Quick Double

Topsy Turvy

Arlington 8^th June: Favourite backers got off to a nice start inPort Elizabeth on Friday when BLACKMALKIN did the business in the opening maiden event over 1000m. Allowed to ease out to 15/10 from 12/10 at the track as money in the main came for an outsider SUPER HUNK (16/1 into 11/2), Justin Snaith’s charge was soon up handy. He was ridden to lead as they approached the 200m marker and comfortably accounted for the well tried HEY TORO by two and a quarter. The well supported Super Hunk held every chance and finished third.

Race four on the card was a MR94 Handicap over 1400m and in what proved to be a very false paced affair, the easy to back ON GOLDEN POND stole first prize. Allowed to ease right out to 10/1 from 6/1 at the track, the 4yo was well clear as they came off the bend. The strongly fancied odds on favourite GREAT FOX was fairly eating up the ground at the finish and clearly unlucky only failed to get up by the narrowest of margins.

A MR96 Handicap over 1000m was next up and here we saw a smart performance from the 5yo son of Spectrum APOLO GREY. Running on from midfield, Justin Snaith’s charge took up the running 200m from home and kept on strongly in the latter stages of the race to beat THREE CAPTAINS by a half. Three Captains didn’t find the clearest of passages when starting his run and also finished very well.

The stable of Justin Snaith were again on the mark in the afternoon’s feature event, the listed Milkwood Stakes when the lesser fancied of their four runners PACIFIC BREEZE landed the spoils. Freely available at 20/1 on the off, Pacific Breeze was always positioned close to the pace. She ran on strongly over the final 400m and went on to beat the locally trained CHEKECHE and her more fancied stable companion WINTER HEART fair and square.

Titbits

TIZASMARTDOLLAR showed good improvement when running on to take third position in the maiden event over 1600m.

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Mixed Fortunes

Clairwood 9^th June: The newcomer SCHIFFER (28) was sent off a heavily supported favourite to win the opening maiden juvenile event over 1000m at the garden course on Saturday and she didn’t let down her followers. Backed all the way in to even money from 5/2, Dennis Drier’s charge led throughout. She was always in command and although VIA AFRICA ran on well from off the pace, she went on to win very comfortably by two and a quarter.

The listed Devon Air Stakes over 1450m was next up and in what proved to be a real thriller victory here went to DYLAN’S PROMISE (44). After making the early running, Charlie Laird’s charge was headed by one of the joint favourites LIZZY GREY at the top of the straight and at that stage of the race looked destined to fill a place. The daughter of Dylan Thomas rallied gamely under a determined ride from champion jockey Anton Marcus though and with the rest well beaten she got back up late.

The Gr1 Rising Sun Gold Challenge over 1600m topped the bill and here we saw another smart performance from theCapeGuineaswinner VARIETY CLUB (100). Deep in the red at 9/20 on the off, Joey Ramsden’s charge made virtually all. He kept on strongly at the business end of the race, but in the process of gaining his length and a quarter victory he sadly broke a bloodvessel and will now be suspended from racing for three months.

Amongst the supporting acts was the Gr2 Tibouchina Stakes over 1450m and here it was nice to see the champion filly PRINCESS VICTORIA (85) back in the winner’s enclosure. Backed into 9/10 from 15/10 at the track Glen Kotzen’s charge quickened with all her old zest in the latter stages of the race and won well by a length and a half

Titbits

LIONIZE was running on strongly late when a runner up to the useful Black Toga in the listed Gatecrasher Stakes over 1450m.

After being a little slow into stride, GENERAL SHERMAN ran on well from the rear when only beaten a neck in the non-black typeDurbanDash over 1100m.

SILENT APPROACH showed good improvement when winning the KZN Chapter Challenge over 1600m going away.

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Dressed To Kill

Kenilworth 9^th June: Saturday’s action in Cape Town got underway with a Juvenile Plate over 1200m and here victory went to the Joey Ramsden trained newcomer VAUCLAIR. On Leaving the stalls it was the nibbled at outsider NATIONAL ROCCO who elected to make the running whilst Vauclair raced in midfield. He ran on well from halfway and under a well judged ride from Glen Hatt he got up nicely late to beat another newcomer SCAKY PHANE fair and square.

The easiest victory on the card was undoubtedly that of FIRST FAVOUR who came home smoking in the maiden event for the girls over 1200m. Up with the pace throughout, Carl Burger’s charge began to assert her authority going through the 300m and ran out a very easy winner by five.

Another to win very well in the maiden ranks on this card was DRESSED IN COTTON in the 1000m event. The best bet on the card for many, the 9/20 shot was soon up handy. He was asked to take up the running as they approached the 300m marker and went on to score very comfortably by two and a quarter from the easy to back WHISTLE FOR GOLD.

The first of two MR80 Handicaps that topped the bill was the 1000m affair won by EFFECTIVE POWER. Prominent throughout, the son of Var took up the running 200m from home and kept on strongly late to beat the fancied Sage Of Sivana by a length and a quarter.

Titbits

LAKE GENEVAcaught the eye running on strongly from the rear when third beaten just two lengths in the MR80 Handicap won by Effective Power.

After switching out for a run EIGHTH MAN ran on strongly from midfield when only beaten a length and a quarter into fifth in the maiden event over 1600m.

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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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