Horses For Courses

Time Management

Turffontein 4^th February: Saturday’s action took place on the inside track where victory in the opening maiden event over 1200m went to the newcomer SPEED DIAL (28). Sent off as one of three co-favourites at 75/20, Gary Alexander’s charge was soon up handy. She was ridden to lead early in the short home straight and comfortably accounted for the running on RUBIES AND PEARLS by two.

A pinnacle stakes over 1450m was next up and as expected victory here went to the best handicapped horse in the race WITHOUT MALICE (82). Sent off a rather uneasy favourite at 17/10, George Scott’s charge went straight to the front and led throughout. She was always in command and although CHECCETTI chased hard at the business end of the race, she went on to score by three without any anxious moments.

The first of the afternoon’s three feature events to take place was the Gr3 Three Troikas Stakes and here we saw a smart performance from the improving GO INDIGO (71). Nibbled at on course into 8/1 from 12’s, Leon Erasmus’ charge was content to sit in the rear during the early part of the race. Other than the runaway leader ROSEHIP though, the field was very closely grouped and as the early effort began to take its toll on the pacemaker early in the straight, she was quickly catapulted into contention. She hit the front 100m from home and beat the well supported favourite EXTRA ZERO (12/10 into 17/20) fair and square by a length and a half.

BROOKS-CLUB (7/1 into 33/10) found plenty of support to win the Gr3 Tony Ruffel Stakes over 1450m, but after losing two lengths at the start the son of Strike Smartly never really got into the race. Victory instead went to another well supported runner POMODORO (6/1 into 4/1). Sean Tarry’s charge was always in touch with the leaders and after taking up the running 300m from home, he comfortably accounted for the improving GOVERNOR GENERAL by two and a quarter.

Titbits

Poorly drawn WYATT WEST ran on strongly from off the pace in the maiden 1200m and only failed to get the better of his stable companion Bearing Gifts by the narrowest of margins.

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Best Bets

Kenilworth 4^th February: The best bet in Cape Town on Saturday always looked to be DAILY FLIGHT in the maiden event over 1600m and so it proved to be. Backed into 9/10 from 14/10 at the track, Mike Bass’ charge raced in midfield during the early part of the race. She made up the ground quickly in the straight and after taking up the running 300m from home, she easily drew clear.

Another very strongly fancied runner to do the business on this card was JET EXPLORER when opening his account in the maiden event over 1400m. Deep in the red at 7/20 on the off, the son of Jet Master also came from off the pace. He was ridden to lead going through the 200m and although KOENIGSEGG also finished well, he went on to score very comfortably by two.

The first of two MR86 Handicaps to be run was a 1000m event and here THERESE OF LISIEUX completed a gutsy hat-trick. Up with the speed throughout, Stephen Page’s charge kept on strongly at the business end of the race and just got the better of ANNIE BE QUICK by a neck. One to look out for next time from this race is MONEY SURGER who finished third. Positioned at the back early on, Piet Steyn’s charge fairly flew over the final 300m and only failed by a neck to get up.

The not so lucky last was a maiden event over 1200m and here an upset was to be had when the outsider SALAMINA opened her account. Freely available at 30/1 on the off, Joey Ramsden’s charge fairly flew in the closing stages of the race and in eye catching fashion she got up in the very last stride to deny the 18/10 favourite CASH COUNTER.

Titbits

Newcomer SHE’S GOT IT was running on strongly from midfield when third in the maiden juvenile event over 1200m.

Running on from the rear, in the MR72 affair over 1000m, ICE GODDESS only failed by a neck to get to the winner Winter Heart.

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Cutting It Fine

Greyville 5^th February: Much to the joy of the locals six of the ten favourites arrived at Greyville on Sunday afternoon the first of which was EROTIC PULSE (11) who did the business in the maiden juvenile event over 1000m. Deep in the red at 4/10 on the off (op 7/10), the daughter of Jallad was soon at the head of affairs. She was always in command and only having to be ridden hands and heels, she easily accounted for the most experienced runner in the field MAGIC LADY by three and a quarter.

Race seven on the card was an Allowance Plate over 1600m and in what proved to be a real thriller victory here went to the well supported VARSITY BELLE (49). Backed into 75/20 from 6/1 during the afternoon, the daughter of Var wasn’t the quickest into stride and as a result she raced in the rear for most of the journey. Once in the short home straight though, she quickened best of all and just as if scripted she got up in the very last stride to deny MISS FILLY.

The afternoon’s feature event was the non-black type umThombothi Stakes over 2000m and in another very tight finish victory here went to the heavily supported SILENT PARTNER (63). Sent off at 7/10 after opening up 16/10, Mike De Kock’s charge was always in touch with the leaders. He moved up to dispute matters 100m from home and after a thrilling tussle with A KING IS BORN he only got the verdict by the narrowest of margins.

Much easier a winner was Sporting Post’s value bet on the card IRRESISTIBLE YOU (19) when opening her account in the final race on the card, a maiden plate over 1400m. Not particularly well drawn, Des Egdes’ charge raced towards the rear for the first half of the race. She made her move coming off the bend and after quickly cutting through the field she drew clear easily after striking the front 150m from home.

Titbits

Lightly raced CAPTURE THE CROWN ran on strongly from midfield when third in the maiden event over 1400m.

Newcomer ALQAFFAY won the maiden juvenile event over 1000m with some in hand.

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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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