Running On

Streets Ahead

Vaal 27^th August: They raced on the sand on Saturday where victory in the opening maiden event over 1200m went to the Brian Wiid trained FLAMING FORGE (26). Sent off a strong favourite at 8/10, Flaming Forge lost six lengths at the start and at that stage it looked as if his chance had gone. The pace wasn’t a particularly brisk one though and patiently ridden by Donavon Mansour, he steadily worked his way into contention. He hit the front as they approached the 200m marker and went on to score very easily by four from the nibbled at outsider REVELRY (50/1 into 25/1).

Flaming Forge won well and is clearly much better than this bare form line would suggest.

The easiest victory of the afternoon was undoubtedly that of OUR BUDDY (56) who came home smoking in the MR72 affair over 1200m. A 7,75 length winner in the maiden ranks last time out, the lightly raced Our Buddy was taken straight to the front by apprentice Greyling and led throughout. He drew clear in good style from the 300m marker and with some in hand cruised in by eleven.

The non black type Sandy Beach Stakes over the same distance was next up and in a slower time than that of Our Buddy victory here went to the well supported favourite WOROOD (75). Backed into 11/10 from 18/10 at the track, Mike De Kock’s charge sat in midfield during the early part of the race. She quickened well from halfway and under a well judged ride from Jimmy Van Der Merwe, she got up nicely at the distance to win by a length and a half.

The Gr3 August Stakes over 1200m topped the bill and here we saw a gutsy performance from the Sean Tarry trained THE MOUSEKETEER (75). Nicely drawn in pole position, The Mouseketeer got away well when the gates opened and was soon at the head of affairs. He kept up a healthy gallop throughout and just had enough in hand to beat his running on stable companion ACROSS THE ICE by a neck.

Titbits

Drawn very wide, MILDFORD ran on from the rear when a runner up to Rover T in the maiden event over 1600m.

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Smart Duo

Kenilworth 27^th August: Followers of the money got off to a nice start in Cape Town on Saturday when the well supported KINGSLAYER did the business in the opening maiden event over 1200m. Backed throughout the morning into 17/10 joint favourite from 5/1, Dean Kannemeyer’s newcomer raced towards the back end of midfield during the early part of the race. He began to take closer order going through halfway and under a well judged ride from Karl Niesius, he got up nicely late to beat the running on PUNTA ARENAS by three quarters. Keep an eye on the runner up Punta Arenas. He was also making his debut here and finished well from the rear.

The stable of Dean Kannemeyer were also on the mark in the maiden event over 1800m when the favourite TAIPAN did the business. Always in the red, Taipan raced in midfield for most of the journey. He made his move early in the home straight and after striking the front shortly after passing the 200m marker, he easily drew clear.

In terms of distance, the easiest victory on the card was recorded by the nibbled at outsider GATUSSO in the MR71 affair over 1200m. Freely available at 22/1 on the off (opened 33/1), Glen Kotzen’s charge was always close to the pace. She was asked to take up the running at the 300m marker and after quickly skipping clear, she easily accounted for the veteran LOVING CUP by four and a half.

A maiden event for 3yo’s over 1200m brought proceedings to a close and here we saw a comfortable victory for the nibbled at SUPER SEVEN. Backed into 13/2 from 10/1 at the track, the son of Falvelon led throughout. He was always doing it easily and was only really asked for an effort over the final 200m when the running on newcomer CHERBOURG tried his best to make a race of it.

Titbits

Newcomer POINTING AT A STAR ran on well after racing at the back and was only beaten 2,5 lengths in the maiden event over 1200m.

Although never a threat to the winner, recent maiden winner HUNTING TIME was running on nicely from the rear in the MR77 affair over 1000m.

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On The Prowl

Clairwood 28^th August: A maiden event over 1000m was first up at the garden course on Sunday and here it was nice to see the Windrush filly RASHULI BREEZE (26) open her account. Allowed to ease out to 28/10 from 22/10 at the track, Duncan Howells’ charge was soon up handy. She was ridden to lead early in the long home straight and kept on strongly over the final 400m to beat SHERI BABY by a length and three quarters.

The afternoon’s feature event was a MR104 Handicap run over 1600m and here we saw a smart performance from the top weight LION IN WINTER (94). Confidently ridden by Sean Cormack, Lion In Winter sat sixth of the eight for most of the trip. Just five lengths covered all turning for home though and when given rein 400m out, he quickly cut through the field. He hit the front 250m from home and with some in hand he went on to win a tad more easily than the official winning margin of a length and a half would suggest.

Another to win well on this card was ALWAYS AL (64) who registered his second career victory from just four starts in the novice 1200m. Prominent throughout, Sean Tarry’s charge took up the running shortly after passing the 400m pole and although the useful ASTRO NEWS chased hard on the run to the line, he won fair and square by a length and three quarters.

The lucky last was a maiden event over 1450m and here the locals were sent home happy when the favourite NIKKI T (41) duly obliged. Nicely drawn in barrier five, the daughter of El Corredor got away well when the gates opened and was always handy. She ran on stoutly at the business end of the race and with the rest well beaten it was only very late that he got to the gutsy pacemaker SPORTY THONG.

Titbits

SUGARFORMYHONEY signalled a form return when running on strongly to take second 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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