On The Right Path

Simply Sublime

Scottsville 22^nd January: A maiden event over 1200m got proceedings underway in Natal on Sunday and here we saw a gutsy front running performance from the Way West gelding DODGE CITY (31). Sent off second favourite at 7/2, Pat Lunn’s charge was always a couple of lengths to the good. The 3/10 favourite LORD LEIGH chased hard over the final 400m, but try as he might he couldn’t make any impression.

Another to win well on this card was SUBLIME SOUL (55) who did the business for favourite backers in the MR72 Handicap over 1000m. She wasn’t the quickest into stride, but in what was always a very tightly bunched field, she was always placed to challenge. Sublime Soul quickened very nicely at the business end of the race and after striking the front 100m from home, she won going away. Sublime Soul has now won both starts in good fashion and is clearly one to follow.

The easiest victory on the card was recorded by SILENT PARTNER in the MR87 Handicap over 1950m. Always handy in what soon became a strung out field, Mike De Kock’s charge made his move early in the home straight. He struck the front as they approached the 200m marker and only having to be ridden hands and heels n the closing stages of the race, he cruised in by four and a quarter.

The lucky last was a MR70 Handicap over the same distance and here the locals were sent home happy when the 3yo RASHAAD (28/10 into 13/10) did the business. Soon up handy, the son of Encosta De Lago raced prominent throughout. He was ridden to lead shortly after passing the 400m marker and easily accounted for the well supported FALCONER’S KNOT (6/1 into 4/1) by three and three quarters.

Titbits

Although never a threat to the winner Sublime Soul, the runner up VARSITY QUEEN ran on strongly in the closing stages of the race and did have the rest well beaten.

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I Love You…..You

Scottsville 24^th January: Favourite backers got off to a nice start on Tuesday when LITTLE PRINCESS (10) did the business in the opening maiden juvenile event over 1200m. She got away well when the gates opened and led throughout. She kept on strongly over the final 400m and although the second favourite MICHELLE MY BELLE never gave up the fight, she won comfortably by two and three quarters.

A maiden event over 1400m was next up and here victory went to the only newcomer in the fourteen strong field TIGER RIGHT (25). Sent off joint third in the betting market, the son of Tiger Ridge was always handy. The well supported JAMAL (4/1 into 5/2) was the first to make a move in the straight and on striking the front 150m from home, he looked to have done everything right. Tiger Right ran on best of all below the distance though and under a well judged ride from Anthony Delpech, he got up late to score by a half.

The best bet on the card for many was BARNEY BARNATO (53) in the MR70 Handicap over 1600m and he didn’t let down his supporters. Backed throughout the afternoon into 15/20 from 12/10, Alyson Wright’s charge raced much closer to the pace than he had done in recent starts. He quickened well when asked for his effort at the top of the home straight and kept on strongly late to beat the running on CHIPNPUTT by a half.

A MR92 Handicap over 1200m topped the bill and as expected the finish was fought out by the two fancied runners LIZARD’S PASSION and COFFEE SHEIK (82). Lizard’s Passion got first run and struck the front 400m out. Coffee Sheik had been in close attendance throughout though and finishing marginally the stronger at the business end of the race, he got the verdict by a half.

Titbits

Beaten just a neck in the MR71 affair over 1600m, runner up RA RA RA didn’t get the clearest of runs when it mattered and gaining at the finish, she was a little unlucky.

Many lengths adrift at the rear turning for home, HEAD OF THE HOUSE ran on best of all in the MR72 Handicap over 1600m and did well to get within a length of the winner.

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Plenty Extra

Turffontein 24^th January: There were a number of very easy victories on the old stand side track on Tuesday evening, but none more so than that of EXTRA ZERO (58) in the novice 1160m. Confidently ridden by Robbie Fradd, the 14/10 favourite raced towards the back end of midfield for most of the journey. Once given rein though, the daughter of Way West cut through the field like a knife and after striking the front 150m from home, she bolted clear to score by five.

Another to win very easily on this card was the sparingly raced MOROCCAN (89) who registered his seventh career victory from just 18 starts in the conditions plate over 1100m.  Having only his fifth outing since gaining his latest win a year ago, Weiho Marwing’s charge was always positioned close to the pace. He took up the running as they approached the 200m marker and drew clear easily in the closing stages of the race to beat WINKING JACK by four.

The evening’s feature event was a Pinnacle Stakes over 2450m and here victory went to another comparatively lightly raced runner (albeit in the stewards room) ATLANTIC OAK (63). Making her eleventh racecourse appearance here, the 5yo Atlantic Oak was soon up handy. The favourite PRINCESS OF LIGHT made the running and as they crossed the line she was a length and a quarter clear. Geoff Woodruff’s charge shifted out and carried Atlantic Oak across the course over the final 300m though and following an objection by her jockey Gavin Lerena, she was awarded the race.

Also worthy of note on this card was the performance of PACIFIC DYNASTY in winning the MR92 Handicap over 1600m. Positioned in the rear of what was a strung out field going through halfway, the daughter of Dynasty ran on best of all over the final 500m and literally flew past the pacemaker CRISSY SANCHEZ 60m from home.

Titbits

BONNY BLUE only had to be ridden hands and heels when winning the maiden event over 1400m by 3,75 lengths.

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Easy For Katrina

Arlington 25^th January: A maiden juvenile event over 1000m was first up in Port Elizabeth on Wednesday and here victory went to the Eyeofthetiger filly KISS FROM A ROSE (8). Sent off third in the betting market at 75/20, Kiss From A Rose was soon up handy. She was ridden to lead as they approached the 200m marker and with the rest well beaten she kept on strongly late to beat the friendless OH SO EASY (28/10 out to 9/2) fair and square by three quarters.

The easiest victory on a very competitive card was that of HURRICANE KATRINA (67) in the MR86 affair over 1400m. Backed into 13/2 from 10/1 at the track, Justin Snaith’s charge raced fourth for most of the journey. Once in the short home straight though the Windrush mare quickened well and only having to be pushed out with hands and heels, she comfortably accounted for the nibbled at BREEZE BAR (7/1 into 11/2) with some in hand.

A MR90 Handicap over 1600m topped the bill and here victory went to the former Cape Town campaigner VITAL MATCH (52). Having only his third outing since relocating to the Eastern Cape, Jacque Strydom’s charge was taken straight to the front by Musi Yeni and led throughout. He kept up a healthy gallop throughout and although the favourite REFINED IN FIRE (3/1 into 5/2) chased hard over the final 400m, he went on to score without any anxious moments.

Titbits

Positioned in the rear turning for home, FOREST FASHION ran on best of all when winning the MR69 Handicap over 1400m.

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Lovely Sunny Day

Clairwood 26^th January: It was a nice sunny day at the garden course on Thursday and with the penetrometer reading being a healthy 21, a good days racing was expected. However, the jockeys protested after the running of the first race and after hearing the evidence and inspecting the course, the remainder of the meeting was abandoned as it was unsafe to continue racing due to a large number of patches over a wide area of the course.

The one event that did take place was the 1200m maiden juvenile plate and that wasn’t really a race. Sent off as if unbeatable at 1/7, the only runner with any real form in the race REIGN AS KINGS (23) led throughout. He was always clear and without ever having to engage the upper gears, he cruised in by six.

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Top speedratings for this weekend include:-

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Top rated winners last week included

Notebook:-

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FASTEST TIMES

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