Let The Wind Blow

Thrilling Stuff

Clairwood 22^nd April: They raced at the garden course on Sunday where the easiest victory on the card was recorded by JET SET MODEL (47) in the 1450m event. She got away well when the gates opened and soon up handy raced prominent throughout. She was ridden to lead shortly after passing the 400m marker and drew clear easily in the closing stages of the race to beat DAWN ECLIPSE by five and a quarter.

Race six on the card was a graduation event over 1600m and here victory went to the one eyed POLITICAL PLAYBOY (68). Blind in the right eye, Glen Kotzen’s charge raced in midfield early on. He made his move as they approached the 300m marker and with KOMATIPOORT also running on strongly at that point battle quickly commenced. Both gave their all in the closing stages of the race and it was only close home that Political Playboy, who couldn’t even see his opponent, got the upper hand.

The afternoon’s feature event was a MR104 Handicap over 1200m and in what proved to be a real thriller victory here went to the 6yo MALIYAKHE (85). Freely available at 25/1 on the off, the son of Muhtafal raced towards the rear for most of the journey. Behind him was the back in form THE SHARK and after quickening best of all at the top of the straight, that one looked as if he had done everything right on striking the front 150m from home. Maliyakhe found his top gear late though and just as if scripted he got up in the very last stride.

Titbits

IDAARA ran on well from the rear when comfortably accounting for thirteen rivals in the maiden 2500m.

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Goodweather Track

Vaal 24^th April: Initially billed as an all weather track, theVaal’s sand circuit has been a disappointment in that regard. They ran just six races on Tuesday and that despite no significant change in the weather.

The first of six races that were run was a maiden event over 1450m and here victory went to the uneasy favourite NAUTICA. Allowed to ease right out to 3/1 from 18/10 at the track, the son of Alado was taken straight to the front by Pierre Strydom and let throughout. He was always in command and although CODE NAPOLEON tried hard to make a race of it he went on to score very comfortably by three.

The first of the afternoon’s two feature events to be run was the listed Queen Of The Sand over 1600m and here we saw a nice performance from the Medaglia D’oro filly MINA SALAAM. On leaving the stalls it was the well supported outsider GREYLAAMI (12/1 into 6/1) who elected to make the running whilst Roy Magner’s charge sat close up in second. She was ridden to lead as they passed the 400m marker and kept on strongly in the closing stages of the race to beat the more fancied RAISE THE BAR by three quarters.

The boys contested the listed Highveld Challenge and here it was nice to see MR TOBIN keep his unbeaten record on the surface in tact. Extending his winning sequence to six here, Mr Tobin was always in touch with the leaders. The nibbled at MEADOW MAGIC (7/1 into 11/2) was the first to make a move and he did quicken well after striking the front 200m out. Running on best of all though Sean Tarry’s charge steadily began to reel him in and in what proved to be a real thriller, he got up to score in the very last stride.

Titbits

Fourth placed MARIUS ran on strongly from the rear in the MR78 Handicap over 1000m.

Also running on from the rear into the placings were both FORMATION in the Queen Of The Sand and SAYADAW in the Highveld Sand Challenge.

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Kiddies Favourite

Greyville 24^th April: The best bet on the card for most in Natal on Tuesday evening was the lightly raced TAJMEEL in the MR72 Handicap over 1600m. Swiftly guided over from a wide draw by Anthony Delpech, Mike De Kock’s charge raced on the heels of the pacemaker AL NADIRA. She quickened well in the short home straight and asked to do no more than was necessary on the run to the line, she won with some in hand by a length and a quarter.

A MR89 Handicap over 1600m was next up and here victory went to the Fillies Guineas hopeful RAZZLE DAZZLE ROSE. Drawn wide and a little slow into stride to boot, Yogis Govender’s charge raced towards the rear for most of the journey. Once in the straight though, she quickly made her way through the field and under a well judged ride from Sean Veale she got up late to deny the free striding JETER.

A MR95 Handicap over 1600m was next up and here we saw a comfortable victory for theCape Townvisitor POLAR BOUND. Freely available at 11/2 on the off, Polar Bound was soon up handy. He was asked to take up the running as they approached the 200m marker and comfortably accounted for the running on TAIPAN by two and a half. Keep an eye on the lightly raced Taipan. He had won three from five prior to coming off a five month break here and he was running on very nicely at the finish.

Titbits

For the second race in a row, PLATINUM FOX was running on stoutly from the rear when fourth in the maiden 1200m.

WEST END quickened very nicely late when third beaten just a length and a half in the race won by Razzle Dazzle Rose.

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Supreme Effort

Kenilworth 25^th April: First up inCape Town on Wednesday was a maiden juvenile event over 1200m and here victory went to the original market leader SWEEP FORWARD. Allowed to drift out to 33/10 from 2/1 as money came for several runners, Justin Snaith’s charge was soon up handy. He moved up to dispute matters with the new favourite NAVAL VICTORY going through the 200m and with the rest left trailing in the their wake, he asserted his authority late to score by a length and a quarter.

The stable of Justin Snaith were again on the mark in the girls division of the maiden juvenile 1200m when the well supported outsider JET SUPREME did the business. Backed into 11/2 from 14/1 at the track, the daughter of Jet Master raced in the rear during the early part of the race. Once given rein though she quickly worked her way through the field and under a well judged ride from Bernard Fayd’Herbe, she got up late to deny the friendless FREDDIE’S SISTER (14/1 out to 25/1).

A MR90 Handicap over 1400m topped the bill and here we saw another smart performance from the improving LORD PARAMOUNT. Sent off a very uneasy favourite at 7/2 (op 5/2), Dean Kannemeyer’s charge raced in touch with the leaders in fifth. He quickened nicely over the final 400m and asked to do no more than was necessary by the vastly experienced Karl Neisius, he went on to beat the well supported second favourite LANCELIN (9/2 into 75/20) going away.

Titbits

STRIKE HANDS ran on well from off the pace when fourth in the MR79 Handicap won by the talented Laurie’s Gold.

Hotpot favourite TRIP POKER won the maiden juvenile event over 1400m more easily than the official winning margin of half a length would suggest.

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Flying Late

Arlington 27^th April: Favourite backers got off to a nice start in theEastern Cape on Friday when the best bet on the card for many, DANCERS GRACE did the business. Allowed to flirt with 19/10 at one stage after opening up at 22/10, Alan Greef’s charge got away well when the gates opened and in what soon became a strung out field sat third. She took up the running going through the 300m and went on to score very comfortably from a wall of horses headed by LEGEND OF ZELDA.

Race five on the card was a MR90 Handicap over 1600m and here a bit of an upset was to be had when the 3yo SHUJAA registered his third career victory. Freely available at 13/1 on the off the son of Fusaichi Pegasus was soon positioned close to the pace. He was ridden to lead early in the short home straight and kept on strongly in the latter stages of the race to beat the in form ALL ABLAZE, who finished well.

The afternoon’s feature event was the non-black type Arlington Flying Five and in what proved to be a real thriller victory here went to the 16/1 shot APOLO GREY. The field was closely grouped for most of the journey and when BOB ‘N WEAVE went a length up 300m out, it looked as if he would go on to score. Apolo Grey and ICEMBERG both ran on particularly well below the distance though and with Bob ‘n Weave unable to go with them late, Justin Snaith’s charge got the verdict by a neck.

Titbits

ARE WE THERE YET ran on very well from the rear in the MR86 Handicap over 1400m.

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Top speedratings for this weekend include:-

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Top rated winners last week included

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Notebook:-

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FASTEST TIMES

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