Let’s Dance

Showing Promise

Clairwood 5^th January: A maiden juvenile plate over 1000m got proceedings underway at the garden course on Sunday and here we saw a nice performance from the newcomer AD IDEM. Backed into second favourite during the morning (6/1 into 22/10), Mike De Kock’s charge raced in midfield early on. This daughter of Jet Master showed a fair turn of foot over the final 300m and in what proved to be a real thriller she did well to get up in the dying strides.

Four of the afternoon’s eight races were run over 1200m and the fastest of these was the MR74 Handicap won by the 6yo DEVON GOLD. Always handy, Adam Kethro’s charge struck the front going through the 200m and in another very tight finish he only got the verdict by a neck over the well supported favourite CINEMA SCOPE.

The fastest of the three 1600m events was the maiden plate in which the Anton Marcus ridden PETER PIPER opened his account. Despite being a little troublesome at the start, the son of Jet Master broke well and was soon at the head of affairs. He kept on strongly at the business end of the race and ran out a comfortable winner over the easy to back FABRIC by a length and a quarter.

Titbits

Runner up in the MR86 Handicap over 1200m, WEST END was baulked for a run when initially looking to make her move 300m out.

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Still Flying At Seven

Flamingo Park 6^th January: The 7yo Bezrin mare WINGS OF AN ANGEL had won three of her last six starts in the Northern Cape prior to taking her place in the fastest of the three 1400m events (a MR80 Handicap) and she again did the business. Sent off a rather uneasy favourite at 18/10, Jaap Visser’s charge was guarding the rear as the eleven runners turned for home. Once in the straight though she quickened best of all and won going away by two after striking the front 150m from home.

There were a number of easy victories on the card and none more so than that of SHE’S AMAZING in the maiden 1200m. Backed into favouritism at the track, Dorrie Sham’s charge raced in midfield early on. She moved through to take up the running as they approached the 100 pole and won going away by three and three quarters.

Another to win with authority on this card was KINGOFMOUNTAIN in the pinnacle stakes over 1600m. Taken straight to the front by Marco Van Rensburg, the son of Ravishing led throughout. He was always in command and although the veteran EYE OF THE WORLD ran on stoutly from well off the pace to take second, he won without any anxious moments by two and three quarters.

Titbits

After racing in midfield the runner up NEW CIRCLE was finishing best of all when only beaten three quarters of a length in the MR69 Handicap over 1400m.

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Naught From Ten

Vaal 7^th January: It was a rough day for punters at the Vaal’s outside track meeting on Tuesday as not one of the favourites were able to find the winner’s enclosure. INDIGO PIXIE was the shortest priced winner on the ten race program when landing the maiden 1600m at 7/2. Soon up handy, Leon Erasmus’ charge was ridden to lead shortly after passing the 200m pole and won comfortably by a length from the running on FRENCH APPROVAL.

The biggest upset on the card came in the not so lucky last where BRAVO MAYA (35/1) and SICILIA (45/1) dead-heated. Sicilia attempted to make all, but hanging badly over the final 200m she aided the running on Bravo Maya who got up to share in the very last stride.

The faster of the two 1000m events was the MR68 affair in which we saw a smart performance from the improving 3yo PAPA JOE. Freely available at 7/1 on the off, the son of National Emblem raced in the rear for the first half of the race. Once given rein though he quickened nicely, and did well to get up in the dying strides to deny the veteran MR HURRICANE.

Titbits

WOODSTOCK EXPRESS ran on well from the rear when runner up to the useful looking Turk’s Turban in the maiden 1600m

VITRUVIAN MAN was finishing best of all when only failing by the narrowest of margins to deny the front running Rambo in the MR80 Handicap over 1600m.

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Juvenile King

Kenilworth 8^th January: Favourite backers got off to a good start in Cape Town on Wednesday when AZARENKA did the business in the opening maiden juvenile plate over 1000m. Soon into stride Justin Snaith’s charge was quickly two lengths clear. She kept up a healthy gallop throughout and with plenty in hand won as a good odds on favourite should, with authority by three and three quarters. Trainer Justin Snaith has now won all four of the maiden juvenile events that have taken place in Cape Town this season.

Another favourite to win easily was DISNEY QUEEN in the maiden 1600m. Backed into favouritism at the track (28/10 into 18/10), Carl Burger’s charge was soon up handy. She took up the running early in the long new course straight and after quickly going clear she came home lonely by five.

A MR77 Handicap topped the bill and in what proved to be the faster of the two 1600m events on the card, the 3yo SOUK registered her second career victory. Always clear at the head of affairs, the daughter of Greys Inn ran on strongly in the straight and although INTERNET JET did manage to make some headway in the closing stages of the race, she still had two lengths to spare at the wire.

Titbits

SIR BASTION (came from the rear) and PHIRI E KWATILE (didn’t find the clearest of passages) both ran on very well when first and second respectively in the MR72 Handicap over 1800m.

Third placed BLARNEY BAY was finishing best of all when running on from the backend of midfield in the MR71 Handicap over 1400m.

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2 Wins In 4 Days

Vaal 9^th January: Five of the nine races on the Vaal’s rain affected sand track on Thursday were run over 1000m and the fastest of these was the MR80 Handicap won by VELVET VERONA. A 10/1 winner at Flamingo Park earlier in the week, Corne Spies’ 6/1 shot was always handy. He ran on strongly over the final 400m and under a typically cheeky ride from Piere Strydom he comfortably accounted for ANGEL GABRIEL by a length.

The easiest victory on the card was undoubtedly that of LADY OF KILDARE who came home smoking in the opening workrider’s maiden event for the girls over 1600m. In what soon became a very strung out field the 14/10 favourite took up the running shortly before halfway. She quickly went clear and went on to score by ten.

Another to win by a steeplechase margin on this card was NIGHTINGALE GREY in the MR64 Handicap over 1600m.  Freely available at 16/1 on the off, the daughter of Surging River raced close up in second for most of the journey. She was asked to take up the running going through the 400m and won going away by six and three quarters.

Titbits

Still four lengths off the pace 150m out, the aptly named 66/1 shot JIMMYS LIGHTNING fairly flew in the closing stages of the race and in what proved to be a real thriller he got his whiskers in front in the very last stride.

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Top speedratings for this weekend include:-

Top rated winners last week included

Notebook:-

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