Every Other Way

Speedy Kiwi

Arlington 27^th May: A Qualified Maiden Plate over 1400m got proceedings underway in Port Elizabeth on Friday and here victory went to the second favourite COASTAL CLUB. Skilfully guided over from a wide draw by Marco Van Rensburg, the son of Fan Club’s Mister led throughout. He kept on strongly in the short home straight and finding extra when the favourite GOLD PANNER moved into contention at the distance, he went on to score by a half.

Race six on the card was a MR90 Handicap over 1000m and here it was nice to see the Yvette Bremner trained SHAHREZADE back in the winner’s enclosure. A winner of three in a row earlier in the season, this daughter of The Sheik sat fifth for most of the journey. She quickened in good style going through the 200m and in a race where only a neck separated the first four home, she got up in the dying strides. Keep an eye on Shahrezade. She showed a nice turn of foot in the latter stages of the race and is clearly better than this bare form line would suggest.

A Conditions Plate over 1400m was next up and thanks to a clever tactical ride from Gavin Venter victory here went to the lesser fancied of Alan Greeff’s two runners ILLUMIERE. Freely available at 12/1 on the off, Illumiere was soon up handy. She stole a march coming off the bend and tiring late after quickly skipping three lengths clear, she only held on by the narrowest of margins from the heavily supported PROUDLY PERFECT (10/1 into 4/1).

The non black type Arlington 1400 topped the bill and here we saw another gallant front running performance from the 4yo DANCING KIWI. Well supported at the track to go off second favourite at 4/1, Gavin Smith’s charge was soon in his favourite position at the head of affairs. He kept up a healthy gallop throughout and although another confirmed front runner DAY OF THE PIPER chased hard in the straight, he went on to score comfortably by a length and three quarters.

Titbits

Just as she did last time out, the maiden LA PERLE made good headway in the latter stages to take fourth.

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Queen Victoria

Scottsville 28^th May: The first of the four 1200m Gr1 events to get underway in Natal on Saturday was the Allan Robertson Championship and here we saw an impressive performance from the Victory Moon filly PRINCESS VICTORIA (72). Sent off third in the betting market at 75/20, Glen Kotzen’s charge was content to sit towards the rear during the first half of the race. Once given rein though, she quickly worked her way through the field and after striking the front 230m from home, she went on to win with some in hand by three and a quarter. Another to keep an eye on from this race is the runner up UP FRONT. Barend Botes’ charge also finished well after racing in the rear.

The Gr1 Gold Medallion was next up and as expected here victory went to the unbeaten DELAGO DELUXE (74). Always in the red, Charlie Laird’s charge got away well when the gates opened and was soon at the head of affairs. He kept up a healthy gallop throughout and after finding extra when his stable companion TENNESSEE STRATEGY put in a determined challenge 200m out, he went on to score comfortably by two and a quarter.

Race seven on the card was the Gr1 SA Fillies Sprint and here victory went to the recent Gr1 Computaform Sprint winner VAL DE RA (98). Dennis Drier’s charge had only been beaten once in nine starts going into the race and interestingly, that was in this very race last season. She broke with her usual speed and matching strides with joint favourite GIBRALTAR BLUE in the first half of the race was always going to take some beating. Gibraltar Blue couldn’t go with her when she stepped up the tempo 400m out and staying on strongly in the latter stages of the race, she went on to score comfortably from the running on HEADSTRONG by three quarters.

The fastest run of the four 1200m Gr1 sprinting events was the Golden Horse Sprint in which the Geoff Woodruff trained SHEA SHEA (94) landed the spoils. Allowed to ease out to 15/2 from 5/1 second favourite at the track as money in the main came for the favourite WHAT A WINTER (12/10 into 13/20), Shea Shea raced in midfield for most of the journey. He quickened nicely going through the 400m and under a well judged ride from Anthony Delpech, he got up late to deny the easy to back AUGUST RUSH.

Titbits

Red hot favourite What A Winter was positioned alongside Shea Shea when that one began his winning run 400m out in the Gr1 Golden Horse Sprint.

Racing some five lengths off the pace after losing a length at the start, the unfancied newcomer AWESOME BEAUTY (66/1) ran on nicely in the closing stages of the maiden juvenile event over 1200m and was only beaten by three quarters of a length.

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To The Future

Turffontein 28^th May: They raced on the inner track on Saturday where the first of the two juvenile plates over 1450m was won by the 17/10 favourite KATY’S LANE (32). Soon up handy, the daughter of Tamburlaine raced prominent throughout. She was ridden to lead going through the 200m and went on to score comfortably from the 11/1 shot STAR FACTOR.

The Ormond Ferraris trained STRAW MARKET (47) was sent off a well supported favourite to win the boys division and he too landed the odds. Backed throughout the morning into 15/20 from 14/10, the son of Windrush raced third during the early part of the race. The recent easy maiden winner COHIBA was the first to make a move and running on stoutly after striking the front coming off the strip, he soon had the rest under pressure. Straw Market always had him in his sights though and after he in turn struck the front at the distance, he went on to win quite comfortably by a length and a half.

The listed Syringa Handicap over 1600m topped the bill and here we saw a smart performance from the St John Gray trained ENGAGEMENT (70). Nibbled at into 13/2 at the track, Engagement took full advantage of her pole position draw and was soon up handy. She quickened nicely entering the short home straight and after striking the front 250m from home, she easily accounted for the running on JET FLYER by two and a half. At home on both turf and sand, Engagement won well here and is clearly still improving.

Also worthy of note on this card was the performance of CINNAMON (25) when opening her account in the maiden event over 1800m. Prominent throughout, the daughter of Fort Wood took up the running shortly after passing the 400m marker and went on to score very comfortably by three and a quarter from the easy to back GRAPHIC DESIGN.

Titbits

After a spell in the wilderness, PHUNYUKA ran very close to his best rating when a runner up in handicap company on turf at this meeting and at his best on sand where he has been dropped eight points in the handicap, should go very well if racing on that surface next time.

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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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