Speed The Key

Cherry On Top

Turffontein 7^th September: They raced on the inner track on Saturday where the faster of the two maiden events over 1000m was that in which the deposed favourite TELL MY STAR ran out an easy winner. Allowed to drift right out to 4/1 from 27/20 at the track, St John Gray’s charge was soon up handy. She was ridden to lead going through the 300m and although the newly installed favourite EDEN ESTUARY (a newcomer, 9/2 into 22/10) kept on strongly after being headed, she went on to score with authority by three.

Another to win well in the maiden ranks on this card was REGAL ROSE in the 1000m event. The best bet on the card for many, the daughter of Var quickly overcame a wide draw and made virtually all. She was a length and a quarter to the good coming off the strip and doubled her advantage down the short home straight.

Three of the afternoon’s ten races were run over 1800m and the fastest of these was the bill topping MR96 Handicap in which CHERRY ON THE CAKE registered her seventh career victory. Set to shoulder 64kg before taking apprentice Collen Storey’s 4kg allowance into consideration, the 6yo made all. She kept on strongly over the final 400m and although the well supported MYSTIC TIGRESS did manage to make some headway, she won without any anxious moments.

The fastest of the three races over 1450m was the girl’s MR89 affair won by BREAK OF DAWN. Freely available at 9/1 on the off (op 5/1), Stuart Pettigrew’s charge broke well from her gate three draw and was always handy. She moved through to take up the running shortly after passing the 200m pole and comfortably accounted for the well supported favourite WALKING ONTHE MOON by a length and a half.

Titbits

GOLDEN GUINEA came from the rear when getting up in the very last stride to win the workrider’s maiden event over 2600m.

Poorly drawn GREAT WHITE ran on strongly from the rear when only beaten a length and a quarter into fourth in the MR78 Handicap over 1800m.

MADAME MING also finished well from the rear when third in the MR77 Handicap over 1800m.

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Tower Of Power

Kenilworth 7^th September: With a penetrometer reading of 30 the going was clearly still soft in Cape Town on Saturday where the easiest victory was recorded by STRONGMAN in the bill topping Sophomore Sprint (L) over 1200m. Now unbeaten in three starts, the easy to back son of Stronghold was positioned at the back of the five early on. Once given rein though, he quickened in good style and drew clear easily after striking the front 150m from home to score by three and three quarters.

There were three races run over 1200m in total and the fastest of these was the Allowance Plate won by INTIMATECONNECTION. She got away well when the gates opened and taken straight to the front by Glen Hatt she duly made all. Her stable companion HAMMIE’S HOOKER challenged strongly over the final 200m and after a thrilling tussle that saw the rest left trailing in their wake, it was only by a neck that she got the verdict.

The easiest victory in the maiden ranks was recorded by the easy to back LITETHENITE in the 1600m event. Freely available at 40/1 on the off, the daughter of Victory Moon was soon positioned close to the speed. She was asked to take up the running early in the short old course straight and went on to score very easily by two and a half. Third placed DAVYANA ran on strongly after being hampered 400m out in this race.

The lucky last was a MR76 Handicap over 1600m and here the locals were sent home happy when the favourite CAPTAIN AMERICA did the business. On leaving the stalls it was ROBERTSON who elected to make the running and the son of Spectrum soon had the field well strung out. He had a break of seven lengths over eventual winner turning for home and staying on strongly he looked to have the race in the bag. The highly regarded Captain America quickened nicely at the business end of the race though and with the rest well beaten he got up late to score by three quarters.

Titbits

After making the running SWEDISH KING found extra when challenged on all sides going through the 200m and won going away by a length and a quarter.

GOLDEN FIGHTER ran on strongly from the rear when fourth in the maiden 1600m.

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Surefire Maidens

Scottsville 8^th September: SUREFIRE was the best bet on the card for many in Pietermaritzburg on Sunday and she didn’t let down her supporters. Deep in the red at 3/10 on the off, the daughter of Count Dubois was always handy. She clearly had a ton in hand as she moved through to take up the running 200m from home and went on to score by two without every really being asked to race.

Another to win well at prohibitive odds on this card was EUTHALIA in the maiden 1400m. She too sat handy, but with the second favourite IMPERIAL ROSE having stolen a three lengths advantage early in the straight, she did have to work for a while. She drew alongside shortly after passing the 200m marker and drew clear easily below the distance to win by three and a quarter.

A pinnacle stakes over 1400m topped the bill and with the second favourite BRAVURA refusing to gallop shortly after the start, the race was always going to be at the mercy of the very well weighted LOUVRE. As consistent as they come, the frontrunning Doowaley mare duly made all. She kept on strongly over the final 400m and won comfortably from the running on MALIYAKHE.

Titbits

Highly regarded GARIBONDY completed a very smart hat-trick when winning the MR90 Handicap over 1000m.

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Top speedratings for this weekend include:-

Top rated winners last week included

Notebook:-

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