Just Cruising

Mud Loving Eagle

Kenilworth 25^th August: The going was again heavy in Cape Town on Saturday where victory in the opening maiden event over 1000m went to the 4yo OLYMPIC WINTER. Freely available at 33/1 on the off, the son of Western Winter was soon up handy. He was ridden to lead as they approached the 400m marker and comfortably accounted for the most experienced runner in the field, WHISTLE FOR GOLD by two and a quarter.

The only favourite on the card to oblige, and a dead heat at that, was UNTAMED in the second division of the maiden 1000m. Racing with all except VALOR RED on the inside of the track, Untamed was always handy. Alone on the outside rail though, Valor Red looked to have the lead throughout and in what proved to be a real thriller it was only very late that Untamed got up to share.

The easiest victory on the card was recorded by RAIN LILY in the maiden event over 1400m. She got away well when the gates opened and soon up handy raced prominent throughout. She took up the running going through the 300m and cruised clear in the closing stages of the race to score by eight.

Another to win by a steeplechase margin on this card was MARTIAL EAGLE in the afternoon’s feature event, a MR100 Handicap over 1400m. Confidently ridden by Brandon Morganrood, the former Natal campaigner raced towards the rear during the early part of the race. Once in the short home straight though, he cut through the field like a knife and won going away by six and a half after striking the front 200m out.

Titbits

Racing in the rear of what was a very strung out field, the newcomer NONKI POO ran on well and made up many lengths on the first three when fourth in the first division of the fillies  maiden event over 1000m.

SUSSEX SONG won the MR80 Handicap over 1400m with authority.

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Four From Five

Clairwood 26^th August: The stable of Mike De Kock were in great form in Natal on Sunday winning four of the five races that they contested. They got off the mark in the opener when the best bet on the card for Sporting Post ROCK COCKTAIL did the business. Sent off as if unbeatable at 3/10 (op 11/20), the son of Rock Of Gibraltar was soon up handy. He took up the running as they approached the 200m marker and with some in hand he beat the running on BLUSHING PETER by a length.

There were a number of very easy victories on the card, but none more so than that of Rock Cocktail’s stable companion CANNON who did the business in the second division of the maiden 1450m. Deep in the red at 5/10 on the off, Cannon was soon positioned close to the pace. He made his move going through the 400m and drew clear with ease from there onwards to score by seven.

The first of the two plate races that topped the bill to be run was a Pinnacle Stakes over 1200m and here victory went to the well supported outsider COFFEE SHEIK. Backed into 9/1 from 16’s at the track, Wendy Whitehead’s charge made all. He was always a length to the good and kept on strongly late to keep the well supported favourite SKITT SKIZZLE at bay.

A conditions event over 1000m was next up and here we saw a smart performance from the 3yo Tiger Ridge filly COUNTER RIDGE. Unbeaten over today’s distance, Herman Brown’s charge was taken straight to the front by apprentice Keegan De Melo and led throughout. She was always in command and comfortably accounted for MISS OCTOBER by a length and a half.

Titbits

Despite drifting like a barge, RASHEED (15/10 fav out to 33/10 jt 2^nd fav) won the maiden event over 1800m with authority by four and three quarters.

Unbeaten FESTIVAL OF FIRE won the apprentice MR68 Handicap over 1200m very easily by four and a quarter.

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By No Means Tatty

Clairwood 28^th August: They again raced at the garden course on Tuesday. A maiden plate for the girls over 1200m got proceedings underway and here we saw a smart performance from the easy to back newcomer LADY TATTY. Freely available at 22/1 on the off, Gavin Van Zyl’s charge raced some eight lengths adrift of the leaders in eighth during the early part of the race. Once given rein though she quickened in impressive style and won going away by five and a half after striking the front 150m from home. One to follow.

The Dennis Drier trained BEAUTIFUL PRINCESS was all the rage to win the second division of the maiden 1200m and she didn’t let down her supporters. Backed throughout the morning into 17/20 from 18/10, the daughter of Toreador was soon up handy. She was ridden to lead as they approached the 200m marker and kept on strongly late to beat the running on UNIQUE MOMENT by half a length. The newcomer Unique Moment had raced in midfield and finished well.

Race five on the card was a MR68 Handicap over 1200m and here we saw a very comfortable victory for the 5yo NITRO NORI. Running on from midfield in what soon became a very strung out field, Nitro Nori fairly flew over the final 300m and cruised clear to score by three after striking the front close home.

A MR90 Handicap over 1900m topped the bill and here it was nice to see the veteran DANISH SILVER register his seventh career victory. Nicely positioned in third as the seven runners turned for home, Yogis Govender’s charge quickened well in the straight and comfortably accounted for the running on DE LA DANZA by a length.

Titbits

Running on from the rear, CADILLAC PALACE was steadily gaining at the finish when runner up in the maiden event over 2000m.

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Top speedratings for this weekend include:-

Top rated winners last week included

Notebook:-

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