No Luck Needed

Good Things

Scottsville 24^th November: Favourite backers got off to a nice start in Pietermaritzburg on Sunday when the aptly named OBLIGATION did the business in the opening maiden event over 1200m. The best bet on the card for many, Dennis Drier’s charge was soon up handy. He was ridden to lead at the halfway mark and comfortably accounted for the friendless VIRTUAL EMBLEM by three.

The best bet on the card for Sporting Post was MR WHATEVER in the pinnacle stakes over 1000m, and he too brought home the bacon. Clearly the best in at the weights, the 11/10 favourite made all. He was always clear and only having to be ridden with hands and heels won with plenty in hand by three and a half.

Three of the afternoon’s nine races were run over 1200m and the fastest of these was the conditions plate won by the rapidly improving GOLDIE COAST. A winner of two from five coming into the race, Paul Lafferty’s charge raced fourth early on. Once given rein though she quickened well and won going away by two and a quarter after striking the front 220m or so from home.

Titbits

PROFESSOR X completed a hat-trick when winning the MR78 Handicap over 2400m. After only managing to shed his maiden tag at the fourteenth attempt this son of Doowaley has now won four of his last six starts.

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A Walk In The Park

Flamingo Park 25^th November: There were some very easy victories in the Northern Cape on Monday and none more so than that of WOODLAND TRADE who came home smoking in the opening maiden event over 1200m. Freely available at 12/1 on the off, the former Eastern Cape campaigner broke well from his very wide draw and made virtually all. He began to assert his authority at the top of the straight and came home lonely by seven.

Another to win with authority on this card was THUNDERSTREAK in the MR62 affair over 1800m. Soon up handy, the 16/1 shot took up the running going through the 300m and won going away by six and a quarter.

Three of the afternoon’s nine races were run over 1200m and the fastest of these was the lucky last won by the veteran WINGS OF AN ANGEL. Sent off a strong favourite to win the MR80 Handicap, the 7yo raced in midfield for most of the journey. She began to take closer order coming off the bend and cruised clear to score by four and a quarter after hitting the front 200m from home.

Titbits

Positioned in the rear turning for home, FORT KNOX ran on best of all when fourth, beaten just three quarters of a length, in the MR66 Handicap over 1200m.

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Fourteen Lengths

Vaal 26^th November: They raced on the sand on Tuesday where the faster of the two 1600m races on the card was the bill topping pinnacle stakes won by FORMATION. Always handy, the deposed favourite took up the running going through the 300m. Having her first outing on the surface the Ormond Ferraris trained STRAW MARKET ran on stoutly in the closing stages of the race and steadily gaining at the finish she only failed to get up by the narrowest of margins.

At the other end of the distance scale was the victory of LEVANTO in the MR80 Handicap over 1600m. Always top of the boards Dominic Zaki’s charge raced fourth during the first half of the race. He was ridden to lead as they approached the 700m marker and with a ton in hand he went on to score by fourteen.

Another to win with authority on this card was CONTADOR in the conditions plate over 1000m. Best in at the weights, the 8/10 favourite was soon prominent. He quickened well going through the 500m and although the well supported 3yo ANGER chased hard he went on to win under just hands and heels by five and a half.

Titbits

The Western Winter filly WRAP ME UP won the maiden 1450m very easily by five and three quarters.

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Pillar To Post

Kenilworth 27^th November: A maiden plate over 1200m was first up in Cape Town on Wednesday and here victory went to the newcomer FUTURA. A son of Dynasty, Brett Crawford’s charge raced in midfield early. He ran on strongly over the final 600m and under a well judged ride from Glen Hatt he got up late to deny the favourite CLASSY FIGHTER.

Three of the afternoon’s nine races were run over 1600m and the fastest of these was the conditions plate won by PRICELESS JEWEL. Just six went to post and rounding the turn four lengths covered all. Priceless Jewel led them in and showing real guts and determination over the final 500m she held them off by a length and a quarter.

There was also three races run over 1800m and the fastest of these was the maiden event won by INDEPENDENCE. On leaving the stalls it was the rank outsider of the party PLATOON LEADER who elected to make the running whilst the 3yo son of Jet Master raced close up in fourth. He was ridden to lead shortly after passing the 300m marker and comfortably accounted for the 4yo DIPLOMATIC by two and a quarter.

Titbits

SHINGWEDZI ran on well from the rear when a 0,4 length runner up in the maiden 1400m.

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Like The Wind

Vaal 28^th November: Due to heavy rain and an electrical storm racing at the Vaal’s inside track was again curtailed. Indeed, they were only able to run one race. That was the opening maiden juvenile plate in which the newcomer CAPTURED WIND won well. Out of the pens in a flash, the son of Sail From Seattle raced up with the speed throughout. He asserted his authority going through the 400m and easily accounted for SNOW CALL by three and a half.

Titbits

A full brother to the very talented Link Man (regularly slow away) BURG was sent off favourite for this race. He appears to have at least one of his Gr1 winning brother’s bad habits though, as he lost three lengths at the start. As a result he was never sighted.

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Top speedratings for this weekend include:-

Top rated winners last week included

Notebook:-

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