Easy For Castlethorpe
Durbanville 12th March: A Juvenile Plate over 1000m got proceedings underway at Durbanville on Saturday and as expected victory here went to the favourite CHIEFTAN. Surprisingly allowed to ease out to 13/20 from 9/20 at the track, Vaughan Marshall’s charge was soon up handy. He was asked to take up the running shortly after passing the 400m marker and although the only other runner with experience in the race OFFERTORY tried his best to make a race of it, he went on to win very comfortably by two and a quarter.
A Juvenile Plate over 1300m was next up and here the stable of Joey Ramsden was on the mark when LEEWARD opened her account. Drawn widest of the nine, Leeward very quickly found herself positioned towards the rear. Once in the straight though, she steadily began to work her way into contention and under a well judged ride from Glen Hatt, she got up close home. Leeward won well and clearly has more to come.
A small, but very talented looking field went to post for the graduation event over 1400m and here we saw a very comfortable victory for the Mike Bass trained CASTLETHORPE. On leaving the stalls it was the favourite CAPTAIN HARRY who elected to set the pace and easily five l;engths clear coming off the bend, he looked to have the race at his mercy. Racing in second though, Castlethorpe always had Captain Harry in his sights and quickening nicely at the top of the straight, he was soon in contention. He hit the front shortly after passing the 300m marker and went on to score very comfortably by three.
Titbits
After racing green in the early stages, the newcomer TELEPATHY ran on well from off the pace in the Juvenile Plate over 1000m and did well to get within three lengths of the useful winner Chieftan.
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In The Money
Clairwood 15th March: The easiest victory in the maiden ranks in Natal on Tuesday was undoubtedly that of WIND SPEED (33) who came home smoking in the 1000m event. Sent off second favourite at 5/2, Corinne Bestel’s charge was content to sit in midfield during the early part of the race. Once given rein though, he quickly worked his way through the field and after striking the front 300m from home, he drew clear easily in the closing stages of the race to beat WIND IT UP by four and a quarter. In truth Wind Speed didn’t bump the strongest of fields here, but he has met some good sorts in recent starts and the manner of his victory would suggest that there is more to come.
Another to win very easily on this card was the heavily supported BOITARA (51) who did the business for followers of the money in the MR73 affair over 1600m. Backed throughout the day into 33/10 favourite from 8/1, Jeff Freedman’s charge was taken straight to the front by champion jockey Anton Marcus and led throughout. The pack headed by SWINGING DANCER were all well within striking distance 400m from home. The son of Labeeb found another gear when asked for his effort 400m out and went on to score going away by four and a half.
A MR89 Handicap over 1600m topped the bill and in a time slightly slower than that of Boitara, the grey Silvano gelding ZACKLY (70) registered his fourth career victory. On leaving the stalls it was the eventual runner up IMPERIAL DICE who elected to set the pace and still two lengths to the good 200m from home, it looked as if he might go on to score. Indeed, Imperial Dice kept on strongly at the business end of the race and it was only close home that Zackly began to get the upper hand.
Titbits
Positioned in the rear as the sixteen runners turned for home, the 66/1 shot SATIN CRUISER ran on best of all when beating Sugarformyhoney in the maiden event over 1600m.
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Finishing Best
Turffontein 15th March: They raced on the old stand side track on Tuesday where victory in the opening maiden juvenile event over 1400m went to the favourite ZAMBUCCA (19). Backed into 28/10 from 7/2 at the track, the son of Lundy’s Liability was always handy. He ran on best of all from halfway and under a well judged ride from Samango Khumalo, he got up nicely late to beat the friendless KENSINGTON GROVE (25/1 out to 50/1) by three quarters.
The evening’s feature event was the listed Bauhinia Handicap over 1000m and here we saw a nice performance from the well supported favourite ONEHUNDREDACREWOOD (75). The field was always very tightly bunched and with less than three lengths covering seven of the ten going through the 400m most held chances. Usually one to run on stoutly from off the pace, Onehundredacrewood quickened best of all at the business end of the race and went on to score comfortably from the sand specialist MANNEQUIN by a length and a quarter.
The easiest victory on the card was recorded by DUNCTION QUEST (55) when winning the non black type Sun Chariot Handicap over 2450m. Taken straight to the front by Felix Coetzee, the Kabool filly led throughout. She was always in command and although the in form RAPID FLOW tried her best to make a race of it, she went on to win very easily by five.
Titbits
Having just her second start following an eight month layoff, Ilha Grande won well in the MR76 Handicap over 2000m and looks set to improve further next time.
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50% Favs
Durbanville 16th March: The first of four favourites to oblige at the country course on Wednesday was LOLA BUD who did the business in the opening Juvenile Plate over 1000m.Well supported into 15/10 at the track (opened 22/10), Ronnie Sheehan’s charge raced prominent throughout, She was asked to take up the running as they approached the 200m marker and comfortably accounted for the running on rank outsider of the party OH SO SWELL by a length and a half.
A Juvenile Plate over 1300m was next up and sent off as if unbeatable here was the Greg Ennion trained LIAM. Deep in the red at 7/20 on the off, Liam quickly overcame his wide draw and was soon at the head of affairs. He was two lengths clear turning for home and despite the efforts of the easy to back NORTHERN CONQUEST (4/1 out to 7/1), he extended his advantage to three and a quarter on the run to the line.
After running a close up fourth in the Gr1 Cape Derby last time out, the 3yo MYSTIC MOON (3/1 out to 9/2) was priced up favourite when the betting opened, but with 62kg on his back against some useful older horses it was never going to be easy and as a result he was deposed at the top of the boards before the off. Given every chance by Richard Fourie though, the gallant Mystic Moon was ridden to lead 300m from home and in what proved to be a real thriller he fought on doggedly in the closing stages of the race to beat both the running on BLAKE and the pacemaker WEST ISLAND by a neck.
Titbits
Positioned in midfield turning for home, SATIN SILVER ran on very well in the straight and won the maiden event over 1600m in good style going away. She can improve plenty.
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Winning Song
Vaal 17th March: The locals got off to a nice start at Thursday’s sand meeting when the heavily supported WINTER’S SONG (21) did the business in the opening maiden juvenile event over 1000m. Backed throughout the day into 18/10 favourite from 4/1, Paul Peter’s charge soon had the field strung out He kept on strongly over the final 400m and although the handily positioned INTO THE BEEP never gave up the fight, he came home lonely by five. Winter’s Song won well in this his first try on the sand and is clearly one to keep tabs on.
Another to win well on this card was the Jet Master mare BELLA JET (77) who recorded her seventh career victory in the MR90 affair over 1800m. Confidently ridden by Sherman Brown, Bella Jet sat fourth for most of the journey. She was ridden to lead shortly after passing the 400m marker and easily accounted for the much improved FIRST TO FINISH by three and a quarter.
Two Conditions Plates topped the bill and in the first of them, the 160m event, we saw a very easy victory for the lesser fancied of Michael Azzie’s two runners, LOCHLORIEN (75). Nibbled at into 11/2 from 7/1 at the track, Lochlorien was always nicely positioned close to the speed. He quickened well when the race began in earnest 500m out and after striking the front 200m later, he drew clear easily in the closing stages of the race to beat GOLD GAME by five and a half.
Titbits
Though good enough to contest the Gauteng Fillies Nursery earlier in her career, the lightly raced RAISE THE BAR (83) ran on well from off the pace to win the Conditions Plate over 1200m and is clearly on the upgrade.
Running on strongly from off the pace, runner up THE DIE IS CAST was finishing much stronger than his stable companion BLUE SPIRIT (the winner) in the maiden event over 1800m.
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