Sammy’s Oaks
Fairview 3rd June: They raced in Port Elizabeth on Friday where ADAM, the best bet on the card for many, duly obliged in the maiden event over 1400m. Allowed to ease out to 12/10 from 7/10 at the track as money in the main came for VILLA D’ESTE, the former Cape Town campaigner raced in midfield during the early part of the race. He quickened well in the long home straight and in what proved to be a thrilling three way finish, he just got the better of the fancied Villa D’este by a neck.
Another to land the spoils after drifting in the betting market was DEAD CERT who registered his third career victory in the MR90 Handicap over 1400m. The former Natal campaigner HYPOTHETICAL was all the rage prior to the event shortening into 22/10 favourite from 9/2 and as a result Joey Ramsden’s charge was freely available at 33/10 at the off after opening up at 18/10. Confidently ridden by Glen Hatt, Dead Cert was allowed to amble along in midfield for most of the journey. He began to take closer order early in the straight and only having to be pushed out hands and heels from there onwards, he went on to win very comfortably by two and three quarters.
The listed East Cape Oaks topped the bill and here we saw another smart performance from the Gavin Smith trained SAMMY JO. Running on from off the pace, as she did when winning both the Oaks Plate, and Breeder’s Plate earlier in the season, this daughter of Dynasty again finished very well and comfortably accounted for her running on stable companion SHORT LIST by two.
Titbits
Trying a mile for the first time, the lightly raced SEA GEM (10/1 into 13/2) finished as strongly as the winner when running on to take third in the maiden event over 1600m.
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Scalped
Greyville 4th June: The first of the three feature events to be run in Natal on Saturday afternoon was the Gr3 Lonsdale Stirrup Cup over 2400m and here we saw an impressive performance from last season’s Gold Cup runner up VERTICAL TAKEOFF (85). Freely available at 20/1 on the off, Sean Tarry’s charge sat towards the middle of the eighteen for most of the journey. He quickened in good style at the top of the short home straight and after striking the front 200m from home, he drew clear easily in the closing stages of the race to beat the favourite ESTECO by four and a quarter.
The Gr1 Woolavington over 2000m was next up and here it was no surprise to see the recent Triple Tiara winner IGUGU (87) back in the winner’s enclosure. Soon at the head of affairs, the daughter of Galileo led throughout. She kept on strongly at the business end of the race and went on to score comfortably from the Gr1 Paddock Stakes winner EMERALD COVE.
The Gr1 Daily News 2000m was next up and in a time considerably quicker than that of Igugu, victory here went to the Dingaans winner THE APACHE (99). Having only his second start here since winning that prestigious event back in November, Gavin Van Zyl’s charge wasn’t the quickest into stride and as a result he soon found himself in the rear. Once given rein though, he quickened best of all and in what proved to be a thrilling three way finish, he got up very late to beat the J&B Met third placed runner RUN FOR IT by the narrowest of margins.
Titbits
Having his first start since arriving in Natal, the unbeaten GIMMETHEGREENLIGHT beat some good sorts fair and square in the Juvenile Plate over 1300m.
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Elevated To Stardom
Borrowdale Park 4th June: The easiest victory in the maiden ranks in Zimbabwe on Saturday was undoubtedly that of the newcomer KALAVAER in the 1100m event. On leaving the stalls it was the ante post favourite SMOULDER (sent off a co 2nd fav of three) who elected to make the running whilst the son of Kitalpha raced in midfield. He quickened well from halfway and went on to score very comfortably by three and a quarter from fellow newcomer THATWASBLAZING.
The recent Zim Derby third placed runner SEA BATTLE was sent off as if unbeatable to win the novice event over 1800m, but in KITAWING, he found one better. Always handy, Sea Battle was ridden to lead 400m out and clearly held every chance. The lightly raced Kitawing (a runner up in the Champion Juvenile Stakes at the end of last season) ran on best of all at the business end of the race though and under a determined ride from Nicky Roebuck, he got up late to score by a half.
The Gr2 OK Grand Challenge over 1800m topped the bill and here victory went to the 5yo GRISHAM. Without a win in his latest 13 starts prior to crossing the Limpopo, Noelene Peech’s charge was always positioned close to the speed. He was asked to take up the running shortly after passing the 300m marker and kept on strongly in the closing stages of the race to beat the running on EIGHT STREET by two and three quarters. A winner of the prestigious Castle Tankard, in his only other start at Borrowdale Park, Grisham clearly has a bright future ahead of him in Zimbabwe.
Titbits
Finishing strongly from the rear in the OK Grand Challenge, former South African campaigner Eight Street had been positioned too far out entering the home straight and did well to get as close as he did.
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Back On Track
Turffontein 5th June: A workrider’s maiden event over 1600m got proceedings underway at the inner track on Sunday and here we saw a very comfortable victory for the nibbled at EUGENES (26). Sent off at 11/1 after initially being on offer at 16’s, Michael Azzie’s charge was soon up handy. He was ridden to lead early in the short home straight and easily accounted for the favourite SILVER DICE by two and three quarters.
Race seven on the card was a MR90 Handicap over 1600m and here we saw a smart performance from the Geoff Woodruff trained HARBOR STREET (67). Another to find support in the ring (11/2 into 4/1), the son of Street Cry had been drawn wide and slow into stride to boot, soon found himself towards the rear. Undeterred though, champion jockey Anton Marcus steadily began to weave him through the field and coming off the strip, he was well within striking distance. He hit the front going through the 200m and after quickly skipping clear, he comfortably accounted for his stable companion FLY OLIMPIC by two.
Also worthy of note on this card was the performance of MON SIGNOR (60) in winning the MR77 affair over 1600m. Another disadvantaged by a wide draw, Paul Matchett’s charge was still some seven lengths adrift of the leaders as they came off the strip. Once in the straight though, he ran on in eye catching fashion and after striking the front 100m from home, he easily drew clear. Mon Signor won well and is clearly one to keep tabs on.
Titbits
Out at the weights in the pinnacle event over 2600m, DANCING RED ran on well from the rear and did well to get within 2,5 lengths of the winner.
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