Going One Better

On The House

Kenilworth 11^th January: The easiest victory in Cape Town on Wednesday was recorded by CASA BRAVO in the opening maiden event over 1400m. Positioned towards the backend of midfield early on, Joey Ramsden’s charge still had plenty to do as the twelve runners turned for home. Once in the long new course straight though, he quickened well and after striking the front 200m out, he easily drew clear.

The first of two favourites to arrive on the eight race program was DANCE FOR GOLD who did the business in the maiden event over 1600m. Backed into 11/10 from 16/10 at the track, Yogis Govender’s charge was soon up handy. She was ridden to lead shortly after passing the 300m marker and easily accounted for the Count Dubois filly GOTTHELOTTSKI by two.

Race six on the card was a MR78 Handicap over 1000m and here we saw another gutsy performance from the in form THERESE OF LISIEUX. Adopting the same tactics as when successful last time out, Stephen Page’s charge was taken straight to the front and led throughout. She kept on determinedly at the business end of the race and won comfortably by a length and a quarter from a wall of horses.

A MR96 Handicap over 2000m topped the bill and here the stable of Joey Ramsden were again on the mark when ORCHARD HOUSE registered his fourth career victory from just ten starts. A running on fourth when not getting the clearest of runs in the Summer Stayers Handicap last time out, Orchard House was always handy here. He was asked to take up the running going through the 200m and although the hat-trick seeking BORN TO BE WILD kept on strongly once headed, he went on to score comfortably by a length and a half.

Titbits

RAIN GAL ran on well from midfield when only beaten three quarters of a length by Ocean Swift in the MR89 Handicap over 1200m.

After being caught for early toe, the recent maiden winner WOLF’S GIRL was running on strongly at the finish when fourth to Therese Of Lisieux in the MR78 Handicap over 1000m.

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What A Beauty

Vaal 12^th January: They raced on the sand on Thursday where we saw a very easy victory in the opening workrider’s maiden event over 1450m for the second favourite FORMATION. On leaving the stalls it was SPIRITED EMBLEM who elected to make the running whilst St John Gray’s charge was content to sit in midfield. She made her move shortly after passing halfway and cruised clear to score by six and a quarter after striking the front 300m out.

Another to win well in the maiden ranks on this card was LA VOLTA who did the business for favourite backers in the 1000m event. Deep in the red at 11/20 on the off (op 8/10), the daughter of Var broke well and was soon 2,5 lengths clear. She kept on strongly at the business end of the race and although MEXICAN MAGIC tried her best to make a race of it, she extended her advantage to three and three quarters on the run to the line.

Race three on the card was a Conditions Plate over 1000m and here we saw a very smart performance from last season’s Gauteng Fillies Nursery winner HIDDEN BEAUTY. Having her first outing since changing stables here, the daughter of Victory Moon raced close up in second for most of the journey. She was asked to take up the running shortly after passing the 300m marker and with a lot in hand she easily accounted for the running on RAISE THE BAR by three and three quarters.

The afternoon’s feature race was also a conditions event over 1000m and in a time slower than that of Hidden Beauty victory here went to the favourite FURIOUS DANCER. A winner of the Hampton Handicap earlier in the season, Kom Naidoo’s charge was soon up handy. He ran on stoutly over the final 400m and in a race where only half a length separated the first three home, he got the verdict by a neck.

Titbits

Caught for early toe, the newcomer DAZZLING DAYS was running on nicely at the finish when third beaten four lengths by La Volta.

SHATTERED IMAGE was finishing best of all when running on from the rear to take third in the MR76 Handicap over 1450m.

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Winning Sequences

Arlington 13^th January: A Maiden Plate over 1200m was first up in Port Elizabeth on Friday and here victory went to one of the joint favourites SERAPHIM FALLS. Soon at the head of affairs, Gavin Smith’s charge led throughout. She kept on strongly at the business end of the race and although JESSIE FOREVER finished strongly, she still had three quarters of a length to spare at the wire.

The afternoon’s feature event was a Conditions Plate over 1000m and here we saw another smart performance from the up and coming BIG ON BROADWAY.  On leaving the stalls it was PERESTROIKA who elected to make the running and soon had the field strung out. Indeed, Big On Broadway raced fourth, but even he was still four lengths adrift of the leader going through the 400m. Alan Greeff’s charge quickened very nicely from that point though and in eye catching fashion he got up late to win going away by a length and a half. Big On Broadway has now won his last four starts over 1000m.

A MR86 Handicap over the same distance was next up and in a time not that much slower than that of Big On Broadway victory here went to the 3yo son of Muhtafal FROSTY MAGIC. Freely available at 8/1 on the off, Frosty Magic raced in the rear for most of the journey. The uneasy favourite SOUTH DAKOTA was the first to make a move and on hitting the front 200m from home he looked to have done everything right. Frosty Magic had been running on strongly from halfway though and with the rest some three and a quarter lengths in arrears, he got up late to score by a neck.

Extending his winning sequence to four in the MR90 Handicap over 1400m was the veteran son of Mogok TOMCAT. Soon up handy, Tomcat raced prominent throughout. He was ridden to lead early in the short home straight and kept on strongly over the final 400m to beat the running on REFINED IN FIRE by a length and a half.

Titbits

Newcomer KANTAKA ran on strongly from off the pace when fourth in the maiden event over 1200.

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Heading For Majorca

Turffontein 14^th January: Saturday’s action took place on the inner track where after the scratching of Allegheny, the favourite PAVLOVA (31) looked to be a good thing. Sent off at the prohibitive odds of 1/7, St John Gray’s charge was always handy. She took up the running as they approached the 200m marker and with the rest well beaten she easily accounted for the friendless KITTIEFIE (16/1 out to 50/1) by two and a half.

The best bet on the card for most was the Gr1 Majorca Stakes entry WELWITSCHIA (72) and she didn’t let down her supporters. Another to leave the stalls at prohibitive odds (1/8), the daughter of Oasis Dream raced third for most of the journey. She quickened well coming off the strip and went on to score with a ton in hand after striking the front 350m from home.

The afternoon’s feature event was a Pinnacle Stakes over 1450m and here the bookies again had to dig deep into their satchels when the favourite KAVANAGH did the business. At his best around today’s distance, Mike De Kock’s charge was always positioned close to the speed. He was asked to take up the running early in the short home straight and kept on strongly in the closing stages of the race to beat the running on GALANTHUS by a length and a half.

A MR72 Handicap over 2600m brought proceedings to a close and here a bit of an upset was to be had when the nibbled at outsider SURFING SAFARI (43) stole first prize. Freely available at 10/1 on the off (op 14/1), the son of Silvano was taken straight to the front by Jonathon Soll and led throughout. He was easily eight lengths clear turning for home and although the more fancied BAMAKO did make good headway over the final 400m, he still had two and three quarters to spare at the wire.

Titbits

Making his first racecourse appearance since joining the stable of Mike De Kock, the dual guineas winner SOLO TRAVELLER caught the eye running on strongly from the back when third, beaten just a length and three quarters, by his stable companion Kavanagh in the Pinnacle event over 1450m.

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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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