Sailing Clear
Vaal 12th April: Thursday’s action took place on the turf where as expected victory in the opening workrider’s maiden event over 1200m went to the most experienced runner in the field CITY OFANGELS (20). Weiho Marwing’s charge got away well when the gates opened and soon up handy raced prominent throughout. She was ridden to lead at the 600m marker and although the pacemaker KINGS BOUNTY fought on bravely once headed, she went on to score much more easily than the official winning margin of three quarters of a length would suggest.
The easy victory on the card was recorded by SEA PASSAGE (59) in the MR70 affair over 2400m. Sent off a strong favourite at 9/10 (op 11/10), St John Gray’s charge raced sixth for most of the journey. Once in the long home straight though she quickened well and after getting the better of the well supported FLOATING FEATHER (op 10/1 touched 13/2) 350m from home, she went on to win with some in hand by three and a half.
Three MR78 Handicaps topped the bill and in the 1400m affair it was nice to see the 4yo RABADASH find his form. Backed into 12/1 from 25/1 at the track, Bradley Maroun’s charge sat in midfield during the early part of the race. Once given rein though, he quickly began to make headway and although IRISH GIFT also finished well from a similar position, he went on to score comfortably by two.
Titbits
Detached at the rear for most of the journey, BON IVER was finishing best of all when third in the maiden event over 2400m.
Another to catch the eye running on from the back was the recent winner STYLISTA.PaulMatchett’s charge was still 4,75 lengths off the winner at the wire, but she did nonetheless finish well.
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Well Done Sir
Fairview 13th April: First up on Friday was a maiden juvenile event over 1400m and here we saw a nice performance from the Gavin Smith trained DEEPO. Surprisingly allowed to ease right out to 13/2 from 9/2 at the track, the daughter of Albert Hall was soon up handy. She was ridden to lead going through the 200m and with the rest well beaten, she comfortably accounted for QUEEN OF CASH by a length and a quarter.
Race four on the card was a graduation plate over 1600m and in what proved to be a real thriller victory here went to the Yvette Bremner trained SIR FRANK. Having his first start for the stable since relocating from Sean Tarry, Sir Frank raced towards the backend of midfield for most of the trip. First to make a move in the straight was the more fancied ACT OF SUPREMACY and when that one went three lengths clear 400m out, he looked to have the race in the bag. Running on stoutly from there onwards though, Sir Frank steadily began to reel him in and just as if scripted he got up in the very last stride.
A MR86 Handicap over 1000m topped the bill and here an upset was to be had when the veteran KINGS TROOP registered his eighth success. Winning for the first time since Feb ‘09, Kings Troop ran on well from midfield and much to the delight of his young apprentice, who saluted in a fashion not recommended by the stipes, he got up close home.
Titbits
After running on from the back end of midfield, former Cape Town campaigner FLY EMIRATES won the MR76 affair over 1800m very easily by three and a quarter.
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Seeking An Oscar
Scottsville 14th April: The first of the two feature events to be run in Natal on Saturday was the Gr3 Umzimkhulu Stakes over 1400m and as expected victory here went to the best weighted runner in the race TRINITY HOUSE (75). Nicely positioned in second for most of the journey, Joey Ramsden’s charge was always poised to strike. She did so shortly after passing the 300m marker and although MISS IPANEMA kept on strongly once headed, she went to score comfortably by a length and a quarter.
The Gr3 Byerley Turk Stakes over the same distance was next up and in a time faster than that of Trinity House we saw a nice performance from the very promising DEPARDIEU (93). Allowed to ease a little at the track as money came for the previously unbeaten UNANNOUNCED, Depardieu was content to guard the rear for most of the journey. Once in the straight though he quickly began to make headway and although the front running Unannounced did as per usual find extra when challenged, he went on to win well by a length.
In terms of distance, the easiest victory on the card was registered by CREATIVE STRIPE (39) when opening his account in the maiden 1400m. Sent off a rather uneasy second favourite at 28/10 (op 2/1 jt fav), Kom Naidoo’s charge was always handy. He took up the running early in the straight and after quickly going clear he went on to score by three and three quarters without any anxious moments.
Titbits
MAGIC LADY made all and won well in the maiden juvenile event over 1000m.
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All The Aces
Kenilworth 14th April: The best bet on the card for most in Cape Town on Saturday was WATERFALL in the opening maiden juvenile event over 1200m and she didn’t let down those buying money. Always deep in the red, Vaughan Marshall’s charge was taken straight to the front by Bernard Fayd’Herbe and led throughout. She was always in command and despite the efforts of the chasing newcomer TRIP POKER, she won comfortably by two. Keep an eye on the runner up Trip Poker. She bumped a good one here and is sure to find easier pickings.
