Hattrick Bid

Doing The Business

Scottsville 20^th February: Recent maiden winner ALLOCATION was sent off a strong favourite to win the novice event over 1000m and he didn’t let down his supporters. As per usual quick into stride, Michael Roberts’ charge raced prominent throughout. He was ridden to lead as they approached the 300m marker and went on to score comfortably from the 5yo DANCE WITH RYAN. Allocation won well and completion of the hattrick next time much be a strong possibility if not thrown in too deep.

LADY MAGPIE in the Conditions Plate over 1750m always looked to be the best bet on the card and she too did the business. Just seven runners went to post and adopting a change of tactics here, Alistair Gordon’s charge was always handy. She moved up to dispute matters 300m from home and with LAS RAMBLAS running on stoutly at that stage, the rest were soon left trailing in their wake. Las Ramblas threw down a determined challenge in the closing stages of the race, but try as she might, she couldn’t get the better of Lady Magpie who went on to score by a half.

The easiest victory on the card was undoubtedly that of RIVER LODGE who came home smoking in the MR73 affair over 1950m. Confidently ridden by Raymond Danielson, the son of Strike Smartly sat in midfield for most of the journey. He made up the ground quickly when asked for his effort at the top of the home straight and after striking the front 250m from home, he drew clear easily in the latter stages of the race to score by five and three quarters.

Titbits

A KING IS BORN ran on well from midfield and won the maiden event over 1600m very easily by four lengths.

Smart Newcomers

Vaal 22^nd February: They raced on the turf on Tuesday where we saw a very easy victory in the opening maiden juvenile event over 1200m for SOLARIUM. Freely available at 14/1 on the off (op 6/1), Michael Azzie’s charge was soon up handy. She was ridden to lead as they approached the 400m marker and drew clear easily in the closing stages of the race to beat another newcomer ALTAIR by eight. Solarium won well and can only improve.

Another newcomer to win very easily in the maiden juvenile ranks here was the Charles Laird trained DELAGO DELUXE who opened his account in the boys division over 1200m. Allowed to ease right out to 33/10 from 16/10 joint favouritism at the track as money came for the form horse FORT WILLIAM (16/10 into 8/10), Delago Deluxe was soon at the head of affairs. He was three lengths clear going through the 400m and despite the efforts of the chasing favourite, he extended that advantage to four on the run to the line.

A MR94 Handicap over 1700m topped the bill and here a bit of an upset was to be had when the easy to back CASEY’S GUEST landed the spoils. Freely available at 16/1 on the off, Lucky Houdalakis’ charge raced towards the rear during the early part of the race. He quickened well when the race began in earnest 500m out and under a well judged ride from Francois Herholdt, he went on to score comfortably after hitting the front 120m from home.

Titbits

TAPUYA ran on well from the rear in the MR72 Handicap over 1700m and did well to get up for second.

Powerful Finish

Greyville 22^nd February: The most impressive performance in the maiden ranks on Tuesday evening was undoubtedly that of EUCALPYTUS who came home smoking in the 1900m event. Sent off a well supported favourite at 9/10, Mike De Kock’s charge was always in touch with the leaders. She ran on stoutly when given rein early in the home straight and after striking the front 200m out, she went on to score very easily by four with some in hand. Eucalyptus won well and is clearly one to keep tabs on.

Race four on the card was a MR74 Handicap over 1600m and here we saw a nice performance from the recent maiden winner BLACK WING. Freely available at 15/2 on the off, the son of Kahal was content to sit towards the rear during the early part of the race. He quickened well when the sixteen runners turned for home and finishing best of all, he comfortably accounted for the more fancied VA VA VOOM by two and a quarter.

Also worthy of note on this card was the performance of BURAGH in winning the MR80 affair over 1200m. Soon at the head of affairs despite being a little slow into stride, Yogis Govender’s charge led throughout. He was always in command and although the nibbled at CASTLE ROSS (10/1 into 15/2) tried his best to make a race of it in the closing stages, he went on to score comfortably by a length and a quarter.

Titbits

After racing in the rear, MO DA DI DU ran on strongly in the latter stages of the maiden event over 1900m and did well to get within a length and three quarters of the winner.

Better Than Rated

Kenilworth 23^rd February: Favourite backers got off to a nice start in Cape Town on Wednesday when the well supported START SAILING did the business in the opening maiden event over 1400m. Backed into 13/20 from even money at the track, Yogis Govender’s charge was always handy. The event still looked wide open going through the 300m and in a race where less than a length separated the first five home, it was only by the narrowest of margins that the market leader got the verdict.

Followers of the money were also on the mark in the maiden event over 1800m when the Glen Kotzen trained TOUCHE did the business. Backed into 14/10 from 2/1, Touche raced in midfield for most of the journey. She seemed to take a while to find top gear in the straight and it was only very late that she got her head in front. She did quicken very nicely late on though and is probably much better than this bare form line would suggest.

