature event was a MR74 Handicap over 1800m and in what proved to be a real thriller victory here went to the well supported outsider MANYANO. Eventually sent off at 12/1 after opening up at 33’s, Cliffie Miller’s charge was always handy. She quickened well after switching out for a run early in the straight and in a race where only a neck separated the first three home, she got up in the dying strides.

Race eight on the card was a MR72 Handicap over 1000m and here it was nice to see the veteran CHAD BAXTER register his fifth career victory. As per usual quick into stride, the 7yo led throughout. He kept on determinedly at the business end of the race and went on to score by a length from the running on CURRAHAL. Keep an eye on the runner up Currahal. He caught the eye when steaming up late to win his maiden last time out and was again running on strongly at the finish here.

Titbits

Runner up in the MR66 affair over 1200m, MARKET WATCH ran on well from the rear and did well to get within a length and a quarter of the winner.

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Steeplechase Margins

Clairwood 30^th August: Favourite backers got off to a good start at the garden course on Tuesday when the Jet Master gelding AUTO PILOT (31) did the business in the opening maiden event over 1200m. Taken straight to the front by Anton Marcus, Charlie Laird’s charge led throughout. He kept on strongly at the business end of the race and with the rest some four lengths in arrears, he beat his running on stable companion CATO DONATA by three quarters.

The easiest victory on the card was undoubtedly that of JACKODORE (47) who came home smoking in the girls division of the maiden 1200m. Out of the same form line as that of Auto Pilot, Sean Tarry’s charge also made all. She was two lengths clear going through the 500m and without ever having to engage the upper gears, she cruised clear from there onwards to score by twelve.

The stable of Sean Tarry were also on the mark with a very easy winner when CRISSY SANCHEZ (55) registered her third career victory from just eight starts in the MR74 Handicap over 1200m. Another to lead from pillar to post, the daughter of Toreador held just a three quarter length advantage when the race began in earnest. Once given rein though, she quickened away in good style and came home lonely by eight.

The afternoon’s feature event was a MR86 affair over 1900m and in what proved to be a real thriller victory here went to the friendless STORM SAGAZ. Allowed to drift out to 8/1 from 3/1 second favourite at the track, Yogis Govender’s charge raced sixth of the ten for most of the journey. The pace had been a very steady one though and on entering the home straight the race developed into a sprint. Storm Sagaz ran on best of all over the final 400m and in a blanket finish he got up in the dying strides to deny the heavily supported odds on favourite MAGNANIMOUS (18/10 into 7/10).

Titbits

Running on from the rear after being hampered at the start, BEAUBEZ finished best of all in the MR70 affair over 1450m and gaining at the finish was only beaten a neck.

For the third race in a row, PAXMAK was noted running on from the rear when fifth in the maiden event over 1600m.

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I Have A Dream

Flamingo Park 31^st August: A maiden event over 1000m got proceedings underway on the second day of the annual two day festival at Flamingo Park and here victory went to the well supported SMART SALLY (14/1 into 6/1). Unable to get within eight lengths of a winner in each of her five previous starts, Vernon Rugg’s charge raced up with the speed throughout. She began to assert her authority shortly after passing halfway and went on to score very easily by five and a half.

The afternoon’s feature event was the non black type Recall Security Mile and in a race where local trainer Sean Miller saddled the first three home victory here went to the progressive AFRICAN VISION. Freely available at 14/1 on the off, African Vision was skilfully guided over from a wide draw by the in form Donavon Mansour and was soon up handy. He was ridden to lead early in the home straight and kept on strongly in the closing stages of the race to beat his much more fancied stable companion PETRUS (the favourite) by a length and a quarter.

The non black type Betting World Sprint over 1000m was the supporting feature and in what proved to be a real thriller the Clinton Binda trained OPENING NIGHT landed the spoils. Backed into 13/2 from 12/1 at the track, this son of Sportsworld was always handy. The in form KINGS GOLD was the first to make a move when the race began in earnest and on striking the front 250m form home he looked to have done everything right. Opening Night ran on best of all in the closing stages of the race though and just as if scripted he got up in the dying strides.

Titbits

A 5,25 length winner of the MR66 Handicap over 1400m, JUPITER SYMPHONY won with plenty in hand.

Running on stoutly from the rear in the MR84 Handicap over 1200m, ARCTIC JET only failed to reel in the winner Little Master by a short head.

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Powerful Moon

Kenilworth 31^st August: Racing in Cape Town on Wednesday took place at Kenilworth where victory in the MR73 Handicap over 1600m went to the rapidly improving DUBAI GINA (38). Well supported on course to go off as one of three co favourites at 4/1 (opened 11/2), Vaughan Marshall’s charge raced towards the back end of midfield early on. Once in the straight though, she ran on best of all and under a well judged ride from M J Byleveld, she got up late to beat the nibbled at PRAIRY STAR (10/1 into 17/2) by a length. Dubai Gina has now won two from three and is clearly one to keep tabs on.

A MR98 Handicap over 1600m topped the bill and in a faster time than that of Dubai Gina victory here went to the top weight MYSTIC MOON (88). Burdened with no less than 61,5kg here, Mystic Moon was always handy. LEAGUE OF HONOUR was the first to make a move in the home straight and when that one struck the front 250m from home, he looked to have done everything right. Mystic Moon ran on stoutly from that point though and in what proved to be a real thriller, he got up close home. One to look out for next time from this race is the third placed runner THANKS DAD. Glen Puller’s charge ran on nicely to take third, and that after being baulked for a run at a crucial stage of the race.

Another tight finish was to be had in the MR82 affair over 1600m where RAINBOWINJUNE registered her third career victory. The best bet on the card for many, Darryl Hodgson’s charge raced seventh of the nine for most of the journey. She was ridden to lead shortly after passing the 200m marker and kept on strongly late to hold off RESPECTABLE LADY, who finished well from the rear.

Titbits

NORTHERN HERITAGE and RUSH FOR JOHN both ran on well when 2^nd and 4^th respectively in the maiden event for 3yo’s over 1400m.

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Four From Five

Vaal 1^st September: Thursday’s action took place on the sand where the first of two major upsets to occur was the victory of BLUE CONCORDE in the maiden event over 1450m. Freely available at 55/1 on the off, Chris Erasmus’ charge was soon in touch with the leaders. He was asked to take up the running as they approached the 400m pole and kept on strongly in the closing stages of the race to beat the running on favourite MENASCO (8/10 out to 17/10) by two and a half.

Race five on the card was a progress event over 1000m and here we saw a smart performance from the improving WINTER’S SONG. Backed throughout the day into 6/10 from even money, the son of Western Winter was always handy. He was asked to take up the running shortly after passing the 300m marker and with plenty in hand he cruised clear in the latter stages of the race to beat the running on KENTUCKY SHEIK by five. Winter’s Song has now won four of his five starts on this surface.

In terms of distance, the easiest victory on the card was registered by the well tried FIERY GOLD in the not so lucky last, a maiden event over 1000m. The most experienced runner in the field, Gavin Van Zyl’s charge raced in the middle of the sixteen during the early part of the race. She ran on nicely from halfway and after striking the front 200m from home, she easily accounted for the running on favourite MAGGIE THATCH by six and a quarter. Although never near enough to be a threat to the winner, Maggie Thatch had raced in the rear and finished well.

Titbits

MON SIGNOR beat the much more fancied duo of Turkey Shoot and Forest fair and square when winning the bill topping MR95 Handicap over 1800m.

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Top speedratings for this weekend include:-

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Top rated winners last week included

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Notebook:-

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FASTEST TIMES

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