Smooth Flight

Six From Eight

Scottsville 13^th October: A maiden plate over 1200m got proceedings underway in Pietermaritzburg on Sunday and here it was nice to see the consistent CAYENNE get off the mark. Freely available at 5/1 on the off, the daughter of Lion Tamer raced up with the speed throughout. She ran on strongly over the final 400m and beat the well supported 22/10 favourite AFRICAN DREAM fair and square by three quarters. The newcomer POLYCHROMATIC ran on well from midfield to take third position in this race.

In total five of the afternoon’s ten races were run over 1200m and the fastest of these was the bill topping MR103 Handicap won by the improving 3yo KING’S BAY. Now a winner of six from eight, Doug Campbell’s charge was always handy. He was ridden to lead as they approached the 200m pole and comfortably accounted for the well supported second favourite HARD ROCK by a length and a quarter.

The newcomer LADY CARTER was all the rage to win the last, a maiden plate for 3yo’s over 1200m, and she didn’t let down her supporters. Backed all the way in to 17/4 from 14/1, Wendy Whitehead’s charge raced prominent throughout. She took up the running at the 200m marker and kept on strongly in the closing stages of the race to fend off a determined challenge from the fancied PULA.

Titbits

Well supported newcomer INSPECTOR CASEY (17/4 into 16/10) won well in the first division of the maiden 1000m.

The newcomer YURIES GOLD ran on well from midfield when runner up in the second division of the maiden 1000m.

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Easier Pickings

Flamingo Park 14^th October: The easiest victory in the Northern Cape on Monday was recorded by KING OF THE CASTLE in the maiden 1400m. Unable to get within 8,65 lengths of a winner in his five previous racecourse appearances in Cape Town, Cliffie Miller’s charge led throughout. He was always in command and won without any anxious moments by three and a quarter.

Three of the afternoon’s nine races were run over 1000m and the fastest of these was the MR77 Handicap won by WINTER FROST. Soon positioned in second, the National Assembly filly took up the running going through the 300m and comfortably accounted for the running on PRINCESS ALBERTA by a length and three quarters.

The fastest of the three 1400m events was the MR74 Handicap won by the 7yo Bezrin mare WINGS OF AN ANGEL. On leaving the stalls it was the rank outsider of the party FANTASY HOSTESS who elected to make the running whilst Jaap Visser’s charge raced close up in fourth. She put her head in front shortly after passing the 400m marker and although DESERT BREEZE ran on strongly to finish a clear second, she did have that one well held by three quarters at the wire.

Titbits

Easily seven lengths off the pace in midfield early on, the newcomer NEW CIRCLE ran on strongly over the final 400m of the maiden 1000m and gaining rapidly at the finish only failed to get to the odds on favourite Five Rings by the narrowest of margins.

Runner up WIND AT YOUR BACK was also gaining quickly when beaten by a similar margin in the MR70 Handicap over 1000m.

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Improving Quickly

Scottsville 15^th October: Racing returned to Scottsville on Tuesday where we saw a very easy victory in the opening novice plate over 1750m for the favourite TAARISH. One of three runners from the stable of Mike De Kock amongst the seven horse party, the 3yo was always poised to strike. He did so approaching the 200m pole and went on to score with authority by three and three quarters.

Another to win well on this card was GOLDRIDGE in the MR75 Handicap over 1400m. A fluent winner in similar company over this trip last time out, the daughter of Tiger Ridge sat fifth in what soon became a strung out field. She quickened well going through the 400m and comfortably accounted for the more fancied THRONE by a length and a quarter.

Four of the afternoon’s eight races were run over 1400m in total and the fastest of these was the bill topping MR92 Handicap won by the Fan Club’s Mister mare GUEST EL GRANDE. She got away well when the gates opened and soon up handy raced prominent throughout. She was ridden to lead at the top of the straight and just had enough in hand to fend off the running on BLOUBERG BEACH late on.

Titbits

VICTORY TAKEOVER looked to have a little in hand when winning the maiden 1000m.

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All Class

Turffontein 15^th October: They raced on the old stand side track on Tuesday evening where we saw a smart performance in the 1400m pinnacle stakes from last season’s Gauteng Derby winner WYLIE HALL. Clearly racing over a trip short of his best, Weiho Marwing’s charge sat in midfield for most of the journey. He quickened best of all in the long home straight and in what proved to be the fastest of the four 1400m events he did very well indeed to get the better of two top sorts in WHITELINE FEVER and CHERRY ON THE TOP close home.

Race six on the card was a progress plate for the boys over 1160m and here we saw a smart performance from the Alec Laird trained CHEKILLI. One of three winners on the card for trainer Alec Laird, Chekilli led throughout. He was always in command and won with authority by four and a quarter from last season’s SA Nursery winner WILLOW MAGIC. Chekilli has now won both of his career starts by over four lengths and clearly has a very bright future ahead of him.

The fastest of the four 1400m races on the card was the progress plate for the girls and in what proved to be a real thriller victory here went to the Captain Al filly COPIAPO. An easy 5,25 length winner of her only previous start, Mike De Kock’s charge was always handy. She moved up to dispute matters going through the 300m and with last season’s Fillies Nursery winner VIRGO’S BABE left trailing in their wake she got the verdict by a neck.

Titbits

The poorly drawn newcomer GOLD BANK ran on strongly from the back when only beaten a length and a half in the maiden 1400m.

After being squeezed at the start, BE ASSURED (out at the weights) ran on strongly from the rear when only beaten two and a quarter lengths by the useful SHARP DESIGN in the pinnacle stakes over 1000m.

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Moving Forward

Durbanville 16^th October: First up on the good going at the country course on Wednesday was a maiden plate over 1200m and here we saw a comfortable victory for the 14/10 favourite ATTACHMENT. Nicely drawn in gate four Justin Snaith’s charge was soon up handy. She was ridden to lead shortly after passing the 200m marker and won well from the fancied LATINO LADY by a length and a quarter.

A MR93 Handicap topped the bill and in what proved to be the fastest of the three 1600m events victory here went to the Jet Master mare PAN AMM. Positioned in midfield as the twelve runners came off the bend, the grey ran on strongly over the final 600m and under a well judged ride from Richard Fourie she got up late to score by a neck.

Unusually, there were also three races over 2000m and clocking the fastest time amongst these was the improving DISCO AL in the MR88 Handicap. The field was always tightly bunched and nicely positioned in fourth the top weight was perfectly placed to strike. His front running stable companion COLTRANE kept on determinedly at the business end of the race and although Disco Al always looked to have his measure it was only close home that he got his head in front.

Titbits

MAGNETIC (baulked 300m) and DESERT SWIRL (came from the rear) both finished strongly when 2^nd and 3^rd respectively in the maiden plate over 2000m.

Gaining quickly at the finish BLACK KITTEN didn’t find the clearest of passages when only failing to land the MR76 Handicap over 1600m by the narrowest of margins.

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Top speedratings for this weekend include:-

Top rated winners last week included

Notebook:-

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