Down In Class

Six Favs

Arlington 8^th March:

A maiden event over 1000m was first up on Friday and here we saw a smart performance from the Toreador filly IZAANAZAMA. Sent off a rather uneasy favourite at 7/2 (op 5/2), Corne Spies’ charge raced in midfield during the first half of the race. Once given rein though she quickened well and in what proved to be a faster time than that of the MR65 Handicap over the same distance, she comfortably accounted for VALDEMAR by a length and a quarter.

Favourite backers were also on the mark in the next, a MR100 Handicap, when IRON GREY did the business. The small field of seven were always closely grouped and at the top of the short home straight the race looked wide open. Iron Grey ran on best of all over the final 400m, and in a race where just over a length separated the first four home, he only got the verdict by the narrowest of margins.

The non-black type Ibhayi Stakes over 1400m topped the bill and here national jockey’s log leader Pierre Strydom bagged the third of his four winners on the card when the market leader ALBERT MOONEY landed the spoils. He got away well when the gates opened and soon up handy raced prominent throughout. He was ridden to lead as they approached the 100m marker and kept on strongly late to beat the luckless OTTIMO by a half. Ottimo had been baulked for a run 150m from home and was fairly flying at the finish.

The lucky last was a MR69 Handicap and in what proved comfortably to be the faster of the two 1300m events on the card victory here went to the 4yo BREEZING THROUGH. A son of Windrush, Breezing Through was taken straight to the front by Pierre Strydom and led throughout. He was always a couple of lengths to the good and despite the efforts of ICY ZONE over the final 400m he went on to score without any anxious moments.

Titbits

ICEONIC came from the back when getting up in the very last stride to win the maiden 1300m.

Having his first start out of the maidens, the Gavin Smith trained MUCHO GOLD won the MR78 Handicap over 2400m with authority.

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Runaway Train

Turffontein 9^th March: They raced on the old stand side track on Saturday where the faster of the two juvenile features over 1000m was the Storm Bird Stakes won by the best bet on the card for most JIMMY CHOO. Deep in the red at 11/20 on the off, Leon Erasmus’ charge broke with speed and was soon at the head of affairs. He kept up a strong gallop throughout and although the second favourite OLYMPIC OWEN did make some headway from off the pace late on, he went on to score very comfortably by two.

The fillies contested the Ruffian Stakes and in what proved to be a much more competitive event FOR THE LADS opened her account. Unlike her only previous outing where she ran on strongly from off the pace, Sean Tarry’s charge broke well here and was always handy. She ran on stoutly over the final 400m and in a thrilling three way finish she only got the verdict by the narrowest of margins over the friendless VIRGO’S BABE (20/1 out to 45/1).

In terms of distance the easiest victory on the card was recorded by CURRENT EVENT when opening his account in the maiden 2450m. Deep in the red at 9/20 on the off, Gavin Van Zyl’s charge was soon up handy, and took up the running at the top of the long home straight. He quickly went clear and only asked to do the necessary in the closing stages of the race he went on to win very cosily by four and a quarter.

Race five on the card was the non-black type Egoli Mile and here we saw a smart performance from the lightly raced BAY OF BENGAL. Winning for the third time in just five starts here, Michael Azzie’s charge was positioned in the rear as the thirteen runners turned for home.  He ran on best of all over the final 700m and won going away from the improving WYLIE HALL by a length and three quarters.

Titbits

The 11/20 favourite ILHA BELA hit the front before being beaten fair and square by CHERRY ON THE CAKE in the conditions plate over 1800m.

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Journey To Success

Durbanville 9^th March: A maiden plate over 1200m got proceedings underway at the country course on Saturday and here it was nice to see the costly to follow SURFER GIRL finally make the bookmakers reach into their satchels. Sent off a well supported favourite at 13/10 (op 2/1), Mike Bass’ charge was soon positioned close to the speed. She was ridden to lead as they approached the 200m pole and easily accounted for the running on METAPHSICAL by two and a half.

The fastest of the three 1400m events on the card was the bill topping MR86 Handicap in which the column’s top rated runner DARK JOURNEY caused a bit of an upset. Nibbled at on course into 6/1 from 10’s, Carl Burger’s charge raced in midfield for most of the journey. She made her move early in the straight and won well by a length and a half after striking the front 200m from home.

There were also three 2000m events on the eight race program and the fastest of these was the MR72 Handicap won by JAZELLE. Allowed to drift right out to 14/1 from 7’s at the track, Paddy Kruyer’s charge raced close up in second for most of the journey. She took up the running entering the home straight and although the heavily supported SHOWDOWN (8/1 into 7/2) chased hard over the final 400m she did have that one well held by two and a half at the wire.

Titbits

Easing down at the finish, BIG CAT won the maiden event over 1400m with plenty in hand.

TIGER TIGER and RED BANNER (didn’t find the clearest of passages) both ran on very well from the rear when 1^st & 3^rd respectively in the MR78 Handicap over 1000m.

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Top speedratings for this weekend include:-

Top rated winners last week included

Notebook:-

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