Double One

Rushing Home

Arlington 17^th May: The well tried WEST OF LONDON was backed as if unbeatable to win the opening maiden event over 1000m in Port Elizabeth on Friday and although he cut it fine, he didn’t let down his supporters. Deep in the red at 5/10 on the off, Alan Greeff’s charge sat fourth during the early part of the race. The Joshua Dancer gelding SWIFT WONDER set the pace and with a break of four lengths on the favourite going through the 200m, he looked to have the race in the bag. After taking a while to get going though West Of London fairly flew below the distance and in what proved to be a real thriller he got up late to score by a neck.

There were five 1000m races on the card in total and the fastest of these was the MR90 affair won by LONDON PERFECT. As per usual quick into stride, the son of Muhtafal made all. He kept on strongly at the business end of the race and comfortably accounted for the favourite NOVEMBER RAIN by a length and a quarter.

The non-black type Arlington 1400m topped the bill and here it was nice to see IN A RUSH win at his old stomping ground. Nibbled at on course to go off a joint second favourite at 4/1, Gavin Smith’s charge raced in midfield early on. He quickened well at the top of the short home straight and under a well judged ride from Aldo Domeyer he got up late to beat BLAZE OF FIRE by a half.

Titbits

The poorly drawn duo of LONDON FEVER and IVANKA both ran on well from the rear when 2^nd and 4^th respectively in the maiden event over 1600m.

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Angels Have Wings

Greyville 17^th May: Six of the ten races at Greyville on Friday evening were run over 1400m and the fastest of these was the MR94 Handicap won by EXPERIENCE COUNTS.  Sent off favourite at 28/10, the 3yo daughter of Count Dubois was soon up handy. She moved up to dispute matters going through the 200m and after a thrilling tussle with all of MURMERING SKY, UNIQUE MOMENT and CHILLI PEPPER she only got the verdict by the narrowest of margins.

A MR96 Handicap topped the bill and in what proved to be the faster of the two 1600m races victory here went to the well supported favourite BIG CITY ANGEL. Backed throughout the evening into 17/10 from 4/1, Gavin Van Zyl’s charge raced in midfield for most of the journey. He quickened well at the top of the short home straight and in another classic finish he just got the better of the 12/1 shot FOURTH ESTATE.

At the other end of the scale the easiest victory on the card was recorded by PITCH PERFECT in the girl’s maiden event over 1400m. Sent off a rather uneasy second favourite at 22/10, the lightly raced daughter of Lundy’s Liability was soon positioned close to the speed. She was asked to take up the running shortly after passing the 300m marker and drew clear easily in the closing stages of the race to win by four and a half.

Titbits

The unfancied newcomer BODYBUILDER ran on well from the rear when a three quarter length runner up in the maiden juvenile plate over 1400m.

ARGYLE BAY ran on well from midfield when third in the MR74 Handicap over 1200m.

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He Ain’t Heavy

Turffontein 18^th May: There were a number of very easy winners at Saturday’s inner track meeting, but none more so than that of HEART OF A LION in the opening maiden juvenile plate over 1600m. Skilfully guided over from a wide draw by Marthinus Mienie, the son of Seul Amour was soon positioned close up in second. He was ridden to lead at the top of the short home straight and cruised clear over the final 400m to win by eight.

Another to win with authority was the lightly raced 2yo NTOMBE. Racing in open company the 5/2 joint favourite (op 15/10) broke well from a wide draw and raced in midfield. She quickened in good style coming off the strip and drew clear easily to score by four and a quarter after striking the front 300m from home.

The afternoon’s feature event was a pinnacle stakes and in what proved to be the fastest of the six 1600m races on the card, the recent Champions’ Challenge winner HEAVY METAL scored a comfortable victory. Clearly best in at the weights Sean Tarry’s charge was ridden with confidence by S’manga Khumalo and sat at the back. He moved through to take up the running as they approached the 200m pole and although the lightly raced MEISSA (returning from a six month break) threw down a determined challenge he went on to win well by a length and a quarter.

Titbits

BILLIE JO ran on well from midfield when easily winning the MR70 Handicap over 2600m.

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In Charge Of All

Clairwood 19^th May: Favourite backers got off to a nice start at the garden course on Sunday when the heavily supported CAPTAIN OF ALL duly landed the odds in the opening maiden juvenile plate. Deep in the red at 1/3 on the off (op 8/10), Dennis Drier’s charge was quickly three lengths clear. He was always in command and only having to be pushed out at the business end of the race, he won what proved to be the fastest of the four 1200m races very easily by five.

The stable of Dennis Drier were also on the mark with a very easy winner in the girls’ division of the maiden juvenile 1200m when the friendless IMPERIAL FABERGE (7/1 out to 16/1) opened her account. She got away well when the gates opened and nicely positioned in fifth was always poised to strike. She did so going through the 300m and drew clear easily late on to score by three.

The listed East Coast Handicap over 2000m topped the bill and here victory went to the easy to back ADOBE PINK. Allowed to ease out to 11/1 from 7’s at the track, Neil Bruss’ charge raced in the rear during the early part of the race. On entering the home straight the field quickly began to concertina and with the runners fanned out across the track 350m out the field resembled a cavalry charge. Adobe Pink and AL KINDI quickened by far the best from there onwards and with the rest left trailing in their wake it was only by a neck that Adobe Pink got the verdict.

Titbits

Racing green the newcomer MASTER OF MY FATE (15/10 into 9/10) only got going late, and was gaining quickly at the finish, when runner up in the maiden 1200m.

After being baulked for a run, the nibbled at PARTY DOLL ran on well from midfield when only beaten 0,65 lengths in the girls’ division of the maiden 1200m.

WEST END cut through the field like a knife when getting up in the dying strides to win the Apprentice MR74 Handicap over 1000m.

CONCATENATION won the MR74 Handicap over 1700m going away by three and a quarter.

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Top speedratings for this weekend include:-

Top rated winners last week included

Notebook:-

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