Seven, Eight, Nine

No Question

Arlington 9^th September: They raced in Port Elizabeth on Monday where one of the easiest victories on the card was registered by POPULAR BLUES in the opening maiden event over 1300m. Allowed to ease at the track although still retaining her position at the top of the boards, Justin Snaith’s charge was soon up handy. She was ridden to lead 100m out by Richard Fourie and drew clear easily below the distance to win by three and a quarter.

Another to win with authority on this card was GIANDUJA in what proved to be the fastest of the three 1800m races, a MR89 Handicap. Not the quickest into stride, the 6yo son of Silvano was guarding the rear as the eleven runners turned for home. He cut through the field like a knife in the short home straight though, and after striking the front 100m out he easily drew clear.

There were also three races over 1300m and the fastest of these was the maiden event in which NO QUESTION caused a major upset. Freely available at 45/1 on the off, George Uren’s charge raced second for most of the journey. He was asked to take up the running going through the 400m and despite being disadvantaged by a slipped saddle he held on to beat the favourite MENTALIST by the narrowest of margins.

Titbits

FOREST DIGGER and the 10yo KEY CASTLE both ran on well from the rear when 2^nd & 3^rd respectively in the afternoon’s feature event, a conditions stakes over 2400m.

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Easy For Fulcrum

Vaal 10^th September: They raced on the outside track on Tuesday where four of the afternoon’s nine races were run over 1200m. The fastest of these was the graduation plate in which the best bet on the card for many RED BARREL did the business. Surprisingly allowed to ease out to 5/2 from 19/10 at the track, Mike De Kock’s charge was a little slow into stride and as a result found himself at the back of the seven early on. Once given rein though he quickened well and won very comfortably by two and a half after striking the front 100m out.

A MR94 Handicap topped the bill and in what proved to be the fastest of the three 1400m races on the card the nibbled at RIGHT TO TANGO registered his third career victory. The son of Right Approach got away well when the gates opened and was always well positioned to strike. He did so going through the 200m and comfortably accounted for NATIONAL KEY by a length and a quarter.

There were a number of easy victories on the card, but none more so than that of FULCRUM when opening his account at just the second time of asking in the maiden 1600m. Sent off a strong favourite at 18/10, Weiho Marwing’s charge was always handy. He was ridden to lead shortly after passing halfway and after quickly going clear, he cruised in by seven and a quarter.

Titbits

The friendless newcomer ARCTIC KING (7/1 out to 18’s) ran on well from midfield when only beaten a neck in the maiden 1200m.

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Opening Salvo

Clairwood 11^th September: Followers of the money got off to a good start at the garden course on Wednesday when the Mike De Kock trained newcomer COPIAPO did the business in the opening maiden event over 1200m. Allowed to flirt with 8/10 at one stage after opening up at 22/10, the daughter of Captain Al was taken straight to the front by Anthony Delpech and made all. She was always in command and won with authority by five.

Another to win well in the maiden ranks on this card was GOLDEN HIGH in the 1450m event. On leaving the stalls it was the heavily supported PETER PIPER (4/1 into 14/10) who elected to make the running whilst Sean Tarry’s charge raced close up in third. He was ridden to lead as they approached the 200m pole and with the rest well beaten he easily accounted for the staying on favourite by four.

The fastest of the afternoon’s three 1450m events was the MR74 Handicap won by SHOES ‘N COMPANY. Allowed to ease right out to 4/1 from 5/2 at the track, Yogis Govender’s charge led from pillar to post. He kept on strongly at the business end of the race and in what proved to be a real thriller he only held on from the nibbled at outsider ROCKY BAY by the narrowest of margins.

Titbits

RESOLUTION ran on strongly from the rear when only beaten three quarters of a length in the maiden 1600m.

Detached at the rear coming off the bend, TIME OF SONG ran on stoutly in the long straight and only failed by half a length to get to the highly regarded odds on favourite MASTER OF MY FATE. SKITT SKIZZLE the second favourite in this race broke a bloodvessel and will now be suspended for 3 months.

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Jet Propelled

Kenilworth 11^th September: The going was still soft in Cape Town on Wednesday, but that didn’t stop the lightly raced TOP JET from putting up a very smart performance when winning the fastest of the afternoon’s five 1200m events, a maiden plate. Sent off second in the betting market at 5/2, Mike Bass’ son of Jet Master raced in midfield early on. He quickened well from the halfway mark and easily accounted for the 14/10 favourite HEADSTRONG HARRY by three after striking the front 150m out.

Another lightly raced 3yo to impress on this card was OMATICAYA when winning the MR76 Handicap over 1400m. Positioned in the back end of midfield during the early part of the race, Glen Kotzen’s charge didn’t find the clearest of passages in the straight. Once into gear though, she fairly flew and won going away by a length and three quarters after hitting the front 100m from home.

In terms of distance, the easiest victory on the card was recorded by SIDECAR when opening his account in the maiden 1600m. The field was well strung out rounding the turn and positioned in midfield Glen Puller’s charge was easily ten lengths off the pace. He ran on best of all when the field began to concertina early in the straight though, and shot clear to score by three and three quarters after taking up the running 100m from home.

Titbits

COUNT MY LUCK was gaining quickly at the finish when only failing by the narrowest of margins to get to Recall To Life in the MR84 Handicap over 1700m.

The newcomer ALBERTS GEM was running on from the rear when fourth in the maiden 1400m.

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Impressive Castle

Vaal 12^th September: Thursday’s action took place on the sand where in a time over two seconds faster than that of the MR73 Handicap over the same distance, NAD’S PRIDE opened her account in the maiden 1800m. After racing third, Kom Naidoo’s charge was ridden to lead 600m out. He kept on strongly from there onwards and comfortably accounted for the outsider FORT DIXY by three.

The fastest of the three 1450m events on the card was the bill topping pinnacle stakes in which KILLUA CASTLE was impressive. Nibbled at into 6/1 at the track, Geoff Woodruff’s charge wasn’t the quickest into stride and as a result raced seventh of the nine early on. With the exception of MR TOBIN (reported lame off fore) and BAY ROUTE though, the field was very tightly bunched and when asked for an effort he quickly made headway. He put his head in front as they approached the 200m marker and cruised clear in the closing stages of the race to score by six and a half.

The faster of the two 1000m races on the card (albeit by less than a tenth of a second) was the pinnacle plate won by the well weighted KINEMATIC COUNTESS. Running on from midfield, Roy Magner’s charge came together with IKATI 150m from home and after a thrilling tussle below the distance it was only by a short head that the Count Dubois mare got the verdict.

Titbits

As per usual caught for early toe, STAVINSKY was finishing best of all when sixth in the MR96 Handicap over 1000m.

Joint favourite NONDWENI’S FILLY only really got going late when beaten a length and a half in the slowly run maiden event over 1450m.

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Top speedratings for this weekend include:-

Top rated winners last week included

Notebook:-

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