On Principle

Big Prices

Fairview 12^th April: Six of the nine winners in Port Elizabeth on Friday were priced up in double figures, amongst them the opening maiden juvenile plate over 1400m in which the newcomer ITS FREEZING opened her account. Freely available at 20/1 on the off, the daughter of Judpot raced in midfield during the early part of the race. She quickened well down the long Fairview straight and with the benefit of first run she went on to beat the faster finishing BOLOGNESE DANCER (55/1) by three quarters.

The only favourite to oblige was LONDON PERFECT in the MR90 Handicap over 1000m. Soon at the head of affairs, Des Mclachlan’s charge held a healthy lead throughout. She was always in command and although the talented top weight RUSSIAN MIG ran on stoutly from off the pace, he went on to score comfortably by a length and a quarter.

The not so lucky last was a MR66 Handicap over 1200m and here victory went to the 33/1 shot QUEST OF SPEED. She got away well when the gates opened and soon up handy raced prominent throughout. She was ridden to lead shortly after passing the 200m marker and comfortably accounted for the 40/1 shot RESERVED EMBLEM by a length and a quarter.

Titbits

Having her first outing in the province since relocating from KZN, COPY CAT ran on well from the backend of midfield when only beaten a neck in the maiden 1200m.

Running on strongly from midfield, THE SHARK was only beaten 0,6 lengths when third in the MR104 Handicap over 1400m.

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Journeyman Off To Flying Start

Turffontein 12^th April: They raced on the old stand side track on Friday evening where we saw an impressive performance in the faster of the two juvenile plates over 1160m from the newcomer JOURNEYMAN. Freely available at 5/1 on the off (op 7/2), Mike De Kock’s charge was soon up handy. He was ridden to lead as they approached the 200m marker and won going away by three and three quarters from the well supported favourite BUFFALO BILL.

The Gr1 Laurie Jaffee Empress Club Stakes over 1600m topped the bill and here we saw a gutsy performance from the Cape Town raider THUNDER DANCE. A former winner of the prestigious Gr1 Paddock Stakes at Kenilworth, the Jet Master Filly raced prominent throughout. She was asked to take up the running going through the 400m and kept on strongly in the latter stages of the race to fend off challenges from all of FESTIVAL OF FIRE, HAPPY ARCHER and AMUR AFFAIR.

The faster of the two 1000m events on the card was not surprisingly the pinnacle stakes in which SHARP DESIGN registered his sixth win from just nine starts. Taken straight to the front by Nooresh Juglall, the son of National Emblem led throughout. He ran on stoutly at the business end of the race and despite shifting considerably close home he comfortably accounted for the running on favourite WELWITSCHIA by two.

Titbits

The 3yo STYLISH BAY won the girls’ maiden event over 2000m very easily by six and a quarter.

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Very Highly Regarded

Kenilworth 13^th April: The faster of the two listed juvenile features in Cape Town on Saturday was the Somerset 1200m in which the highly regarded RED RAY kept his unbeaten record in tact. Sent off at the prohibitive odds of 1/6, Joey Ramsden’s charge was always positioned close to the speed. It looked as if the friendless SILK ROAD would give Red Ray a run for his money as he moved through to take up the running 200m out, but then hanging badly when the heat was turned on, he couldn’t match strides. Red Ray drew clear easily in the closing stages of the race and has now won all three of his outings in very good style.  

Another hotpot favourite to do the business on this card was BLUERIDGE MOUNTAIN in the progress plate over 1200m. Clearly best in at the weights, the 1/3 favourite sat third early on and was always poised to strike. She did so passing the 300m pole and only having to be ridden with hands and heels by Anton Marcus she won by two and a quarter with plenty in hand.

Race three on the card was a progress plate over 1400m and as with the 1200m event victory here went to the best weighted runner. Usually seen out over further PUNTA ARENAS was positioned at the back of the seven turning for home. Once in the straight though, he ran on best of all and in what proved to be a real thriller he got up late to deny the consistent TERMINATOR.

Titbits

Beaten just 2,8 lengths in the Gr1 Cape Derby last time out, PATERFAMILIAS ran on strongly late when third in the MR95 Handicap over 1800m.

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Capetown’s Ready

Scottsville 13^th April: Three of the nine races in Pietermaritzburg on Saturday were run over 1400m and the fastest of these was the bill topping Gr3 Byerley Turk Stakes in which the dual Gr1 winner CAPETOWN NOIR was seeking a hat-trick. Well in at the weights, Dean Kannemeyer’s charge was not surprisingly deep in the red. He was always doing it easily and only having to be pushed out with hands and heels in the closing stages of the race, he easily accounted for the friendless LIVING WITH HEART (5/1 out to 13/1) by a length and three quarters.

Another to win well in Gr3 company on this card was JET SUPREME in the Umzimkhulu Stakes. Positioned in third alongside the heavily supported favourite IZORA (14/10 into 11/20) turning for home, Justin Snaith’s charge quickened well at the top of the straight and after quickly skating clear, she went on to score in good style by three and a quarter.

The easiest victory in the maiden ranks was that of the lightly raced ONE COOL DUDE in winning the 1600m event. Knocked off the top of the boards by the well supported FATHER TED (3/1 into 16/10), One Cool Dude was always handy. He was ridden to lead going through the 400m and drew clear easily in the closing stages of the race to win by four and a quarter.

Titbits

Up with the speed throughout, the newcomer GARIBONDY won the girl’s maiden event over 1000m very easily by three.

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Top speedratings for this weekend include:-

Top rated winners last week included

Notebook:-

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