Powerful Force

Four For Felix

Arlington 22^nd April: Followers of the Alan Greeff stable got off to a nice start on Friday when the former Cape Town campaigner TRAVEL SAFELY got off the mark in the opening maiden event over 1200m. The first of three winners from the yard, Travel Safely was soon up handy. She was ridden to lead shortly after passing the 300m marker and drew clear easily in the latter stages of the race to beat the regular bridesmaid TRIUMPHAL ARCH by five.

Race four on the card was a MR78 Handicap over 2000m and in what proved to be a real thriller victory here went to the Greeff trained OZZIE DUDE. Freely available at 6/1 on the off, the former Gauteng campaigner was always in touch with the leaders. He moved through to take up the running as they approached the 100m marker and in a race where only a length separated the first six home, he only held on by the narrowest of margins from the fastest finisher of all SYMBOLIST.

The non black type Flying Five over 1000m topped the bill and here jockey Felix Coetzee bagged his fourth winner on the card when CYBER CASE landed the spoils. Soon up handy, the son of Casey Tibbs took up the running 400m out. He kept on strongly at the business end of the race and just had enough in hand to beat the faster finishing BALLANDO by three quarters.

Also worthy of note on this card was the performance of YOUTH CLUB in winning the MR85 Handicap over 1600m. Racing for the first time since early December, Yvette Bremner’s charge sat fifth of the seven for most of the journey. He quickened well in the short home straight and after striking the front 250m from home, he comfortably accounted for SHIPWRECK by a length and a half.

Titbits

Former Cape Town campaigner FLYING BOOTS ran on nicely from the rear in the MR77 affair over 1000m and was only beaten 2,5 lengths.

.

Back On Target

Turffontein 23^rd April: They raced on the inner track on Saturday where we saw a very nice performance in the opening workrider’s maiden event over 1800m from the Gavin Van Zyl trained ELMSWOOD (42). Freely available at 14/1 on the off, Elmswood sat in the rear for most of the journey and had many lengths to make up as they came off the strip. Once in the short home straight though, he cut through the field like a knife and after striking the front 200m out, he drew clear easily to score by four and a half. Elmswood won well and is clearly one to keep tabs on.

There were a number of easy victories on the card, but none more so than that of the well supported GOLDEN HANDSHAKE who opened her account in the girls division of the maiden 1800m. Backed into 7/2 second favourite from 5/1 at the track, Leon Erasmus’ charge raced in midfield during the early part of the race. She was asked to take closer order moving down the strip and after striking the front early in the straight, she drew clear easily over the final 300m to beat the 50/1 shot SAKKIE SAKKIE by five and a quarter.

Race six on the card was a progress event over 1450m and here it was nice to see last season’s Gr1 Thekwini Stakes winner HAPPY ARCHER (68) find his form. Unable to finish better than fifth in his last four starts, Sean Tarry’s charge was soon up handy. He was already on the heels of the ultra consistent KNOCK ON WOOD when that one struck the front 350m out and quickening nicely in the latter stages of the race, he went on win very comfortably by a length and a quarter.

When the bookmakers opened up the betting on the MR80 Handicap over 1000m SEPTEMBER WIND was priced up favourite, but given the cold shoulder by the locals, he was eventually sent off at 11/2 (opened 28/10). Always close enough to strike despite racing in midfield, September Wind quickened nicely once in the straight and under a well judged ride from Anton Marcus, he struck the front 100m from home.

Titbits

Running on from off the pace, lightly raced HOUSE OF WAX was finishing at least as well as the winner Happy Archer when third in the progress event over 1450m.

Positioned in the rear turning for home in the maiden event over 1800m, LADY ESPERANZA quickened by far the best in the straight and after striking the front 250m from out, she went on to win very easily by 3,75 lengths.

.

Feature Race Double

Kenilworth 23^rd April: The easiest victory in the maiden ranks in Cape Town on Saturday was recorded by SILKY LILY when opening her account in the 1600m event. Nibbled at throughout the day into 5/1 from 10’s, Mike Bass’ charge raced much closer to the pace than she had done in recent starts. She took up the running shortly after passing the 300m marker and kept on strongly in the closing stages of the race to beat FABULOCITY by a length and a quarter. One to look out for next time from this race is LADY DAPPLELOO who finished third. She was in the rear turning for home and was only beaten 2,5 lengths.

The first of the afternoon’s two feature events to take place was the listed Sweet Chestnut Stakes over 1400m and as expected victory here went to the favourite COVENANT. Deep in the red at 1/4 on the off, Covenant was always positioned close to the speed. He was ridden to lead shortly after passing the 200m marker and although STREET RUNNER threw down a determined challenge on the run to the line, he always had the upper hand.

The Gr3 Winter Guineas over 1600m topped the bill and here the stable of Mike Bass were again on the mark when the well supported CASTLETHORPE did the business. Always top of the boards, Castlethorpe found good support at the track and was eventually sent off at 18/10 after opening up at 3/1. He raced prominent throughout and quickly getting the better of LAKE ARTHUR shortly after that one had struck the front 300m out, he went on to score comfortably by a length.

Titbits

Racing over a trip which is clearly too short, the lightly raced MONEY SURGER ran on very strongly from the rear to take second in the Conditions event over 1000m.

GIANDUJA ran on best of all in the MR80 Handicap over 1600m and would have won in another stride.

.

Superman

Clairwood 24^th April: Once nicknamed Superman, Anton Marcus won on six of his eight mounts on this card and was a runner up on the other two.

The first of the three feature events to be run at the garden course on Sunday was the Gr3 Godolphin Barb Stakes over 1000m and in what proved to be a real thriller victory here went to the Deon Visser trained HARD ROCK (47). A very easy winner of his only previous start, the Marcus ridden Hard Rock raced fifth for most of the journey. He moved up to dispute matters going through the 300m and after a thrilling tussle with the favourite SOWETO SLEW, he only got the verdict by the narrowest of margins.

The juvenile girls contested the Gr3 Strelitzia Stakes over the same distance and here we saw a smart performance from Hard Rock’s stable companion SHE’S A STUNNER (44). Backed into 5/2 from 7/2 at the track, She’s A Stunner was taken straight to the front by Anton Marcus and led throughout. She was always in command and although LAVISH GAL ran on well from off the pace, she went on to score comfortably by two.

Perhaps the most impressive performance in the feature events though was that of HEADSTRONG (85) who registered her ninth career victory from just nineteen starts in the Gr3 Poinsettia Stakes over 1200m. Sent off second favourite at 33/10 (opened 5/1), Mike De Kock’s charge was always handy. She quickened in good style after switching out for a run 300m form home and after striking the front 200m later, she easily drew clear.

Titbits

A winner of her only previous start some ten months ago, HEAD OF THE HOUSE ran on nicely when only beaten a half length by the favourite SHE-VAR in the MR70 Handicap over 1200m.

.

Top speedratings for this weekend include:-

Top rated winners last week included

Notebook:-

FASTEST TIMES