Glenlair Castle
Arlington 20th May: A Qualified Maiden Plate over 2000m got proceedings underway in Port Elizabeth on Friday and here victory went to the second favourite JET D’EAU. Soon up handy, Alan Greeff’s charge raced prominent throughout. She was ridden to lead as they approached the 300m marker and just had enough in hand to hold off the much faster finishing duo of BALLERINA GIRL and OLD HERITAGE.
Race five on the card was a MR90 Handicap over 1600m and here we saw another gutsy front running performance from the Gavin Smith trained DANCING KIWI. Sent off a rather uneasy favourite at 5/2, Dancing Kiwi was always at least a length to the good. The nibbled at OZZIE DUDE threw down a determined challenge over the final 300m, but despite having the rest well beaten, he couldn’t cut into Dancing Kiwi’s lead.
A MR73 Handicap over 1600m was next up and here it was nice to see the regular supporters of BIG JOHN rescued from bankruptcy. Well supported on course as he has been for quite a number of starts now (33/10 into 5/2 joint favourite), Big John was always in touch with the leaders. He ran on strongly in the short home straight and went on to win comfortably by a length and a half.
Topping the bill was the listed Glenlair Trophy over 3200m and here victory went to the veteran KEY CASTLE. Winning for the ninth time in his career here, Jacque Strydom’s charge raced in midfield during the early part of the race. Under a clever tactical ride from apprentice Andrews though, he was nicely positioned in third as they entered the home straight and after striking the front 400m from home, he kept on strongly in the latter stages of the race to beat the luckless FRENCH PEARL by a half. Positioned towards the rear turning for home, the filly French Pearl was badly baulked against the rail 400m out and did very well indeed to get as close as she did.
Titbits
Having just his second career outing here, Forest Digger was easily ten lengths behind the winner turning for home in the maiden juvenile event over 1400m and did well to get up for second beaten just three and a quarter.
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Two Good
Turffontein 21st May: They raced on the inner track on Saturday where the best bet on the card for most was DEFEAT THE DESERT (36) in the opening workrider’s maiden event over 1800m. Deep in the red at 11/20 on the off, Joey Soma’s charge was taken straight to the front by the very able workrider Mukhubo and led throughout. He was two lengths clear coming off the strip and kept up to his work until very close home, he cruised in by eight.
Also worthy of note in the maiden ranks here was the performance of BILLINGSGATE who opened his account in the 1000m event. Nicely positioned in fourth some five lengths off the pace going through halfway, Robbie Sage’s charge ran on strongly in the straight and after the striking the front at the distance, won well by a length and three quarters.
Race five on the card was a Conditions Plate over 1000m and here we saw a smart performance from the Gr1 Golden Horse Sprint entry TWO TONE (91). More often than not seen running on stoutly from off the pace, the well supported favourite (11/10 into 8/10) got away well here and was soon up handy. He was ridden to lead shortly after passing the 200m marker and drew clear easily in the closing stages of the race to beat the running on second favourite COUNT EXPRESS by three and a quarter.
A Pinnacle Stakes over 1600m topped the bill and in what proved to be a real thriller victory here went to the highest rated runner in the field EARL OF SURREY (92). Supported throughout the afternoon into 8/10 from 5/2, Geoff Woodruff’s charge raced sixth during the early part of the race some six lengths off the pace set by his stable companion CRACKER JACK. The one time Triple Crown hopeful Pierre Jourdan raced just behind him and on entering the straight both quickened well. There was never much between them as they closed in on CALL TO COMBAT close home and in a breathtaking three way finish, it was only by the narrowest of margins that Earl Of Surrey got the verdict.
Titbits
After racing in the rear of the Pinnacle Stakes won by Earl Of Surrey, the friendless MAGICAL (6/1 out to 16/1) ran on best of all and was only beaten two lengths.
Friendless LOUVRE (7/1 out to 14/1) was gaining nicely on the eventual winner CHANCES ARE in the MR81 Handicap over 1450m before being hampered 100m or so from home.
