Smart Performances

Flying Devil

Clairwood 13^th June: This was the meeting originally scheduled to take place on Saturday 11^th June.

The easiest victory at the garden course on Monday was undoubtedly that of MAGICO (91) who came home smoking in the non black type Durban Dash over 1000m. Clearly thrown in at the weights, the 13/20 favourite was always handy. He was ridden to lead as they approached the 400m marker and drew clear very easily in the closing stages of the race to score by six.

The first of the three graded events to be run was the Gr2 Tibouchina Stakes over 1450m and here we saw a very gutsy performance from the Justin Snaith trained FRAGRANT AL (81). A winner of two of her latest three starts with the not easy to pass Felix Coetzee in the saddle, the daughter of Captain Al raced close up in second for most of the journey. She was ridden to lead at the top of the long home straight and until last season’s Gr1 Thekwini Stakes winner HAPPY ARCHER made her move she looked to have the pack well held. Cramped between In Like Flynn and Autumn Gold when looking to start her run 400m out, Happy Archer fairly flew over the final 300m and in what proved to be a real thriller she only failed by the narrowest of margins to get up.

The Gr1 Gold Challenge topped the bill and here we saw another eye catching performance from the only filly in the race DANCEWITHTHEDEVIL. As per usual not the quickest into stride, St John Gray’s charge was at the back of the field as the twelve very talented runners turned for home. She ran on by far the best over the final 400m and with the rest well beaten she got up in the dying strides to deny the strongly fancied second favourite BRAVURA.

Yet another tight finish was to be had in the Gr3 Cup Trial over 1800m where the well supported SUPER STORM (89) registered his fifth career victory. Nicely positioned in fifth in what soon became a strung out field, Mike Bass’ charge was visibly cruising going through the 300m. On starting his run though, he was joined by his stable companion BROWN PENNY and after a thrilling tussle he only got the verdict by a half.

Titbits

RIO CARNIVAL fought off a determined challenge from Fighting Warrior when winning the non black type Gatecrasher Stakes and that despite being disadvantaged by a slipped saddle.

Easily ten lengths off the pace turning for home in the Gr3 Cup Trial, CASK made up many lengths in the straight and did well to get up for fourth beaten by just two lengths.

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What A Blast

Vaal 14^th June: Tuesday’s action took place on the sand where we saw a very smart performance in the maiden event over 1000m from the Paul Peter trained HORSE OF JOSIAH. Racing in open company here, Horse Of Josiah got away well when the gates opened and was always in touch with the leaders. He ran on strongly at the business end of the race and after taking up the running 200m from home, he easily drew clear.

Trainer Paul Peter was also on the mark with a 2yo in open company when WINTER’S SONG gained his second career victory from just five starts. Initially carded as a reserve runner, Winter’s Song found good support on course and eventually left the stalls as the 7/2 favourite after opening up at 6/1. Prominent throughout, the son of Western Winter was ridden to lead as they approached the 100m marker and kept on strongly late to beat the low flying BENBOW by a length and a half. Benbow cut through the field like a knife after racing at the back and would surely have been a threat had he not have had so much to do.

A MR90 Handicap over 1450m topped the bill and here we saw another nice performance from the Emerald Cup hopeful MASTER BLASTER. Not surprisingly top of the boards after winning over the same course and distance in stronger company last time out, Dominic Zaki’s charge was soon at the head of affairs. The only 3yo in the race ART WISH moved up to dispute matters 400m out, but jockey Felix Coetzee had barely moved a muscle up until that stage and when he did give Master Blaster some rein 100m later, he drew clear again nicely late to score by two and a quarter.

The final event on the card was a MR76 Handicap over 1000m and here the stable of Paul Peter were again on the mark when the nibbled at QUEEN SARAH (10/1 into 13/2) gained her second career victory in the MR76 affair over 1000m. Out of the pens in a flash, Queen Sarah was soon in command of a three lengths advantage. She kept up a healthy gallop throughout and despite the efforts of the easy to back KAHAL’S FANTASY, she still had a length and a quarter to spare at the wire.

Titbits

Although held by the winner Leprecorns Gift, the runner up KRUGER GOLD ran on well from the rear in the MR73 Handicap over 1450m.

