Getting Ready

The Lucky Last

Kenilworth 22^nd June: A maiden juvenile plate over 1400m got proceedings underway in Cape Town on Saturday and here we saw a nice performance from the Glen Puller trained REIM. Freely available at 5/1 on the off, the lightly raced son of Ashaawes was always handy. He quickened well after switching out for a run 250m from home and got up late to score by a half. Also worthy of note in this race is the fourth placed runner ARION. Racing green this newcomer came from the rear and didn’t find the clearest of passages.

There were three 1400m races on the card in total and the fastest of these was the MR72 Handicap won by IN TRIBUTE. On leaving the stalls it was the friendless REMEMBERIN ESSENCE who elected to make the running whilst Yogis Govender’s 10/1 shot sat in midfield. He quickened well at the top of the short old course straight and with the benefit of first run he just got the verdict over the faster finishing DAN PATCH. The veteran PASADERA (third) finished best of all in this race.

A MR96 Handicap topped the bill and in what proved to be the fastest of the three 1600m events victory here went to the easy to back 4yo SUSSEX SONG. Allowed to drift right out to 19/2 from 5/1 at the track, Mike Bass’ charge was taken straight to the front and led throughout. He kept on determinedly at the business end of the race and just held on from the steadily gaining UNENCUMBERED by a neck.

The newcomer KIMBERLY AL was backed all the way in to 19/10 from 25/2 to win the lucky last, a maiden plate over 1000m, and he didn’t let down his supporters. Soon up with the speed the son of Captain Al made virtually all. He began to assert his authority going through the 300m and only having to pushed out with hands and heels he won comfortably by two.

Titbits

Running on from her early position in sixth in the maiden 1600m, KARNILLA had to switch out for a run 200m from home and did well to get up in the very last stride.

RAIN GAL and FEEL MY LOVE both ran on well from off the pace when third and fifth respectively in the MR86 Handicap over 1800m.

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One Cool Equine Dude

Clairwood 23^rd June: There were a number of very easy victories amongst the eleven races at the garden course on Sunday, but none more so than that of ALEXANDER when opening his account in the maiden 2500m. Allowed to ease right out to 7/2 from 22/10 favourite at the track despite having been flying at the finish in a MR76 Handicap last time out, Glen Kotzen’s charge, as per usual, wasn’t the quickest into stride and raced at the back of the twelve for most of the journey. Once in the long home straight though he cut through the field like a knife and cruised clear to score by nine after striking the front 300m out.

Another to show good improvement was the Dennis Drier trained ONE COOL DUDE in the MR88 Handicap over 1600m. Heavily supported on course into 27/20 from 22/10, the son of Strike Smartly raced handy in fifth, but was cramped 350m out when starting his run. He produced an impressive turn of foot when seeing daylight and won going away in eye catching style.

The first of the two Gr2 features to be run was the Betting World Oaks over 2400m and here it was nice to see the daughter of Dylan Thomas DYLAN’S PROMISE find her form. Cleverly ridden by Kevin Shea, Dylan’s Promise sat third for most of the journey. She was asked to take up the running going through the 800m and after quickly skipping three lengths clear she went on to score without any anxious moments.

Run in a much faster time was the Gr2 Betting World Derby over the same distance and in what proved to be a real thriller victory here went to the Joey Ramsden trained SILVANO’S JET. He got away well when the gates opened and proceeded to make the running. SKY RISE and KALMIA in turn took the helm in running and it was only approaching the 300m pole that Silvano’s Jet regained the lead. The favourite HOT TICKET meanwhile had been baulked for a run 500m out, but in the closing stages he did run on strongly. Indeed, he made Silvano’s Jet give his all and with the rest well beaten it was only by a neck that that one got the verdict.

Titbits

Racing in open company the lightly raced 2yo SHODDY NICK took the maiden 1600m going away by three.

With no pacemakers in the small field of six, champion sprinter WHAT A WINTER had to make his own running when comfortably accounting for the veteran Shades Of Indigo in the pinnacle stakes over 1200m .

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Life Begins At 40

Flamingo Park 24^th June: They raced in the Northern Cape on Monday where the easiest victory on the card was recorded by the former Cape Town campaigner WHISTLE FOR GOLD. Making his fortieth appearance in the maiden ranks on this his local debut, the 5yo son of Whistling Wood made all. Only EXTREME DREAM was able to go with him early on and entering the straight the pair were six lengths clear. He began to assert his authority over Extreme Dream going through the 300m and cruised clear in the latter stages of the race to score by eight.

Another to win very well on this card was TRIPARTITE in the MR66 Handicap over 1200m. Supported all the way in to 9/1 from 25’s during the afternoon, Bertie Myburgh’s charge raced many lengths off the pace towards the rear. Once in the straight though, he fairly flew and won going away by two and three quarters after striking the front 100m from home. Once rated 90 by the official handicapper, Tripartite won off a 54 here and looks sure to be well handicapped again next time.

The fastest of the three 1600m events on the card was the MR74 affair won by the former KZN campaigner TENACIOUS TESS. Winning for the first time in thirteen months here, the daughter of Parade Leader was soon up handy. She was ridden to lead shortly after passing the 200m marker and comfortably accounted for the well supported favourite SWEET LATTE (5/1 into 28/10) by a length and a quarter.

Titbits

BIG DADDY was supported into 15/1 from 33’s when winning the afternoon’s feature event, a MR84 Handicap over 1400m.

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Top speedratings for this weekend include:-

Top rated winners last week included

Notebook:-

FASTEST TIMES