Quick Compensation

Four From Five

Turffontein 1^st October: They raced on the inner track on Saturday where victory in the opening workrider’s maiden event over 1800m went to the well supported EBTEHAAJ (23). Backed into 28/10 from 7/2 at the track, Mike De Kock’s charge raced towards the rear during the early part of the race and still had plenty to do as they came off the strip. She cut through the field quickly once in the short home straight though and after striking the front 150m from home, she cruised clear to score by five and a quarter. Ebtehaaj didn’ t beat the strongest of fields here in truth, but the manner of her victory would suggest that there is more to come.

Another De Kock runner to win well after attracting the money on this card was DANZILI EXPRESS (30) who did the business for favourite backers in the maiden event over 1800m. In the red at 13/20 on the off (op 14/10), the son of Dansili was taken straight to the front by Anthony Delpech and led throughout. He was always in command and although the fancied CARNABY STREET chased hard in the home straight, he went on to win without any anxious moments by three.

A MR 89 Handicap over 1450m was next up and here we saw a smart performance from the Silvano filly SACRED FEMININE (63). Allowed to ease in the betting market out to 11/2 from 4/1, Weiho Marwing’s charge was always handy. She moved through to take up the running as they approached the 200m marker and went on to score very comfortably from the consistent SILENT WINGS by two and a quarter.

The stable of Mike De Kock were on the mark with four of their five runners on this card, the biggest priced of which was BOYLAN BLAZE (56) in the afternoon’s feature event, A MR94 Handicap over 1800m. Freely available at 15/1 on the off (op 8/1), Boylan Blaze was soon at the head of affairs. He kept on strongly in the straight and although the well supported ROYAL ARROW (14/1 into 11/2) finished well from off the pace, he never looked like being caught.

Titbits

After losing a length at the start, BETA ran on best of all in the MR72 Handicap over 1450m and with the rest well beaten he only failed by the narrowest of margins to get to the winner CHILL FACTOR.

Only having to be pushed out to win the maiden event over 1000m, COUNTESS BACARDI cruised in by five.

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Sheer Guts And Determination

Clairwood 2^nd October: A maiden event over 1450m was first up at the garden course on Sunday and here victory went to the heavily supported favourite DAZZ AL (28). Deep in the red at 11/20 on the off (op 8/10), Alec Laird’s charge was soon up handy. The Mike De Kock trained newcomer ALJAWHARA (22/10 out to 4/1) made the running and as Dazz Al moved up to challenge 300m out it soon became clear that she was going to have a fight on her hands. Indeed, Aljawhara fought on doggedly below the distance and with the rest well beaten it was only by a neck that the favourite got the verdict.

A maiden event over 1450m was next up and here we saw a nice performance from the favourite FAIRE SILVANO (32). On leaving the stalls it was the second favourite MOET MAGIC who elected to set the pace whilst Faire Silvano was content to sit in midfield. Moet Magic kept on strongly at the business end of the race and with the rest comfortably beaten it was only close home that the faster finishing Faire Silvano got up.

The afternoon’s feature event was an Allowance Plate over 1450m and here victory went to the Charles Laird trained ICE AXE (80). He got away well when the gates opened and soon up handy raced prominent throughout. He took up the running going through the 300m and kept on strongly late to beat the running on FIGHTING WARRIOR by three quarters. Keep an eye on the runner up Fighting Warrior. He ran on strongly after losing two lengths at the start and did well to get as close as he did.

A small but very talented field contested the progress event over 1100m and in what proved to be a real thriller victory here went to the unbeaten UNANNOUNCED (73). Sent off a rather uneasy favourite at 9/10, Unannounced raced close up in second. His supported stable companion TENNESSEE STRATEGY (7/1 into 9/2) raced just behind him in third and when that one went three quarters of a length up 300m out, it looked as if he would meet his first defeat. Not for the first time though, Unannounced rallied gamely once headed and in a breathtaking finish he got back up on the nod.

Titbits

KALAMI won the maiden event over 1900m going away with some in hand.

SYLVAN VISTA ran on strongly from the back end of midfield when a runner up in the maiden event over 2000m.

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Flying Gamble

Flamingo Park 3^rd October: Followers of the money got off to a nice start in the Northern Cape on Monday when the well supported outsider FLYING WENDY did the business in the opening maiden event over 1000m. Backed into 10/1 from 25’s at the track, the former Cape Town campaigner raced up with the speed throughout. The well tried favourite ROCKABILLY raced with her and going through the 200m it looked as if it could go either way. Flying Wendy quickened nicely below the distance though and asserting her authority late, she went on to score by three quarters.

