Sheer Class

Still Going Strong

Scottsville 23^rd February: A maiden plate over 1000m got proceedings underway in Pietermaritzburg on Monday and here victory went to the most experienced runner in the twelve strong field MR PRESIDENT. Always top of the boards, Doug Campbell’s charge raced in midfield during the early part of the race. He ran on strongly from halfway and with the rest well beaten he got up late to deny the well supported outsider BEE MY HONEY (20/1 into 7/1) by a neck.

The fastest of the three 1000m races on the card was the not so lucky last won by TWO TONE ROCKA. Freely available at 33/1 to win the MR74 Handicap, the 7yo Bezrin mare was soon up handy. She was ridden to lead going through the 300m and kept on strongly late to beat the much more fancied WINTER DARLING by a half.

There were also three races run over 1950m and the fastest of these was the MR70 Handicap won by NIGHT TIDE. Sent off second in the betting market at 5/1, Mike Miller’s charge was soon positioned close to the speed. He was ridden to lead as they approached the 300m marker and just had enough in hand to beat the running on 8yo BADGE OF CHOICE (came from the rear) by a half.

After the scratching of DESROCHES, STRONG BLONDE always looked to have the maiden event over 1400m at her mercy and she didn’t let down her supporters. In the red at 7/10 on the off the 3yo daughter of Stronghold was always in touch with the leaders. She took the helm shortly after passing the 300m pole and with the rest well beaten she comfortably accounted for the 66/1 shot PIECE OF POPPY by three quarters.

Titbits

ASTRO NEWS finished best of all when getting up late to win the non-black type Umthombothi Stakes over 1950m.

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High Flyer

Turffontein 25^th February: There were a number of very easy victories at the inside track on Tuesday afternoon and none more so than that of the best bet on the card for many SILVA HAWK. Deep in the red at 4/10 on the off, the 3yo son of Silvano raced fifth for most of the journey. He moved through to take up the running going through the 300m and with a ton in hand won easing down by four and a quarter.

Another to win well in the maiden ranks on this card was BARRACK BABE in the 1800m event. Sent off second favourite at 9/2, St John Gray’s charge was content to sit in midfield for most of the journey. She quickened well coming off the strip and went on to score with authority by three and a quarter after striking the front 300m from home.

A MR86 Handicap topped the bill and in what proved to be the fastest of the four 1600m events victory here went to the well thought of MEISSA. Having only his second outing following an eight month layoff here, Gary Alexander’s charge raced fourth some five lengths off the pace set by KINGS ENTOURAGE. He made his move early in the straight and on striking the front 350m from home it looked as if he would go on to score easily. The improving MOVE LIKE JAGGER ran on best of all over final 200m though and gaining at the finish he got within a half length at the wire. The rider of Move Like Jagger lodged an objection against the winner, but this was overruled.

Race seven on the card was a MR68 Handicap over 1600m and in what proved to be a real thriller victory here went to the 6yo RAND CLUB. Positioned in midfield turning for home, the Fan Club’s Mister gelding ran on best of all over the final 400m and just as if scripted he got up in the very last stride.

Titbits

Poorly drawn DIRTYDEALIN MAMMA ran on stoutly from the rear and only failed to get up by a neck when runner up in the MR73 Handicap over 1600m.

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No Luck Needed

Scottsville 26^th February: The action returned to Scottsville on Wednesday where all the rage to win the opening maiden juvenile plate over 1200m was the newcomer JUST LUCKY. Backed through all rates into 6/10 from 3/1 during the morning, Duncan Howells’ charge was a little slow into stride and as a result raced in the backend of midfield early on; Once given rein though she soon began to make headway and cruised clear to score by six after striking the front some 230m from home;

Another to win comfortably in the maiden ranks on this card was BALL DANCER in the 1600m affair. Allowed to ease out to 4/1 from 5/2 second favourite at the track as money came for her stable companion TERRYBELLE, Ball Dancer also ran on strongly from midfield. She struck the front passing the 200m pole and won going away by three.

Race five on the card was a MR78 Handicap over 2400m and here we saw an easy victory for the 28/10 favourite BEEWITHMEE. On leaving the stalls it was the easy to back ASSESSMENT (11/2 out to 10/1) who elected to make the running whilst the son of Dynasty sat close up in fourth. He moved through to take up the running at the top of the home straight and after quickly skipping clear he kept on strongly to score by four and a half.

A MR101 Handicap over 1000m topped the bill and in a race where just six went to post victory here went to the 8/1 shot PIANO MAN. The field was tightly bunched with the exception of MIKE’S CHOICE and in a race where only 1,15 lengths separated the first four home, James Goodman’s charge only got the verdict by the narrowest of margins.

Titbits

The 5/10 favourite BOLT OF LIGHT looked to win the maiden plate over 1400m quite comfortably, but appeared to have broken a bloodvessel. However, the recommended 90 day suspension for epistaxis (broken bloodvessel) has not been imposed on the basis of a veterinary endoscopic examination and report revealing the epistaxis to be emanating from the nasal passage and not from the lungs.

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Change As Good As A Rest

Vaal 27^th February: They raced on the sand on Thursday where three of the nine races were run over 1200m. The fastest of these was the non-black type Autumn Sand Sprint won by the 3yo TOMMY GUN. Trying the sand for the first time here, Corne Spies’ charge raced fifth during the early part of the race. He quickened well from halfway and won nicely by a length and three quarters after striking the front at the 200m marker.

The girls contested the non-black type Woodlands Sprint over 1200m and here a dead-heat was declared between CASA NOSTRA and SHIVER ‘N SHAKE. The latter raced closest to the pace and took up the running 150m out. Running on from midfield though, Casa Nostra was flying at the finish and got up to share in the very last stride.

Somewhat surprisingly the easiest victory on the nine race program was recorded by the 5yo MATCHLESS FLAG when finally getting off the mark in the maiden 1800m. The blinkers were taken off for this his 47^th appearance in the maiden ranks and in racing in midfield he also adopted a change of tactics. The much more fancied SKYFALL held a four length advantage going through the 400m and at that stage of the race a win looked assured. Undeterred though, Fanie Chambers got the best out of the 5yo and with the remainder some twelve lengths adrift they got the better of Skyfall by no less than five and three quarters.

Titbits

SIBYL ran on well from midfield when getting up late to deny Nightingale Grey in the MR74 Handicap over 1800m.

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Top speedratings for this weekend include:-

Top rated winners last week included

Notebook:-

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