Moving Forward

Three For Joey

Kenilworth 16^th June: First up in Cape Town on Saturday was a maiden juvenile plate over 1600m and here victory went to the well supported WIND POWER (5/1 into 75/20). Soon up handy, Joey Ramsden’s charge raced prominent throughout. He was ridden to lead as they approached the 100m pole and kept on strongly in the closing stages of the race to beat the running on MAN FROM JAPAN by a neck.

The easiest victory in the maiden ranks was that of CHIEF PIGEON (25) in the 1600m event. Soon positioned in fourth, in this only her second outing following a four month break, Chief Pigeon was always handy. She took up the running going through the 300m and easily accounted for the pacemaker FANTASY ROCK by three and a quarter.

Another to win very easily on this card was CHRISALDON in the afternoon’s feature event, a MR84 Handicap over 1200m. Freely available at 45/1 on the off, Carl Burger’s charge led throughout. She was always clear and won without any anxious moments.

Also worthy of note on this card was the performance of THE COLONELS SON (34) in winning the maiden event over 1400m. Backed into 6/10 from 12/10 at the track, the son National Emblem broke well when the gates opened and was soon up with the speed. He moved through to take it up as they passed the 200m marker and comfortably accounted for one of the rank outsiders of the party LOVE BOAT by a length and a half.

Titbits

PASADERA was finishing best of all when runner up in the MR76 Handicap over 1500m.

Runner up MAN FROM JAPAN has now finished strongly behind very good sorts in each of his last two starts.

. 

A Well Earned Nine

Vaal 19^th June: The locals got off to a rough start at the Vaal’s turf meeting on Tuesday when one of the rank outsiders of the party SOLS GOLD (28) opened her account at the first time of asking in the maiden juvenile event over 1200m. Freely available at 50/1 on the off, Stephen Moffatt’s charge was always handy. She took up the running 200m from home and comfortably accounted for SPRING BLASTER by a length and a quarter.

The bookies were forced to open their satchels after the boys division of the maiden juvenile 1200m though when the heavily supported SABADELL (7/2 into 15/10 fav) did the business. Taken straight to the front by Marco Van Rensburg, Geoff Woodruff’s charge led throughout. He was always clear and went on to score by three and a half with some in hand.

Another to win very easily on this card was TURKISH DELIGHT (65) in the open handicap over 2400m. On leaving the stalls it was the favourite ALESSANDRIA who elected to make the running whilst St John’s Gray’s charge raced close up in second. She was visibly cruising as she moved through to take up the running 400m out and with the rest left trailing in the their wake, she easily beat Allesandria by three and a half.

A MR80 Handicap over 1400m topped the bill and here it was nice to see the veteran RYAN’S A LION register his ninth career victory. Never the quickest into stride, Erico Verdonese’s charge ran on well from midfield and under a well judged ride from Deon Sampson the 13/1 shot got up late to beat his nibbled at stable companion WAR FRONT (14/1 into 9/1) by three quarters.

Titbits

First and second respectively in the maiden 1400m, SILVA OAK and MATILDA’S LOVE both ran on very well from off the pace.

. 

Weighted To Win

Scottsville 20^th June: A maiden juvenile plate over 1000m got proceedings underway in Natal on Wednesday and here victory went to the easy to back PIANO MAN (15). One of three newcomers in the nine horse field, the 15/1 shot was soon up handy. He was ridden to lead as they passed the 200m marker and kept on strongly in the closing stages of the race to beat the more fancied SHAFT by a half.

The highly regarded TAYBA was backed as if unbeatable to win the juvenile plate over 1400m, but on the day she found one better. Sent off at the prohibitive odds of 1/6 (op 4/10), Mike De Kock’s charge attempted to make all. She kept on strongly over the final 400m and did have the rest well beaten. YELLOW CARD, his only serious rival in the betting market ran on stoutly at the business end of the race though and after a thrilling tussle that one got the verdict by a neck.

One who did land the odds at cramped odds on this card was WHITELINE FEVER (70) in the graduation plate over 1400m. Thrown in at the weights, Sean Tarry’s charge was always handy and won comfortably by two and a half after taking up the running 300m from home.

The not so lucky last was a maiden event over 1600m and here we saw a much improved performance from the Des Egdes trained SACRED ROSE (18) Placed in just two of her previous twelve outings, Sacred Rose raced in the rear. She finished by far the best and did well to get up late.

Titbits

The lightly raced maiden KITE SURFER was finishing best of all when third to the useful Skywalk Luke in the juvenile plate over 1400m and was beaten less than half a length.

ZIRE SPECIAL didn’t find the clearest of passages after losing two lengths at the start and was only beaten two lengths in the MR72 handicap over 1950m when running on to finish fifth.

.

 Steeplechase Approach

Vaal 21^st June: They raced on the sand on Thursday where victory in the opening maiden event over 1600m went to the original favourite JUST KNOCK. Allowed to ease out to 5/2 from 15/10 at the track, Roy Magner’s charge raced many lengths adrift in the rear early on. With plenty of time to unwind down the long home straight though, Just Knock quickened well and in vintage Pierre Strydom fashion he got up late to win well going away.

The easiest victory on the card was recorded by COLD APPROACH when opening her account by a steeplechase margin in the maiden 1200m. Racing on the surface for the first time, the 2yo daughter of Right Approach was soon up handy. She was ridden to lead as they approached the 300m marker and with plenty in hand she cruised clear from there onwards to score by eleven.

The highest purse on offer on the afternoon was that put aside for the winner of the conditions event over 1200m and here we saw a nice performance from the Kahal filly KALAAM. Very well in at the weights on her turf form, Stanley Ferreira’s charge was soon prominent. She was asked to take up the running shortly after passing the 400m marker and although the pacemaker CANDY COTTON kept on determinedly after being headed, she went on to score comfortably by a length and three quarters.

Titbits

TILMAN was running on from the rear when fifth in the MR90 Handicap over 1450m.

. 

Top speedratings for this weekend include:-

. 

Top rated winners last week included

.

 Notebook:-

.

 FASTEST TIMES

. 

.

.