Rising Star

Speed The Key

Fairview 11^th May: First up inPort Elizabeth on Friday was a maiden event over 1200m and in what proved to be a real thriller victory here went to the second favourite HOSTILE TAKEOVER. On leaving the stalls it was the easy to back GOAL IN MIND (14/1 out to 25/1) who elected to make the running whilst Sean Miller’s charge sat in midfield. Both he and the unfanciedEBRO quickened well from halfway and with the rest well beaten it was only by a neck that Hostile Takeover got the verdict.

The stable of Sean Miller were again on the mark in race four, a novice event over 1200m, when TRADE NAME caused a major upset. Freely available at 55/1 on the off, the formerCape Towncampaigner was soon up handy. She was ridden to lead shortly after passing the 200m marker and kept on strongly late to beat the second favourite SACRED CHAYYIM by three quarters. One to keep tabs on from this race is the favouriteLONDON’S LEGEND who finished third. Justin Snaith’s charge finished well after being baulked for a run 200m out and was only beaten a length and a half.

The listed Dahlia Plate over 1200m topped the bill and here another upset was to be had when LE VAR landed the spoils. Taken straight to the front by Francois Herholdt, this speedy son of Var was always in command. He kept up a healthy gallop throughout and although the favourite TERMINATOR ran on stoutly late, he went on to score comfortably by a length and a half.

Titbits

After racing many lengths adrift of the leaders in the rear, ROUSED ran on well when finishing runner up to Victorialaine in the MR72 affair over 2700m.

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Tasty Success

Greyville 11^th May: A maiden juvenile event over 1600m got proceedings underway on Friday evening and here we saw a smart performance from the lightly raced VICTORY CRUISE (24). Allowed to ease right out to 15/2 from 11/2 at the track, Glen Kotzen’s charge had been drawn wide and as a result he raced in midfield during the early part of the race. Once in the short home straight though he quickened well and in what proved to be a real thriller, he got up in the very last stride to deny the favourite ACT FAST.

Another to finish well from off the pace when finding the winner’s enclosure on this card was PETITE MASTER (65) in the MR79 affair over 1400m. Running on from midfield, the son of Jet Master moved up to dispute matters 200m out. Once challenged though the pacemaker KRUGER RAND found extra and with the rest left trailing their wake, it was only by a half that Yogis Govender’s charge got the verdict.

A conditions plate over 1000m topped the bill and here it was nice to see the Kahal filly CHOCOLICIOUS (73) regain her form. Taken straight to the front by Keagan Latham, Herman Brown ‘s charge led throughout. She kept on strongly at the business end of the race and although the improving SWEET ARIA chased hard, she went on to win very comfortably by two.

Titbits

COPPERBAYshowed big improvement when running on from the rear to take fourth, beaten just 2,35 lengths, in the maiden juvenile event won by Victory Cruise.

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Smart 3yo’s

Turffontein 12^th May: They raced on the inner track on Saturday where the easiest victory on the card was undoubtedly that of the 3yo HALVE THE DEFICIT (45) who came home smoking in the maiden event over 1800m. Well supported into 17/10 from 3/1, Sean Tarry’s charge was soon up handy. He was ridden to lead shortly after passing the 400m marker although the strongly fancied DIVINE INVITATION (4/1 into 5/2) never gave up the fight once headed, he went on to score with plenty in hand by five and a quarter. Having his first outing since being gelded, Halve The Deficit impressed here and is clearly one to follow.

Another 3yo to win well on this card was JET IN THE SKY (66) in the conditions plate over 1450m. Taking a huge step up in class after winning her maiden by 8,75 lengths last time out, Geoff Woodruff’s charge broke well when the gates opened and raced close up in second for most of the journey. She was ridden to lead as they approached the 200m marker and although the well supported odds on favourite BERRY BLAZE ran on stoutly in the closing stages of the race, she did have that one held by a length and a half at the wire.

A maiden event over 1200m was next up and here we found another to keep tabs on in MYSTIC TIGRESS (36). Nibbled at on course into 9/2 from 5/1, MYSTIC TIGRESS lost two lengths at the start and very quickly found herself positioned in the rear. She made her move as they came off the strip and after running on in eye catching fashion over the final 400m, she easily accounted for the fancied CONNE MARA BLACK by a length and three quarters.

Titbits

After not getting the clearest of runs CASA NOSTRA ran on strongly when third in the MR68 Handicap over 1200m.

HENRY HIGGINS and MCFEARLESS ran on strongly when 2^nd & 3^rd respectively in the maiden event over 1200m.

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Improving Image

Kenilworth 12^th May: Despite being allowed to drift right out to 28/10 from 13/10 at the track, the Justin Snaith trained VICTORIAN SECRET ran out a very comfortable winner of the maiden juvenile event over 1000m. Soon in command of a two lengths lead, the daughter of Captain Al led throughout. She was always in command and didn’t relinquish an inch of her advantage over the final 400m.

The easiest victory in the maiden ranks was recorded by the friendless SUSSEX SONG in the 1400m event. Freely available at 25/1 (op 14/1) having only made the frame once in his previous ten outings, the son of Doowaley quickened in good style after switching out for a run 250m from home and after striking the front 80m or so later, he cruised clear to score by four.

The listed Olympic Duel Stakes over 1200m topped the bill and here we saw another smart performance from the 3yo Tamburlaine filly REFLECTIVE IMAGE. Confidently ridden by Karis Teetan, Brett Crawford’s charge sat towards the back end of midfield for most of the journey. She made her move shortly after passing halfway and after striking the front 200m from home, she comfortably accounted for the 5yo KWITIZINA by a length and a half.

Titbits

Friendless COUNT EMMANUALE (16/1 out to 40/1) won the maiden juvenile plate going away after running on well from midfield.

Uneasy second favourite STARS AND STRIPES was finishing best of all when third in the maiden event over 1000m.

MASAI PRINCESS didn’t get the clearest of runs before running on strongly late to finish second in the MR74 Handicap over 1000m.

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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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