High Flyer

Game Hat-Trick

Arlington 10^th October: A maiden event over 1000m got proceedings underway in the Eastern Cape on Monday and here victory went to the aptly named COME HOME SMOKIN (21). Freely available at 14/1 on the off, the Gavin Smith trained newcomer was soon up handy. He was ridden to lead shortly after passing the 200m marker and comfortably accounted for WHAT A LEGACY by a length.

The easiest victory on the card was recorded by TATANKWA (54) in the MR78 Handicap over 1800m. Soon at the head of affairs, the son of Grey Eminence led throughout. He was a length and a quarter clear turning for home and although SYDNEY’S GIFT tried hard to make a race of it over the final 400m, he extended his advantage to three and a half.

A MR90 Handicap over 1400m topped the bill and here we saw another smart performance from the former Cape Town campaigner TIK TAK TOE (77). Looking to complete a hat-trick here, Barry Steenkamp’s Charge raced fourth for most of the journey. He was asked to take up the running as they approached the 300m marker and with the rest well beaten, he kept on strongly in the closing stages of the race to beat the second favourite MISTER GONE by two and a Quarter.

A MR73 Handicap over 1400m was next up and here victory went to the grey CRIMSON TIDE (37). Another to race handy, Crimson Tide quickened nicely at the top of the short home straight and after taking up the running 250m from home, he easily accounted for the running on BIG JOHN by a length and three quarters.

Titbits

After losing five lengths at the start, ENDLESS JOY was finishing best when third in the MR70 Handicap over 1600m.

Newcomer ALBERTS PRINCESS ran on nicely from the rear when a runner up in the maiden event over 1200m.

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Still Going Strong

Vaal 11^th October: Tuesday’s action took place on the sand where the easiest victory in the maiden ranks was recorded by the St John Gray trained HEN PARTY. Freely available at 13/1 on the off, Hen Party was soon up handy. She was ridden to lead going through the 300m and kept on strongly in the closing stages of the race to beat the well supported 14/10 favourite ALL FUN (op 22/10) by two and a quarter.

The easiest victory on the card was recorded by ROSEHIP who came home smoking in the MR84 Handicap over 1200m. Backed throughout the day into 15/2 from 16/1, the 3yo daughter of Victory Moon led throughout. She was always clear and never threatened, she easily accounted for the heavily supported favourite ALTAIR (4/1 into 14/10) by five and a half.

The afternoon’s feature event was a MR94 Handicap over 1200m and here it was nice to see the 6yo COMMISSIONERSTREET complete a hat-trick. Positioned in midfield as the twelve runners came off the bend Commissionerstreet ran on best of all in the straight and under a well judged ride from Randal Simons, he got up late to deny the well supported favourite STRIKE MASTER (4/1 into 28/10).

Titbits

CASTANELLI won the MR77 affair over 1200m with authority.

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What A Babe

Greyville 11^th October: The most impressive performance in the maiden ranks in Natal on Tuesday evening was undoubtedly that of BANAMA BABE (28) when opening her account in the second division of the 1400m event. Allowed to drift right out to 3/1 from 12/10 at the track as money in the main came for YET AGAIN, Bahama Babe raced in midfield early on some six lengths off the pace set by the money horse. Once in the straight though, she quickened in eye-catching style and after striking the front 100m from home, she easily drew clear. One for the notebook.

The easiest victory on the card was recorded by the very well weighted GOLD ONYX (86) in the graduation event over 1900m. A winner of the Gr1 Premier’s Champion Stakes as a 2yo, Gold Onyx as per usual came from off them. He hit the front shortly after passing the 300m marker and with some in hand, he easily accounted for the friendless SILENT PARTNER (9/2 out to 15/2) by three and three quarters.

Also worthy of note on this card was the performance of SHE’S A DIME (63) in winning the MR71 affair over 1400m. Swiftly guided over from a wide draw by Sean Veale, the lightly raced daughter of Silvano was always in touch with the leaders. She quickened well coming off the bend and after striking the front going through the 200m, she won comfortably by two and a quarter.

Titbits

AURUM won the MR70 affair over 1900m going away.

MALKIA was running on nicely when a runner up to Zambesi Gold in the first division of the maiden 1400m.

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Couple To Follow

Durbanville 12^th October: As is the norm during October, racing in the Western Cape on Wednesday took place at the country course where we saw a smart performance in the MR72 Handicap over 1200m from the 3yo HAPPY FOREVER. Sent off a strong favourite at 9/10 (op even money), Joey Ramsden’s charge was soon up handy. He was always doing it easily and only having to be ridden with hands and heels, he comfortably accounted for the front running TIGHT LINES after taking it up at the 300m marker. Happy Forever has now won both starts with authority and is clearly one to keep tabs on.

Another 3yo to book his place in the notebook here was ALULA BOREALIS when registering his second career victory from just three starts in the MR74 Handicap over 1600m. Claimed into 28/10 from 4/1 during the morning, Dean Kannemeyer’s charge raced in midfield for most of the journey. He was asked to take closer order early in the home straight and it was only after striking the front 150m from home that he really got going. Alula Borealis won well and is clearly very useful. 

The final race on the card was a maiden event for 3yo’s over 1600m and here we saw a nice performance from the Justin Snaith trained NEED TO DREAM. Freely available at 7/1 on the off, the well drawn Need To Dream was always in touch with the leaders. She quickened well early in the home straight and went on to score very comfortably by two and a half after striking the front 300m from home.

Titbits

JET BURST was running on best of all when third in the maiden event over 1400m.

GENTEEL APPROACH won the maiden event over 1200m going away.

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First And Last

Vaal 13^th October: They raced on the turf on Thursday where the best bet on the card for most SAINT JOHN BOSCO (26) did the business in the opening workrider’s maiden event over 1200m. Sent off a strong favourite at even money, Paul Peter’s charge was always positioned close to the pace. He struck the front shortly after passing the 300m marker and drew clear easily in the closing stages of the race to beat the most experienced runner in the field EGOLI GAS by four and a quarter.

At the other end of the scale, the biggest upset on the card was recorded by the maiden TONY’S TIPPLE (26) when opening his account in the MR65 affair over 1400m. Freely available at 14/1 on the off, Louis Goosen’s charge was soon close up in second. He was ridden to lead as they approached the 200m marker and although VALIANT BE never gave up the fight once headed, he went on to score comfortably by a length and a quarter.

The lucky last was a MR66 Handicap over 1000m and here the stable of Paul Peter were again on the mark when the heavily supported reserve runner CRUNCH TIME (34) registered his second career victory. Backed throughout the afternoon into 11/10 from 5/2, the son of Goldkeeper was taken straight to the front by Francois Naude and was soon three lengths clear. The early effort did take it’s toll in the latter stages, but he still had three quarters of a length to spare over the always handy SWING AWAY at the wire.

Titbits

Usually seen at her best on the sand, CWEBE CWEBE caught the eye running on strongly from off the pace in the MR62 Handicap over 1000m.

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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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