Plenty To Go At

A Walk In The Park

Flamingo Park 28^th October: A maiden plate over 1800m was first up in the Northern Cape on Monday and here it was nice to see the costly to follow SILKEN SEA get off the mark. Freely available at 10/1 on the off, the daughter of Spectrum sat sixth for most of the journey. She made her move early in the straight and under a well judged ride from Gunter Wrogemann she got up late to beat the more fancied SUPER GROOVE by three quarters.

There were a number of very comfortable victories on the card and none more so than that of GEMMA in the maiden 1400m. Always handy, Silken Sea’s stable companion was ridden to lead going through the 300m and drew clear easily in the closing stages of the race to score by four and three quarters.

Three of the afternoon’s events were run over 1200m and the fastest these was the MR66 Handicap won by BADI. Easy to back at 25/1 at the off, the 5yo son of King Of Kings was quickly guided over from a widish draw by apprentice Aucharuz and made virtually all. He kept on determinedly in the straight and in what proved to be a real thriller he only held on by the narrowest of margins from the running on TRIPARTITE.

The lucky last was a MR66 Handicap over 1600m and here the locals were sent home happy when the 28/10 favourite CAPTIVATOR did the business. Another to set the pace, Captivator led by just a length for most of the journey. Once in the straight though he quickened well and won without any anxious moments by four and a quarter.

Titbits

COUNTESS KATE ran on strongly from the rear when only beaten a neck in the MR65 Handicap over 1200m.

.

Cool As Ice

Vaal 29^th October: They raced on the sand on Tuesday where as expected victory in the opening maiden event over 1200m went to the favourite CROWN OF ROSES. On leaving the stalls it was MERLINS GEM who elected to make the running whilst the 4/10 favourite raced close up in third. Merlins Gem kept on strongly at the business end of the race and at the wire had the remainder some six lengths adrift. Crown Of Roses was always doing it easily though and when asked for her effort 300m out she quickly took command.

There were four races run over 1200m on the afternoon in total and the fastest of these was the bill topping pinnacle stakes won by ACROSS THE ICE. Confidently ridden by our current champion jockey Piere Strydom, the 7yo son of Western Winter was always handy. He was ridden to lead as they approached the 400m pole and won well by two from the well supported odds on favourite UNCLE TOMMY.

The faster of the two 1600m races was the MR90 Handicap in which TOMORROW’S MISS registered her third career victory. She got away well when the gates opened and soon at the head of affairs led throughout. She kept on strongly over the final 400m and just had enough in hand to thwart the running on 5/2 favourite MISS K.

The easiest victory on the eight race program was recorded by STORM SURF in the faster of the two 1450m events, a MR94 Handicap. Yet another to make virtually all, the 13/10 favourite held just a slender lead for most of the journey. He began to assert his authority going through the 400m and comfortably accounted for the fancied PANJO by three and three quarters.

Titbits

CASA NOSTRA ran on well from the back end of midfield when winning the conditions plate over 1200m.

.

From The Front

Kenilworth 30^th October: The easiest victory in the maiden ranks at Kenilworth on Thursday was that of BUSH RANGER in the 1400m event. After racing handy, the son of Solskjaer took up the running going through the 200m and with some in hand won going away by three and a quarter.

A winner by almost double the distance of that of Bush Ranger was DARING DAVE in the faster of the two 1000m events, a MR74 Handicap. Taken straight to the front by Richard Fourie the son of Dynasty was soon two lengths clear. He quickened well passing the 400m marker and without ever having to engage the upper gears he cruised in by six.

Another to win with authority from the front on this card was the aptly named RUN LIKE HELL in the novice 1200m. Very quickly four lengths clear Run Like Hell kept on strongly over the final 400m and although ZACHARIAS did manage to reduce the deficit to two and a half, he never looked like being caught.

A MR92 Handicap over 1200m topped the bill and in what proved to be a real thriller a dead heat was declared between CAPTAIN HARRY and AWESOME POWER. Captain Harry attempted to make all and going through the 200m it was looking as if he would do so. Running on from midfield though, the 4yo son of Surging River showed a nice turn of foot below the distance and got up to share in the very last stride. 

Titbits

Running on from midfield SKYSIGN finished best of all when getting up late to win the maiden 1600m.

Poorly drawn IRISH MYTH was flying at the finish when only beaten a neck in the MR75 Handicap over 1600m.

.

Bringing Back Memories

Turffontein 31^st October: Thursday afternoon’s action took place on the inner track where the biggest upset on the card occurred in the MR88 Handicap over 1000m. Winning for the first time in over a year here, GOLD SITE was freely available at 33/1 on the off. He was always handy and in a race where just a length and a quarter covered the first five home he got the verdict by the narrowest of margins.

A MR99 Handicap topped the bill and in what proved to be the fastest of the three 1800m events it was nice to see last season’s Gr2 Victory Moon Stakes winner SMANJEMANJE back in the winner’s enclosure. Sparingly raced in 2013, Tyrone Zackey’s charge was content to sit sixth of the seven for most of the journey. He quickened well at the top of the short home straight and won comfortably by two after striking the front 160m from home.

A maiden plate over 1800m had opened up proceedings and here we saw a smart performance from the Sean Tarry trained CAGE FIGHTER. Freely available at 14/1 on the off, the poorly drawn son of Eyeofthetiger broke well and was always handy. He was asked to take up the running shortly after passing the 200m marker and drew clear easily in the closing stages of the race to score by three and three quarters.

Titbits

The 11/20 favourite OUR BOY BLAKE was flying late when only beaten a neck in the maiden 1000m.

The unbeaten 3yo BEZANOVA had the remainder some six lengths adrift when fending off a determined challenge from CAGIVA by a length in the MR84 Handicap over 1600m.

.

Top speedratings for this weekend include:-

Top rated winners last week included

Notebook:-

FASTEST TIMES