Shocking Double
Fairview 1st June: First up on Friday was a juvenile plate over 1000m and as expected victory here went to the favourite SEDGE (36). Taken straight to the front by Aldo Domeyer, Gavin Smith’s charge led throughout. He was always in command and went on to score very easily by five after kicking clear 300m out.
The easiest victory in the maiden ranks was recorded by JOSE GOLD (34) when opening her account in the 1000m event. Nibbled at on course into 9/2 from 6’s, the daughter of Malhub raced in midfield for most of the journey. She quickened well going through halfway and after striking the front 150m from home, she easily drew clear.
The listed East Cape Oaks over 2000m topped the bill and here the 33/1 Oaks Plate winner ALVILDA caused another upset. Freely available at 16/1 on the off, Justin Snaith’s charge raced in midfield during the early part of the race. She made her move at the top of the long home straight and in what proved to be a real thriller she got up late to deny theWestern Caperaider RUSH FOR JOHN.
The final event on the card was a maiden plate over 1400m and here victory went to the Mogok gelding ATOMIC WINTER. Nibbled at into 8/1 from 12’s at the track, Atomic Winter was always positioned close to the speed. He was ridden to lead as they approached the 200m marker and kept on strongly in the closing stages of the race to beat the more fancied CATALOJ by a neck.
Titbits
DANCINGINTHEDESERT ran on well from off the pace when third in the MR76 Handicap over 1400m.
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Still On Course
Greyville 2nd June: The first of the three graded events to be run inNatal on Saturday afternoon was the Gr3 Lonsdale Stirrup Cup over 2400m and in what proved to be a real thriller victory here went to the 5yo son of Dynasty, BLAKE (86). Positioned in eighth as the thirteen runners turned for home, Dean Kannemeyer’s charge ran on stoutly in the short home straight and in an event where less than three quarters of a length separated the first six home, he only got the verdict by a neck.
The Gr1 Woolavington over the same distance was next up and here a major upset was to be had when the friendless VIVA MARIA (74) landed the spoils. Freely available at 50/1 on the off, the stable companion to the odds on favourite Ilha Bela was taken straight to the front by Anthony Delpech and led throughout. She was easily eleven lengths clear of Ilha Bela entering the home straight and although the recent Gauteng Oaks winner did reduce the deficit to four on the run to the line, she went on to score without any anxious moments.
Topping the bill was the Gr1 Daily News 2000 and here all eyes were on the strongly fanciedDurbanJuly contender JACKSON (95). Deep in the red at 1/3 on the off, Brett Crawford’s charge got away well when the gates opened, and soon up handy raced prominent throughout. He was ridden to lead going through the 200m and drew clear in good style from there onwards to win by three and three quarters.
Race eight on the card was a Conditions Plate over 1900m and here favourite backers were again on the mark when ATLANTIC OAK (77) did the business. Sent off marginally in the red after opening up at 11/10, Mike De Kock’s charge adopted a change of tactics here and went to the front. She kept on strongly in the straight and although the rejuvenated SUNNINGDALE ran on well from off the pace, she went on to score very comfortably by a length and a half.
Titbits
Runner up SAGE THRONE ran on well from the rear when only beaten a neck by Blake in the Gr3 Lonsdale Stirrup Cup over 2400m.
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Mesmerising
Turffontein 3rd June: They raced on the inner track on Sunday where the easiest victory on the card was recorded by ILHA DA ROCK (35) in the girls maiden event over 1200m. The best bet on the card for most, the 1/5 favourite was taken straight to the front by Anton Marcus and led throughout. She was always clear and went on to score very comfortably by three and three quarters.
Another to win well in the maiden ranks on this card was MESMERISING MELODY (20) in the juvenile fillies 1600m event. Another winner for champion jockey Anton Marcus, Mesmerising Melody was soon up handy. She was ridden to lead at the top of the short home straight and comfortably accounted for the heavily supported favourite FIVE RINGS (4/1 into 17/10) by three and a quarter.
The afternoon’s feature event was a MR90 Handicap over 1450m and here victory went to the 4yo son of Surging River RABADASH (67). Supported into 9/1 from 14’s at the track, Bradley Maroun’s charge raced in midfield during the early part of the race. He began to take closer order as they passed through the strip and kept on strongly after striking the front 300m out to beat the 6yo SPEED KEEPER by a half.
Also worth a mention on the this card is the MR76 Handicap over 1450m where MINING PROSPECT and PASCHAL MOON fought out a thrilling finish. First and second respectively throughout, both quickened well in the straight and with the remainder left some eight lengths adrift, it was only by a neck that the favourite Mining Prospect got the verdict.
Titbits
YEBHUBHESI ran on strongly from the rear when getting up very late to beat the more fancied D G’S BOY.
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Top speedratings for this weekend include:-
Flamingo Park Race 1: (11) Classic Sensation 5 Race 2: (1) Countess Club 13 (NAP*) Race 3: (6)Sydney’s Gift 63 Race 4: (11) Coveted Award 1 Race 5: (5) Richard’s Grace 11 Race 6: (9)FortConquest32 Race 7: (2) Vestal Virgin 18 Race 8: (12) Rover T 51 Race 9: (9) Brian’s Wager 32 Vaal (Tues) Race 1: (2) Favourite Daughter 11 Race 2: (1) Golden Spectrum 4 (NAP*) Race 3: (2) Double Or Nothing 13 Race 4: (2) Road Warrior 16 Race 5: (2) Moroccan 85 (EW) Race 6: (5) Danish 62 Race 7: (11) The Fixer 44 Race 8: (6) Shaahira 16 Race 9: (13) Rodeo Dandy 62 Clairwood Race 1: (15) Shimmer And Shine 27 Race 2: (19) Queen’s Court 36 Race 3: (1) Highland Fling 20 Race 4: (11) Warrior’s Walk 43 Race 5: (6) Galileo’s Destiny 99 Race 6: (2) Nikita Brown 43 Race 7: (6) Lavish Gal 49 Race 8: (7) Chisler 65 Race 9: (2) Olimpic Madam 16 Vaal (Thur) Race 1: (1) Black And White 2 Race 2: (11) White Whisper 15 Race 3: (2) Through It all 21 Race 4: (1) Divine Invitation 17 (nb) Race 5: (9) Napoleon Dynamite 65 (NAP*) Race 6: (2) Tsitsikama Strike 53 Race 7: (13) Money Flows 59 Race 8: (8) Glorious Leader 6
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Top rated winners last week included
Victory Call won 11/2 Mcdreamy won 9/2 (d/h) Ebrowon 2/1 Way Clear won 13/10 Pigeon Power won 13/10 Sedge won 12/10 Act Fast won 11/10 Jacksonwon 1/3.
Notebook:-
Ilha Bela (M De Kock, KZN) Jackson (B Crawford, KZN) Sedge (G Smith, E-Cape).
FASTEST TIMES
(Shown in brackets is the number of races run in each category)Fairview 1st June Fastest Sprint 1000-1300 (3) Taliwag Fastest Middle 1400-1800 (3) Solar Charged Fastest Long 1900-3600 (2) Alvilda
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Greyville 2nd June Fastest Sprint 1000-1300 (1) Captain Firth Fastest Middle 1400-1800 (3) Marchant Fastest Long 1900-3600 (6) Jackson.
Turffontein 3rd June Fastest Sprint 1000-1300 (2) Ilha Da Rock Fastest Middle 1400-1800 (7) Mining Prospect Fastest Long 1900-3600 (0) No Qualifiers