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Strong Finishers

Durbanville 15^th June: Racing at the country course on Wednesday got underway with a qualified maiden event over 2000m and in a race run in heavy rain the heavily supported odds on favourite DOCKSIDER got rolled. As short as 1/3 at one stage, Glen Kotzen’s charge sat towards the rear for most of the journey. The field quickly became very strung out and even Docksider’s stable companion SYLVAN AMAZON racing in third was easily nine lengths off the leader. Sylvan Amazon quickened nicely early in the straight and with the leaders now beginning to tire, he was already at the front 500m out. He quickly went clear and although both STARDANGLE and Docksider were running on late, he went on to score very cosily by three and a half.

Another to win well in the maiden ranks here was the juvenile SWEET MONEY. Nicely drawn in gate four, Joey Ramsden’s charge got away well when the gates opened and was always in touch with the leaders. She was ridden to lead shortly after passing the 400m marker and kept on strongly in the closing stages of the race to beat the running on ATLANTIC BEACH by two and a half. Keep an eye on the runner up Atlantic Beach. Brett Crawford’s charge was positioned at the back of the fourteen turning for home and did well to get up for second.

MR74 Handicaps topped the bill on what was a rather moderate card, but we did nonetheless see a smart performance from the Oaks entry PLATINUM CAT in the 1400m affair. A winner of her maiden at the seventh attempt last time out, the 20/1 shot sat towards the rear during the early part of the race. Once in the long home straight though, she quickened best of all and under a well judged ride from Morne Winnaar, she got up late to deny GREY ROSE. Platinum Cat won well and is clearly much better than this bare formline would suggest.

The second division of the MR74 Handicap over 1400m made up the final event on the card and here victory went to the nibbled at RAINBOWINJUNE. Eventually sent off at 9/1 after opening up at 14’s, Darryl Hodgson’s charge was nicely positioned in sixth as they swung for home. The more fancied PENTHOUSE ran on nicely from the rear in the straight, but with the benefit of first run, the Spectrum filly went on to score quite comfortably after striking the front 100m from home.

Titbits

In the rear turning for home, the Dean Kannemeyer trained DOUBLEDANE ran on strongly in the maiden juvenile event over 1400m and gaining on the first two at the finish was only beaten by a half length.

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Winning Start

Turffontein 16^th June: They raced on the inner track on Thursday where victory in the opening maiden juvenile event over 1450m went to the heavily supported newcomer ILHA BELA (29). Backed throughout the morning into 13/20 from 15/10, Mike De Kock’s charge was soon up handy. She was ridden to lead shortly after passing the 400m marker and despite racing green she comfortably accounted for the form horse MOUNT CARMEL by three and a quarter.

The afternoon’s feature event was a conditions plate over 1450m and here we saw a smart performance from the 3yo CHANCES ARE (58). Nibbled at into 8/1 from 10’s at the track, the daughter of Captain Al raced third during the early part of the race some five lengths off the pace set by the free striding MISS TURBULENCE. She quickened nicely coming off the strip and under a well judged ride from Musi Yeni, she got up nicely late to score by a length and a quarter.

The MR80 Handicap over 2200m was run in a similar fashion with the pacemaker a good five lengths clear turning for home. The confirmed front runner FOREIGN RESERVE made the running and not usually one to stop, it was looking as if the son of Rakeen might not be caught going through the 300m. Running on stoutly from the rear though, Weiho Marwing’s charge steadily began to reel him in and after striking the front at the distance, he easily drew clear. Drum Master won well and is clearly better than his current record of two wins from twelve starts would suggest.

The easiest victory on the card was recorded by SPY GLASS (53) who came home smoking in the MR68 Handicap over 1800m. Allowed to ease out to 4/1 from 33/10 at the track, Mike De Kock’s charge raced seventh for most of the journey. He was asked to take closer order coming off the strip and after striking the front 300m out, he drew clear easily in the closing stages of the race to beat the costly to follow AL FELON (7/1 into 9/2) by four and a quarter.

Titbits

Although beaten fair and square in the MR80 Handicap over 2200m, the well supported Fly Olimpic was again running on strongly at the finish.

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Top rated winners last week included

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