Losing Weight

Silver Lining

Clairwood 18^th October: A maiden event over 1200m got proceedings underway at the garden course on Tuesday and here a bit of an upset was to be had when the easy to back PYTHAGAROS got his sums right. Allowed to ease out to 12/1 from 7’s at the track, Dennis Bosch’s charge was taken straight to the front by Sean Veale and led throughout. He kept on strongly at the business end of the race and although the heavily supported newcomer ICE MACHINE (16/10 into 15/20) did manage to make some headway late, he went on to score very comfortably by a length and three quarters.

The easiest victory on the card was undoubtedly that of SAUCY SAVANNAH (19) who came home smoking in the maiden event over 2000m. The best bet on the card for most, Mike De Kock’s charge was always deep in the red. She got away well when the gates opened and soon up handy raced prominent throughout. She was ridden to lead as they approached the 200m marker and pitched in against what has to be said was a very moderate looking bunch she cruised clear to score by six.

A MR91 Handicap over 1000m topped the bill and here it was nice to see the top weight SHARE THE SILVER register her fifth career victory. Another to race handy, Tony Rivalland’s charge was always poised to strike. She hit the front shortly after passing the 300m marker and kept on strongly in the closing stages of the race to hold off a determined challenge from the nibbled at QUEEN TAMARA (8/1 into 5/1).

The final event on the card was a MR78 Handicap over 1000m and here followers of the money were on the mark when the 3yo TORRA BAY (63) did the business. Backed into 22/10 second favourite from 4/1 at the track, Dennis Drier’s charge was soon at the head of affairs. She held just a slender lead for most of the journey, but quickening well late, she went on to score comfortably by a length and a half from the 3yo LANGOUSTIER. A fluent winner of her only previous start, Torra Bay won well again and is clearly one to follow.

Titbits

BIG WINTER CHILL showed good improvement when winning the MR78 Handicap over 1450m with authority.

.

Horses For Courses

Turffontein 18^th October: They raced on the stand side track on Tuesday evening where victory in the opening maiden event over 1000m went to the well supported newcomer MARY’S PRIDE (14). Deep in the red at 11/20 on the off (op 8/10), Ormond Ferraris’ charge was soon up handy. She was ridden to lead as they approached the 200m marker and just had enough in hand to beat the running on COME WITH ME by a neck.

Much easier a winner in the maiden ranks on this card was GOLDEN CHATEAU (35) in the 1400m event. Backed into 11/20 from 7/10 at the track, Mike De Kock’s charge raced fifth during the early part of the race some seven lengths off the pace set by the second favourite ACAPELLA. Once in the long home straight though he soon began to reduce the deficit and under a well judged ride from Anthony Delpech, he got up late to score from his nearest rival in the betting market by a length. Golden Chateau has finished very well in both starts and is clearly one to keep tabs on.

A pinnacle stakes over 1400m topped the bill and here it was nice to see the talented KAVANAGH return from a break in top form. Confidently ridden by Anthony Delpech, the son of Tiger Ridge sat fourth early on just four lengths off the easy to back pacemaker D J DETZKY. He began to take closer order going through halfway and went on to score very cosily after striking the front 100m from home.

Perhaps a little unlucky in the pinnacle event over 1000m was the 4/10 favourite MAGICO. Positioned in the rear early on, Magico didn’t get the clearest of runs when the race began in earnest. He was gaining quickly at the finish and did well (especially as jockey Marcus had his whip struck from his hand 100m out) to get within three quarters of a length of the winner MANNEQUIN at the wire.

Titbits

Lightly raced INDIAN RIVER was gaining at the finish when only beaten a neck by MINI BLACK in the progress event over 1160m.

Returning from a three month break here, ATYEB was finishing best of all when a short head third to S’IL VOUS PLAIT in the MR88 affair over 2000m.

.

Rank Outsider

Durbanville 19^th October: A maiden event over 1000m was first up at the country course on Wednesday and here victory went to one of the joint favourites AIM OF THE GAME. Nicely drawn in barrier two, Mike Stewart’s charge got away well when the gates opened and was soon up handy. She was ridden to lead going through the 400m and found extra when challenged late to hold off the running on SECRET CALL by the narrowest of margins.

Race five on the card was a MR79 Handicap over 1400m and here a major upset was to be had when the rank outsider of the eight horse party ENTRADOR registered his second career victory. The second winner on the card for trainer Mike Stewart, Entrador was freely available at 40/1 on the off. He led throughout and although NATIONHOOD (had to switch out for a run 250m from home) ran on strongly from the rear, he went on to score comfortably by a length and a quarter.

The afternoon’s feature event was a MR90 Handicap over 1400m and in what proved to be a real thriller victory here went to the lesser fancied of Mike Bass’ three runners LOS COLMOS. Taken straight to the front by Christopher Puller, Los Colmos was a length and a half clear as they came off the bend. He kept on strongly in the straight and just had enough in hand to hold off both IMPERIAL FOX and his stable companion KAMBROOK by a neck.

A maiden event over 1600m brought proceedings to a close and here the stable of Mike Bass were again on the mark when TOBE’S FIRST opened his account. On leaving the stalls it was WOTTA SMASHER who elected to make the running whilst Tobe’s First raced close up in fourth. He was ridden to lead as they approached the 200m marker and although the running on DOLLAR BILL BLUES finished well from off the pace, he still had a half length to spare at the wire.

Titbits

After having to switch out for a run 200m from home, YODAC finished best of all and did well to get up late in the MR74 Handicap over 1000m.

LIGHT MY CANDLE and FEEL MY LOVE both ran on very well when first and third respectively in the MR76 affair over 1400m.

.

Selbourne’s Supremacy

Turffontein 20^th October: The most impressive performance at the inner track on Thursday was undoubtedly that of SELBOURNE SUPREMACY (78) who came home smoking in the novice event over 1600m. Backed into favouritism at the track (2/1 into 14/10), Sean Tarry’s charge raced in midfield for most of the journey. He was clearly cruising as he cut though the field early in the short home straight and without really having had a race, he went on to score very easily by five from the all out CITY OF BELLS.

Another to win well from the stable of Sean Tarry on this card was VERROCHIO (32) when opening his account in the maiden event over 1600m. Running on stoutly from midfield, this son of Royal Academy finished best of all and under a well judged ride from Robbie Fradd he cruised clear of the 15/20 favourite BORODINO after striking the front 50m from home. Verrochio won well and clearly has more to come.

A MR88 Handicap over 1600m topped the bill and here we saw a nice performance from the Mike De Kock trained RIGHT BEAUTY (56). After being claimed into 13/20 from 8/10 in the ante post market, Mike De Kock’s charge was surprisingly allowed to ease right out to 16/10 at the track. On leaving the stalls it was ECHOHAWK who elected to make the running whilst in a strung out field Right Beauty raced towards the back end of midfield. He quickened best of all at the top of the straight and making up some nine lengths on the front runner over the final 400m, he did well to get up close home.

A MR66 Handicap over 2600m was next up and showing good improvement here was the 4yo TURKISH DELIGHT (49). Allowed to ease out to 4/1 from 33/10 on course as good support came in for EBTEHAAJ, St John Gray’s charge was always in touch with the leaders. She ran on best of all at the business end of the race and comfortably accounted for REINE DU VICTOIRE by a length and a quarter.

Titbits

At the back turning for home, the lightly raced 3yo ALBRACCA caught the eye running on nicely to take fourth in the race won by Selbourne Supremacy.

.

Top speedratings for this weekend include:-

.

Top rated winners last week included

.

Notebook:-

.

FASTEST TIMES

.          

.

.