Four Inns Of Court

Supersonic

Scottsville 11^th December: Followers of the money got off to a good start at Scottsville on Sunday when the newcomer KING’S JET (27) did the business in the opening maiden juvenile event over 800m. Backed into the red in the ante-post market, before being allowed to ease back out to 12/10 on course, Alyson Wright’s charge was soon at the head of affairs. The experienced MY JELLY BEAN raced close up in second and threw down a determined challenge all the way to the wire. Whereas My Jelly Bean was all out though, King’s Jet was only having to be gently ridden hands and heels and could have won by far more than the official three quarters of a length winning margin had his jockey have had the notion.

In terms of winning distance the easiest victory on the card was recorded by BIG BOY WILD (37) in the maiden event over 1600m. Allowed to ease right out to 13/.10 from 8/10 at the track as money in the main came for QUICK OF FOOT, Mike De Kock’s charge wasn’t the quickest into stride. He was soon in touch with the leaders despite that though and after striking the front shortly after passing the 200m marker, he easily drew clear.

The biggest upset on the card occurred in the progress event over 1200m where one of the two rank outsiders of the seven horse party EXTREME WEST (63) landed the spoils. Freely available at 40/1 on the off, the 4yo son of West Man was always handy. He ran on best of all at the business end of the race and comfortably accounted for the very costly to follow LEGAL ACCOUNT by a length.

Race seven on the card was the KZN Chapter Challenge 2000 and here we saw another gutsy performance from the recent Greyville winner ROLL COUNT (53). As per usual quick into stride, Roll Count led throughout. He kept on gamely in the straight and although the pack headed by RAPID FLOW were closing in late, he still had three quarters of a length to spare at the wire.

Titbits

After making all, newcomer MOZART’S GIOVANNI won the maiden event over 1200m going away.

WAY WARD STORM ran on from well off the pace when third in the KZN Chapter Challenge 1600.

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With A Little Luck

Greyville 13^th December: The first of just two favourites to arrive at Greyville on Tuesday evening was the lightly raced PUT THE KETTLE ON (19) when opening her account in the maiden event over 1400m. Soon up handy, Dennis Drier’s charge was always well positioned to strike. She struck the front going through the 300m and kept on strongly in the closing stages of the race to beat MAJIKAT by a length and a quarter.

Also worthy of note in the maiden ranks was the performance of SYLVAN VISTA in winning the 2000m event. Always in touch with the leaders, Deon Visser’s charge ran on best of all in the short home straight and comfortably accounted for ICE TRIGGER going away.

A MR76 Handicap over 1600m was next up and here we saw a smart performance from the Ivan Moore trained INDIAN HAWK (52). Well supported on course to go off second favourite at 33/10 (0p 5/1), the son of Black Minnaloushe raced in midfield for most of the journey. Once in the straight though he ran on strongly, and under a well judged ride from Anton Marcus, he got up very late to deny the improving 3yo TYCOON TOUCH.

The afternoon’s feature event was a MR93 Handicap over 1600m and here victory went to the front running BAY ROUTE (68). Soon at the head of affairs, Bay Route led by just a length for most of the trip. The regular place getter MAGNANIMOUS loomed alongside 200m from home and at that stage of the race it looked as if the son of The Sheik would go on to score. Bay Route found extra when challenged though and in what proved to be a real thriller, he went on to score by a half.

Titbits

A winner of his only previous racecourse appearance, the Mike De Kock trained ROCCO’S LUCK had been positioned at the back turning for home and fairly flying at the finish did well to get within a length and a quarter of Indian Hawk in the MR76 affair over 1600m.

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The Lucky Last

Kenilworth 14^th December: A maiden event over 2500m got proceedings underway in Cape Town on Wednesday and here victory went to the 3yo A BOY NAMED SUE. One of three runners in the six horse field from the stable of Joey Ramsden, A Boy Named Sue led throughout. He was three lengths clear rounding the home turn and after quickly skipping clear at the top of the straight, the 4/1 shot cruised in by nine and a quarter.

The only favourite to arrive was RUSHING ELF who did the business in the lucky last, a maiden event over 2000m. Backed in to 28/10 from 7/2 at the track, Carl Burger’s charge was always in touch with the leaders. He was ridden to lead as they approached the 400m marker and kept on strongly on the run to the line to fend off determined challenges from both IMPRESSIVE ROCK and CRYSTAL GLITTER by a half.

Originally priced up as the rank outsider of the eight horse party at 33/1, ENTRADOR found good support in the progress event over 1400m and eventually left the stalls at 12/1. He led from pillar to post and although DEAD CERT ran on strongly from off the pace in the closing stages of the race, he still had three quarters of a length to spare at the wire.

Race eight on the card was a graduation plate over 1200m and in what proved to be a real thriller victory here went to the Piet Steyn trained MONEY SURGER. The 2/1 favourite VENETIAN LADY had raced the closest of the pair to the pace and on striking the front 150m from home, she looked to have done everything right. Money Surger quickened very nicely below the distance though and showing a nice turn of foot, she got up late to win by a neck.

Titbits

Finishing by far the best in the closing stages of the progress event won by Entrador, the former Dingaans winner CURVED BALL only got going very late.

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Doing The Business

Vaal 15^th December: Thursday’s action took place on the turf where victory in the opening workrider’s maiden event over 1200m went to the most experienced runner in the field ASSIGN THE ASSASIN (17). Making his 29^th racecourse appearance here, the 5yo son of Fort Wood was always handy. He was ridden to lead shortly after passing the 400m marker and kept up to his work all the way to the wire, he just held on from both SIR SWAYZE and LECTURE MOMENTS.

The best bet on the card for most was GLORIOUS JET in the maiden event over 1600m and he didn’t let down his supporters. Backed as if unbeatable on course into 3/10 (op 6/10), St John Gray’s charge was soon positioned close to the speed. He was asked to take up the running shortly after passing halfway and given rein 400m out, he easily drew clear.

Another to win very comfortably on this card was PAELLA who caused a bit of an upset when landing the graduation event over 1200m. Nibbled at on course into 6/1 from 8’s, Dominic Zaki’s charge adopted a change of tactics here and raced in midfield. He ran on best of all at the business end of the race and after getting the better of the uneasy favourite MIDNIGHT SERENADE (11/10 out to 17/10)150m from home, he drew clear easily to score by two.

The afternoon’s feature event was a MR82 Handicap over 1200m and in what proved to be a real thriller victory here went to the well supported favourite SIMPLY BLUE (59). Backed into 28/10 from 4/1 at the track, Simply Blue raced in the rear for most of the journey. Both she and the hat-trick seeking COME WITH ME quickened very nicely from halfway and it was only by the narrowest of margins that Simply Blue got the verdict.

Titbits

Easily eight lengths adrift of the MR72 Handicap over 1600m winner Caleb going through the 400m, POCKET FILLER ran on best of all and did well to get within three quarters of a length at the wire.

An eye catching winner of her only previous start, VIVACIOUS STAR was fairly flying at the finish of the novice 1400m and only failed to get to the winner Lalou Belle by the narrowest of margins.

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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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