Lucky Last

Follow The Badger

Fairview 20^th April: The easiest victory inPort Elizabeth on Friday was undoubtedly that of BISHOP’S CHOICE in the opening maiden juvenile event over 1400m. Positioned in midfield early on, Stephen Rensburg’s charge quickened well from halfway and after striking the front 150m from home, he cruised clear late to win by four and three quarters.

Another to win well in the maiden ranks was KINGS NEWS when opening his account in the 1000m event. Always handy, the well supported son of King Of Kings (6/1 into 7/2 favourite) took up the running as they approached the 200m marker and went on to score comfortably by a length and three quarters.

A MR91 Handicap over 1100m was next up and in what proved to be a real thriller victory here went to the National Assembly filly PERESTROIKA. Soon in his favourite position at the head of affairs, Perestroika kept up a healthy gallop throughout. The field was always tightly bunched though and in a race where less than a length and a half separated all except the rank outsider of the party CHICA BONITA, he just held on by the narrowest of margins.

Topping the bill was the non black type Derby Plate over 2000m and here we saw another smart performance from the recent East Cape Guineas winner LORD BADGER. Confidently ridden by Warren Kennedy, the son of Badger’s Drift sat some seven lengths off the pace in fourth for most of the journey. The well supported outsider SUNNY SPAIN (20/1 into 12/1) was the first to make a move in the straight and showing no signs of stopping after taking up the running 300m out, he had the rest well beaten. Lord Badger steadily began to reel him in at the business end of the race though and under a well judged ride he got up late to score by a half.

Titbits

Topweight INCA’S SPIRIT ran on well from the back of the field when comfortably landing the MR86 Handicap over 2400m.

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Speedy Vettel

Turffontein 21^st April: Saturday’s action took place on the inner track where the first of a number of easy victories was recorded by the newcomer FIRE WHEEL (11/2 into 75/20) in the opening maiden juvenile event over 1600m. Swiftly guided over from a wide draw by Gavin Lerena, Sean Tarry’s charge was always in touch with the leaders. She was asked to take up the running going through the 300m and drew clear easily in the closing stages of the race to beat the nibbled at outsider FIVE RINGS (20/1 into 13/1) by five and a quarter.

Another to win well in the maiden ranks on this card was MASTER ENTERTAINER in the 1450m event. Unable to get within ten lengths of a winner in his two previous starts, this son of Black Minnaloushe had been drawn very wide here and as a result he was positioned in the rear as the fourteen runners passed through the strip. Once in the short home straight though, he quickened best of all and won comfortably by a length after striking the front 100m from home.

A MR72 Handicap over 2600m was next up and here we saw good improvement from the 3yo VETTEL. Allowed to ease right out to 7/2 from 22/10 fav at the track as money came forBAMAKO(7/2 into 2/1 fav), Mike De Kock’s charge raced in midfield for most of the journey. He quickened best of all when given rein and after striking the front early in the straight he easily accounted for the money horse by three and three quarters.

A MR94 Handicap over 1450m topped the bill and here it was nice to see the back in form RABADASH complete a double. Another to run on stoutly from off the pace, Rabadash got up late to deny the formerEastern Capecampaigner THE PLUNDERER.

Titbits

Running on stoutly from the rear after being drawn wide, LADY’S DESIRE finished best of all in the maiden 1450m and was only beaten a length and a quarter.

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Weighted To Win

Kenilworth 21^st April: After the 11/20 favourite HALF MOON HOTEL got rolled in the opener, local punters took another blow on the chin in race two when the previously unbeaten THE BLACK ROSE failed to deliver. Sent off deep in the red at 1/4 in her bid to complete a fourtimer, The Black Rose got away well when the gates opened and three lengths clear going through the 400m she looked to have the race at her mercy. Her only serious rival in the betting market COUNTESS OF RHYNIE quickened well at that point though and when she loomed alongside 170m out, the favourite could find no extra.

Race four on the card was a Conditions Plate over 1000m and bringing his tally of wins to five from just nine outings here was the Justin Snaith trained ENRANI. Freely available at 8/1 on the off, the daughter of Danzero was soon up handy. She was ridden to lead shortly after passing the 100m marker and kept on strongly late to beat her more fancied stable companionLAKEDRAWSKO(5/1 into 3/1) by a neck.

The first of the afternoon’s two feature events to be run was the listed Sweet Chestnut Stakes over 1400m and here victory went to the Glen Kotzen trained GOLDEN DAWN. Allowed to ease out to 13/2 from 5/1 at the track, the daughter of Goldmark raced close up in seventh during the early part of the race. She began to take closer order early in the straight and under a well judged ride from Karis Teetan she got up late to beat the well supported second favourite OCEAN’S SWIFT by a length and a quarter.

The first of just two favourites on the card to arrive was the very well weighted VARIETY CLUB in the bill topping Gr3 Winter Guineas. Soon prominent, Joey Ramsden’s charge took up the running shortly after passing the 400m marker and kept on strongly from there onwards to beat a wall of horses by two and a half.

Titbits

Pitched in against some very useful winners in the juvenile plate over 1100m, the newcomer GINOCLOCK ran on well from the rear and was only beaten a length and a half.

3^rd & 4^th respectively, RIVATORIO and DANCE FOR GOLD both ran on well from the rear in the listed Sweet Chestnut Stakes.

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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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