Distance Suited

All The Way

Fairview 27^th January: The former Cape Town campaigner SPRINGTIME FLAME (24) was sent off a strong favourite to win the maiden event over 1200m in Port Elizabeth on Friday and she didn’t let down her supporters. A little unlucky not to score in her first outing in the province last time out, Alan Greeff’s charge was taken straight to the front by M J Byleveld and led throughout. She was always in command and without any anxious moments, won comfortably by two and three quarters.

The easiest victory on the card was undoubtedly that of COUNT DUMANI (56) who came home smoking in the MR78 Handicap over 1200m. Sent off a joint second favourite at 4/1, the son of Count Dubois was soon up with the speed. He began to assert his authority as they approached the 200m marker and drew clear easily in the closing stages of the race to score by five and a quarter.

The afternoon’s feature event was a MR93 Handicap over 2400m and in what proved to be the closest finish of the afternoon victory here went to the easy to back AUDIT REPORT (66). Freely available at 11/1 on the off, Barry Steenkamp’s charge was always handy. He was ridden to lead shortly after passing the 300m marker and having to give his all on the run to the line, he only held on by the narrowest of margins from the running on favourite JERVIS.

A maiden event over 1200m brought proceedings to a close and here victory went to the Yvette Bremner trained BALLYDEHOB (15). She got away well when the gates opened and soon at the head of affairs led throughout. She kept on surprisingly well at the business end of the race and comfortably accounted for ROYAL PRELUDE by a length and three quarters.

Titbits

PLACIDO ran on well from midfield when a runner up in the 1000 maiden juvenile event won by Tealion.

MARIONETTE and PHEMBA both ran on strongly from off the pace in the graduation event won by Short List

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Met Day

Kenilworth 28^th January: The first of the three top grade events to be run at Kenilworth on Saturday was the Gr1 Investec Cape Derby over 2000m and here we saw another very smart performance from the rapidly improving JACKSON (102). Heavily supported throughout the day into 17/20 from 16/10, Brett Crawford’s charge was always in touch with the leaders. He moved up to dispute matters as they approached the 300m marker and after quickly disposing of the Gr1 Cape Guineas winner VARIETY CLUB, he went on to win going away by two.

Another to win impressively on this card was the Trippi filly AGRA (44) when keeping her unbeaten record in tact in the prestigious listed Summer Juvenile Stakes over 1000m. Confidently ridden by Felix Coetzee, Justin Snaith’s charge was always up with the speed. She began to assert her authority going through the 400m and only having to be ridden hands and heels she cruised in by three and three quarters.

The Gr1 Majorca Stakes over 1600m was next up and here it was nice to see the highly regarded EBONY FLYER (85) land the spoils. Sent off second favourite at 5/2, the daughter of Jet Master was soon up handy. She quickened nicely early in the long home straight and although the gallant FREQUENT FLYER found extra when challenged 250m from home, she went on to score comfortably by a length and three quarters.

The highlight of the afternoon of course was the Gr1 J&B Met over 2000m and all eyes here were on the already legendary Galileo filly IGUGU (94). The first horse in history to win the Triple Tiara, Igugu was all the rage at the track and eventually left the stalls at 15/20 after opening up at 12/10. She didn’t as many had expected go to the front, but nicely positioned in sixth early on she was always well placed to challenge. The friendless BRAVURA (7/1 out to 18/1) made the running and staying on strongly in the home straight it looked 200m out as if he might go on to land first prize. Igugu steadily reeled him in, in the closing stages of the race though, and just as if scripted she got up close home.

Titbits

Although never a threat to the winner, the lightly raced THUNDER DANCE ran on nicely in the Gr1 Cape Derby and did well to get up for third.

Third in the Met last season, RUN FOR IT fairly flew over the final 300m in this year’s event and was finishing best of all.

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Running On

Turffontein 28^th January: Saturday’s action took place on the inner track where victory in the opening workrider’s maiden event over 1800m went to the well supported BLACK ACES (21). Backed into 28/10 from 4/1 at the track, the well tried Black Aces sat in midfield during the early part of the race. He made his move coming off the strip and in what proved to be a real thriller he got up in the very last stride to deny the nibbled at SLIPPERY SLOPE (6/1 into 5/1).

Race five on the card was a MR72 Handicap over 1450m and here a bit of an upset was to be had when the recent maiden winner LOST ISLAND landed the spoils. Freely available at 18/1 on the off (op 20/1), Roy Magner’s charge led throughout. He kept on strongly in the short home straight and beat the much more fancied JET DOT COM fair and square.

A MR88 Handicap over 1200m was next up and here followers of the money were on the mark when EDICT (63) did the business. Backed into 19/10 from 33/10 at the track, Edict was always handy. He was asked to take up the running as they approached the 200m marker and after quickly skipping clear he kept on strongly late to beat the running on ACE OF HEARTS by three quarters.

The afternoon’s feature event was a MR92 Handicap over 1800m and here victory went to the Sean Tarry trained BETA (63). There was no real pace in the early part of the race and although Beta sat at the back of the eight horse party, he was always close enough to strike. He quickened best of all as they came off the strip and did well to collar BLUE HORIZON BAY (raced handy, led 200m) in the very last stride.

Titbits

Positioned in the rear turning for home, KALAMI ran on best of all when finishing runner up in the graduation event over 1600m.

The heavily supported favourite ILHA BELA (5/2 into 13/20) ran on well from off the pace in the MR83 Handicap over 1800m and was gaining quite quickly at the finish.

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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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