Dream Start

Lance Topples King

Turffontein 22^nd December: They raced on the old stand side track on Sunday where the easiest victory on the ten race program was recorded by the newcomer RAISE THE RED in the opening maiden juvenile plate over 1000m. The Slew The Red colt got away well when the gates opened and along with the experienced HOOHA he raced three lengths clear. Hooha couldn’t go with him when he stepped on the gas and he went on to score with authority by four and a quarter.

Another to win well in the maiden ranks on this card was the aptly named newcomer EASY GAME in the 1160m event. Soon up handy Michael Azzie’s charge was always poised to strike. She did so going through the 400m and won well by two and a half.

Four of the afternoon’s fare was run over 1600m and the fastest of these was the pinnacle stakes in which the best weighted runner WHITELINE FEVER did the business. Backed into 13/20 from 16/10 at the track, the best bet on the card for many raced close up in fourth for most of the journey. He was asked to take up the running shortly after passing the 300m marker and just as the weights had suggested he went on to score cosily.

There were also four races run over 1400m and clocking the fastest time here was LANCE in the bill topping Secretariat Stakes (L). Having only his third career outing the son of Jet Master adopted a change of tactics here and made all. He was always in command and went on to win without any anxious moments by three and a quarter from the previously unbeaten LOUIS THE KING.

Titbits

With the rest some seven lengths adrift, SOVEREIGN MINT comfortably accounted for the improving runner up Mr Mulliner by a length and a quarter in the maiden 1400m.

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Forget No Forgive

Clairwood 23^rd December: This was the meeting originally scheduled to take place at Scottsville.

Five of the nine races at the garden course on Monday were run over 1600m and the fastest of these was the MR71 Handicap won by the improving SUPERCEDE. On leaving the stalls it was the lightly weighted 25/1 shot LONDON OLYMPICS who elected to make the running and staying on strongly down the long straight it looked as if he she would go on to score. Continually hanging and shifting around from the 300m marker though she aided the cause of the younger Supercede, and in what proved to be a real thriller Pat Lunn’s charge got up in the very last stride.

Also worthy of note over 1600m was the performance of the New Zealand bred FORGIVE NO FORGET in winning the MR89 Handicap. Disqualified because she had won two races in Australasia before coming to our shores, when a short second in maiden company in her first appearance in this country, Mike De Kock’s charge was a little slow into stride and as a result she raced seventh of the eight early on. She quickened best of all in the straight and won going away after striking the front close home.

The easiest victory on the card was recorded by CHERRY TRIPPER when winning the faster of the two 1000m events, a graduation plate. Taken straight to the front by S’manga Khumalo the speedy daughter of Var led throughout. She was always clear and went on to score without any anxious moments by three.

Another to win with authority on this card was Duke Diamond in the maiden 2500m (originally scheduled for 2400m). Running on from midfield, Mark Dixon’s charge took up the running going through the 300m and won comfortably from the running on favourite PHILANTHROPIC by two and a half.

Titbits

After taking 16 starts to shed his maiden tag, the 4yo Nick Jagger came from the rear when completing a quick double in the MR70 Handicap over 1600m.

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Costly To Follow

Vaal 24^th December: A maiden plate over 1800m got proceedings underway at the Vaal’s sand track on Christmas Eve and in what proved to be a very tight finish NONDWENI’S FILLY opened her account. On leaving the stalls it was the costly to follow SHIRLA who elected to make the running and going through the 200m it looked as if she might save her followers from bankruptcy. Stuart Pettigrew’s charge steadily wore her down below the distance though and got up in the very last stride.

At the other end of the scale the easiest victory on the card was recorded by another rare visitor to the winner’s enclosure SUGAR RAY (won 1 from 33 prior to this outing). A regular place getter though, the 6yo Not For Sale gelding adopted a change of tactics in this MR66 Handicap and made all. She kept up a healthy gallop throughout and in what proved to be the fastest of the three 1600m events she won well by three and a quarter.

The faster of the two 1200m events on the eight race program was the bill topping conditions plate won by the featherweighted PRINCIPLED. Soon into stride, Joey Soma’s charge also made all. The favourite DESERT SHEIK ran on strongly over the final 200m and steadily gaining at the finish that one only failed to get up by the narrowest of margins.

Also worthy of note on this card was the performance of AMBER SAIL in winning the boy’s maiden 1450m. Having only his second career outing here, the son of Sail From Seattle raced in midfield early on. He ran on best of all in the straight and won going away by two and a quarter.

Titbits

Five lengths clear at one stage, the frontrunning KEAGAN’S JET rallied gamely after being headed 400m out and got back up late when beating Double Bind in the MR84 Handicap over 1600m.

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Christmas In The Garden

Clairwood 26^th December: The Gr3 Christmas Handicap over 1600m topped the bill at the garden course on Boxing Day and here a bit of an upset was to be had when the 4yo KING OF TORTS registered his fourth career victory. A son of Mogok, King Of Torts was always handy. He was ridden to lead as they approached the 200m marker and kept on strongly in the closing stages of the race to beat the running on KING JACE by a neck.

Four of the afternoon’s ten races were run over 1200m and the fastest of these was the MR97 Handicap won by MIDNIGHT RUN. Despite losing a length at the start, Garth Puller’s charge was soon up with the speed. He kept on strongly at the business end of the race and just had enough in hand to fend off a determined challenge from HARD ROCK by a neck.

In terms of distance the biggest winning margin on the card was just the two lengths registered by LA MIESQUE in the second division of the maiden 1900m. Soon up handy, Frank Robinson’s charge took up the running passing the 200m pole and went on to score comfortably from the easy to back SUPREME LEADER.

Titbits

GREAT RUMPUS ran on well from midfield when winning the MR78 Handicap over 1800m going away by a length and a quarter.

CINCHONA won with authority when opening his account in the first division of the maiden 1900m.

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Top speedratings for this weekend include:-

Top rated winners last week included

Notebook:-

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