Flying High

Appreciating The Extra

Kenilworth 14^th January: The stable of Justin Snaith have been dominating proceedings in the juvenile ranks thus far this season and they were again on the mark here when the heavily supported newcomer PLEASURE JET (16/10 into 11/20) did the business in the maiden juvenile plate over 1000m. It wasn’t as easy as the betting had suggested though. Up with the pace throughout, Pleasure Jet kept on strongly at the business end of the race, but only got the verdict by a neck from another newcomer in COUNTESS RHYNIE.

Another to do the business after finding heavy support was LA PATINEUSE (4/1 into 18/10) when opening her account in the 1400m event. On leaving the stalls it was the well tried SULLY’S LANDING who elected to make the running whilst Paddy Kruyer’s charge raced close up in fourth. She quickened well in the straight and after striking the front 100m from home, she won going away by two.

The easiest victory on the card was undoubtedly that of DUBAI GINA who came home smoking in the afternoon’s feature event, the Sun Classique Handicap (L) over 2400m. One of a number of runners trying the distance for the first time, Vaughan Marshall’s charge was always in touch with the leaders. She made her move early in the home straight and showing a fair turn of foot after hitting the front 100m from home, she cruised clear late to score by four and a quarter. Dubai Gina won very well and is clearly one to keep tabs on.

The final event on the card was a maiden plate over 1200m and here the locals were sent home happy when the well supported favourite SHANGHAI KID did the business. Backed into 5/2 from 4/1 at the track, the son of Count Dubois was soon up handy. He moved up to dispute matters with another supported runner WING AND A PRAYER (12/1 into 13/2) as they passed the 200m marker and after a thrilling tussle on the run to the line, it was only very late that he began to assert his authority.

Titbits

Positioned in the rear at halfway, The Lundy’s Liability filly SKWELETI was running on best of all when only beaten three quarters of a length by Pleasure Jet in the maiden juvenile event over 1000m.

The well supported favourite LEISURE JET (28/10 into 2/1) didn’t get the clearest of runs when fourth in the MR76 Handicap over 1200m.

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Repeat Performance

Scottsville 15^th January: After the scratching of OCCHI DI LUPO, his stable companion STORM VANIDOSO (72) looked to be the right one in the MR90 Handicap over 1000m in Pietermaritzburg on Sunday and so it proved to be. Up with the speed throughout, Dennis Bosch’s charge began to assert his authority shortly after passing halfway and only having to be ridden hands and heels in the closing stages of the race he won comfortably by three. Somewhat surprisingly, Storm Vanidoso was reported as being distressed after the race.

The best bet on the card for most was HALABALOO (33) in the maiden event over 2000m and he too won comfortably. Always handy, Mike De Kock’s charge took up the running early in the home straight and went on to score by two without any anxious moments.

Race four on the card was a Conditions Plate over 1000m and here it was nice to see the 6yo Russian Revival mare FAIRYTALE STORY (67) register her fourth career victory. Freely available at 10/1 in this her third run after a six month layoff, Fairytale Story ran on stoutly over the final 400m and after a protracted battle with the favourite SHARE THE SILVER (18/10 into 13/10) she got the verdict on the nod.

The listed Michael Roberts Handicap over 1800m topped the bill and here victory went to the recent Gr3 Christmas Handicap winner ORBIT WAR (80). Surprisingly allowed to ease out to 14/1 from 8/1 at the track, Adam Kethro’s charge once again raced in the rear. Just as he did last time out though, Orbit War finished best of all and under a well judged ride from Musi Yeni, he got up close home to score by a half.

Titbits

After making the running, WHITER THAN WHITE drew clear easily over the final 400m when opening his account in the maiden 1400m.

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Easy Victories

Arlington 16^th January: A maiden event over 1000m got proceedings underway in Port Elizabeth on Monday and here we saw a very easy victory for the favourite STAFF NURSE. Taken straight to the front by Donavon Mansour, the daughter of National Emblem led throughout. She was always in command and despite the efforts of the chasing PINK LULLABY, she cruised in by four.

Race three on the card was a Maiden Plate over 1400m and here we saw an impressive performance from the 3yo KANTAKA. Running on strongly at the finish when fourth on debut just three days earlier, Mitch Wiese’s charge again raced in the rear. He ran on best of all in the short home straight and far from fully extended he cruised in by three and a quarter. Kantaka won well and is clearly useful.

In terms of distance, the easiest victory on the card was recorded by POULNABRONE in the novice 1600m. Positioned in the rear during the early part of the race, Poulnabrone made good headway as the field began to concertina rounding the turn and was already at the front going through the 400m. She drew clear in good style from there onwards and easily accounted for TIGER CAT by five and a quarter.

A MR90 Handicap over 1800m topped the bill and in what proved to be a real thriller victory here went to the friendless COLLATERAL FORM. Allowed to drift right out to 20/1 from 10/1 at the track, the bottom weight came from the back. He ran on best of all under a determined ride from Eldin Webber and in a race where only three quarters of a length separated the first four home, he got up in the very last stride to deny SPELLCASTER.

Titbits

Beaten by the narrowest of margins, SPRINGTIME FLAME was running on strongly at the finish of the maiden event over 1000m and would have won going away had she have obtained a clear run.

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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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