Royal Return

Summer Devil

Turffontein 26^th November: The action on Summer Cup Day took place on the old stand side track where the best bet on the card always looked to be the up and coming EUROPA POINT (78) in the MR90 Handicap over 2000m. Confidently ridden by Anthony Delpech, the well supported 4/10 favourite sat at the back of the seven for most of the journey. Once given rein though she quickly began to work her way through the field. She hit the front shortly after passing the 400m marker and with plenty in hand she went on to beat the easy to back TURKISH DELIGHT a lot more easily than the official winning margin of just a length would suggest.

The first of the afternoon’s five feature events to be run was the Gr2 Merchants over 1160m and here we saw a nice performance from the Natal raider ANTIOUS (94). Racing over a sprint distance for the first time since being gelded, Herman Brown’s charge was always positioned close to the pace. He made his move as they approached the 200m marker and although the speedy GIBRALTAR BLUE fought on doggedly in the closing stages of the race, he went on to score quite comfortably by three quarters.

One of the most impressive performances of the afternoon was that of SILVER FLYER (75) in winning the prestigious Gr2 Dingaans. One of five runners from the stable of Mike De Kock, this son of Silvano was freely available at 15/1 on the off. He wasn’t the quickest into stride when the gates opened and very quickly found himself positioned in the rear. Patiently ridden by Cape based jockey Glen Hatt though, Silver Flyer steadily worked his way into contention. He struck the front shortly after passing the 300m marker and although WHITELINE FEVER also ran on strongly from off the pace, he went on to score in very good style by two and a half.

It was a similar story in the bill topping Summer Cup won by DANCEWITHTHEDEVIL (112). Also easy to back at 15/1, St John Gray’s charge was in her usual position at the back as the twenty runners turned for home. Clearly at her best down the long Turffontein straight though, the daughter of Modus Vivendi quickened best of all and in classic fashion she got up late to deny the ultra consistent ILSANPIETRO.

Titbits

KATY’S LANE impressed when running on from midfield to win the Gr3 Fillies Mile going away.

Lightly raced HEAVY METAL drew clear easily from the 300m marker when winning the maiden event over 1400m by four and a quarter.

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Smart Beginning

Scottsville 26^th November: The easiest victory in Natal on Saturday was undoubtedly that of ALBERT (23) when opening his account in the first baby race for the boys in the province over 1000m. Backed into 11/10 at one point from 22/10, Mike Miller’s charge was taken straight to the front by Sean Veale and led throughout. He began to assert his authority going through the 500m and with plenty in hand he cruised in by seven.

Also worthy of note in the maiden ranks was the performance of BARNEY BARNATO (37) in winning the 1400m event. Freely available at 12/1 on the off, Alyson Wright’s charge raced in midfield during the early part of the race. He made his move early in the straight and finishing by far the best, he got up late to deny the much more fancied MIGHTY OAK.

The afternoon’s feature event, a MR102 Handicap over 1200m, was next up and in what proved to be a real thriller victory here went to the 3yo STORM BRINGER (73). On leaving the stalls it was ORIENTAL SPIRIT who elected to make the running and still three lengths clear going through the 300m, it looked as if the 5yo son of National Assembly would go on to make all. Storm Bringer steadily began to real him in from that point though and just as if scripted he got up in the very last stride.

Race five on the card was a MR78 Handicap over 1600m and here victory went to the Kabool gelding WAY WARD STORM (50). Not the quickest into stride, Mark Dixon’s charge sat seventh during the early part of the race. The field was always closely grouped though and as they came off the bend he was only four lengths off the pace. He ran on strongly over the final 400m and comfortably accounted for the front running BILLY BOY BLUES by two and a quarter.

Titbits

A little slow into stride and then bumped 100m from home to boot, IRRESISTIBLE YOU ran on strongly from the rear and was only beaten half a length in the maiden event over 1400m.

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Super Victories

Kenilworth 27^th November: All eyes in the Conditions Plate over 1500m at Kenilworth on Sunday were on last season’s Cape Fillies Guineas winner EBONY FLYER (82). Deep in the red at 4/10 on the off, Justin Snaith’s charge as per usual was soon up handy. She was ridden to lead going through the 400m and only having to be ridden hands and heels on the run to the line, she easily accounted for last season’s Gauteng Fillies Mile winner HOLLYWOODBOULEVARD by three.

On a day when a number of top sorts were on view another to win very well was WHAT A WINTER (92). Making his seasonal debut here, Mike Bass’ charge raced in midfield during the early part of the race. He was always travelling well and cruising to the front 200m from home he just did the necessary in the closing stages of the race to beat his stable companion CAPTAIN’S SECRET by two and a quarter.

Topping the bill was the Gr2 Selangor Cup run over 1600m and here victory went to the recent Matchem Stakes winner VARIETY CLUB (84). Sent off a well supported joint second favourite at 3/1, Variety Club got away well when the gates opened and nicely positioned in third was always poised to strike. The recent Cape Classic runner up GIMMETHEGREENLIGHT made the first move and running on strongly after striking the front 350m out soon had the rest well beaten. Variety Club quickened nicely at that point though and in what proved to be a real thriller he got up in the dying strides.

Another very tight finish was to be had in the graduation event over 1200m where the Dennis Drier trained KALINAGO (53) landed the spoils. The heavily supported second favourite BAD WINTER held just a narrow lead early on, but after cleverly skipping clear under a good ride from Brandon Morganrood 300m out, he looked to have the race won. Kalinago steadily wore him down at the business end of the race though and much to the appreciation of favourite backers, he got up very late to score by a neck.

Titbits

Running on stoutly from the back, the friendless CAYMAN ISLAND (12/1 out to 28/1) finished best of all in the MR90 Handicap over 1800m and only failed to get to the winner Taipan by the narrowest of margins.

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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

(Shown in brackets is the number of races run in each category)

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