Unbeaten In Four
Fairview 23rd December: A maiden juvenile event over 800m was first up in Port Elizabeth on Friday and here victory went to the Mitch Wiese trained newcomer HUSHED ANGEL. Freely available at 9/1 on the off (op 7/1), the daughter of National Assembly raced up with the speed throughout. She kept on strongly in the closing stages of the race and although INTIMATE TOUCH chased hard, she went on to score quite comfortably by a length and a quarter.
The easiest victory on the card was recorded by the friendless GOLDEN LUCI in the MR82 affair over 1200m. Allowed to drift right out to 40/1 from 14/1 at the track, Alan Greeff’s charge was taken straight to the front by Kendal Minnie and led throughout. He was always clear and cruised in by three and a half.
The afternoon’s feature event was a MR86 Handicap over 1200m and here we saw another smart performance from the up and coming HOT GIRL. Unbeaten in three starts coming into the race, the daughter of Way West was soon up with the speed. She took command going through the 200m and went on to score comfortably by a length and a quarter from the nibbled at SKYBLADE (8/1 into 7/1) by a length and a quarter.
Titbits
MR VINDALOO ran on well from midfield when winning the novice 1400m by a length and three quarters.
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Four Inns Of Court
Greyville 23rd December: The lightly raced CUPID’S DAUGHTER found good support to win the maiden event over 1400m on Friday night and she didn’t let down her followers. Backed throughout the afternoon into 2/1 second favourite from 33/10, Tony Rivalland’s charge was always well positioned close to the speed. She moved through to take up the running as they approached the 200m marker although SPORTY THONG chased hard in the closing stages of the race, she went on to score very comfortably by two and a quarter.
The best bet on the card for Sporting Post was INNER TEMPLE in the maiden event over 1900m. Always in the red, Mike De Kock’s charge raced fifth for most of the journey. The 50/1 shot SUCCESS got first run in the straight and two lengths clear of the market leader going through the 200m it looked as if she would go on to score. Inner Temple quickened very nicely below the distance though and just as if scripted she got up late to score by a half.
A MR91 Handicap over 2000m topped the bill and here victory went to one of the two joint favourites A KING IS BORN. On leaving the stalls it was the easy to back ZEZINHO CAMPEAO who elected to make the running whilst the son of Second Empire raced close up in third. He was ridden to lead shortly after passing the 300m marker and just had enough in hand to hold off the running on veteran DUNTROON by a neck.
Titbits
BARNEY BARNATO and FRIDAY LUNCH CLUB both ran on well from off the pace when second and third respectively in the MR72 Handicap over 2000m.
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Appie Combination
Turffontein 24th December: With plenty of rain having fallen in the previous 24 hours, the going was soft for the inner track meeting on Christmas Eve. A maiden event over 1000m got proceedings underway and here victory went to the friendless newcomer LUCKY CHIANG. Allowed to drift right out to 40/1 from 12/1 at the track, Diane Stenger’s charge raced in midfield during the early part of the race. She quickened well coming off the strip and easily accounted for the even money favourite CINNAMON SPICE by two and a quarter.
Race five on the card was a MR84 Handicap over 1800m and here it was nice to see the promising ILHA BELA find her best form. Backed into favouritism at the track (6/1 into 9/2), the poorly drawn daughter of Fort Wood raced in the rear for most of the journey and she still had plenty to do at the top of the short home straight. Once into stride though, she quickened best of all and under a well judged ride from Tshwaro Appie, she got up late to deny her stable companion GIBSON GIRL who also finished well.
The afternoon’s feature event was a MR94 Handicap over 1600m and here the combination of Tshwaro Appie and Mike De Kock were again on the mark when the improving MEADOW MAGIC completed a hat-trick. Another to run on stoutly from off the pace, the son of Mogok finished best of all and with the rest well beaten he got up in the closing stages to deny the filly WITHOUT MALICE.
Titbits
Recent maiden winner PERIGRINE caught the eye running on very nicely in the latter stages of the graduation event won by his stable companion, the recent Dingaans’ fourth placed runner, Pomodoro.
Positioned in the rear turning for home, lightly raced CHANGING MOON ran on best of all in the maiden event over 1800m and did well to get within two lengths of the winner.
