Juvenile Power

Workrider’s Day

Turffontein 2^nd April: They raced on the old stand side track on Monday where all of the races were workrider’s events.

The easiest victory on the card was undoubtedly that of HURRICANE JEN (27) who won the maiden event over 1160m by a steeplechase margin. Backed throughout the morning into 6/10 from 18/10, Weiho Marwing’s charge was soon positioned close to the speed. She was asked to take up the running as they approached the 400m marker and with some in hand she drew clear easily in the latter stages of the race to score by twelve.

Race six on the card was a MR70 Handicap over 1400m and here victory went to the improving COME BY ONCE (45). Squeezed at the start when the gates opened, Come By Once raced in midfield during the early part of the race. Once in the long home straight though, he quickened well and went on to score comfortably from the running on MR TOBIN by a length. Come By Once has now won three of his last four starts.

The afternoon’s feature event was a MR78 Handicap over 1000m and here followers of the money were on the mark when the well supported joint second favourite MAJI MOTO (50) did the business. Backed into 7/2 from 6/1 at the track, the son of Malhub was always handy. He was ridden to lead shortly after passing the 200m marker and kept on strongly late to beat the easy to back EMPIRE RULER by a half.

Titbits

Slow into stride and baulked for a run 500m out to boot, RUBIES FOR ROYALTY caught the eye running on very strongly late and did well to get within two lengths of the winner.

Drawn in the car park, the former Natal campaigner COCO STRIPES ran on strongly from the rear and should be at his peak when having his third run after the rest next time.

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Smart Move

Vaal 3^rd May: Tuesday’s action took place on the turf where we saw a very smart performance in the maiden juvenile event over 1000m from the odds on favourite SIDESTEP (38). A fair third when well supported in his only previous outing, Alec Laird’s charge was always close to the speed. He took up the running shortly after passing the 400m marker and with the rest some 3,5 lengths adrift, he went on to beat the well supported newcomer DELIVER THE POWER (25/1 into 5/1) quite a bit more easily than the official winning margin would suggest.

Race five on the card was a MR64 Handicap over 1200m and here it was nice to see J J The Jet Plane’s full brother JET DOT COM (50) complete a hattrick. Sent off a well supported favourite at 28/10 (opened 33/10), Lucky Houdalakis’s charge was always handy. He was hampered as MIDNIGHT CHARGER struck the front going the through the 400m and with that one quickly skipping a couple of lengths clear, it looked as if his chance had gone. Once seeing daylight though, Jet Dot Com ran on stoutly and under a determined ride from Donavon Mansour, he got up in the dying strides.

A MR87 Handicap over 1400m topped the bill and in another cracking finish, victory here went to the Windrush gelding THE HAPPY HEART (54). On leaving the stalls it was LAKE ALBERT who elected to set the pace whilst Geoff Woodruff’s charge raced some four lengths away in fifth. Lake Albert kept on strongly in the straight and with the rest well beaten going through the 200m it looked as if the top weight had done enough to score. The Happy Heart ran on very well below the distance though and just as if scripted he got up nicely late to win by a half.

Titbits

Although DELIVER THE POWER was flattered by his proximity to Sidestep in the maiden juvenile event over 1000m, he did nonetheless have the rest well beaten and looks sure to come on stacks for the run.

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Follow The Master

Greyville 4^th May: The easiest victory recorded in the maiden ranks on Tuesday evening was that of FIGHTING WARRIOR (30) who opened his account in the opening maiden juvenile event over 1300m. Nibbled at on course into 9/2 from 6/1, Ivan Moore’s charge raced in midfield during the early part of the race. Once in the short home straight though, he quickened best of all and after striking the front 250m from home, he went on to score very nicely by two and three quarters.

Race six on the card was the non black type In Full Flight Handicap over 1000m and here we saw another smart performance from the up and coming SPLASH GOLD (91). A winner of five of his previous nine starts back in Cape Town, Dean Kannemeyer’s charge sat sixth during the early part of the race just four lengths off the pace set by the talented, but somewhat unpredictable WISHFUL EYE. He made his move early in the straight and after striking the front 150m from home, he kept on strongly below the distance to beat the running on CASEY COOL by a neck.

