Getting Better

Simply Stunning

Vaal 22^nd May: Tuesday’s action took place on the turf where victory in the opening workrider’s maiden plate over 1200m went to the newcomer ZEMFIRA (16). Marginally in the red at the off, Sean Tarry’s charge raced in midfield during the early part of the race. She began to take closer order passing halfway and in what proved to be a real thriller she only got the verdict by the narrowest of margins from the well tried DO OR DYE.

A number of runners found heavy support in the maiden juvenile plate over 1200m amongst them the newcomer ROCK OF ARTS (43) Allowed to flirt with 12/10 at one stage before easing right back out to 28/10, Weiho Marwing’s charge sat in midfield early. He was asked to take up the running going through the 400m and although another newcomer COOKIE MONSTER ran on stoutly at the finish, he went on to score comfortably by three and a quarter. There were six races over 1200m on the afternoon and Rock Of Arts recorded the fastest time.

The afternoon’s feature event was a MR93 Handicap over 1200m and here we saw an eye catching performance from the Var filly SIMPLY BLUE. Positioned in the rear going through halfway, Roy Magner’s charge looked to have more than enough to do. Once given rein though she fairly flew and in vintage Pierre Strydom fashion she got up in the dying strides.

Jockey Strydom was also on the mark in the next, a MR86 Handicap over 1400m, whenNATIONAL ROAD(55) landed the spoils. Seen running on strongly from off the pace in recent starts, Sean Tarry’s charge adopted a change of tactics here and raced close up in second. He was ridden to lead shortly after passing the 500m marker and kept on strongly in the closing stages of the race to beat PESSOA by two and a half.

Titbits

Unplaced newcomer SUN TZU was backed into 16/10 from 8/1 in the ante post betting market for the maiden juvenile event over 1200m.

Newcomer MONTELUPO made up many lengths when running on from the rear to take second position in the boys division of maiden juvenile event over 1200m.

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Rough Start

Greyville 22^nd May: Impressive first time out winner Lizzie Grey (11/10 into 5/10) was heavily supported to win the opening juvenile plate on Tuesday night, but with one of the stirrup leathers becoming detached and then the saddle slipping, she faded into oblivion after making a bright start. Victory instead went to the Mike De Kock trained newcomer EMOTIF (35). Running on from midfield, the daughter of Giant’s Causeway quickened well at the top of the straight and after striking the front 300m from home, she went on to score very comfortably from MURMERING SKY. The runner up had been hampered early and ran on very well over the final 400m.

Things did go to plan in the boys division of the juvenile plate over 1400m when the well supported favourite INDABA MY CHILDREN (36) did the business. Backed into 9/10 from 16/10 at the track, Charlie Laird’s charge broke well and was soon at the head of affairs. He ran on strongly in the straight and although the second favourite BLACK TOGA tried his best to make a race of it, he went on to score very comfortably by a length and a quarter.

The prestigious Gr2 Greyville 1900 topped the bill and here we saw a nice performance from BEACH BEAUTY (98). The only female in the race after the scratching of Berry Blaze, Dennis Drier’s charge was soon up handy. She was ridden to lead as they approached the 200m marker and kept on strongly in the closing stages of the race to beat the easy to back MASTER PLAN by a length and a half.

A pinnacle stakes over 1400m was next up and as expected victory here went to the favouriteLAKEARTHUR(89). Confidently ridden by Sean Veale, the 15/10 favourite sat fourth during the early part of the race. He made his move early in the straight and comfortably accounted for the regular place getter CAPTAIN’S SECRET after striking the front 100m from home.

Titbits

After stumbling at the start, the 2yo ALEXANDER ran on stoutly from the rear against her older rivals and did well to get up for third beaten just three quarters of a length.

Not for the first time in recent starts, the Mike De Kock trained SOLO TRAVELLER ran on very well from off the pace when fourth in the Greyville 1900.

After losing a length at the start the poorly drawn TIJUANA BRASS ran on well from the rear when third (beaten just 0,55 lengths) in the MR72 Handicap over 1400m.

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Sweet Chocolate

Durbanville 23^rd May: A maiden juvenile plate over 1500m got proceedings underway at the country course on Wednesday and here victory went to the deposed favourite PATERFAMILIAS (23). Allowed to ease out to 19/10 from 16/10 at the track as money came for both NAVAL VICTORY (3/1 into 15/10) and SILVANO’S JET (16), the son of Trippi was always handy. He ran on well in the straight and looking to have a little in hand, he comfortably accounted for the friendless TIGHT SHIP (14/1 out to 33/1) by a length.

The Captain Al filly CAPTAINOFMYSOUL (37) was the all the rage to win the girls division of the maiden juvenile 1500m and she didn’t let down her supporters. Deep in the red at 11/20 on the off (op 8/10), Justin Snaith’s charge got away well when the gates opened and raced close up in second. She was ridden to lead shortly after passing the 300m marker and comfortably accounted for the nibbled at RAIN LILY by three.

The easiest victory on the card was recorded by the heavily supported GIANDUJA (6/1 into 33/10) when winning the afternoon’s feature event, a MR94 Handicap over 2400m. Another to have raced handy, Paddy Kruyer’s charge took up the running 300m from home and fairly cruised clear in the closing stages of the race to win by three and a half.

Also worthy of note on this card was the performance of LA PATINEUSE (48) when winning the MR84 Handicap over 1600m. Positioned in midfield as the eleven runners turned for home, La Patineuse ran on strongly in the straight and under a well judged ride from Grant Van Niekerk, she got the better of the fancied RUSH FOR JOHN by a length.

Titbits

GENERAL JUBILATION ran on well from off the pace when getting up in the very last stride to win the MR72 Handicap over 1200m.

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What A Beauty

Vaal 24^th May: They raced on the sand on Thursday where victory in the opening maiden juvenile event over 1000m went to the favourite SWEET DESTINY (21). Soon into stride, Leon Erasmus’ charge led throughout. She kept on strongly at the business end of the race and comfortably accounted for the running on LECTURE QUEEN by two and a quarter. Fourth placedCATALONIA ran on well from the rear in this race.

A MR92 Handicap over 1000m was next up and here the Kahal mare MANNEQUIN (76) registered her eleventh career victory. Soon up handy,PaulMatchett’s charge took up the running shortly after passing halfway and went on to score very easily from SAPPHIRE RING by three and a quarter.

A MR104 Handicap over 1450m topped the bill and here we saw a very smart performance from the Mike De Kock trained RIGHT BEAUTY (76). Sporting blinkers for the first time in this his first outing on sand, Right Beauty made all. He was always in command and although the in form MABUKO SPIRIT chased hard, and did have the rest well beaten, he went on to win in good style by two and a quarter.

The not so lucky last was a MR72 Handicap over 1000m and here a major upset was to be had when the friendless SUPER BOY (56) gained his third win from 45 outings. Freely available at 28/1 on the off (op 14/1), Wallace Tolmay’s charge sat in midfield during the first half of the race. He quickened best of all over the final 500m and after striking the front 200m out, he cruised clear to score by five.

Titbits

MCALLISTOR ran on well from the rear when winning the maiden event over 1600m.

NEW YORKwon the MR80 Handicap over 1600m going away after running on strongly from midfield.

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Top speedratings for this weekend include:-

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Top rated winners last week included

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FASTEST TIMES

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