Having a Blast

Dominant Raiders

Fairview 11th May: The highlight in Port Elizabeth on Sunday was the Gr3 East Cape Derby over 2400m and here we saw a smart performance from the Cape Town raider DESERT SWIRL. Sent off a well-supported favourite at 15/10 (op 3/1), Vaughan Marshall’s charge wasn’t the quickest into stride and as a result he raced in the rear early on. Once given rein though he quickly cut through the field and won well by two and a quarter after striking the front 300m out.
Another Cape Town raider to win well on the afternoon was the 3yo son of Trippi CAPE SISKIN in the maiden 1200m. Allowed to ease out to 13/10jtfav from 8/10 at the track as money came for the locally trained IMPERIAL VELVET, Cape Siskin also came from the rear. He moved through to take up the running 300 from home and easily accounted for the always handy Imperial Velvet by three and a half.
Three of the afternoon’s nine races were run over 1600m and the fastest of these was the pinnacle stakes won by yet another raider in M’LORDS THROAT. The field was always very tightly bunched and although Justin Snaith’s charge raced in the rear, he was always well within striking distance. He began to take closer order at the top of the long home straight and won comfortably by a length from his locally based stable companion JET BURST.
Titbits
The Cape Town raider LUPIN won the MR82 Handicap over 1600m with authority by two and a half.

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Giant Strides

Flamingo Park 12th May: A maiden juvenile plate over 1200m got proceedings underway in the Northern Cape on Monday and in what proved to be a real thriller victory here went to the easy to back TO BE BRAVE. Freely available at 13/1 on the off, Dorrie Sham’s charge was soon up handy. She was ridden to lead going through the 400m and with one of the 12/10 joint favourites MODUS TOLLENDI closing in quickly at the finish, she only held on by the narrowest of margins.
A pinnacle stakes topped the bill and in what proved to be the faster of the two 1800m events, the veteran AFRICAN GLADIATOR registered his ninth career victory. Soon in his favourite position at the head of affairs, the 7yo Modern Day gelding led throughout. He was always in command and won comfortably by a length. The 16/10 favourite SIR ISAAC ran on well from off the pace to fill third position in this race.
Another to win well from the front on this card was GIANT STRIDES in the fastest of the three 1400m races, a MR72 Handicap. Two lengths clear throughout Vernon Rugg’s charge kept on strongly at the business end of the race and won without any anxious moments.
Titbits
Not the quickest into stride, BROTHER SUBLIME ran on well from off the pace when getting up in the very last stride to win the maiden plate over 1400m.
SOCIETI won the MR62 Handicap over 1000m going away by a length and a quarter.

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From The Front

Kenilworth 13th May: The fastest of the four 1200m events in Cape Town on Tuesday was the opening maiden juvenile plate won by the heavily supported favourite ACT OF WAR. Backed throughout the morning into 11/20 from even money, Joey Ramsden’s charge was taken straight to the front and led throughout. He was always in command, and won as a good odds on favourite should, very easily by four.
In terms of distance the easiest victory on the card was recorded by TIBET in the maiden 1600m. Freely available at 12/1 on the off, the 3yo son of Black Minnaloushe was soon in command of a three lengths advantage. He kept up a healthy gallop throughout and although the much more fancied ROVENTAS chased hard over the final 400m, he extended his lead to five and a half.
Another to win very easily from the front on this card was BLARNEY BAY in the bill topping MR95 Handicap over 1400m. He too was allowed a very useful advantage for most of the journey and cruised in by four and three quarters.
Titbits
EMERALD ALBERT ran on well from the backend of midfield when runner up in the maiden 2500m.
Running on from the rear fifth placed DANGEROUS LIAISON was baulked for a run 400m out and finishing strongly did well to get within a length and three quarters of the winner at the wire.

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African Dream

Scottsville 14th May: 60% of the races in Pietermaritzburg on Wednesday were run over 1200m and fastest against the clock in these events was AFRICAN DREAM in the afternoon’s feature event, a MR93 Handicap. Eventually sent off favourite at 28/10 (op 7/2), Mark Dixon’s charge was soon up handy. She moved up to tackle the deposed favourite IZORA 300m out and with the rest left trailing in their wake she got the verdict by three quarters.
The best bet on the card for many was MISS ARGENTINA in the fillies division of the maiden juvenile 1200m and she didn’t let down her supporters. Sent off a strong favourite at 13/10, the daughter of Miesque’s Approval led throughout. She was always a couple clear and won without any anxious moments from the heavily supported BAREGA (4/1 into 18/10).
Race eight on the card was a MR86 Handicap over 1000m and here we saw a smart performance from the Imperial Stride gelding EDDIE SWEAT. Nibbled at on course into 8/1 from 10’s, Frank Robinson’s charge raced in midfield during the early part of the race. He quickened well from halfway and won going away by three and a half after striking the front 200m out.
Titbits
The newcomer DANTE’S LEGACY won the boy’s division of the maiden juvenile plate over 1200m going away by a length and a half.
KILROY ran on well from midfield when winning the maiden 1600m going away by three and a half.

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Always Mine

Vaal 15th May: They raced on the inside track on Thursday where we saw a smart performance in the opening maiden juvenile plate over 1200m from the 18/10 second favourite BELONG TO ME. He got away well when the gates opened and it soon became clear that he and the 9/10 favourite ANJAAL (a newcomer) would have the race between them. Mike De Kock’s charge tried hard and did have the rest some 8,5 lengths in arrears. Belong To Me was always travelling well though and in what proved to be the fastest of the three 1200m events on the card, he won with a bit in hand by a length and three quarters.
In terms of distance the easiest victory on the card was recorded by LIONS EMBLEM in the maiden 2400m. Sent off third in the betting market at 11/2 (op 8/1) Erico Verdonese’s charge raced in midfield for most of the journey. He was ridden to lead as they approached the 300m marker and although the well supported 11/10 favourite GOLD BANK also ran on well from off the pace, he did have that one well held by three and a quarter at the wire.
The afternoon’s feature event was a MR86 Handicap over 2000m and scraping home here was the 4yo son of Kahal NOBLE STAR. He moved up to dispute matters 250m out and after a thrilling tussle with the running on JUDICIAL below the distance he only got the verdict on the nod.
Titbits
The newcomer SEVEN WHISPERS made all when winning the girl’s division of the maiden juvenile plate over 1200m very comfortably by two and a quarter.

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Top speedratings for this weekend include:-

Top rated winners last week included
African Gladiator won 7/1
In Tribute won 7/1
Musical Man won 28/10
Moon Shot won 5/2
Belong To Me won 18/10
Cape Siskin won 13/10
Miss Argentina won 13/10
James Blunt won 7/10

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Notebook:-

Act Of War (J Ramsden, W-Cape)
African Dream (M Dixon, KZN)

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