Paradise

Rest Well Beaten

Turffontein 14^th July: They raced on the old stand side track on Sunday where victory in the opening maiden juvenile plate over 1160m went to the newcomer QUEEN ELIZA. Freely available at 14/1 on the off, Paul Matchett’s charge raced in midfield early on. She ran on best of all from halfway and with the rest well beaten she won going away from the heavily supported favourite LADY JUSTICE (12/1 into 5/2) by a length.

The fastest of the three 1160m races on the afternoon was the boys’ division of the maiden juvenile plate won by the best bet on the card for most BOUCLETTE TOP. Another to run on from midfield, the son of Giant’s Causeway kept on strongly after striking the front 400m from home and with the remainder some four and a lengths adrift, he beat the easy to back newcomer LUCKY LUCIANO by a half.

A pinnacle stakes over 1800m topped the bill and here the finish was not surprisingly fought out by JET JAMBOREE and the favourite KNOCK ON WOOD. Jet Jamboree was the first of the very well weighted pair to make a move and struck the front going through the 600m. Knock On Wood was just two lengths adrift going through the 400m and steadily gaining at that point a thrilling finish looked assured. Both ran on strongly at the business end of the race and it was only by a neck that Jet Jamboree got the verdict.

Titbits   

Lightly raced WHISTLER came from the rear when getting up in the very last stride to win the maiden 1160m.

.

Easier Pickings

Flamingo Park 15^th July: The easiest victory in the Northern Cape on Monday was undoubtedly that of ROYAL BASTIDE in the maiden 1800m. Having only his third outing since relocating from KZN, the son of Fort Wood was in the rear early on. He steadily made headway up the back straight though, and coming off the bend he was nicely positioned in third. He struck the front going through the 300m and went on to score very easily by six.

The fastest of the three 1400m events on the card was the pinnacle stakes won by KINGOFMOUNTAIN. Another to have blossomed since relocating from KZN, Cliffie Miller’s charge was always in touch with the leaders. He ran on strongly over the final 400m and under a well judged ride from Marco Van Rensburg he got up late to beat the six timer seeking CODE RED by three quarters. Running on best of all in this race was EYE OF THE WORLD who finished third.

Completing a hattrick in the pinnacle stakes over 1000m was the former Eastern Cape campaigner MR VINDALOO. Allowed to drift right out to 9/2 from 5/2 at the track as support in the main came for REBEL QUEEN (9/2 into 18/10), Mr Vindaloo kept up a relentless gallop and led throughout. BOMBER BILL ran on stoutly below the distance and in what proved to be a real thriller Mr Vindaloo only held on by a neck.

Titbits

MAHOGANY won the MR78 Handicap over 2200m very comfortably by two and a quarter.

.

Smart Double

Durbanville 16^th July: The Paddy Kruyer trained newcomer FLYING COMFORT was heavily supported to win the maiden event over 1000m and he did the business with the minimum of fuss. In the red at 9/10 on the off, the son of Goldkeeper broke well and was soon at the head of affairs. He was always in command and only having to be ridden with hands and heels he drew clear easily in the closing stages of the race to score by five and a half.

The stable of Paddy Kruyer were also on the mark with KIMBERLY AL in the lucky last, a MR72 Handicap over 1200m. An easy winner in his only previous outing, the son of Captain Al was also sent off a strong favourite. He took up the running going through the 400m and with the rest well beaten he comfortably accounted for KUKAMA by a length and a half.

Four of the afternoon’s eight races were run over 1400m and the fastest of these was the bill topping MR86 Handicap won by DUMANI. On leaving the stalls it was MISSION HOUSE who elected to make the running whilst the daughter of Fort Wood raced close up in second. She was ridden to lead as they approached the 300m marker and although Mission House kept on strongly to hold second, she went on to win with authority by two and a half.

Titbits

VENTURE VAR had drawn five lengths clear before being eased right down to score by just a length and three quarters in the maiden juvenile plate over 1600m.

BE FABULOUS ran on well from the back end of midfield when runner up in the maiden 1400m.

.

Speedy Maidens

Scottsville 17^th July: A very competitive looking maiden juvenile plate over 1200m got proceedings underway in Pietermaritzburg on Wednesday and here we saw a smart performance from the newcomer SWEETWATER. Sent off a well supported favourite at 14/10, Alec Laird’s charge was soon prominent. She moved up to dispute matters with the pacemaker CATALINA BLUES going through the 200m and after a thrilling tussle she got the verdict by a half.

Race four on the card was a maiden event over 1950m and here we saw a comfortable victory for the 3yo DUCHESS OF YORK. Freely available at 6/1 on the off, Duncan Howells’ charge sat fifth for most of the journey. She was asked to take up the running at the 200m pole and went on to win with authority by two and a quarter.

Four of the afternoon’s nine races were run over 1600m and surprisingly the fastest of these was the maiden event won by CARIBBEAN DAY. Always handy, Mark Dixon’s charge commenced battle with the strongly fancied 8/10 favourite CINEMA SCOPE 300m out and with the rest well beaten he got the upper hand late to win by a half.

Titbits

After losing a length at the start ALIBABA’S JEWEL (reported coughing) ran on well from the rear when only beaten three quarters of a length in the MR80 Handicap over 1000m.

NYSEAN SUITE (reported lame on the off fore) ran on well from off the pace when fourth in the girls’ maiden 1400m.

Despite being baulked for a run 200m out, the 5/2 favourite XERXES won the MR74 Handicap over 1400m very comfortably by a length and a half.

.

Finding Form

Vaal 18^th July: Thursday’s action took place on the outside track where the first of a number of upsets came in the opening workrider’s maiden 1600m won by the friendless SIXMILEBRIDGE. Allowed to drift right out to 18/1 from 7’s at the track, Stephen Moffatt’s charge raced in the rear early on. The field was always very tightly bunched though and once given rein he soon began to make headway. He struck the front as they approached the 300m pole and went on to score very easily by three.

The biggest upset on the card though was undoubtedly the victory of GOLDSTREAM in the bill topping MR90 Handicap over 1000m. Sent off as one of the rank outsiders of the ten horse party at 36/1, Clinton Binda’s charge raced in midfield during the early part of the race. He quickened nicely going through halfway and did well to get the better of the much more fancied RODEO DANDY close home. After taking a bump at the start, STAVINSKY ran on well from the rear and was only beaten a length and a half in this race.

After running on stoutly behind Barbel Run last time out THANDA ABANTU looked to be the right one in the maiden 1200m and so it proved to be. Sent off a rather uneasy favourite at 7/2, Chris Erasmus’ charge sat seventh early on. He made up the ground quickly when asked for his effort though and after striking the front 300m from home, he went on to score very easily by three.

Titbits

After being baulked for a run 250m from home, ROCKY STALLONE ran on strongly from midfield and was only beaten half a length when third in the MR78 Handicap over 1600m.

.

Top speedratings for this weekend include:-

Top rated winners last week included

Notebook:-

FASTEST TIMES