Open Contest

“Can You Believe It”

Fairview 6^th May: Favourite backers got off to a nice start in Port Elizabeth on Friday when JUBILANTE did the business in the opening maiden event over 1400m. Sent off a clear favourite at 16/10, Alan Greeff’s charge was soon up handy. She was ridden to lead as they approached the 400m marker and in what proved to be a real thriller, she only held on by the narrowest of margins from the running on 50/1 shot SEVEN SENT.

Race four on the card was a novice 1000m and here we saw a nice performance from the former Natal campaigner BOSTON LEGAL. Soon into stride, the 3yo son of Right Approach raced up with the speed throughout. He began to assert his authority going through 300m and went on to score very comfortably by two and a half. Boston Legal has now won two of his four starts since relocating to the Eastern Cape and clearly has more to come.

Also worthy of note on this card was the performance of ICEMBERG in winning the MR100 Handicap over 1200m. On leaving the stalls it was the speedy BOB ‘N WEAVE who elected to set the pace whilst Icemberg raced four lengths away in fourth. He quickened nicely as they approached the 300m marker and although KINGS TROOP and FINANCE MINISTER also finished well, he went on to win very comfortably by two and a quarter.

Topping the bill, although not in terms of prize money, was the non black type Oaks Plate over 1800m and here we saw a smart performance from the Dynasty filly SAMMY JO. Allowed to ease right out to 7/2 from 22/10 at the track as money came for EVANGELICA, Sammy Jo was content to guard the rear for most of the journey and going through the 300m she had our very lovable local commentator telling us that she “can’t win from there”. Sammy Jo quickened in very good style when seeing daylight at that point though and in eye catching fashion she got up late.

Titbits

Lightly raced DYNAMITE PARK won the maiden event over 1000m very comfortably and can improve plenty.

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Flying Start

Turffontein 7^th May: The Charles Laird trained PASCHAL MOON (21) was all the rage to win the maiden juvenile event over 1450m and she didn’t let down her supporters. Backed into 17/20 from 11/10 at the track, the daughter of Victory Moon was taken straight to the front by Anton Marcus and led throughout. She was always in command and although the well supported SACRED TEMPLE finished well from the rear to take second, she went on to score very cosily by three and a half.

Always deep in the red to win the boys division of the maiden juvenile 1450m was the highly regarded POTALA PALACE (37), and he too ran out a very easy winner. Another to race from the front, Potala Palace always held a useful advantage. The second favourite CAPTAIN HADDOCK tried his best to make a race of it 400m out, but once given rein Potala Palace quickly went clear. He won by six and with his trainer having spoken very highly of him both before, and after the race, he is clearly one to keep tabs on.

The afternoon’s feature event was a MR86 Handicap over 1800m and here we saw a very comfortable victory for the well supported market leader HAWKER HUNTER (54) Sent off a clear favourite at 16/10 after opening up at 5/2, Ormond Ferraris’ charge sat fifth during the early part of the race. She was ridden to lead early in the short home straight and easily accounted for the nibbled at WALEY’S CAMP by three and a quarter.

Another to win well in handicap company on this card was the Geoff Woodruff trained ACCESS CODE (65). Drawn out wide at eleven, Access Code was positioned towards the rear as they came off the strip. Once in the straight though, he fairly flew and did very well indeed to reel in the more fancied RABADASH who had taken it up 300m out. Five runs back Access Code was rated eight points higher by the official handicapper than he was here. He should still be well weighted next time.

Titbits

Having her third run after a rest, SUNNY DISPOSITION showed good improvement when easily beating the favourite Cinnamon in the maiden event over 1800m.

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Leading Role

Kenilworth 7^th May: Maiden events formed five of the ten races run in Cape Town on Saturday and the easiest winner amongst those was the Carl Burger trained MADAME ROONEY. Sent off a joint second favourite at 28/10, Madame Rooney was taken straight to the front by Morne Winnaar and led throughout. She was always at least two lengths clear and quickening well at the business end of the race, she went on to win very easily by three and a quarter without any anxious moments.

The first of the afternoon’s three feature events to take place was the listed Olympic Duel Stakes over 1200m and here we saw a smart front running performance from last season’s Gr1 Golden Slipper runner up FRAGRANT AL. The well supported favourite CAPTAIN’S EMBLEM chased hard over the final 300m, but with Fragrant Al staying on determinedly in the closing stages of the race she was only able to make negligible headway,

The Gr3 Cape Fillies Nursery was next up and sent off as if the result was already known here was the unbeaten TRINITY HOUSE. Deep in the red at 1/5 on the off, Joey Ramsden’s charge raced prominent throughout. She was asked to take up the running as they approached the 200m marker and made to work hard in the latter stages of the race, she only held on by the narrowest of margins from the improving LADY VAR.

The boys contested the Gr3 Cape Nursery and here we saw a smart performance from the Dean Kannemeyer trained DEPARDIEU. Nibbled at on course to go off favourite at 5/2 (opened 3/1), Depardieu was always handy. He quickened nicely when the race began in earnest 400m out and after striking the front 200m later, he won going away.

Titbits

Beaten just 1,1 lengths by Trinity House in the Gr3 Cape Fillies Nursery, SUPER ELEGANT had raced in the rear and was finishing best of all.

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Top speedratings for this weekend include:-

Top rated winners last week included

Notebook:-

FASTEST TIMES