It’s Now Or Never

Only The Best

Scottsville 16^th February: Four of the nine races in Pietermaritzburg on Sunday were run over 1200m and the fastest of these was the bill topping MR90 Handicap won by the 4yo FLYFIRSTCLASS. Sent off third in the betting market at 7/2, Craig Eudey’s charge made all. ISLAND FIESTA, NINETEEN FOURTEEN and INSPECTOR CASEY all challenged strongly over the final 400m, but neither could get within half a length at the wire.

The fastest of the three 1400m races on the card was the maiden event won by the lightly raced JET AVENGER. Always second in the betting market, the son of Jet Master was allowed to drift right out to 7/2 from 18/10 at the track as money in the main came for the favourite MUMSY’S JET (13/10 into 7/10). It was the market leader who made the first move in the straight and on striking the front 300m out, he looked to have done everything right. Jet Avenger had tracked him throughout though, and took command quickly when given rein 100m out.

The easiest victory on the card was recorded by SPANISH CAT in the opening maiden juvenile plate over 1200m. Backed into second favourite on course (4/1 into 5/2), Duncan Howells’ newcomer raced fourth of the six for the first half of the race. She was asked to take up the running going through the 300m and drew clear easily in the closing stages of the race to score by three.

Titbits

After being cramped 800m out and then baulked for a run between the 400m and 200m poles, the Lundy’s Liability gelding HUNTING HORN did very well indeed to get up in the very last stride to win the MR72 Handicap over 1200m.

Now a winner of five of her eight starts, GARIBONDY won the MR88 Handicap over 1000m with authority.

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Bowing Out In Style

Flamingo Park 17^th February: The easiest victory in the Northern Cape on Monday was undoubtedly that of the newcomer GEE I JANE in the maiden juvenile plate over 1000m. She got away well when the gates opened and soon at the head of affairs led throughout. She was always in command and with plenty in hand she went on to score by seven.

Another to win with authority on this card was BLUSHING GREY in the MR66 affair over 1800m. Always handy, the Dupont mare moved through to take up the running as they approached the 200m marker and comfortably accounted for the friendless WOODLAND FIRE by three and a quarter.

The non-black type Kimberley 1400 topped the bill and in what proved to be the fastest of the afternoon’s three 1400m events victory here went to the hat-trick seeking SKY MARSHAL. Positioned in midfield early on, the 6yo son of Jet Master ran on best of all and got up in the very last stride to deny the almost aptly named 20/1 shot SUDDEN SURPRISE. Sadly for connections though, Sky Marshal broke down shortly after crossing the line and was humanely euthanased. Earlier in his career Sky Marshal had finished a five length fifth to Link Man in the prestigious Gr1 Gold Medallion.

Titbits

Detached at the rear early on, the 35/1 shot COUNTESS KATE made up at least a dozen lengths before getting up late to win the MR66 Handicap over 1400m going away.

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Easy For Best Bet

Vaal 18^th February: They raced on the outside track on Tuesday where the fastest of the four 1200m events was the progress plate won by the 3yo TOMMY GUN. Allowed to ease right out to 2/1 from 12/10 at the track, although always retaining his position at the top of the boards, Tommy Gun made all. The Tiger Ridge filly INDIRA (the 22/10 second favourite) ran on stoutly over the final 200m and with both giving their all it was only by the narrowest of margins that the Sail From Seattle gelding got the verdict.

The easiest victory on the nine race program was recorded by the best bet on the card for most WHATALADY. Always deep in the red the lightly raced daughter of Jet Master was soon positioned up with the speed. She began to assert her authority going through the 400m and went on to score as an odds on favourite should, very easily.

Another to win well on this card was ADI STAR when opening his account in the maiden 1000m. Having only his fourth career outing here, the son of Var raced in midfield early on. He quickened nicely from halfway and won well by a length and a half after striking the front 150m out.

Titbits

The 4yo MOVE LIKE JAGGER showed good improvement when winning the MR74 Handicap over 1400m with authority by two and a half.

The 2yo MILLENIUM REIGN quickened nicely late when winning the maiden juvenile plate over 1200m.

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Never In Doubt

Clairwood 19^th February: There were a number of easy victories at the garden course on Wednesday, but none more so than that of DISTINGUISHED in the afternoon’s feature event, a MR97 Handicap over 1450m. Always clear, Charley Laird’s charge kept on strongly down the long home straight and won without any anxious moments by five.

Another to win well from the front on this card was MOJO G in the maiden 1600m. The 12/10 favourite MAGNUM OPUS tried his best to mount a challenge over the final 400m, but the 3/1 second favourite did have that one well held by three at the wire.

Four of the afternoon’s ten races were run over 1600m and the fastest of these was the MR89 Handicap won by BLOUBERG BEACH. A fluent winner over the distance at Scottsville last time out, Glen Kotzen’s charge didn’t get the best of the break and raced in midfield during the early part of the race. Once in the long home straight though she quickened well and comfortably accounted for DANSEUSE by a length and a quarter.

Titbits

GEMINI GOLD and BOLOVAL both shed their maiden tags over 1200m with authority on this card.

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Eleven In Midweek

Vaal 20^th February

Thursday’s action took place on the inside track where we saw a very easy victory in the opening workrider’s maiden plate over 1200m for the Dominic Zaki trained GLOBAL POWER. Always handy, the son of Encosta De Lago moved through to take up the running as they approached the 100m marker and cruised clear in the closing stages of the race to score by four.

Very unusually for midweek there were eleven races in total and the fastest of the five over 1200m was the bill topping MR96 Handicap won by the lightly raced 5yo SKITT SKIZZLE. Returning from a five month absence here (he was also off the track between Aug ’12 and Aug ’13), Sean Tarry’s charge was taken straight to the front by S’manga Khumalo and led throughout. Just three lengths covered all seven for most of the journey, but once given rein he drew clear easily from his running on stable companion MYTHICAL PALACE to score by four and a quarter.

There were also five races run over 1400m and by far the fastest of these was the MR86 Handicap in which NEGEV registered her third career victory. Sent off a well supported favourite at 2/1, Louis Goosen’s charge was always well positioned to strike. She did so going through the 300m and won comfortably from the running on COME WITH ME by a length and a quarter.

Titbits

The recent maiden winner KAZM didn’t find the clearest of passages, and was also hampered 350m out, when running on from the backend of midfield to finish second in the MR78 Handicap over 1200m.

The lightly raced 3yo TOUCH THE SKY won the maiden 1400m for the girls going away by three and a quarter.

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Top speedratings for this weekend include:-

Top rated winners last week included

Notebook:-

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