On The Line

Improving Nicely

Greyville 25^th April: A maiden plate over 1300m was first up at Greyville on Friday evening and here we saw a smart performance from the newcomer RICE. Allowed to drift right out to 11/2 from 5/2 favourite at the track, Mike De Kock’s charge was positioned 3^rd to last as the twelve runners swung for home. Once in the straight though, she ran on strongly and comfortably accounted for BLUEBAY GIRL by two and three quarters. The runner up came from the back and she too finished well.

Another to win well in the maiden ranks on this card was APPLE PIE in the boy’s division over 1300m. Always handy, Doug Campbell’s charge took up the running shortly after passing the 300m marker and won going away by two and three quarters.

Three of the evening’s eight races were run over 2000m and the fastest of these was the maiden plate in which the costly to follow BATTLE HAMMER opened his account. Freely available at 16/1 on the off, the 4yo Count Dubois gelding raced in midfield for most of the journey. He quickened well at the top of the short home straight and won with authority by a length and a half from ROYAL COLOURS.

A conditions plate over 1400m topped the bill and here we saw another nice performance from the promising daughter of Choisir GOLDIE COAST. Now a winner of four from nine, Paul Lafferty’s charge was guarding the rear as the eight runners came off the bend. She made her way through the field quickly in the straight and went on to score very cosily by two after striking the front 200m out.

Titbits

RAVISHING STAR ran on well from the rear when getting up late to win the girl’s division of the maiden 2000m.

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Louis The King

Turffontein 26^th April: Heading up a tremendous day’s racing on the old stand side track on Saturday was LOUIS THE KING’S bid to win the Triple Crown and he didn’t let down his supporters. Allowed to ease right out to double his opening price (16/10 from 8/10) in the Gr1 SA Derby, Geoff Woodruff’s charge raced in midfield for most of the journey. He quickened well at the top of the straight and kept on strongly to secure the R2M bonus after striking the front 400m out. Louis The King has now won six of his seven career starts and as a result of this success his conditioner Geoff Woodruff now tops the national trainer’s log.

The stable of Geoff Woodruff were also on the mark in the Gr1Champions Challenge over 2000m when YORKER made it 6 from 13. Sent off a well-supported favourite at 18/10 (op 3/1), the son of Jet Master was always handy. He was ridden to lead as they approached the 200m marker and although his stable companion TELLINA ran on stoutly from off the pace to take second, he did have that one well held by three and a quarter at the wire.

The easiest victory on the ten race program was undoubtedly that of MAJMU in the Gr2 Fillies Nursery over 1160m. Always deep in the red (sent off 1/5), Mike De Kock’s charge made virtually all. She held just a one length advantage passing halfway, but once given rein she cruised clear to score by eight and three quarters.

Last season’s Gr1 SA Oaks winner CHERRY ON THE TOP was all the rage to win the Gr2 Gerald Rosenberg Stakes over 2000m and she too did the business. Backed throughout the morning into 11/10 from 3/1, Ormond Ferraris’ charge raced fifth of the seven until the race began in earnest. The deposed favourite ESPUMANTI was the first to make a move and did look to have the better of Cherry On The Top shortly after taking it up 400m out. Cherry On The Top gave her all under a determined ride from Weichong Marwing though and in what proved to be a real thriller she got up late to score by three quarters.

Titbits

The filly CARRY ON ALICE quickened nicely late when getting the better of the previously unbeaten BANAADEER by two and a half in the Gr1 SA Nursery over 1160m.

The 6yo COPPER PARADE ran on well from midfield when beating the talented VIA AFRICA fair and square in the Gr1 Computaform Sprint over 1000m.

Beaten just half a length in the Gr2 Gold Bowl, STORM WARNING was baulked for a run twice during the final 400m.

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Storm Force

Kenilworth 26^th April: The easiest victory in Cape Town on Saturday was recorded by EVENING STORM when opening his account in the maiden 1400m. Sent off a strong favourite at 9/10, Mike Bass’ charge was soon up handy. He was ridden to lead shortly after passing the 400m marker and went on to score with authority from the 10/1 shot LETS PARTY.

Another to win well in the maiden ranks on this card was SAPPHIRE GEM in the 1000m event for 2yo’s. Taken straight to the front by Richard Fourie, the daughter of Trippi led throughout. She was always in command and won without any anxious moments by two and a quarter.

A MR73 Handicap over 1200m topped the rather moderate bill and here victory went to the 6yo MONEY SURGER. Nibbled at on course into 8/1 from 10’s, Piet Steyn’s charge came from the rear. She ran on best of all from halfway and got up in the very last stride to deny the front running 3yo CHESTNUT DANCER.

Titbits

Third placed HELLZAPOPPIN was running on strongly at the finish when only beaten 0,8 lengths in the MR70 Handicap over 1400m.

SMILING MISTRESS ran on very well from the rear when third (beaten a length and a half) in the MR72 Handicap over 1200m.

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Top speedratings for this weekend include:-

Top rated winners last week included

Notebook:-

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