In Control

Flying The Flag

Fairview 9^th July: Favourite backers got off to a nice start in Port Elizabeth on Monday when the aptly named OH SO EASY did the business in the opening maiden juvenile event over 1000m. Taken straight to the front by Musi Yeni, the daughter of Joshua Dancer led throughout. She was always in command and ran out a comfortable winner by a length and three quarters.

There were also a number of upsets on the card and none more so than TOWER POWER in the maiden 1000m. Soon up handy, the 25/1 shot raced prominent throughout. He kept on strongly over the final 400m and in what proved to be a real thriller he only got the verdict by the narrowest of margins from the most experienced runner in the field HEY TORO.

The first of the two MR90 Handicaps that topped the bill was the 2000m affair and here it was nice to see the once highly regarded HAVASHA find the winner’s enclosure. Freely available at 7/1 on the off, the son of Kahal got away well when the gates opened and raced close up in third. He struck the front shortly after passing the 200m marker and kept on strongly late to beat the running on AUDIT REPORT by three quarters. Havasha has now won five from thirty three.

A MR90 Handicap over 1400m was next up and here victory went to the easy to back KING OF FLAGS. Freely available at 10/1 on the off, the top weight sat in midfield early on. Along with the much more fancied RUSSIAN MIG, who came from the rear, King Of Flags ran on well down the long home straight and in what proved to be another very tight finish, he only got the verdict over Russian Mig by a short head.

Titbits

The nibbled at newcomer CASEY RYDER (16/1 into 9/1) finished well from off the pace when third to Oh So Easy in the maiden juvenile plate over 1000m.

TIZASMARTDOLLAR was again sighted running on from off the pace when third in the maiden 1600m.

VICTORIALAINE was finishing best of all when third in the MR73 Handicap over 2000m.

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Steeplechase Margins

Scottsville 10^th July: A smarter than average looking maiden juvenile event over 1200m got proceedings underway in Natal on Tuesday and here we saw a nice performance from the lightly raced GITIANO. Making only his second racecourse appearance here, the son of Mullins Bay lost two lengths at the start, but despite that was soon up handy. He was ridden to lead going through the 200m and with the rest well beaten he comfortably accounted for the 16/10 favourite FLYFIRSTCLASS by a length and a half.

A maiden juvenile event over 1000m was next up and here we saw a very impressive performance from the Var filly VIA AFRICA. Sent off a strong favourite at even money, Duncan Howells’ charge was soon positioned close to the speed. She began to assert her authority shortly after passing halfway and went on to score with a ton in hand by eight.

The easiest victory on the card though was undoubtedly that of the well weighted HEAVY METAL who as expected came home smoking in the novice 1600m. A close up fourth in the Gr2 Gauteng Guineas just four runs back, Heavy Metal raced second and always poised to strike. He did so going through the 400m and after quickly skating clear he cruised in by ten.

Also worthy of note here was the performance of MISS OCTOBER in winning the MR90 Handicap over 1000m. Now with Dennis Drier the well supported favourite was having her first outing for 164 days. She ran on strongly after racing handy and did well under the circumstances to reel in the pacemaker LANGOUSTIER in the very last stride.

Titbits

SECOND EDITION ran on well from midfield when getting up late to beat Empyreal Song in the maiden 1400m.

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Four For Karl

Kenilworth 11^th July: The going was heavy in Cape Town on Wednesday where victory in the opening maiden juvenile event over 1200m went to the daughter of Black Minnaloushe PADDY’S GIRL (23). Solid in the betting market at 5/1, Eric Sands’ charge was content to sit in midfield for most of the journey. She made her move going through the 400m and under a well judged ride from the vastly experienced Karl Neisius, she got up late to deny the unfancied LOOKATMENOW by a half. VICTORY EXPRESS (4^th) and ROMANELLA (5^th) also finished well from off the pace in this race.

Another to run on well to open her account in the maiden ranks was CHOCOLATIER in the maiden 1200m. Freely available at 15/2 on the off, Mike Bass’ charge ran on best of all and won going away after striking the front close home.

The most impressive victory on the card was undoubtedly that of STAR JET who came home smoking in the maiden 1600m. Allowed to ease right out to 19/10 from 12/10 at the track although still maintaining her position at the top of the boards, Brett Crawford’s charge was soon positioned close up in second. She was ridden to lead shortly after passing the 400m marker and fairly cruised clear in the closing stages of the race to score by seven and a quarter. In truth Star Jet didn’t beat the strongest of fields here, but the manner of her success would suggest that there is plenty more to come.

As well as finding the winner’s enclosure on Paddy’s Girl, Chocolatier and Star Jet, jockey Karl Neisius was also on the mark with JET INTO THE WIND in the MR90 Handicap over 1200m. Prominent throughout, the 5yo son of Jet Master took up the running shortly after passing halfway and kept on strongly at the business end of the race to keep the running on LAKE SUPERIOR at bay.

Titbits

Although never a threat to the winner Chocolatier, the newcomer GLAMOUR ran on well from the rear when fourth in the maiden 1200m.

After switching out for a run 200m from home, POLO LOUNGE was flying at the finish and only failed to get to the winner The Colonels Son by the narrowest of margins in the MR80 Handicap over 1400m.

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Impressive Pylon

Vaal 12^th July: Thursday’s action took place on the sand where victory in the opening maiden juvenile event over 1450m went to the ultra consistent GEMMAYZE STREET. Supported into favouritism at the track (5/2 into 17/10), the son of Spectrum was soon up handy. He was ridden to lead shortly after passing halfway and with the rest some eleven lengths adrift, he comfortably accounted for the deposed favourite RYDER CUP by three.

The most impressive performance of the afternoon though was undoubtedly that of the 3yo PYLON who came home smoking in the MR83 Handicap over 1800m. The second of four winners on the card for title chasing jockey Gavin Lerena, Pylon sat second for most of the journey. He made his move going through the 600m and with a ton in hand he cruised in by seven. Unbeaten on sand, Pylon has been ultra impressive in both starts.

The afternoon’s feature event was a MR86 Handicap over 1600m and here Gavin was on the mark when MAGIC SMOKE registered his third win from just six starts. Allowed to ease right out to 33/10 from 2/1 favourite at the track as money came in the main for CHERRY ON THE CAKE (7/2 into 3/1 fav), the top weight was always handy. She was asked to take up the running as they approached the 400m marker and although Cherry On The Cake did run on strongly from off the pace, she did have that one well held by a length and three quarters at the wire.

Titbits

Lightly raced EXCELL AND ASCEND ran on nicely from midfield when fourth in the maiden 1200m.

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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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