Starring Role

Easy Victories

Clairwood 24^th June: A maiden juvenile event for the girls over 1000m got proceedings underway at the garden course on Sunday and here we saw an impressive performance from the daughter of Choisir CHOIR MAIDEN (28). Deep in the red at 7/20 on the off, Tony Rivalland’s charge was taken straight to the front by Anton Marcus and led throughout. She was always in command and only having to be ridden hands and heels at the business end of the race she cruised in by eight.

Another to win very easily in the maiden juvenile ranks on this card was Sean Tarry’s THE HANGMAN (43) in the 1200m event. At the helm from pillar to post, The Hangman began to assert his authority going through the 300m and drew clear easily late to score by five.

The first of the afternoon’s two feature events to be run was the Gr2 Betting World Derby over 2400m and here a bit of an upset was to be had when MASTER PLAN (80) landed the spoils. Allowed to drift right out to 13/1 from 7’s at the track, Greg Ennion’s charge raced fifth of the eight for most of the journey. He was ridden to lead as they approached the 300m marker and comfortably accounted for the 15/10 favourite TRIBAL DANCE by two.

The Gr2 Betting World Oaks over the same distance was next up and here we saw a smart performance from the Mike De Kock trained TAJMEEL (73). She got away well when the gates opened and soon up handy raced prominent throughout. She was ridden to lead early in the long home straight and kept on strongly over the final 500m to beat the deposed favourite BELOVED BETTY (16/10 out to 33/10) by two and a quarter.

Titbits

Progressive MUJAARIB won the Divided Handicap over 1600m with some in hand.

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Three In A Row

Vaal 25^th June: Favourite backers got off to a nice start at the Vaal’s sand meeting on Monday when DONNIE BRASCO did the business in the opening juvenile plate over 1200m. Backed into 17/10 from 22/10 at the track, Paul Peter’s charge was soon up handy. Her was ridden to lead at the halfway mark and kept on strongly over the final 600m to beat the determined RYDER CUP by a half.

Race four on the card was a MR80 Handicap over 1600m and here the 6yo son of Second Empire DUAL ALLIANCE completed a smart hattrick. A winner of just one of his previous fourteen outings before starting this current sequence, Sean Tarry’s charge sat in midfield during the early part of the race. Once in the long home straight though he ran on well and although the easy to back CASH REGISTER fought on doggedly after being headed 200m out, he did have that one held by a neck at the wire.

The afternoon’s feature event was a MR86 Handicap over 1450m and in an even tighter finish victory here went to MEXICAN GLORY. Freely available at 20/1 on the off, Paul Matchett’s charge was soon in touch with the leaders. She made her move going through the 400m and after a thrilling tussle with both SHATTERED IMAGE and HOTEL ROYALE she only got the verdict by the narrowest of margins.

Titbits

SAKKIE SAKKIE (maiden 1600m) and SILVER SPECIALIST (MR80 Handicap over 1600m) both made up very many lengths from the rear when third and fourth in their respective races.

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Legal Suspense

Scottsville 26^th June: They raced in Natal on Tuesday where victory in the maiden juvenile event over 1200m went to the second favourite NEW BEGINNINGS (19). Taken straight to the front by Bernard Fayd’Herbe, the daughter of Lundy’s Liability led throughout. The well supported favourite THEMIS through down a determined challenge over the final 300m and she did have the rest well beaten. New Beginnings kept on strongly in the closing stages though and try as she might she couldn’t get closer than a half length.

The easiest victory on the card was undoubtedly that of KING OF TORTS (31) who came home smoking in the opening maiden juvenile event over 1600m. Another to make all King Of Torts began to assert his authority going through the 400m and drew clear easily in the closing stages of the race to win in very good style by six and three quarters.

A MR90 Handicap over 1200m topped the bill and here we saw a smart performance from the Gavin Van Zyl trained WILD TYPE (80). Usually seen out over further, the son of Strike Smartly raced in midfield early on. He quickened up nicely at the top of the straight and after striking the front 200m from home he easily accounted for the veteran THE WALRUS by two and three quarters. Wild Type has now won seven from twenty two and interestingly, this is his first win over a trip shorter than 1400m.

Titbits

The newcomer GO WEST ran on well from the rear when opening his account in the maiden 1200m. After being baulked for a run 500m out, fellow newcomer KING TUT also finished well in this race.

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Flying Hiker

Durbanville 27^th June: Racing in Cape Town on Wednesday took place at the country course where we saw an impressive performance from the lightly raced CAREFUL HIKER. Sent off a joint second favourite at 7/2, Joey Ramsden’s charge raced detached at the rear during the early part of the race. Once in the straight though, he quickened in good style and did well from his position to collar the well tried EDEN ROSE close home.

The stable of Joey Ramsden were again on the mark in the MR78 Handicap over 2400m when BRITISH BANKER caused an upset. Freely available at 28/1 on the off, the 3yo British Banker made virtually all. He was easily four lengths clear turning for home and although RIVER CROSSING and stable companion DANDYMAN CAN both ran on strongly over the final 500m, he still had two and a half lengths to spare at the wire.

A MR87 Handicap over 1400m topped the bill and here victory went to the well supported AMBER PALACE. Backed into 22/10 from 4/1 at the track, Justin Snaith’s charge raced fourth during the early part of the race. He moved up to dispute matters with the pacemaker JET INTO THE WIND going through the 300m and with the rest well beaten he got up late to score by a length.

Titbits

VIKING EMPIRE ran on strongly from the back end of midfield when only beaten a neck in the maiden 2000m.

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Well Fielded

Vaal 28^th June: Thursday’s action took place on the turf where victory in the maiden juvenile event over 1000m went to the Louis Goosen trained DE VAR HYT (17) Surprisingly allowed to ease a little on course after having found good support on debut, De Var Hyt was taken straight to the front by Pierre Strydom and led throughout. He kept on strongly over the final 400m and did well to hold off a determined challenge form MBOWENI.

Race four on the card was a MR71 Handicap over 1200m and here jockey Strydom was again on the mark when the top weight KENTUCKY SHEIK (46) registered his fourth career victory. Positioned in the rear, Clinton Binda’s charge looked to have more than enough to do when the race began in earnest. Once given rein though he fairly flew and in vintage Pierre Strydom fashion he got up late to win going away.

In terms of distance the easiest victory on the card was recorded by EXTRA COVER in the afternoon’s feature event, a MR95 Handicap over 1400m. Soon at the head of affairs, the son of Dynasty led throughout. He was always in command and ran out a very easy winner over the 3yo CAPTAIN HADDOCK by three and a half.

Titbits

SPRING BLASTER won the maiden 1200m going away.

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Top speedratings for this weekend include:-

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Top rated winners last week included

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Notebook:-

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FASTEST TIMES

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