Jetting Along

Still Unbeaten

Scottsville 26^th February: The phrase “the smaller the field the bigger the upset” is often heard in racing and so it proved to be in the maiden juvenile plate over 1200m in Natal Sunday. Always priced up as the outsider of the five horse party, the winner CLOVELLY (13) was allowed to drift right out to 33/1 from 8’s at the track. On leaving the stalls it was the 7/10 favourite YELLOW CARD (a newcomer form the stable of Charles Laird) who elected to make the running whilst Clovelly raced close up in second. The pair drew clear easily as battle commenced 300m out and after a thrilling tussle Clovelly only got the verdict by a half.

The tightest finish of the afternoon occurred in the conditions plate over 1200m where the top weighted Silvano filly ROMANTIC MOON (82) put in a very gutsy performance. Taken straight to the front by Ian Sturgeon, Romantic Moon led throughout. She always held just a slender advantage and in a race where only a neck separated the first four home, she gallantly held on after looking like she might be overhauled at any time.

The unbeaten Holy Roman Empire gelding NORTHERN EMPEROR (66) was all the rage to win the pinnacle stakes over 1600m and he didn’t let down his supporters. Backed throughout the day into 7/20 from 8/10, Charlie Laird’s charge was always in touch with the leaders. He ran on stoutly in the home straight and under a well judged ride from Anton Marcus he got up late to beat the running on INDIAN HAWK by three quarters.

Titbits

Running on from midfield, MANJUR had to switch 300m out in order to find a clear passage and only failed to get to the winner Mister Slam by the narrowest of margins.

Running on from the rear after being a little slow into stride, the recent maiden winner DESERT RAPTOR did well to get within a half length of the winner in the MR70 Handicap over 1600m.

.

She’s Useful

Scottsville 28^th February: The best bet on the card for many on Tuesday afternoon was MANX MAGIC (26) in the opening maiden juvenile event over 1200m and she duly obliged. Backed into even money from 18/10 at the track, the daughter of Casey Tibbs led throughout. She was always in command and comfortably accounted for the nibbled at LADBROKES LASS by a length and three quarters.

Race five on the card was a MR91 Handicap over 1400m and here we saw a comfortable victory for the improving SHE’S A DIME (60). Soon up handy despite being a little slow into stride, Yogis Govender’s charge raced prominent throughout. She was ridden to lead shortly after passing the 200m marker and looking to have a little in hand, she comfortably accounted for the fancied SUBLIME SOUL by a length and a quarter. She’s A Dime has now won four of her eight starts.

The afternoon’s feature event was a MR95 Handicap over 1400m and in what proved to be a real thriller the friendless MALIYAKHE landed the spoils. Allowed to drift right out to 13/2 from 4/1 at the track, as money in the main came for FRENCH REEF (28/10 into 17/10), the son of Muhtafal guarded the rear for most of the journey. Once in the straight though he ran on best of all, and just as if scripted he got up late to score by a neck.

Titbits

After taking a bump at the start, the nibbled at PRINCETON (11/2 into 9/2) finished best of all in the MR78 Handicap and only failed to get to the winner LIVE CONTROVERSY by a neck.

LANGOUSTIER ran on well from midfield when a runner up in the MR71 Handicap over 1400m and his rider did lose his whip close home.

.

Running On Stoutly

Turffontein 28^th February: They raced on the old stand side track on Tuesday evening where victory in the opening maiden juvenile event over 1160m went to the newcomer WOUNDED KNEE (15). Nibbled at on course into 6/1 from 7’s, Gavin Van Zyl’s charge was soon positioned close to the speed. She was asked to take up the running shortly after passing halfway and kept on strongly at the business end of the race to beat the 2/1 favourite FORTUNY by a length and a quarter.

Well supported to win the maiden event over 1400m was the National Assembly gelding WAR FRONT (41) and he didn’t let down his supporters. The nibbled at outsider POSSE COMITATUS (20/1 into 12/1) got first run when the race began in earnest and ran on stoutly after striking the front 300m out. War Front steadily reeled him in as the pair began to draw well clear of the remainder though and got up nicely late to score by three quarters.

The evening’s feature event was a MR94 Handicap over 1000m and here the in form stable of Dominic Zaki were on the mark when OH DRISCOLL registered his third career victory. He ran on well from midfield and comfortably accounted for RODEO DANDY by a length and a quarter.

Titbits

Lightly raced STYLISTA ran on well from off the pace when getting up late to beat the previously unbeaten Three Nations in the MR80 Handicap over 1000m.

.

Quick Compensation

Vaal 1^st March: Thursday’s action took place on the sand where followers of the money got off to a very nice start when TIGER FLO did the business in the opening maiden event over 1200m. Backed into 5/1 from 12’s, Alec Laird’s charge was soon up handy. She was ridden to lead shortly after passing halfway and with the rest well beaten she comfortably accounted for the second favourite QUICK ON THE DRAW by two.

Showing no ill effects from his outing just two days earlier when a runner up on turf, the Casey Tibbs gelding RODEO DANDY won the MR72 Handicap over 1000m in good style. Always one seen doing his best work late, Dominic Zaki’s charge ran on strongly from midfield and won with authority by two and a half.

The first of the two non-black type feature events on the card to take place was the Woodland Sprint over 1200m and here victory went to the second favourite SAPPHIRE RING. 1kg better off at the weights with the favourite RAISE THE BAR for a neck beating last time out, Sapphire Ring raced second, and getting first run struck the front 250m out. Raise The bar chased hard from there onwards, but try as she might, she couldn’t make any impression.

The 1200m Autumn Sand Sprint for the boys was next up and in a time slower than that of the girls, victory here went to CAPE WINTER. Prominent throughout, Kom Naidoo’s charge ran on strongly over the final 400m and after a thrilling tussle with BOSS CAT below the distance, he only got the verdict by a neck.

Titbits

Veteran CAPTAIN SCOTT was running on strongly in the closing stages when fifth over a trip short of his best in the 1200m Autumn Sand Sprint.

.

Top speedratings for this weekend include:-

.

Top rated winners last week included

.

Notebook:-

.

FASTEST TIMES

.

.          

.