Seasonal Debut

Captain’s Three

Fairview 28^th October: All the rage to win the opening maiden event over 1000m in Port Elizabeth on Friday was the Captain Al filly EMERALD GEM, but once again she had to settle for a place. Eventually sent off at 6/10, Justin Snaith’s charge was soon up with the speed. The nibbled at newcomer RUSH FOR STARDOM was always with her though, and try as she might, she couldn’t hold on to that one over the final 200m. Rush For Stardom won well and clearly has more to come.

Another strong favourite from the Snaith yard to get rolled was ANNIE BE QUICK in the graduation event over 1000m. Soon at the head of affairs Annie Be Quick kept on strongly at the business end of the race and did have the rest well beaten. Always close up in second though, the nibbled at Hot Girl quickened nicely 200m from home and when she loomed alongside at the distance, Annie Be Quick could find no extra.

Race five on the card was a MR90 Handicap over 1200m and here we saw another smart performance from the hat-trick seeking THREE CAPTAINS. Backed throughout the afternoon into 2/1 from 7/2, Grant Paddock’s charge raced in the middle of what was a very tightly bunched field for most of the journey. Once given rein though, he quickened well and after striking the front 200m from home, he went on to score comfortably going away.

Titbits

Running on from midfield in the bill topping MR94 Handicap over 1400m, FANCY PARK had to switch out for a run 250m from home and only failed to get up by a neck.

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Speedy Qui

Turffontein 29^th October: Saturday’s action took place on the inner track where victory in the afternoon’s feature event, a conditions plate over 1450m, went to the heavily supported CAREY’S QUI (18). Backed throughout the morning into 7/2 from 8/1, Alec Laird’s charge was taken straight to the front by Pierre Strydom and soon had the field well strung out. She quickened well at the top of the short home straight and although the 15/20 favourite BERRY BLAZE ran on strongly from the rear, she cruised in by six.

The easiest victory in the maiden ranks was recorded by ABOVE THE MOON (41) when opening his account in the 1450m event. Soon up handy, Grant Maroun’s charge raced prominent throughout. He was ridden to lead shortly after passing the 200m marker and drew clear easily late to score by three and a quarter.

Race seven on the card was a MR91 Handicap over 1600m and here victory went to the aptly named THE WHITE HORSE (81). On leaving the stalls it was the confirmed front runner WILDEST DREAM who not surprisingly elected to make the running and going through the 300m it was clear that he had the rest well beaten. In command of a fair turn of foot on his day though, the grey quickened well at the business end of the race and under a well judged ride from Donavon Mansour, he struck the front 100m out.

Titbits

FINAL SCORE won the maiden event over 1800m going away.

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Back To Best

Kenilworth 29^th October: Favourite backers got off to a good start in Cape Town on Saturday when the heavily supported CHERBOURG did the business in the opening maiden event over 1200m. Deep in the red at 11/20 on the off (op 8/10), the Anton Marcus ridden Cherbourg raced prominent throughout. He ran on strongly over the final 400m, but made to work hard all the way to the wire, he only got the verdict over both DUPONT CIRCLE and JAMIE LEE JET by a half.

The Gr3 Cape Classic over 1400m topped the bill and in what proved to be a real thriller victory here went to the Dean Kannemeyer trained DEPARDIEU. On leaving the stalls it was the classy GIMMETHEGREENLIGHT who surprisingly elected to make the running whilst Depardieu raced some three lengths away in fifth. Gimmethegreenlight kept on strongly in the straight and going through the 200m it looked as if he might hold on. Depardieu had been steadily reeling him in, in the straight though and under a well judged ride from Karl Neisius he got up late.

The final event on the card was a Pinnacle Stakes over 1500m and here it was nice to see last season’s Queen’s Plate runner up TALES OF BRAVERY return from a break in fine fettle. Allowed to drift right out to 10/1 from 5’s at the track as money in the main came for CHESALON (10/1 into 5/1) and LEAGUE OF HONOUR (20/1 into 11/1), the well weighted Tales Of Bravery was always handy. He was asked to take up the running shortly after passing the 200m marker and in a blanket finish he just held on by a neck.

Titbits

RESPECTABLE LADY ran on well from the rear in the MR96 Handicap over 1700m and was only beaten a length and three quarters.

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Fresh As A Daisy

Scottsville 30^th October: A maiden event over 1200m was first up on Sunday and here we saw a gutsy performance from the easy to back DIAMANTAIRE (29). Allowed to ease out to 11/1 from 7/1 at the track, on this his first outing since March, Alyson Wright’s charge made all. He kept on determinedly over the final 400m and although the well supported favourite CHASING PERFECTION was very steadily gaining at the finish, he still had three quarters of a length to spare at the wire.

The afternoon’s feature event was a MR92 Handicap over 1400m and here a major upset was to be had when the 33/1 shot GREEN DAY (54) landed the spoils. Another returning from a lengthy break on this card, Green Day raced in midfield during the early part of the race. Once in the straight though, this son of Modern Day ran on best of all and in what proved to be a real thriller he got up very late to deny the ultra consistent front runner KNYSNA FOREST.

The not so lucky last was a maiden event over 1600m and here victory went to the Dennis Drier trained STORM ALTERNO (26). Nibbled at on course into 13/2 from 8/1, Storm Alterno was always in touch with the leaders. He moved through to take up the running early in the straight and went on to score very comfortably from the easy to back favourite RASHAAD (14/10 out to 5/2) by two and a quarter.

Titbits

The aptly named TROUBLE AGAIN didn’t get the clearest of passages when running on from the rear to take third in the MR86 Handicap over 1950m.

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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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