Sprinters The Key

Four For Gav

Vaal (outside) 25^th June: They raced on the outside track on Tuesday where the best bet on the card for many was ANGELICAT in the maiden juvenile plate over 1000m. Pitched in against what has to be said was a very moderate looking field, Michael Azzie’s charge led throughout. He was always in command and ran out a comfortable winner by a length and a half.

Newcomer MOUNT HILLABY and the lightly raced BARBEL RUN found good support in the maiden plate over 1200m and they did indeed fight it out. Both raced handy and after battle commenced 300m out the rest were soon left trailing in their wake. Both gave their all in the closing stages of the race and it was only by a neck that the first timer got the verdict.

The easiest victory on the card was undoubtedly that of PRINCE OF DARKNESS when getting off the mark in the workrider’s maiden event over 1600m. Freely available at 29/1 on the off, Chris Erasmus’ charge wasn’t the quickest into stride, but despite that was soon up handy. He was ridden to lead as they approached the 300m pole and drew clear easily from there onwards to score by six and a quarter.

Three of the afternoon’s eight races were run over 1600m and the fastest of these was the MR78 Handicap won by AHOY CAPTAIN. Allowed to drift as if a win was out of the question at the track (7/2 out to 14/1), Lance Wiid’s charge sat in the backend of midfield for most of the journey. Once given rein though the topweight quickened best of all and under a well judged ride from Gavin Lerena (four winners on the day), he got up late to win going.

Titbits

VIVA LA VIE came from the rear when winning the girl’s maiden event over 1600m going away by three and a quarter.

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Big Reputations

Scottsville (new) 26^th June: CAPTAIN ON THE RUN was backed as if unbeatable to win the opening maiden juvenile plate over 1000m in Pietermaritzburg on Wednesday and although he did indeed do the business it was by no means as easy as one might have expected. Sent off at the prohibitive odds of 1/7, the son of Captain Al led throughout. He was always a length and a half to the good, but the chasing KING HORIZONS (racing green and reported as making a respiratory noise) did provide those buying money with some anxious moments as they approached the 200m pole.

Another with a huge reputation to leave the stalls deep in the red was MASTER OF MY FATE in the maiden 1200m. He got away well when the gates opened and nicely positioned in second was always travelling well. He quickened nicely when given rein 400m out and with the rest well beaten he comfortably accounted for the running on newcomer BREEDERS CUP by two and three quarters.

Another to win well in what was an unusually tough day for the bookmakers was A P STRIKE in the maiden 1400m. Backed into 9/20 from 9/10 at the track, Garth Puller’s charge lost a length at the start and raced in midfield for most of the journey. He made his move coming off the bend and won well by a length and a quarter after striking the front 300m out.

A MR80 Handicap over 1200m topped the bill and as expected victory here went to the improving 3yo THE WHICH DOCTOR. Taken straight to the front by apprentice Storey, the daughter of Lake Coniston led throughout. She held just a slender lead early on, but after quickening 500m out she went on to win well by two.

Titbits

CREATIVE STRIPE didn’t find the clearest of passages when running on well from midfield to take fourth position in the MR74 Handicap over 1200m.

TARGET FIVE and DRUM SCORE (baulked 350m) both ran on well from the backend of midfield when first and third respectively in the MR68 Handicap over 1950m.

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Explosive Dynasty

Vaal (sand) 27^th June: Thursday’s action took place on the sand where we saw an impressive performance in the opening juvenile plate over 1200m from the newcomer DYNAMITE. Heavily supported in the ante post market, Geoff Woodruff’s charge was a little slow into stride and raced in the rear for most of the journey. Once into gear though the son of Dynasty quickened in good style and after making up many lengths on the leaders he won going away by three and a quarter. One to follow.

Four of the afternoon’s nine races were run over 1200m and the fastest of these was the MR68 Handicap in which LORD HAWKE landed a gamble. Priced up at 16/1 in the ante post betting market at one stage, Barend Botes’ charge was eventually sent off as the 16/10 favourite. In touch with the leaders in sixth as the twelve runners turned for home, the former KZN campaigner quickened nicely in the straight and with the rest well beaten he easily accounted for another supported runner in CROKE PARK by three and a quarter.

A MR85 Handicap over 1600m topped the bill and here victory went to the uneasy joint favourite LUCKY HAND. She got away well when the gates opened and taken straight to the front by Marco Van Rensburg led throughout. The nibbled at outsider TOMORROW’S MISS chased hard over the final 400m, but despite holding every chance she couldn’t get closer than a half length at the wire. After racing in the rear the other joint favourite RIVULET fairly flew and gaining rapidly at the finish only went down by a length and a quarter.

Titbits

After holding just a one length advantage whilst making the running in the second division of the girls’ MR68 Handicap over 1200m, the favourite LOVE VIVIEN only had to be pushed out with hands and heels when drawing clear in the closing stages to score by seven and a quarter.

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Indira As You Like

Turffontein (inner) 29^th June: The faster of the two maiden juvenile plates over 1600m at the inner track on Saturday was the boy’s affair in which AS YOU LIKE caused a bit of an upset. Nibbled at on course into 6/1 from 10’s, the son of Tiger Ridge led throughout. UPDIKE challenged strongly over the final 300m, but he was held at the finish and went down by a half.

A pinnacle Stakes over 2600m topped the bill and in what proved to be a real thriller victory here went to the favourite S’IL VOUS PLAIT. The sand specialist PYLON was the first to make a move and after taking up the running 700m out the son of Fort Wood kept on determinedly. S’il Vous Plait meanwhile ran on from midfield and when putting his head in front 250m from home it looked as if he would win going away. Pylon found extra when headed though and rallying gamely late on he only went down by the narrowest of margins.

Race eight on the card was a MR78 Handicap over 1000m and here we saw an impressive performance from the 3yo INDIRA. On leaving the stalls it was STRONGMIND who elected to make the running whilst Mike De Kock’s charge sat at least eight lengths adrift at the back. Once in the short home straight though he cut through the field like a knife and won going away by a length and a half after striking the front 60m or so from the finish.

Also worthy of note was the performance of Mystic Tigress in winning the final event on the card, a MR68 Handicap over 1800m. The fourth winner at the meeting for evergreen jockey Robbie Fradd, the costly to follow daughter of Tiger Ridge raced sixth for most of the journey. She quickened in good style coming off the strip and cruised clear from the 200m pole to score by six and a quarter.

Titbits

Having only her second career outing here BLUEBELL GLADE showed good improvement when only losing out on the nod in the maiden juvenile plate over 1600m.

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