Progressing Nicely

Let The Sun Shine

Fairview 15^th November: On an afternoon when five of the nine races were won by no more than a neck, the biggest winning margin was the 1,5 lengths recorded by ASTRONOMO in the faster of the two 1600m events run on the polytrack. Positioned in midfield early on, the son of First American finished best of all in the short home straight and won going away after striking the front 100m out.

The faster of the two 1000m races (turf) on the card was the Pinnacle Stakes won by INSEARCHOFTHESUN. Freely available at 8/1 on the off, Stephen Van Rensburg’s charge could be found in midfield during the early part of the race. He quickened well passing the halfway mark and under a well judged ride from Keagan Latham he got up late to deny the front running LONDON PERFECT.

The best bet on the card for most was HOWAMI in the opening maiden plate over 1600m (poly), but once again she found one better. Soon up handy, Howami took up the running going through the 400m and at that stage she looked to have the race in the bag. Running on stoutly from midfield though was the well supported outsider ORGANIC WINE and with the rest comfortably beaten she got up late to score by a neck. LADY FOXTROT ran on well from the back end of midfield in this race.

Titbits

Positioned at the back turning for home, DO YOU DANCE ran on best of all when only beaten three quarters of a length in the maiden 2400m (turf).

.

Three Tigers

Turffontein 15^th November: They raced on the old stand side track on Friday where by far the fastest of the three 1400m events to be run was the MR96 Handicap won by PRINCE JAZEEM. On leaving the stalls it was NATIONAL KEY (broke a bloodvessel and is now suspended for 3 months) who elected to make the running and he soon had the field well strung out. Prince Jazeem meanwhile was positioned in midfield and turning for home he had many lengths to make up. He ran on best of all when the field began to concertina in the straight though, and won in good style going away after striking the front 150m from home.

The Gr2 Victory Moon Stakes over 1800m topped the bill and here a bit of an upset was to be had when TIGER’S RETREAT registered his fifth win. In touch with the leaders throughout, the 5yo son of Tiger Ridge was always well positioned to strike. He did so going through the 300m and in what proved to be a real thriller he just held on from the all out favourite MASTER SABINA by the narrowest of margins.

Amazingly three of the legs in the Jackpot were won by horses with “Tiger” in their name amongst them TIGER QUEST winner of the supporting Goldenia Handicap (L) over 1160m. Taken straight to the front by Musi Yeni, the Where’s That Tiger filly led throughout. She kept on strongly at the business end of the race and won without any anxious moments from the running on DOLOMITI by a length and three quarters. The runner up finished very well after being caught for early toe.

Titbits

In the rear when the race began in earnest, the easy to back MENACING fairly flew over the final 400m and did very well indeed to get within two lengths of Tiger’s Retreat in the bill topping Gr2 Victory Moon Stakes over 1800m.

.

Just The Six

Kenilworth 16^th November: There was some serious rain in Cape Town over the weekend and as a result they were only able to run six races on Saturday. A maiden plate over 1400m got proceedings underway and here we saw a smart performance from the newcomer DYNASTIC GOLD. Freely available at 13/2 on the off, Glen Puller’s charge was soon at the head of affairs. She kept up a healthy gallop throughout and won well by three and three quarters.

In terms of distance the easiest victory on the card was undoubtedly that of the 20/1 shot BLARNEY BAY in what proved to be the final race on the card, a MR76 Handicap over 1600m. Another to make all, Stephen Page’s charge cruised clear in the home straight and came home lonely by seven and a half.

Race four on the card was a Conditions Plate over 1000m and here an upset was to be had when the very talented 4/10 favourite VIA AFRICA got rolled. Up with the speed throughout, Duncan Howells’ charge was run out of it late by both FAIRYINTHEWOODS (the winner) and CAPTAIN’S LULLABY.

Titbits

Detached at the rear going through halfway, REFLECTIVE IMAGE finished fastest of all when only beaten a length and a half in the conditions plate won by Fairyinthewoods.

.

Hat-Trick For Hughes

Clairwood 17^th November: Four of the nine races at the garden course on Sunday were run over 1200m and in what proved to be the fastest of these, a MR103 Handicap, we saw another smart performance from the improving KINGSTON BOY. Very confidently ridden by the vastly experienced Kevin Shea, the son of Mogok took up the running 170m from home and only having to be ridden with hands and heels he easily extended his winning sequence to four.

Another to win with authority on this card was PICADOR in the maiden 2000m. Ridden by Richard Hughes, the 5yo son of Toreador ran on best of all at the business end of the race and cruised clear to score by three and a quarter after striking the front 150m from home.

Visiting jockey Richard Hughes was also on the mark with both SOCIAL NETWORK and COMMODITY STRIKE. The 8/1 shot Commodity Strike came from the rear and got up very late to deny the consistent LAST ECLIPSE.

Titbits

Gaining at the finish, CIRCLE OF SPEED ran on strongly from off the pace when runner up in the MR82 Handicap over 1400m.

.

Top speedratings for this weekend include:-

Top rated winners last week included

Notebook:-

FASTEST TIMES