Making In Roads

Via Cape Town

Scottsville 23^rd October: First up in Pietermaritzburg on Tuesday afternoon was a maiden event for the boys over 1000m and here we saw a very easy victory for the 3yo THRESHOLD. Freely available at 10/1 on the off, Craig Eudey’s charge was soon up handy. He was ridden to lead as they approached the 200m marker and drew clear easily in the closing stages of the race to score by five.

Although not in terms of distance, the easiest victory on the card was undoubtedly that of the very highly regarded VIA AFRICA when completing a hattrick in the conditions plate over 1000m. Taken straight to the front by Alec Forbes, the daughter of Var held just a slender advantage for most of the journey. She began to assert her authority going through the 300m and with her jockey barely having had to move a muscle throughout, she won very impressively by four. A very easy winner of all three starts since finishing runner up on debut, Via Africa will now be heading to Cape Town for the summer season.

A Pinnacle Stakes over 3000m topped the bill and as expected victory here went to the best weighted runner in the race KOLKATA. Allowed to ease out to even money from 8/10 at the track, Sean Tarry’s charge was soon positioned close to the pace. He took up the running as they approached the halfway mark and easily three lengths to the good turning for home, he went on to score without any anxious moments.

A novice 1400m for the girls was next up and here victory went to the heavily supported SLINKY THE CAT. Backed through all rates at the track into 4/1 from 8’s, Gavin Van Zyl’s charge was soon at the head of affairs. She ran on strongly in the straight and despite the efforts of the chasing MISTY MORN, and the uneasy favourite KING’S TEMPTRESS (6/10 out to 15/10), she cruised in by eight.

Titbits

The newcomer CHOSEN GODDESS won the maiden event over 1200m going away by three and a quarter.

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Masterful Performance

Turffontein 23^rd October: Tuesday night’s action took place on the old stand side track where the first of the two feature events to be run was the listed Java Handicap over 2450m which was won by the topweight SOUL MASTER. Making his seasonal debut here, Geoff Woodruff’s charge raced in midfield for most of the journey. Once in the long home straight though he quickened well and with the rest well beaten, he comfortably accounted for the improving YER-MAAN by two.

The Gr3 Yellowwood Handicap over 1800m topped the bill and here a major upset was to be had when the unfancied ENCHANTED KINGDOM landed the spoils. Freely available at 35/1 on the off (op 25’s), Paul Peter’s charge was amongst those in the rear as the sixteen runners turned for home. He ran on best of all over the final 800m and in what proved to be a real thriller he got up in the dying strides to deny the gallant front runner WITHOUT MALICE.

Race five on the card was a Pinnacle Stakes over 1000m and here it was nice to see the Silvano filly MALAGA-BELLE find her form. She was always handy and quickening well at the business end of the race she went on to score very comfortably by a length after getting the better of the well supported favourite MANNEQUIN (16/10 into even money) 150m from home.

In terms of distance the easiest victory on the night was registered by PANJO when opening his account in the second division of the maiden 1400m. Pitched in against what did look to be a rather moderate bunch, Panjo was taken straight to the front by the in form Robbie Fradd and led throughout. He was always in command and despite the efforts JOLLY RHUBINO, he ran out a very easy winner by four.

Titbits

Easily eight lengths adrift of the leaders going through the 400m, the uneasy favourite TEQUILA SUNRISE (op evens, touched 17/10) only really got going over the final 300m and did well to get within two and a quarter lengths of the winner.

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Smart Debut

Durbanville 24^th October: Racing in Cape Town on Wednesday took place at the country course where victory in the opening maiden event over 1400m went to the well supported NONKI POO. Backed into 3/1 second favourite from 5’s at the track, the daughter of Starlight raced seventh of the eight early on. She made her move early in the straight and under a well judged ride from Brandon Morganrood she got up late to deny the regular bridesmaid KATRUSHKA (5/1 into 7/2).

The easiest victory on the card was undoubtedly that of CAUSE TO BELIEVE who came home smoking in the MR90 Handicap over 2000m. There was no pace on in the early part of the race and after taking up the running she quickly went clear. She held a five lengths advantage at the top of the home straight and despite the efforts of the staying on BERMUDA SLOOP she extended her advantage to seven on the run to the line.

Race four on the card was a maiden plate over 1600m and here we saw a very smart debut performance from the Darryl Hodgson trained LADY CHARITY. Absolutely friendless on course (14/1 out to 40/1), the daughter of Dylan Thomas raced in the rear early on. Once given rein though she quickly began to work her way through the field and won going away by two and a half after striking the front close home. One to follow.

Also worthy of note on this card was the performance of VARDASHIAN in winning the only sprint race on the card, a MR72 Handicap over 1000m. Soon on the heels of the flying ISIDINGO, Vardashian struck the front 400m out and cruised clear at the business end of the race to score by Three.

Titbits

After switching out for a run 250m from home, the well supported HIJACKED (33/10 into 22/10 fav) won the MR72 Handicap over 2000m in good style going away.

LUCKY LEAR was running on from the rear when fifth to Lady Charity in the maiden 1600m.

DISCO AL quickened nicely late when getting up for second in the maiden event over 2000m.

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Top speedratings for this weekend include:-

Top rated winners last week included

Notebook:-

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