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Turffontein 15^th April: They raced on the inner track on Sunday whereas expected the best bet on the card for many SOUL MASTER did the business in the pinnacle event over 2600m. In the red at 13/20 on the off, Geoff Woodruff’s charge raced seventh of the nine for most of the journey. He made his move as they entered the strip and after striking the front early in the straight, he kept on strongly in the latter stages of the race to win by a length and a quarter.

Favourite backers were again on the mark in afternoon’s feature event, the listed Spook Express Handicap over the same distance when GORONGOSA landed the spoils. Winning for the seventh time in ten starts here, the Montjeu mare raced in midfield early on. She rounded runners quickly coming off the strip and after a thrilling tussle with the nibbled at second favourite HIMALAYAN HILL she only got the verdict by a neck.

A MR76 Handicap over 1450m was next up and here we saw a comfortable victory for the 3yo DAZZLING MOON (54). Grant Maroun’s charge got away well when the gates opened and soon up handy raced prominent throughout. She was ridden to lead 100m from home by Pierre Strydom and although the front running ALL IN THE MIND kept on strongly once headed, she went on to score by a length.

Titbits

The 3yo ICE TRIGGER had the rest well beaten when runner up to Soul Master in the pinnacle event over 2600m.

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Hot Stuff

Vaal 17^th April: Tuesday’s action took place on the turf where victory in the opening workrider’s maiden qualified handicap went to the well tried EGOLI GAS (29). Allowed to ease right out to 33/10 from 22/10 at the track, Dominic Zaki’s charge raced in midfield during the early part of the race. He was ridden to lead by Abram Makhubo as they approached the 400m marker and kept on strongly in the latter stages of the race to beat the running on HENRY HIGGINS by a length.

The easiest victory on the card was undoubtedly that of MO’PEPPER who came home smoking in the MR66 affair over 1400m. Freely available at 11/2 on the off, Brian Wiid’s charge was always handy. He moved through to take up the running shortly after passing the 400m marker and fairly cruised clear from there onwards to score by eight and a quarter.

A MR66 Handicap over 1000m was next up and here we saw a nice performance from the Chris Erasmus trained THUNDERBALL (26). Well supported into 4/1 from 6’s, the son of Jallad was positioned in the rear going through halfway. Once given rein though he ran on stoutly and quickening nicely late he got up to deny the front running favouriteCAPITOLINE.

Titbits

Well supported TSAR NICHOLAS (14/1 into 15/2) ran on from the rear when winning the qualified maiden handicap over 1700m. LORD YORK also ran on well from the rear in this race.

Considerably down in class, IKATI fairly flew over the final 400m and did well to get up very close home in the MR62 Handicap over 1000m.

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Impressive Maiden Win

Greyville 17^th April: First up on Tuesday evening was a maiden juvenile event over 1400m and here we saw an impressive performance from the Windrush filly LIZZY GREY (38). Sent off favourite at 5/2, Gavin Van Zyl’s charge broke well and was soon up handy. She was ridden to lead as they approached the 300m marker and with Kevin Shea barely having to move a muscle she cruised in by seven and a quarter.

Another to win very well on this card, albeit by a much lesser margin, was GOLD ONYX (89) in the MR91 affair over 1900m. Confidently ridden by the visiting Karl Neisius, the former Gr1 Premier’s Champion Stakes winner sat in midfield for most of journey. Once given rein though, the son of Black Minnaloushe quickened well and with plenty in hand he easily accounted for the front running SECRET SYMBOL by a length.

The lucky last was a MR70 Handicap over 1900m and here the locals were sent home happy when the Anton Marcus ridden favourite TURNING TIDE did the business. Not the quickest into stride,PaulLafferty’s charge raced in midfield early on. He was asked to take closer order coming off the bend and in a time faster than that of Gold Onyx, he drew clear easily after striking the front 120m from home.

Titbits

Although never anywhere near the winner, the nibbled at FAST JET ran on nicely from the rear when third to the impressive Lizzie Grey in the maiden juvenile 1400m.

Later reported as lame on the near hind, the hat-trick seeking GANDOLF THE GREAT ran on well from the rear when fourth in the MR70 Handicap won by the improving Turning Tide.

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One To Three

Arlington 18^th April: A maiden juvenile event over 1000m got proceedings underway in Port Elizabeth on Wednesday and here we saw a nice performance from the favourite LE VAR. Allowed to ease out to 15/10 from even money at the track as money came in buckets for the newcomer BENEDICT (7/1 into 16/10), Gavin Smith’s charge was soon at the head of affairs. He kept up a healthy gallop throughout and with the money horse (who had raced with him early on) fading into oblivion at the business end of the race, he went on to score very comfortably from TAJ MAHAL TRIP by two and a half.

The best bet on the card for most was WE THREE in the conditions event over 2000m and she didn’t let down her supporters. Sent off at the prohibitive odds of 1/4 (op 1/3), the daughter of Silvano sat some five lengths off the pace in fourth for most of the journey. She quickened well entering the short home straight and after striking the front 350m from home, she kept on strongly in the latter stages of the race to beat the running on MAKZOOS by two.

The formerGautengcampaigner HIDDEN RAVE also looked to be a good thing in the graduation event over 1000m, but on the day he found one better. Always deep in the red, Hidden Rave was soon up handy and held every chance. The front running SOUTH RANGER (20/1 into 12/1) found extra when the gauntlet was thrown down though and went on to score with authority by three and a quarter.

Titbits

Running on from the rear, the well supported outsider SURGING STAR (33/1 into 13/1) was gaining at the finish when only beaten a neck in the Allowance Plate over 1600m.

BATH OLIVER was running on best of all when only beaten a neck in the MR70 Handicap over 2000m.

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Smart Winners

Vaal 19^th April: They raced on the turf on Thursday where victory in the opening maiden juvenile event over 1000m went to the well supported favourite QUEEN BELLA (5/2 into 14/10). Taken straight to the front byChad Little, the daughter of King Of Kings led throughout. She kept on strongly at the business end of the race and still had a half length to spare over the second favourite MUSIC AFFAIR at the wire.

The easiest victory on the card was undoubtedly that ofJADEBAY(5/2 into 14/10) who came home smoking in the second division of the boys maiden juvenile 1000m. Backed into 11/20 when finishing down field in his only previous outing (5/2 into 14/10 here), Dominic Zaki’s charge was soon at the head of affairs. He began to assert his authority going through the 400m and with plenty in hand he easily accounted for the joint favourite THE HANGMAN by six and a half.

Another to win in very good fashion on this card was LARUSSA (81) in the afternoon’s feature event, a MR90 Handicap over 1200m. Positioned in the rear passing halfway,PaulMatchett’s charge cut through the field like a knife when the race began in earnest and after striking the front 170m from home, she cruised clear to score by four and a quarter.

Titbits

Not given a hard ride, the newcomer GUSKE MALAYA caught the eye when gliding into third position in the first division of the boys maiden juvenile 1000m.

After racing detached at the rear, the fancied POCKET FILLER did well to get up for third in the MR72 affair over 1600m.

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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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