Long Overdue

Six For Titano

Turffontein 9^th August: Tuesday’s action took place at the inner track where we saw a very easy victory in the opening maiden event over 1200m for MINI BLACK (37). Allowed to ease right out to 8/1 from 33/10 at the track as money came for both KENTUCKY SHEIK (7/2 into 16/10) and THE DUKE (33/10 into 14/10), Paul Matchett’s charge raced prominent throughout. He was ridden to lead at the 300m marker and drew clear easily in the closing stages of the race to score by five.

Another to win well in the maiden ranks on this card was THE TIGER’S SUN (10) when opening her account in the 1800m event. Nicely drawn in gate two, the daughter of Eyeofthetiger was always in touch with the leaders. She quickened best of all at the business end of the race and comfortably accounted for the well tried SAKKIE SAKKIE by a length and a half.

The afternoon’s feature event was a MR86 Handicap over 1800m and here we saw a nice performance from the 5yo TITANO (68). Well supported on course to go off a clear favourite at 3/1, Erico Verdonese’s charge raced in midfield for most of the journey. He quickened best of all when the race began in earnest 400m out and after striking the front 200m later, he went on to beat the easy to back MILLENNIUM WIND by a length. Titano has now won six of his nineteen starts and clearly won’t be stopping here.

The final event on the card was a MR69 Handicap over 1800m and here victory went to the Sporting Post’s each way value bet ELMSWOOD (48). Backed throughout the afternoon into 75/20 from 8/1, Gavin Van Zyl’s charge adopted a change of tactics here and was always handy. He quickened well when asked for his effort coming off the strip and after striking the front 300m from home, he easily drew clear.

Titbits

After losing four lengths at the start, BLUE SPIRIT ran on strongly in the race won by ELMSWOOD and was only beaten by three and a half lengths.

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Opening Gambit

Vaal 10^th August: Followers of the money got off to a very nice start at Wednesday’s sand track meeting when the newcomer PACIFIC DYNASTY (15) did the business in the opening maiden event over 1000m. Backed into 11/2 from 25/1 at the track, Wallace Tolmay’s charge was soon up handy. She was ridden to lead as they approached the 400m marker and kept on strongly in the closing stages of the race to beat the running on FIERY GOLD by three quarters.

Race four on the card was a conditions event over 1000m and here we saw a nice performance from the National Assembly filly CANDY COTTON (71) Taken straight to the front by Piere Strydom, Candy Cotton led throughout. She kept on determinedly at the business end of the race and although the well supported favourite WOROOD (16/10 into even money) ran on strongly late, she went on to score by three quarters.

A Pinnacle Stake over 1450m topped the bill and here a bit of an upset was to be had when trying the sand for the first time, the 6yo BOUQUET-GARNI (86) landed the spoils. Freely available at 25/1 on the off, the former Gauteng Derby winner was always handy. He was asked to take up the running shortly after passing the 400m marker and after quickly going clear, he easily accounted for the running on INCOMODO by five. Bouquet-Garni won well and now looks destined for a crack at the prestigious Gr2 Emerald Cup.

The final event on the card was a MR78 Handicap over 1000m and here victory went to the easy to back KINGS GOLD (57). Surprisingly allowed to ease out to 8/1 from 11/2 at the track after running a very good second against much stronger on turf at the weekend, the son of Wolfhound was soon up with the speed. He quickened nicely going the 400m and although the 3yo WINTER’S SONG tried his best to make a race of it, he went on to score very comfortably by a length and three quarters.

Titbits

Many lengths adrift of the leaders turning for home in the MR90 Handicap over 1800m, the heavily supported favourite BAMBELELA (9/2 into 22/10) was gaining rapidly at the finish and only failed to get up by the narrowest of margins.

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Appetising

Clairwood 11^th August: A maiden event over 1000m got proceedings underway at Clairwood on Thursday and here we saw a nice performance from the Glen Puller trained FOREIGN GAL (22). Allowed to ease right out to 9/1 from 4/1 at the track, Foreign Gal was always in touch with the leaders. She began to take closer order going through the 600m and after striking the front 300m later, she won comfortably by a length and a half.

The best bet on the card for many was ATAIR (58) in the MR77 affair over 2500m and she didn’t let down her supporters. Deep in the red at 9/20 on the off (op 8/10), Joey Ramsden’s charge raced second for most of the journey. She was ridden to lead early in the long home straight and went on to score comfortably from the all out ISLE OF DOGS by two.

A MR77 Handicap over 1800m was next up and here we saw a smart performance from the Sean Tarry trained HORS D’OEUVRE (69). Not the quickest into stride, Hors D’oeuvre was positioned towards the back end of midfield as the nine runners turned for home. He took a while to get going in the straight, but as they approached the 200m pole, he suddenly took off. Indeed, he quickened in good style below the distance and got up nicely late to deny the friendless HUNT THE JESTER (16/1 out to 28/1).

Topping the bill was a MR91 Handicap over 1800m and here the stable of Glen Puller were again on the mark when TIGGER (59) registered his third career victory. He got away well when the gates opened and soon up handy raced prominent throughout. He was asked to take up the running as they approached the 300m marker and after quickly going clear, he easily accounted for the running on WHAT’S GOING ON by three.

Titbits

After battling to find a clear passage, SHAHRUHK ran on very well in the latter stages of the maiden 1200m and with the rest left trailing in his wake, he only failed to get to the favourite COUNT THE MUSIC by a short head.

After being a little slow into stride, newcomer JACKODORE ran on well to take third in the race won by the highly regarded DIVINE JET.

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Beware The Badger

Arlington 12^th August: This was the meeting originally scheduled to take place at Fairview.

The locals got off to a rough start in Port Elizabeth on Friday when the heavily supported 11/20 favourite SCENT OF VICTORY (opened even money) got rolled. Soon up handy, the market leader raced prominent throughout. Also right there though was the friendless newcomer SURGING SECRET (10/1 out to 25/1) and after a thrilling tussle over the final 100m, it was the unfancied runner who got the verdict.

The easiest victory on the card was undoubtedly that of LORD BADGER who came home smoking in the novice event over 1600m. Allowed to ease out to 15/10 from evens on course as money in the main came for the Heckie Strydom trained SPEED OF LIGHT (20/1 into 5/1), the 3yo son of Badger’s Drift raced in midfield during the early part of the race. He quickened nicely at the top of the short home straight and after striking the front 220m from home, he cruised clear in the latter stages of the race to score by seven and a half. Third in the Gr3 Champion Juvenile Stakes last time out, Lord Badger won well and is clearly one to keep tabs on.

Another to win well on this card was ICEMBERG when landing the afternoon’s feature event, the non black type Speedsters Stakes over 1000m. Sent off a well supported second favourite at 4/1, Justin Snaith’s charge sat in midfield for most of the journey. He quickened best of all as they approached the 400m marker and under a well judged ride from Piere Strydom, he drew clear easily after striking the front 100m from home.

Jockey Piere Strydom was also on the mark in the last, a MR78 Handicap over 1800m when the ante post favourite SPY GLASS scored a comfortable victory. Allowed to ease out to 28/10 from 22/10 at the track as money came for both UMHLABA (7/2 into 22/10 fav) and SALUTE THE SKY (20/1 into 8/1), Spy Glass went straight to the front and led throughout. He was always in command and despite the efforts of EXULTATION, who chased hard throughout, he went on to score without any anxious moments by two and a half.

Titbits

SCRIPTURE ran on well from midfield when winning the MR91 Handicap over 1800m going away.

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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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