Kicking Off In Style

Panther Strikes

Arlington 4^th October: The non-black type Arlington 1800m topped the bill in Port Elizabeth on Friday and here it was nice to see the 5yo Silvano gelding ASTRO NEWS register his fifth career victory. Beaten less than five lengths in the prestigious Durban July three run’s back, Gavin Smith’s charge was always handy. He took up the running 150m from home and in what proved to be a real thriller he only held on by the narrowest of margins from the running on GIANDUJA.

The supporting act was the non-black type Racing Association Plate for 3yo’s over 1400m and here we saw a smart performance from the Cape Town raider FOREST PANTHER. Soon positioned close to the speed, Justin Snaith’s charge struck the front early in the short home straight and cruised clear in the closing stages of the race to win by three and a quarter.

The stable of Justin Snaith were also on the mark in the faster of the two 1600m events when BONNARD landed the spoils. Sent off a strong favourite at 19/10, the son of Spectrum sat sixth during the early part of the race. He quickened well 400m out and in another very tight finish he got up in the dying strides to deny his stable companion POLO WARRIOR.

The smartest performance in the maiden ranks was that of DIESEL ENGINE in the 1200m event. Backed into joint favouritism at the track, Stephen Van Rensburg’s charge was soon up handy. He was ridden to lead going through the 300m and with the rest well beaten he comfortably accounted for the costly to follow LEGATEE by two and a quarter.

Titbits

Although never a threat to the winner, FRONT MAN ran on well from second last when runner up in the non-black type Racing Association Plate over 1400m.

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Spring Returns

Turffontein 5^th October: Favourite backers got off to a nice start at the inner track on Saturday when the well supported CLASSIC TRAVELLER did the business in the opening maiden event over 1000m. In the red at 8/10 on the off, Paul Peter’s charge led from pillar to post. He kept on strongly in the short home straight and with the rest some three lengths adrift he beat the running on newcomer STIRLING LEAVES by a half. The runner up finished well from midfield and that despite faltering 200m out.

The easiest victory on the card was recorded by NISA’S LOVE in the maiden 1800m. The second of four winners on the card for Anton Marcus, the heavily supported favourite (18/10 into 19/20) broke well and was soon nicely positioned in fourth. She was asked to take up the running as they came off the strip, and with the rest double figures adrift, she easily accounted for the friendless SHOUT OUT by three.

The first of the bill topping Gr3 events to be run was the Spring Challenge for fillies & mares and here it was nice to see the Mike De Kock trained ILHA BELA back in the winner’s enclosure. Confidently ridden by Anthony Delpech the daughter of Fort Wood raced in midfield for most of the journey. She moved through to take up the running as they approached the 300m marker and at that stage of the race it looked as if she would go on to score comfortably. Running on stoutly from off the pace though was the 3yo ATHINA and in what proved to be a thrilling climax that one only failed to get up by the narrowest of margins.

Run in a marginally slower time was the Gr3 Spring Challenge for the boys and here victory went to the once very highly regarded POTALA PALACE. Having only his third outing since Nov ’12, Michael Azzie’s charge was taken straight to the front by Gavin Lerena and led throughout. He answered every call in the straight and try as they might the pack couldn’t reduce the deficit. One who did make good headway though was last year’s winner of this race LINK MAN. He ran on strongly from the rear and did well to get up for second.

Titbits

Having only his second start following a seventh month layoff, TURNSTONE ran on well from midfield when getting up late to win the MR78 Handicap over 1200m.

WEEKEND TEMPER ran on well from midfield and won the maiden event over 1600m with authority by three.

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Capetown’s Ready

Durbanville 5^th October: There were some very smart performances at the country course on Saturday, but none more so than that of CAPETOWN NOIR in the 1400m Gr3 Matchem Stakes. Confidently ridden by Karl Neisius, the 4yo son of Western Winter sat fifth for most of the journey. He was ridden to lead shortly after passing the 300m marker and drew clear in impressive style from there onwards to score by four.

Another to win very well on this card, albeit by a much lesser margin, was Capetown Noir’s stable companion ICE MACHINE in the pinnacle plate over 1800m. On leaving the stalls it was BROWN PENNY who elected to make the running and setting a brisk pace the 7yo soon had the field well strung out. The former Natal campaigner quickened nicely at the top of the straight though, and with the rest well beaten he got up late to score by a half.

In what surprisingly proved to be the slowest of the afternoon’s three 1400m events the Gr3 Diana Stakes was won by HAMMIE’S HOOKER. Mike Bass’ charge ran on well from midfield and after striking the front 200m from home she comfortably accounted for CAPTAINOFMYSOUL by a length and a quarter.

Titbits

Baulked for a run 200m out, PETTY OFFICER ran on strongly and did well to get up late when opening her account at just the second time of asking in the second division of the maiden 1200m.

NITRO-G was cramped 150m from home when running on from the back to take fourth position in the maiden 1600m.

LEGISLATE didn’t find the clearest of passages when running on strongly to take second position in the MR76 Handicap over 1400m won by the very highly regarded DYNASTIC POWER.

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Top rated winners last week included

Notebook:-

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