Rain Rain Go Away

Two From Two

Scottsville 8^th December: The easiest victory in Pietermaritzburg on Sunday was undoubtedly that of ROYAL DURBAN in the maiden 1600m. Sent off a rather uneasy second favourite at 4/1, Jeff Freedman’s charge led throughout. Three lengths clear coming off the bend Royal Durban was always in command and went on to score with some in hand by seven and a quarter.

Another to win well on this card, albeit by a much lessor margin, was LA CENERENTOLA in the MR70 Handicap over 1400m. Always in touch with the leaders, Mike De Kock’s charge quickened well at the top of the straight and after striking the front 250m from home, he won well by two and a quarter. A fluent winner of both starts, La Cenerentola can only improve.

Three of the afternoon’s nine races were run over 1200m and the fastest of these was the KZN Summer Challenge final won by the top weight COSSACK GENERAL. He got away well when the gates opened and taken straight to the front by Anton Marcus led throughout. He kept on determinedly at the business end of the race and with the rest well beaten he comfortably accounted for the grey LUXARDO by a length and a quarter.

The KZN Summer Challenge Final over 1950m was also won from the front. Allowed a healthy length and a half lead for most of the journey, BARCELONA BOY was forced to give his all over the final 300m and showing real guts and determination he held on to score by a neck.

Titbits

In the rear after losing two lengths at the start, lightly raced DON’T MENTION IT ran on strongly in the closing stages of the maiden 1000m and did well to get within 2,5 lengths of the winner Fly Peg Fly.

FABRIC didn’t find the clearest of passages when running on from the rear to take third position (beaten a length and a half) in the maiden 1200m.

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Still Unbeaten

Kenilworth 11^th December: Wednesday’s action got underway with a maiden plate over 1600m and here victory went to the Kabool gelding SIR BASTION. Well supported on course to go off a joint favourite at 5/2, Shane Humby’s charge was soon up handy. He was ridden to lead as they approached the 400m marker and with the rest well beaten he comfortably accounted for his fellow joint favourite ANZAC by a length and a quarter.

Another to win comfortably in the maiden ranks on this card was PRIVATE DOOWALEY in the 2500m event. Prominent throughout, Alan Higgins’ charge was always poised to strike. He did so early in the home straight and after quickly going clear he kept on strongly to score by a length and a half.

Three of the afternoon’s nine races were run over 1600m and the fastest of these was the MR80 Handicap won by WOODLAND GEM. On leaving the stalls it was the uneasy favourite COCO who elected to make the running whilst Mike Bass’ charge raced close up in fourth. The field was always tightly bunched and in a race where just three lengths separated six of the eight runners at the wire, the daughter of Fort Wood got up very late to score by a neck.

Race seven on the card was a MR81 Handicap over 1000m and here victory went to the KZN visitor VIVA LA VAR. A winner when finding support in his only previous racecourse appearance, Dennis Drier’s charge was taken straight to the front by Sean Cormack and led throughout. He was always a length and a bit clear and although he did have to work hard in the closing stages of the race to fend off a determined challenge from WESTERN MOVIE he barely relinquished an inch of his advantage.

Titbits

PHIRI E KWATILE ran on strongly in the closing stages of the MR73 Handicap over 2000m and gaining at the finish only failed to get up by a neck.

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Just The Four

Turffontein 11^th December: This was the meeting originally scheduled to take place on 10^th December.

Favourite backers got off to a good start at the old stand side track on Wednesday evening when LANCE did the business in the opening maiden plate over 1160m. Gaining at the finish after having to switch out for a run in his only previous outing, the son of Jet Master was soon up handy. He was always travelling well and when asked for an effort 300m out by Gavin Lerena he quickly took command.

The faster of the two maiden events over 1400m was the first division won by the most experienced runner in the field RAZZMATAZZ. Making her nineteenth racecourse appearance here, the daughter of Spectrum was soon positioned close to the speed. She moved through to take up the running shortly after passing the 200m marker and fought on doggedly below the distance to fend off the more fancied SUGAREE by a neck.

The second division of the maiden 1400m was won by the favourite YOURMYEVERYTHING. On leaving the stalls it was SUMMERTIME who elected to make the running and she soon had the field well strung out. Indeed, although the eventual winner raced fourth she was easily eight lengths adrift going through the 600m. As the early effort began to take its toll on Summertime 200m later though, St John Gray’s charge quickened well and went on to score quite comfortably by a length from another handily placed runner in CRYSTAL’S REVENGE.

The meeting was abandoned after the running of race four due to unsafe underfoot conditions and poor visibility.

Titbits

WELLESLEY ran on well from the rear when third (beaten a length and a quarter) in the maiden 1600m.

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Good Invention

Vaal 12^th December: There were a number of very easy victories on the sand track on Thursday and none more so than that of INVENTIVE GIRL in the fastest of the five 1200m events, a MR64 Handicap. A running on fourth in her only previous effort on the surface last time out, Brian Wiid’s charge was soon prominent here. She was asked to take up the running at the halfway mark and after coasting clear she went on to score by five and a half easing down.

The faster of the two maiden events over 1200m was the boy’s division won by the newcomer TORA TORA. Supported into favouritism during the morning, Scott Kenny’s charge was soon up handy. He was ridden to lead as they approached the 100m pole and comfortably accounted for the deposed favourite ALBERTO by a length and a quarter.

A pinnacle stakes over 1450m topped the bill and as is regularly the case in these types of events victory here went to the best weighted runner. The sand specialist FORMATION was the most favoured in this case and up with the speed throughout was always going to take some beating. Both BROOKS CLUB and THE MOUSEKETEER in turn struck the front at the business end of the race, but neither could hold on to Formation after she then put her head in front 200m out.

Titbits

Detached in the rear for the first half of the journey, DIVINE INVITATION made up many lengths on the first and second when running on to take third position in the MR68 Handicap over 1450m.

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Top speedratings for this weekend include:-

Top rated winners last week included

Notebook:-

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