Plenty Of Value

Jet Fighter

Fairview 14^th November: Followers of the money got off to a nice start in Port Elizabeth on Monday when the Grant Paddock trained WHEELS OF FIRE did the business in the opening maiden event over 1200m. Backed throughout the morning into 28/10 joint favourite from 7/1, the son of Wolfhound raced in midfield during the early part of the race. He quickened well going through the 400m and after striking the front 100m from home, he easily accounted for the well tried THE BERRYMAN by a length and a half.

Race four on the card was a graduation plate over 1200m and here we saw another smart performance from the unbeaten RUSSIAN MIG. Allowed to ease right out to 28/10 from 18/10 at the track as money came for both ROYAL DUKE (3/1 into 22/10 fav) and KING OF FLAGS (8/1 into 11/2), Hekkie Strydom’s charge was always in touch with the leaders. He struck the front 200m out and looking to have a little in hand he won comfortably by two. One to follow.

The afternoon’s feature event was a MR90 Handicap over 1600m and here an upset was to be had when the rank outsider of the ten horse party EL RICHE registered his eighth career victory. As per usual positioned towards the rear for most of the journey, the 9yo ran on best of all in the long home straight and with the rest well beaten he got up late to deny the much younger BHUSENDE.

Titbits

At the back as the sixteen runners turned for home in the maiden event over 1600m, RED SCENT ran on best of all and was only beaten a neck.

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Nippy Nugget

Scottsville 15^th November: The first juvenile race of the season took place at Scottsville on Tuesday and it turned out to be a walk in the park for the heavily supported NIPS NUGGET (17). Backed throughout the morning into 28/10 favourite from 10/1, the daughter of Overlord made all. She was always in command and although both SHEPHERDS BUSH (10/1 into 13/2) and MRS MIRREN both chased hard, she went on to score very easily by four and a half.

The best bet on the card for most was ICE MACHINE (37) in the maiden event over 1400m and he didn’t let down his supporters. Always deep in the red, Glen Puller’s charge got away well when the gates opened and was soon up handy. He was ridden to lead as they approached the 200m marker and drew clear easily on the run to the line to beat TYCOON TOUCH by four.

A MR83 Handicap over 1950m topped the bill and here victory went to the friendless VALHALLA (35). Allowed to drift right out to 33/1 from 8/1 at the track, the daughter of Fort Wood raced towards the rear for most of the journey. Once in the straight though she quickened well and after striking the front 200m from home, she comfortably accounted for the running on RAPID FLOW by two.

Titbits

COFFEE SHEIK showed good improvement when making all to win the MR78 Handicap over 1200m.

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Dingaans Bound

Turffontein 15^th November: They raced on the old stand side track on Tuesday evening where the easiest victory on the card was undoubtedly that of the newcomer MERHEE (48). Always in the red, Mike De Kock’s charge was soon prominent. He began to assert his authority going through halfway and cruised in by nine. Merhee now runs in the Dingaans on Saturday.

Entries in the Dingaans also raced in the graduation event over 1600m where victory went to the lightly raced E-JET (64). Sean Tarry’s charge raced at the back of the nine for most of the journey, but in a tightly bunched field, he was only 4,5 lengths off the pace. He ran on well when the tempo began to quicken 600m out and under a well judged ride from Robbie Fradd, he got up late to beat the top weighted runner MIRAGE DRIVE by three quarters.

A Conditions Plate over 1600m topped the bill and as expected victory here went to the Mike De Kock trained ATLANTIC OAK (64). Deep in the red at 11/20 on the off, Atlantic Oak was soon up handy. The Fort Wood filly STORMY COAST threw down a determined challenge as she took up the running 500m out and fought on gallantly all the way to the wire. Whereas Stormy Coast was all out though, Atlantic Oak was just doing the necessary in the latter stages of the race and went on to score a little more easily than the official winning margin of a length and a quarter would suggest.

Titbits

Later reported as coughing, the nibbled at newcomer EMPEROR’S VICTORY caught the eye running on from the rear when fifth in the maiden event over 1160m.

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The Lucky Last

Kenilworth 16^th November: It wasn’t an easy day for punters in Cape Town on Wednesday as the first favourite to arrive was FULL REGALIA in the lucky last, a maiden event over 1800m. Backed into 12/10 from 15/10 at the track, Joey Ramsden’s charge was always handy. She was asked to take up the running shortly after passing the 300m marker and went on to score comfortably from the running on BEULAH by a length and a half.

The biggest upset on the card was caused by the lesser fancied of Mike Bass’ two runners DRUM TATTOO in the novice 1800m. Sent off the rank outsider of the six at 14/1, Drum Tattoo was taken straight to the front by Karl Neisius and led throughout. He kept on determinedly in the straight and showing real guts and determination, he just held on by a neck from CAVALLI.

A MR84 Handicap over 1600m topped the bill and here victory went to the well supported second favourite BELOVED BETTY. Eventually sent off at 28/10 after opening up at 7/2, Glen Kotzen’s charge raced in midfield during the early part of the race. She quickened well as the field began to concertina early in the straight and after striking the front 300m from home she kept on strongly late to beat the running on RAIN GAL by a length and a quarter.

Titbits

Newcomer JET EXPLORER and the deposed favourite PRINCE OF WINGS both ran on strongly when 2^nd and 4^th respectively in the maiden event over 1200m.

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Four Favs

Vaal 17^th November: Thursday’s action took place on the turf where the opening workrider’s maiden qualified handicap went to the 40/1 shot JOLLY GOOD SIR (5). Rated just 50 by the official handicapper, Leon Erasmus’ charge was always handy. He was ridden to lead as they approached the 400m marker and kept on strongly in the closing stages of the race to beat the running on WORLD RECORD by a length and three quarters.

The first of four favourites on the card to arrive was ROAD TAX who did the business in the qualified maiden handicap over 1700m. Always handy, Road Tax was asked to take up the running 200m out and in what proved to be a real thriller, he only held on by the narrowest of margins from the running on PERFECT WINTER.

The best bet on the card for many was COMISSION DUE (39) in the MR66 affair and he duly landed the odds. The third of four winners on the card for Piere Strydom, the 9/10 favourite (op 14/10) was always close to the speed. He ran on strongly from halfway and although the friendless MOUNTBATTEN finished well from the rear, he went on to score comfortably by a length.

Titbits

After being baulked for a run 400m out, the nibbled at SURFING SAFARI was running on strongly at the finish when a runner up in the MR66 affair over 1700m.

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Top speedratings for this weekend include:-

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Top rated winners last week included

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Notebook:-

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FASTEST TIMES

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