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Marching On
Kenilworth 24th December: The easiest victory in Cape Town on Christmas Eve was registered by FLIGHTOFTHEPHOENIX when opening his account in the maiden 1000m. Backed as if unbeatable on course into 9/20 from 8/10, Justin Snaith’s charge led throughout. He was always in command and went on to score comfortably by three and a quarter.
Race six on the card was a MR102 Handicap over 1800m and here it was nice to see the 6yo Jallad gelding THANKS JOHN bounce back to form. More often than not seen out over further, Mike Bass’ charge raced in the rear for most of the journey. Once in the long new course straight though, the former Durbanville Cup winner ran on best of all and after striking the front 100m from home won going away.
The Gr3 Summer Stayer’s Handicap topped the bill and here victory went to the improving son of Dynasty, BLAKE. One of three runners in the race from the stable of Dean Kannemeyer, Blake was always in touch with the leaders. He was asked to take up the running going through the 200m and kept on strongly in the latter stages of the race to beat the nibbled at KOMATIPOORT (14/1 into 10/1) by a length. One to look out for next time from this race is ORCHARD HOUSE who finished third. Joey Ramsden’s charge didn’t get the clearest of runs when the race began in earnest and finished well.
Titbits
Lightly raced REFLECTIVE IMAGE quickened nicely when getting up late to win the maiden 1200m going away.
CARAVAGGIO ran on well from the rear when winning the MR72 Handicap over 1200m.
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Top speedratings for this weekend include:-
Scottsville Race 1: (6) Little Princess 7 (NAP*) Race 2: (1) Sugarformyhoney 27 Race 3: (3) Caryl’s Law 5 Race 4: (4) Miss Rocker 18 Race 5: (8) Fabulocity 57 Race 6: (1) Zidane’s Gold 42 Race 7: (8) Torra Bay 66 Race 8: (8) Ikati 37 Turffontein Race 1: (4) Tsitsikama Strike 25 Race 2: (7) Going On Thirty 55 Race 3: (2) Maggie Thatch 25 Race 4: (8) Ink Heart 9 Race 5: (8) Euterpe 23 Race 6: (13) Cuve 49 Race 7: (5) Renegade 89 Race 8: (4) Waywest Goddess 80 Race 9: (2) Queen Sarah 37 Kenilworth Race 1: (2) Eyeofthbeholder 15 Race 2: (6) Laurie’s Gold 38 Race 3: (9) Telepathy 28 Race 4: (5) Rush For John 37 (NAP*) Race 5: (2) Esoteric 36 Race 6: (7) Dubai Rainbow 42 Race 7: (4) Caymen Island 98 Race 8: (1) Kwitizina 44 Vaal Race 1: (1) Baluga 16 Race 2: (1) Cinnamon Spice 16 Race 3: (12) Pavlova 29 Race 4: (2) Up And Running 45 Race 5: (1) Power Park 71 (EW) Race 6: (9) Minwa 52 Race 7: (5) Mr Tobin 67 Race 8: (7) Vivacious Star 50 Race 9: (10) Golden Crest 20
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Top rated winners last week included
Audrey Rose won 18/1 Harry Hall won 6/1 Rodeo Dandy won 4/1 Mr Vindaloo won 28/10 Red Scent won 5/2 Northern Heritage won 19/10 Inner Temple won 13/20 Flightofthephoenix won 9/2.
Notebook:-
Cupid’s Daughter (A Rivalland, Natal) Ilha Bela (M De Kock, Gauteng) Inner Temple (M De Kock, Natal) Perigrine (S Tarry, Gauteng).
FASTEST TIMES
(Shown in brackets is the number of races run in each category)Fairview 23rd December Fastest Sprint 1000-1300 (6) Golden Luci Fastest Middle 1400-1800 (3) Mr Vindaloo Fastest Long 1900-3600 (0) No Qualifiers
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Greyville 23rd December Fastest Sprint 1000-1300 (2) Alan’s Pride Fastest Middle 1400-1800 (2) Stolen Destiny Fastest Long 1900-3600 (4) A King Is Born.
Turffontein 24th December Fastest Sprint 1000-1300 (1) Lucky Chiang Fastest Middle 1400-1800 (7) Sheer Courage Fastest Long 1900-3600 (1) Avenue Of Gold.
Kenilworth 24th December Fastest Sprint 1000-1300 (4) Flightofthephoenix Fastest Middle 1400-1800 (4) Thanks John Fastest Long 1900-3600 (1) Blake