The Gr2 Drill Hall Stakes over 1400m topped the bill and in what proved to be a real thriller victory here went to the J&B Met winner PAST MASTER (98). Having his first outing here since landing that prestigious event in January, Darryl Hodgson’s charge was content to sit in midfield for most of the journey. The easy to back CAPTAIN’S SECRET was the first to make a move in the straight and when that one struck the front 250m out, he looked to have done everything right. Indeed, he duly found extra when Past Master burst onto the scene 100m later and had it not been for a terrific turn of foot produced late by the Met winner, he would have held on.

Titbits

After losing two lengths at the start of the graduation event over 1400m, BET ON BLUE raced in the rear and did very well indeed to get up in the dying strides to deny his stable companion Grammatica.

Nibbled at BEAST OF BURDEN (14/1 into 10/1) was running on from the rear when only beaten 2,15 lengths in the maiden event over 1400m won by Royal Times.

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Thrilling Stuff

Kenilworth 5^th May:  There were a number of very close finishes in the maiden ranks at Kenilworth on Wednesday, but none more so than that of the 1000m juvenile event. The Justin Snaith trained ROYAL DUKE was sent off a well supported favourite (12/10 into 9/10) and always handy was perfectly positioned to strike. He ran on stoutly when the race began in earnest 400m out and in an event where only a neck separated the first four home, he just got the verdict over the heavily supported second favourite HUNTING TIME (7/1 into 3/1).

Amongst the three big outsiders to land the spoils was DVINA who registered her fourth career victory in the MR78 affair over 1600m. Positioned in the rear as the fifteen runners turned for home, the 33/1 shot looked to have more than enough to do. She quickened very nicely at the top of the long new course straight though, and after striking the front 200m out, she went on to beat the well supported LAST FLIGHT (10/1 into 11/2) going away.

The afternoon’s feature event was a MR96 Handicap over 1200m and in what proved to be a real thriller victory here went to the 3yo UNCLE TOMMY (5/2 out to 33/10). Allowed to ease a little on course as money came for his former stable companion CAPTAIN THRILLER, Uncle Tommy sat sixth for most of the journey. He moved up to dispute matters as they approached the 200m marker and after a thrilling tussle with both Captain Thriller and his stable companion LOS COLMOS on the run to the line, it was only by the narrowest of margins that he bagged the first prize.

Titbits

Beaten just 1,9 lengths in the maiden juvenile event over 1400m, newcomer TRIBAL DANCE had been positioned at the back of the ten turning for home.

After racing in the rear of the maiden 1800m field, PLATINUM CAT ran on nicely and only really got going when it was too late.

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One More Stride

Scottsville 6^th May: A Maiden Plate over 1200m got proceedings underway in Natal on Thursday and here we saw a nice performance from the heavily supported NATIONAL FLOWER (39). Backed throughout the morning into 18/10 favourite from 5/1, Deon Visser’s charge was positioned in the rear during the early part of the race. Confidently ridden by Anton Marcus though, the daughter of Dynasty steadily began to work her way into contention and after striking the front 150m from home, she easily drew clear. National Flower won well and is clearly one to keep tabs on.

Race five on the card was a Conditions Plate over 1000m and here victory went to the Sean Tarry trained MANA MOU (82). The last of four winners on the card for Anton Marcus, the daughter of Captain Al led throughout. She kept on determinedly at the business end of the race and although the talented pair SHARE THE SILVER and STATE BLUE both challenged strongly, she went on to score comfortably by a length and a half.

A little unlucky not to land the Gr2 Debutante Stakes over 1200m was the Alyson Wright trained MOONSPUN. Slow into stride and reported as taking no interest during the early part of the race, this daughter of Black Minnalouse was easily eight lengths adrift of the leaders going through the 500m. She only really got going over the final 300m and fairly flying at the finish, she only failed to get to the winner TEMPTED by the narrowest of margins.

Titbits

Although never nearer than five lengths, STORM LUJOSO ran on strongly over the final 400m of the maiden event over 1600m.

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Top speedratings for this weekend include:-

Top rated winners last week included

Notebook:-

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