Expect Improvement

Upsets Aplenty

Vaal 3^rd June: Tuesday’s action took place on the turf where there was a major upset in the opening maiden juvenile event over 1200m when the friendless GROOTFONTEIN (20) got off the mark. Allowed to drift right out to 40/1 from 16’s at the track, Alec Laird’s charge lost two lengths at the start, but despite that was soon up handy. She ran on strongly over the final 400m and in what proved to be a real thriller she got up late to deny the heavily supported ANTIGUA (11/2 into 75/20).

There were a number of upsets on the day. Indeed, the only winner with a starting price shorter than 25/1 amongst the first five races was TRIANDRA in the maiden 1600m. Always positioned second on the boards, the well tried Triandra raced fourth for most of the journey. She quickened well as they approached the 200m marker and comfortably accounted for the front running favourite JET RENDEZVOUS by two.

The first of two favourites to arrive was the 3yo GREAT SMOKEY (43) in the apprentice handicap over 1400m. Taken straight to the front by Wesley Marwing, the top weight led throughout. He was always in command and went on to score by three and a quarter without any anxious moments.

A MR80 Handicap over 1200m topped the bill and here it was nice to see the Fusaichi Pegasus gelding MYTHICAL PALACE (53) gain just reward for his recent consistency.  Backed into 28/10 from 7/2 at the track, Sean Tarry’s charge, as per usual, came from off the pace. He ran on strongly from halfway and under a well judged ride from apprentice Lembethe, he comfortably accounted for the friendless KENTUCKY SHEIK (7/1 out to 16/1) by a length and a quarter.

Titbits

Newcomer TOMORROW’S MISS ran on strongly from the rear in the third division of the maiden juvenile 1200m and only failed to get up by the narrowest of margins. Lightly raced RADIANT WISDOM, who was hampered late, also finished well in this race to take fifth.

CASEY’S CAUSE ran on strongly from the rear when third in the maiden 1000m.

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Just Rewards

Durbanville 4^th June: The best bet on the card for most at the country course on Wednesday was NAVAL VICTORY in the opening maiden juvenile event over 1300m and he didn’t let down his supporters. Deep in the red at 11/20 on the off (op 8/10), Dean Kannemeyer’s charge was soon positioned close to the speed. He was asked to take up the running as they approached the 300m marker and went on to score very cosily by four and a quarter from the most experienced runner in the field PARISIAN BOLT.

Favourite backers were again on the mark in race three, a maiden event over 1400m, when the ultra consistent JAMIE LEE JET (31) secured a well deserved first career victory. Nibbled at on course, the son of Jet Master led throughout. He kept on strongly down the straight and although another regular place getter DYNASTY’S SECRET chased hard, he went on to score comfortably by a length and a half. After not getting the clearest of runs, the newcomer CIGAR BOY caught the eye running on late to take fourth position in this race.

There were also a number of upsets on the card, most notably the victory of the 3yo UNBRIDLED JOY in the MR78 Handicap over 1800m. Freely available at 25/1 on the off (op 16’s), Brett Crawford’s charge made all. Both CAPE TOWN and the favourite QUITE SOMETHING chased hard over the final 400m, but Unbridled Joy answered every call and didn’t surrender an inch of his length and a half advantage.

Another to lead from pillar to post was YOUNG CAESOUR in the afternoon’s feature event a MR86 Handicap over 1600m. It looked as if he might have to once again settle for a place when the pack began to close in 300m out, but finding extra when asked for his effort he drew clear in good style again late to win by two and a quarter.

Titbits

Prior to being badly hampered 100m from home, WISE CHOICE had been running on strongly and looked a real threat in theMR72 Handicap over 1000m.

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Winning Trail

Vaal 5^th June: They raced on the sand on Thursday where victory in the opening juvenile plate over 1200m went to the lesser fancied of trainer Stephen Moffatt’s two runners DALALAAT. In what was a tightly bunched field early on, the 11/1 shot sat sixth early on. She ran on best of all at the business end of the race and won easily going away after striking the front 100m from home.

There were a number of very easy victories on the card, but none more so than that of the uneasy favourite THE ANGELUS (14/10 out to 2/1) who came home smoking in the maiden event over 1450m. Another priceless winner in Gavin Lerena’s bid for the national jockey’s title, The Angelus was soon positioned close to the speed. She was ridden to lead shortly after passing the 400m marker and fairly cruised clear from there onwards to beat the original second favourite CRACKER DOBA (5/2 out to 75/20) by six and three quarters.

After tasting defeat for the first time on the surface last time out the favourite Mr Tobin was allowed to ease right out to 15/10 from 9/10 in the pinnacle stakes over 1450m, but he did nonetheless get back on the winning trail. Another winner for Gavin Lerena, MR Tobin adopted a change of tactics here and raced handy. He took up the running at the 200m marker and although the fancied FOLLOW THE PIPER chased hard below the distance, he went on to score very comfortably by three and a quarter.

Titbits

As is usually the case, SAYADAW ran on strongly from the rear when third to Mr Tobin in the pinnacle stakes over 1450m.

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Good Improvement

Turffontein 7^th June: Saturday’s action in Gauteng took place on Turffontein’s old stand side track where all the rage to win the opening juvenile plate over 1400m was the unbeaten CHERRY ON THE TOP (46). Backed throughout the morning into 5/10 from 9/10, the daughter of Tiger Ridge was soon prominent. She was ridden to lead shortly after passing the 200m marker, but with the front running SEA SHADOW rallying gamely after being headed, she had to be ridden out in order to win by a length and a quarter.

The easiest victory on the card was recorded by THE DIE IS CAST (29) in the maiden event over 2450m. Making his 25^th racecourse appearance here, the son of Caesour sat fifth for most of the journey. He quickened well at the top of the long home straight and after striking the front 400m from home, he went on to score very easily by four and a half.

Another to win well in the maiden ranks, albeit by a much lesser margin was SUZI SWIFT (20) in the 1160m event. Running on from midfield, Ormond Ferraris’ charge won going away after striking the front 160m from home.

The afternoon’s feature event was a MR98 Handicap over 1160m and here victory went to the talented, but not so reliable PAELLA (80). Sent off joint second favourite in what was clearly a very competitive event, Dominic Zaki’s charge was always handy. He was ridden to lead shortly after passing the 300m marker and kept on strongly in the closing stages of the race to hold off the running on ACROSS THE ICE.

Titbits

Usually seen running on stoutly from off the pace, MILLENNIUM WIND won going away when adopting a change of tactics and racing handy in the MR97 Handicap over 1600m.

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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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