Lucky Seven

Smart Hat-trick

Fairview 22^nd March: Favourite backers got off to a nice start in Port Elizabeth on Friday when SEATTLE STORM did the business in the opening maiden juvenile plate over 1000m. Soon into stride the son of Sail From Seattle made virtually all. He was always in command and ran out a comfortable winner by a length and three quarters.

The listed East Cape Sprint Cup topped the bill and here the 3yo SEDGE completed a very smart hat-trick. Sent off joint favourite at 5/2 (op 2/1), Gavin Smith’s charge raced prominent throughout. COPPER PARADE and BOIS DE VAR both ran on stoutly at the business end of the race and having to give his all it was only by the narrowest of margins that he got the verdict.

The supporting act was the non-black type Lakeside Handicap over 2400m and here a major upset was to be had when the unfancied SOLO FLIGHT landed the spoils. Freely available at 25/1 on the off, Jacque Strydom’s charge was always handy. The 13/10 favourite DRILL SARGEANT was the first to make a move in the straight and on striking the front 300m from home it looked as if he would go on to score. The in under sufferance Solo Flight finished much the stronger in the latter stages though and went on to win fair and square by a length.

Titbits

VALDEMAR made all when winning the maiden 1200m very easily by three.

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Dennis Is Back

Greyville 22^nd March: Trainer Dennis Drier announced his return to Natal in no uncertain terms on Friday evening, winning four of the five races he contested. Indeed, if MR PATMAN had not have been cramped at a vital stage in the opening maiden event over 1400m, it might even have been five from five.

The stables’ BAMBINA STRIPES was clearly best in at the weights in the progress event over 1300m and so it was no surprise to see her land the spoils. Confidently ridden by Sean Cormack, the daughter of Equal Stripes sat seventh of the nine for most of the journey. She quickened well at the top of the short home straight and won very cosily by two and a quarter after striking the front 200m from home.

There were a number of easy victories on the card and none more so than that of IZORA in the novice 1600m. Marginally sent off as favourite in an event which was priced up as a boat race, Mike De Kock’s charge was always handy. She was ridden to lead early in the straight and after quickly cruising clear she easily accounted for the second favourite PATH TO TRAVEL (op 9/10 fav) by six and three quarters.

Also worthy of note on this card was the performance of Dennis’ ZHIVAGO. Always handy, the Imperial Stride gelding showed a very nice turn of foot close home and won going away by a half.

Titbits

The veteran HENCHMAN was finishing by far the best when runner up in the MR74 Handicap over 1400m.

After losing a length at the start the not so well drawn BATTLE HAMMER ran on strongly from the rear when third in the maiden 2000m.

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At His Best

Turffontein 23^rd March: They raced on the inner track on Saturday where the easiest victory in terms of distance was recorded by RUE DE RIVOLI in the MR72 Handicap over 2600m. Freely available at 10/1 on the off, Joey Soma’s charge was always in touch with the leaders. She quickened well coming off the strip and easily accounted for the recent 8,5 length maiden winner LUCKY GAMBLER by three.

The faster of the two maiden events over 1200m was the girls’ affair in which the uneasy favourite LOVE VIVIEN ran out an easy winner. Allowed to drift right out to even money from 11/20 at the track, Geoff Woodruff’s charge was soon up handy. She was ridden to lead shortly after passing the 400m marker and went on to score very comfortably by two and a half from the running on newcomer SHIVER ‘N SHAKE.

Race eight on the card was a MR77 Handicap over 1800m and here the current national jockey’s log leader Pierre Strydom was seen at his best when landing the spoils with ANTARCTIC CALL. He initially took up the running going through the 400m, but was then headed 150m later by the strongly fancied D G’S BOY. Antarctic Call rallied gamely below the distance though and in what proved to be a real thriller he got back up in the dying strides.

Titbits

NICETY ran on well from the rear when winning the girl’s maiden 1600m going away.

In the rear turning for home, ITSGOTTOBEPERFECT finished best of all when runner up in the MR80 Handicap over 1450m. Fourth placed DISTINCTLY also ran on well in this race.

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Fully Tuned

Clairwood 24^th March: The lightly raced NORMANZ was all the rage to win the opening maiden juvenile plate at the garden course on Sunday and he didn’t let down his supporters. Backed into the red on course, Charles Laird’s charge was soon up handy. He was ridden to lead as they approached the 200m marker and only having to be ridden with hands and heels in the closing stages of the race he cruised in by three.

Even easier a winner was PRINCESS JULIETTA in the girl’s maiden event over 1200m. Taken straight to the front by Brandon Lerena, the daughter of King Of Kings led throughout. She began to assert her authority going through the 500m and extended her one length advantage to six and three quarters in fine style.

There were six 1200m events on the ten race program in total and the fastest of these was the Pinnacle Stakes won by PIANO MAN. On leaving the stalls it was the 6/10 favourite COFFEE SHEIK who elected to make the running whilst James Goodman’s charge sat close up in second. Coffee Sheik, unusually, ran out of gas passing the 300m pole and after taking up the running at that stage the son of Mogok went on to score very comfortably by a length and a half.

Titbits

In front from pillar to post, the heavily supported MOONLIGHTBECOMESU won the maiden 1200m with authority by five and a quarter.

Running on from the rear the aptly named 3yo THE FLYING MACHINE cut through the field like a knife when winning the MR78 Handicap over 1200m.

Lightly raced CONCATENATION ran on well from midfield when winning the maiden 1600m going away.

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Top speedratings for this weekend include:-

Top rated winners last week included

Notebook:-

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