A Pinnacle Stakes over 1800m topped the bill and in a race where just six runners went to post, the rank outsider of the party WESTERN KING registered his fifth career victory. Freely available at 25/1 on the off, Cliffie Miller’s charge raced second for most of the journey. He was asked to take up the running coming off the bend and after quickly stealing two lengths, he kept on strongly on the run to the line to beat the running on duo of SOLOMONS TEMPLE and AFRICAN VISION.

The only favourite on the card to oblige was PAX BRITANNICA when opening his account in the maiden event over 2200m. Allowed to ease out to 22/10 from 17/10 at the track, Sean Miller’s charge was soon up handy. He was ridden to lead early in the home straight and although VEILED EMBLEM chased hard over the final 400m, he went on to win very comfortably by three and a quarter.

The easiest victory on the card was recorded by the costly to follow TRIFOLIUM who rescued his supporters from bankruptcy when landing the MR72 Handicap over 1400m. Positioned in the rear as they came off the bend, the top weight Trifolium was looking unlikely to place let alone win. Once in the straight though, he cut through the field like a knife and after striking the front 200m from home, he easily drew clear.

Titbits

Racing for only the second time since relocating from the Eastern Cape, the What A Prospect mare PICK A POCKET ran on strongly from the rear and with the rest well beaten, she did well to get within three quarters of a length of the winner ED’S ANGEL.

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Top speedratings for this weekend include:-

Arlington

Race 1: (1) Brazado 11

Race 2: (1) Asiatic Moon 10

Race 3: (1) Chekeche 56

Race 4: (9) De La Danza 62 (NAP*)

Race 5: (7) Moonshine Lake 51

Race 6: (8) Western Star 65

Race 7: (13) Princess Magic 49

Race 8: (3) High Repute 41

Vaal (Tues)

Race 1: (6) Resounding Success 11

Race 2: (12) The Duke 10

Race 3: (1) Super Boy 23

Race 4: (11) Beloved Jean 13

Race 5: (8) Castanelli 63

Race 6: (6) Howhighcanufly 54

Race 7: (1) Phunyuka 68

Race 8: (4) Ubuhle 46

Race 9: (6) Moon Dragon 49

Greyville

Race 1: (3) Indian Connection 8 (NAP*)

Race 2: (6) Sporty Thong 28

Race 3: (1) Yet Again 20

Race 4: (2) Coffee Sheik 53

Race 5: (4) Aurum 45

Race 6: (5) Gold Onyx 86

Race 7: (12) Trail O’Gold 80

Race 8: (1) Casey Da Lady 68

Race 9: (12) Americas Cup 48

Durbanville

Race 1: (13) Trade Name 1

Race 2: (5) Winter Heart 18

Race 3: (2) Wing And Prayer 13

Race 4: (1) Golden Dane 44

Race 5: (2) Enrani 39 (NAP*)

Race 6: (4) Tiger’s Joy 51

Race 7: (6) Light The Moon 71

Race 8: (3) In Position 42

Race 9: (1) Pale Night 22

Vaal (Thur)

Race 1: (3) St John Bosco 20 (NAP**)

Race 2: No Qualifiers

Race 3: (5) Star Brite 6

Race 4: (13) Burj Dubai 37

Race 5: (14) Mandulo 44

Race 6: (10) Satish 41

Race 7: (2) Ask Me 34

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Top rated winners last week included

Boylan Blaze won 15/1

Hidden Rave won 75/20

Lord Badger won 22/10

Thembi won 19/10

Sheisapromqueen won 15/10

Dazz Al won 11/20

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Notebook:-

Beta (S Tarry, Gauteng)

Dansili Express (M De Kock, Gauteng)

Tennessee Strategy (C Laird, Gauteng)

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FASTEST TIMES

Turffontein 1^st October

Fastest Sprint 1000-1300 (1)   Countess Bacardi

Fastest Middle 1400-1800 (8)  Chill Factor     

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Clairwood 2^nd October

Fastest Sprint 1000-1300 (2)   Unannounced

Fastest Middle 1400-1800 (4)  Ice Axe           

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Flamingo Park 3^rd October

Fastest Sprint 1000-1300 (2)   Flying Wendy

Fastest Middle 1400-1800 (5)  Trifolium