Another to win well from the front on this card was CAP ALRIGHT when gaining his fifth career victory in the MR100 Handicap over 1200m. The formerNatalcampaigner ROYAL TRIBE raced close up in second and when the race began in earnest 300m out, he looked a real threat. Cap Alright kept on as doggedly as always in the latter stages though and try as he might, Royal Tribe couldn’t get closer than a half length at the wire.
Catching the eye in the next, a MR78 Handicap over 1600m was the Piet Steyn trained TERRY LISTER. Positioned towards the rear as the thirteen runners turned for home, the son of Jet Master battled to find a clear passage when the heat was turned on 400m out. Once seeing daylight though, the 5yo quickened in good style and in what proved to be a real thriller, he got up late to deny KHYBER CROSSING.
Titbits
Usually seen out over further,FORESTOFDEANran on very strongly when finishing runner up to Cap Alright in the MR100 handicap over 1200m.
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Top speedratings for this weekend include:-
Flamingo Park Race 1: (4) My Castle 2 Race 2: (1) Entrenched Emblem 3 Race 3:(13) Island Court27 Race 4: (12) Man Of Letters 40 Race 5: (8) Pisces Star 67 Race 6: (4) Zuchetto 51 Race 7: (1) Vestel Virgin 37 Race 8: (1) Crunch Time 27 (EW) Race 9: (1) Mark ‘n Plan 23 Vaal (Tues) Race 1: (14)InnOn The Square 13 Race 2: (1) Daddy’s Dollars 6 Race 3: (11) Captain Mccaw 51 Race 4: (1) Buy And Sell 80 Race 5: (12) Formation 76 (NAP) Race 6: (5) Empenoso Henn 94 Race 7: (7) Romantic Girl 59 Race 8: (11) Hotel Royale 54 Greyville Race 1: (14) Rosie The Rebel 21 Race 2: (2) The Edge 19 Race 3: (3) Suncat 24 Race 4: (10) Spectre Lady 44 Race 5: (8) Razzle Dazzle Rose 73 (NAP*) Race 6: (5) Ice Machine 80 Race 7: (8) Desert Raptor 56 Race 8: (6) Hallowed 43 Kenilworth Race 1: (5) Naval Victory 21 Race 2: (9) Our Dizzy Emblem 12 Race 3: (7) Rain Lily 9 Race 4: (2) Jamie Lee Jet 14 Race 5: (5) Prairy Star 37 Race 6: (6) Brilliant Cut 74 (EW) Race 7: (9) Gin And Tonic 54 Race 8: (5) De La Rey 16 Vaal (Thur) Race 1: (4) Dalalaat 11 Race 2: (12) Night Embers 22 Race 3: (1) Princess Lily 16 Race 4: (14) Silva Snow 21 Race 5: (7) Aerofoil 59 Race 6: (2) Paella 77 Race 7: (7) Express View 67 Race 8: (15) Lucky Wishes 47 Race 9: (13) Waltzing Duel 41
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Top rated winners last week included
Beautiful Dawn won 18/1 Kiriya won 11/2 Sauna’s Rose won 11/2 Flute Enchantee won 28/10 Jagerbomb won 5/2 Trinity House won 17/10 Western Waywon 15/10 City OfAngelswon 11/20.
Notebook:- Depardieu (D Kannemeyer, KZN) ForestOfDean(P Kruyer, W-Cape) Trip Poker (J Ramsden, W-Cape).
FASTEST TIMES
(Shown in brackets is the number of races run in each category)Vaal 12th April Fastest Sprint 1000-1300 (4) Agapanthus Nana Fastest Middle 1400-1800 (3) Lecture Tour Fastest Long 1900-3600 (2) Vas Vites
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Fairview 13th April Fastest Sprint 1000-1300 (4) Kings Troop Fastest Middle 1400-1800 (3) Sir Frank Fastest Long 1900-3600 (1) Roused.
Scottsville 14th April Fastest Sprint 1000-1300 (4) Jagerbomb Fastest Middle 1400-1800 (3) Depardieu Fastest Long 1900-3600 (2) Keep On Dreaming.
Kenilworth 14th April Fastest Sprint 1000-1300 (6) Waterfall Fastest Middle 1400-1800 (2) Terry Lister Fastest Long 1900-3600 (0) No Qualifiers