Spectacular Weekend

Swift Four

Arlington 21^st October: A maiden plate over 1000m was first up in Port Elizabeth on Friday and here we saw a smart performance from the 3yo OATS. Racing for the first time since relocating from the Western Cape, the heavily supported son of Lundy’s Liability led throughout. He was always in command and won by two and a quarter without any anxious moments.

Another to win well on this card was LUNAR EMBLEM in the faster of the two 1600m events, a MR90 Handicap. Tara Laing’s charge got away well when the gates opened and soon up handy raced prominent throughout. He was ridden to lead shortly after passing the 400m marker and comfortably accounted for STUNNING VISION by two and a quarter.

The fastest of the three 1000m races was the MR90 Handicap won by SWIFT WONDER. Up in class in his bid to extend his winning sequence to four, the Joshua Dancer gelding was soon at the head of affairs. He kept up a healthy gallop throughout and although AFRICAN ALLIANCE was very steadily wearing him down late on, he still had a half length to spare at the wire.

Titbits

TIGERISH didn’t find the clearest of passages before running on from midfield to take second position in the maiden 1400m.

DANCINGINTHEDESERT came from the back when getting up in the very last stride to win the MR74 Handicap over 1600m.

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Breeders Cup Win

Scottsville 22^nd October: The easiest victory in Pietermaritzburg on Tuesday was recorded by BREEDERS CUP in the MR78 Handicap over 1200m. Ridden for the first time by Anton Marcus, the lightly raced son of Miesque’s Approval was soon positioned close to the speed. He put his head in front going through the 400m and with the rest well beaten he comfortably accounted for NINETEEN FOURTEEN by two and three quarters.

Three of the afternoon’s nine races were run over 1400m and the fastest of these was the MR82 Handicap won by SHOES ‘N COMPANY. Taken straight to the front by Athandiwe Mgudlwa, Yogis Govender’s charge led throughout. He kept on determinedly at the business end of the race and won comfortably by a length from the costly to follow ALBERT.

Captain’s Daughter in the maiden event over 1200m was the best bet on the card for many and she didn’t let down her supporters. Sent off a rather uneasy favourite at 23/20, the daughter of Captain Al was troublesome at the start, but despite that was soon up handy. She was ridden to lead as they approached the 400m marker and went on to score by a half from the running on newcomer STRONG BLONDE. Freely available at 45/1 on the off, this daughter of Stronghold ran on from the rear and racing green did well to get within a half length at the wire.

Titbits

Pillar to post winner CRAFTSMAN found extra when challenged 400m out in the maiden 1400m, and won comfortably by two and a quarter.

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Another Gem

Durbanville 23^rd October: A fillies maiden plate over 1200m got proceedings underway at the country course on Wednesday and in a time faster than that of the MR76 Handicap won by the useful looking ROMAN MANNER, WOODLAND GEM opened her account. Sent off an uneasy second favourite at 3/1, Mike Bass’ charge raced fourth early on. The 9/10 favourite SISTER ACT got first run in the straight and looked to have done everything right on hitting the front 300m out. Woodland Gem already had her in her sights at that point though and after she in turn hit the front 100m later she kept on strongly to beat the lightly raced HARLEM NOCTURNE by a length and a quarter.

Three of the afternoon’s eight races were run over 1600m and the fastest of these was the MR76 Handicap won by DYNASTY’S SECRET. Positioned in midfield turning for home, Eric Sands’ charge ran on best of all in the straight and did well to get the better of the 19/20 favourite ARION close home.

A MR99 Handicap over 1600m topped the bill and here we saw a gutsy performance from the 4yo BIG CAT. Taken straight to the front by Greg Cheyne the son of Black Minnaloushe led throughout. He answered every call in the home straight and won well from the marginally more fancied M’LORDS THROAT by a length and a half.

Titbits

GALLICA ROSE and MALIBU MISTRESS both ran on well from off the pace when 3^rd & 4^th respectively in the fillies maiden over 1600m.

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Sabina On The Up

Turffontein 23^rd October: This was the meeting originally scheduled to take place on 22^nd October.

They raced on the stand side track on Wednesday evening where we saw a smart performance in the maiden 1400m from the newcomer LA CHOUETTE. Nibbled at on course into 4/1 from 6’s, the daughter of Western Winter was swiftly guided over from a wide draw by Marthinus Mienie and raced handy. She moved through to take up the running as they approached the 400m marker and although the 14/10 favourite JUMPSTART chased hard, she went on to score with authority by two and a half.

Three of the evening’s eight races were run over 1800m and the fastest of these was the pinnacle stakes won by MASTER SABINA. On leaving the stalls it was the easy to back PIERNEEF who elected to make the running whilst the up and coming son of Jet Master was content to sit in the back end of midfield. He began to take closer order early in the home straight and with the rest well beaten he comfortably accounted for HALVE THE DEFICIT after striking the front 200m from home.

The Gr3 Yellowwood Handicap topped the bill and here we saw a comfortable victory for the Gary Alexander trained CLASSIC ILLUSION. The top weight got away well when the gates opened and soon up handy raced prominent throughout. She was ridden to lead shortly after passing the 400m pole and kept on strongly in the latter stages of the race to beat the 6yo CYCLONE MICHELLE by a length and a quarter.

Titbits

The newcomer SQUARE DANCE ran on well from the rear when getting up late to win the maiden 1400m.

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Plenty In Hand

Greyville 25^th October: Race three in Natal on Friday evening was a MR99 Handicap over 1000m and here we saw a very smart performance from KINGSTON BOY. Confidently ridden by Kevin Shea, the son of Mogok was positioned in the rear at the halfway mark. Once given rein though he cut through the field like a knife and with plenty in hand he cruised clear late to win going away by a length and a quarter.

Another to win well on this card was KING NEPTUNE in the bill topping Michaelmas Handicap (L) over 1900m. Soon up handy Dennis Drier’s charge was always poised to strike. He did so at the top of the straight and won well by two and a quarter from the running on SAGE THRONE (baulked 300m).

The best bet on the card for Sporting Post was LEGEND DANCER in the MR80 Handicap over 1000m and although he cut it fine he did nonetheless land the odds. Sent off second favourite at 7/2, Michael Roberts; charge wasn’t the quickest into stride and as a result he raced towards the rear early on. He ran on best of all at the business end of the race though, and in what proved to be a real thriller he got up late to deny WINTER MIGRANT (handy, led 250m).

Titbits

The heavily supported CAPTAIN’S CHRONICLE won the maiden event over 1000m with authority by two and a quarter.

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Top speedratings for this weekend include:-

Top rated winners last week included

Notebook:-

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