Easier Pickings

Genuine Article

Turffontein 7^th April: They raced on the old stand side track on Saturday where victory in the opening maiden juvenile event over 1000m went to the newcomer GENUINE LEATHER (42). Heavily supported into 9/2 from 25/1,Paul Matchett’s charge broke well and taken straight to the front by Randal Simons, soon had the field strung out. She kept up a strong gallop all the way to the wire and in what was clearly a very good time, she easily accounted for HEART’S CONTENT (15/10 out to 33/10) by three.

Race 5 on the card was the listed Derby Trial over 2000m and here a bit of an upset was to be had when the easy to back ZAMBUCCA (68) registered his third career victory. On leaving the stalls it was RASHAAD who elected to make the running whilst the son of Lundy’s Liability raced close up in third. He was ridden to lead shortly after passing the 400m marker and although the lightly raced favourite MAIN DANE tried hard to make a race of it, he did have that one held by two at the wire.

The first of the afternoon’s two Gr2 events to take place was the Colorado King Stakes over 2000m and here victory went to the Mike De Kock trained FLIRTATION (86). The most fancied of the four runners from Mike’s stable, Flirtation was always handy. She was ridden to lead going through the 500m and after a thrilling tussle with GALANTHUS in the closing stages of the race, she held on to score by a neck.

The Gr2 Senor Santa Handicap over 1160m was next up and here we saw another smart performance from theNatalraider ANTIOUS (99). Sent off favourite at 22/10, Antious sat towards the backend of midfield during the early part of the race. Once given rein though he quickly cut through the field and after striking the front 200m from home, he easily drew clear.

Titbits

TERRA MARIANNA ran on well from midfield when getting up late to win the MR82 Handicap over 1400m.

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Speedy Valdivia

Clairwood 8^th April: The only meeting on Easter Sunday took place at the garden course where favourite backers got off to a good start when MYTHICAL CHARM (29) did the business. Soon up handy, the son of GO DEPUTY raced prominent throughout. He was ridden to lead going through the 300m and went on to score comfortably from the well tried CUCUMBER ALLEY by a length and a half.

Backed as if unbeatable to win the pinnacle event over 1100m was DELAGO DELUXE (94) and he didn’t let down his supporters. On leaving the stalls it was ROMANTIC MOON who elected to make the running whilst the favourite raced close up in fourth. He was asked to take up the running as they approached the 400m marker and in what proved to be a real thriller, he only held on by the narrowest of margins from his stable companion RUBY CARTEL who finished well.

The first of the two juvenile feature races to take place was the Gr3 Strelitzia Stakes over 1000m and here we saw another impressive performance from the unbeaten VALDIVIA (43). Deep in the red at 1/5 on the off, Vaughan Marshall’s charge got away well when the gates opened and set a brisk pace. Indeed, she was 3,5 lengths clear going through the 400m and despite the efforts of the chasing CONISTON GOLD and FUN SUNZI, she extended her lead to five and a half on the run to the line.

The boys contested the Gr3 Godolphin Barb Stakes over 1000m and here the stable of Vaughan Marshall were again on the mark when TWITTER (48) landed the spoils. Sent off second favourite at 28/10, the son of Var raced third for most of the journey. He quickened well on striking the front 250m out and went on to beat the favourite INDABA MY CHILDREN fair and square by a length and three quarters.

Titbits

SHE’S A STUNNER won well when completing a hat-trick in the MR86 Handicap over 1200m.

HALLOWED won the maiden event over 2000m with some in hand.

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Fifth Ace

Clairwood 9^th April: This was the meeting originally scheduled to take place on April 1^st. A maiden juvenile event over 1000m was first up and in what proved to be a real thriller victory here went to the Charles Laird trained CONTADOR (23). Allowed to drift right out to 4/1 from 15/10 on course as money came for both BLIZZARD OF OZ (5/1 into 16/10) and FOREST FIGHTER (5/1 into 22/10), Contador raced up with the speed throughout. Another friendless runner MIDNIGHT RUN (28/10 out to 6/1) raced with her and together all the way to the wire, it was only by a neck that Contador got the verdict.

Race three on the card was a maiden event over 1200m and here we saw a much improved performance from the 5yoVLADIMIR(28). Freely available at 20/1 (op 50’s) on the off, Michael Roberts’ charge raced in midfield for most of the journey. He quickened well at the top of the long home straight and under a well judged ride from apprentice Dillon, he got up late to deny the 2/1 second favourite DANCING MAN.

Another to get up late under a well judged ride was HEAD OF THE HOUSE (52) who gained a well overdue second career victory in the novice 1600m. The 3yo STERN LINE had made the running and staying on strongly at the business end of the race, she did have the rest well beaten. Produced with her usual strong late run by Sean Cormack though, Head Of The House reeled her in quickly over the final 200m and went on to score by a half.

The afternoon’s feature event was a MR97 Handicap over 1000m and here it was nice to see the ultra consistent KRACKERJACK ACE (64) register his fifth career victory. As per usual soon up handy, Mark Dixon’s charge ran on strongly from halfway and just got the verdict over SKY MARSHALL by the narrowest of margins.

Titbits

Newcomer OLYMPIC SPECTRUM ran on from the rear when fourth in the maiden event over 1200m.

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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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