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Back On Track
Clairwood 22nd May: Champion jockey Anton Marcus has been in devastating form of late and he was again on the mark with three winners here. The most impressive of these was last season’s Cape Derby winner BRAVURA (102) who gained his first success since that prestigious win in the Pinnacle Stakes over 1500m. Initially priced up as favourite at 28/10, Bravura was allowed to ease out to 7/2 joint second favourite on course as money in the main came for his stable companion LION IN WINTER (7/2 into 28/10). On leaving the stalls it was the nibbled at BLUE TIGER (7/1 into 11/2) who elected to set the pace whilst Bravura raced some six lengths away in fourth. He quickened well in the straight and after striking the front 200m from home he comfortably accounted for the in form THE MOUSEKETEER by three. One to follow from this race is Bravura’s stable companion IL SAGGIATORE. Positioned in the rear after being a little slow into stride, this year’s Cape Derby runner up ran on best of all over the final 400m.
The listed East Coast Handicap over 2000m topped the bill and here we saw a smart performance from the Mike Bass trained ALINGA (74). Sent off second favourite at 9/2, Alinga was always in touch with the leaders. She quickened well early in the long home straight and went on to score very easily by four after taking up the running 200 out.
Another to win well on this card albeit by a much lesser margin was NATIONAL CARRIER (64) who gained his fourth career victory from just twelve starts in the MR77 affair over 1000m. Soon up handy despite being a little slow into stride, National Carrier was always poised to strike. He was ridden to lead shortly after passing the 200m marker and went on to score comfortably from BOLD ALLIANCE by a length and a quarter.
A maiden event over 1600m brought proceedings to a close and here we saw a very comfortable victory for the highest rated runner in the field, SENOR GRISE (37). Freely available at 7/1 on the off, Yogis Govender’s charge raced in midfield for most of the journey. He quickened well early in the straight and easily drew clear after striking the front 350m from home.
Titbits
Making her debut in open company, SECRET QUEST was backed into 17/10 favourite from 4/1 and won well.
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Top speedratings for this weekend include:-
Fairview Race 1: (1) The Nile Lady 3 Race 2: No Qualifiers Race 3: (12) Crimson Lake 5 Race 4: (3) Jamberoo 11 (EW) Race 5: (10) The Lost World 37 Race 6: (5) African Swift 51 Race 7: (9) Al Caruso 66 Race 8: (1) Big On Broadway 52 Race 9: (11) Last Window 69 Vaal (Tues) Race 1: (1) Breakspear 2 Race 2: (3) Georgian 18 Race 3: (1) Milkwood Manor 21 Race 4: (1) Mandla 9 Race 5: (12) Gold Essence 41 Race 6: (5) Albatros 46 Race 7: (6) Xilomante 89 Race 8: (8) Great Khan 46 Race 9: (4) Jolly Poppins 69 Race 10: (2) Arabian Jet 36 Scottsville Race 1: (7) Royal Ridge 26 (NAP**) Race 2: (5) Make It Real 13 Race 3: (2) Nomakhanjani 24 Race 4: (9) Big Yellow Taxi 48 Race 5: (9) Gandolf The Great 46 Race 6: (8) Fancy Footwork 52 Race 7: (8) Streaker 69 Race 8: (1) Celestial Cloud 22 Vaal (Thur) Race 1: (1) MJ Thriller 32 (NAP**) Race 2: (3) Jacaranda Moon 20 Race 3: (1) Marghoob 23 (nb) Race 4: (12) Royal Wings 27 Race 5: (14) Russian Artist 56 Race 6: (5) Forest 70 Race 7: (11) Mr Ronaldo 50 Race 8: (11) Thomond 43 Race 9: (4) Extremist 37 Race 10: (15) Right Royal Man 45 .
Top rated winners last week included
Jean Roi won 6/1 Alan’s Pride won 9/2 Bluemambo won 75/20 Grisham won 33/10 Mastend won 5/2 Winterberg won 18/10 Run Feast won 15/10 Guantanamera won 9/10 .Notebook:-
Il Saggiatore (J Ramsden, W-Cape) Magical (O Ferraris, Gauteng) Two Tone (M Azzie, Gauteng).
FASTEST TIMES
(Shown in brackets is the number of races run in each category)Arlington 20th May Fastest Sprint 1000-1300 (2) Stage Diva Fastest Middle 1400-1800 (5) Dancing Kiwi Fastest Long 1900-3600 (2) Jet D’eau .