Race seven on the card was a MR72 Handicap over 1600m and here we saw a nice performance from the recent maiden winner MISTER GONE. Another winner on the card for trainer Glen Kotzen, the son of Mogok was soon up handy. He took up the running shortly after passing the 300m marker and asked to do no more than was absolutely necessary in the closing stages of the race, he won much more easily than the official winning margin of a neck will reflect.

Titbits

Favourite JEPPE’S REEF raced in the rear of the MR74 Handicap over 2000m and finishing best of all was only beaten a neck.

Double Figures

Vaal 24^th February: Thursday’s action was one of those low grade affairs on the turf where all of the eight races were handicaps.

The only horse to win whose starting price was not in double figures on the card was CAESOUR’S SPIRIT at 11/2. Taken straight to the front by Brandon Lerena, the daughter of Caesour led throughout. She kept on gamely at the business end of the race and just had enough in hand to hold off a wall of horses by a length.

A Qualified Maiden Handicap over 1200m was next up and here we saw a much improved performance from the nibbled at outsider OBI WAN (26). Backed into 14/1 from 20’s, James Maree’s charge raced in midfield during the early part of the race. He ran on nicely from halfway and under a well judged ride from the up and coming J P Van Der Merwe, he got up nicely late to beat VAR’S CHARM going away.

The easiest victory on the card was recorded by the lightly raced DREAM STREET who came home smoking in the MR66 affair over 1800m. Freely available at 12/1 on the off, Greg Anthony’s charge led throughout. She was always in command and won by four lengths without any anxious moments.

Titbits

Fairly flying at the finish, runner up EDICT would surely have gone one better in the MR66 Handicap over 1200m had he not have been baulked for a run at one stage and then later having to switch out.

Top speedratings for this weekend include:-

Fairview

Race 1: No Qualifiers

Race 2: (3) Master Mogok 4

Race 3: (14) Distinctive Dame 18

Race 4: (10) Laurentina 12

Race 5: (1) Hear The Drums 94

Race 6: (5) Shahrezade 78

Race 7: (3) Bulldozer 78

Race 8: (3) High Jester 47

Turffontein

Race 1: (4) Let It Be 20

Race 2: (13) Cinnamon 10

Race 3: (4) Surfing Safari 14

Race 4: (6) Rain King 56

Race 5: (1) Carlito Brigante 40 (NAP*)

Race 6: (1) Hidden Beauty 30

Race 7: (3) Saint Pierre 63

Race 8: (7) Kings Entourage 63

Race 9: (5) Neco 62

Durbanville

Race 1: (4) Moonlake 5

Race 2: (1) Variety Club 20

Race 3: (1) Outswinger 5

Race 4: No Qualifiers

Race 5: (1) Al On The Run 76

Race 6: (4) Power Flow 46

Race 7: (8) Grecian Banner 51 (EW)

Race 8: (5) Reptilian 42

Greyville

Race 1: (2) Copperloochee 15

Race 2: (2) Diamantaire 22

Race 3: (1) The Real Blonde 18

Race 4: (8) Va Va Voom 60 (EW)

Race 5: (13) Gandolf The Great 64

Race 6: (13) The Lost World 53

Race 7: (9) Eliza Maria 80

Race 8: (2) Alan’s Pride 28

Top rated winners last week included:-

Wild Shot won 8/1

Joe Pike won 15/2

Spitfire Run won 11/2

Earl Of Surrey won 9/2

Great Kali won 9/2

Ilsanpietro 75/20

Wings Over Skye won 28/10

Link Man won 2/1

Notebook:-

Delago Deluxe (C Laird, Gauteng

Eucalyptus (M De Kock, Natal)

Lady Magpie (A Gordon, Natal)

Solarium (M Azzie, Gauteng)

FASTEST TIMES

(Shown in brackets is the number of races run in each category)

Scottsville 20^th February

Fastest Sprint 1000-1300 (2)  Allocation

Fastest Middle 1400-1800 (4)            A King Is Born

Fastest Long 1900-3600 (2)    Captain Spike

Vaal 22^nd February

Fastest Sprint 1000-1300 (4)  Elusive River

Fastest Middle 1400-1800 (4)            Joe Kool

Fastest Long 1900-3600 (0)    No Qualifiers

Greyville 22^nd February

Fastest Sprint 1000-1300 (1)  Buragh

Fastest Middle 1400-1800 (5)            Black Wing

Fastest Long 1900-3600 (2)    Eucalyptus

Kenilworth 23^rd February

Fastest Sprint 1000-1300 (2)  Spartan Emblem

Fastest Middle 1400-1800 (4)            Frequent Flyer

Fastest Long 1900-3600 (2)    Spitfire Run

Vaal 24^th February

Fastest Sprint 1000-1300 (4)  Hotel Royale

Fastest Middle 1400-1800 (4)            Dream Street

Fastest Long 1900-3600 (0)    No Qualifiers