Straight And Narrow

Legend Returns

Scottsville 17^th January: The first baby race of the season for winners got proceedings underway in Natal on Tuesday and here we saw a smart performance from the Oratorio filly FUN SUNZI (37). She was a little slow into stride when the gates opened, but despite that she was soon up handy. She was ridden to lead going through the 300m and drew clear in good style late to score by three and three quarters.

The Paul Lafferty trained QUEEN’S FAVOUR (29) found good support to win the maiden event for the girls over 1200m and she didn’t let down her followers. Backed into 5/2 from 7/2 at the track, the daughter of London News was taken straight to the front by Anthony Delpech and led throughout. She was always in command and although the friendless NATIONAL PALACE chased hard, she ran out a very easy winner by three and three quarters.

An Allowance Plate over 1500m topped the bill and here it was nice to see the lightly raced JET LEGEND (67) back in the winner’s enclosure. Heavily supported in this his third outing following a three month break (4/1 into 18/10), Mike De Kock’s charge was always handy. He took up the running as they approached the 200m marker and comfortably accounted for the deposed favourite RANSOM OF CHOICE (5/2 into 22/10) by two.

The easiest victory on the card was recorded by GOVERNOR GENERAL (57) in the lucky last, a MR74 Handicap over 1600m. Sent off favourite at 2/1 (op 5/2), the son of Strike Smartly was always in touch with the leaders. He quickened well in the short home straight and after striking the front shortly after passing the 300m marker, he cruised clear in the latter stages of the race to score by six.

Titbits

After losing two lengths at the start, the newcomer BELLA BLUE was running on strongly at the finish when a 3,75 length second to Fun Sunzi, and she had three previous winners behind her. 

.

Made To Work

Turffontein 17^th January: They raced on the old stand side track on Tuesday evening where victory in the opening maiden juvenile event over 1000m went to the newcomer SOFT FALLING RAIN (38). On leaving the stalls it was the 5/10 favourite CELLARMASTER who elected to make the running whilst Mike De Kock’s charge racing a little green sat close up in second. He quickened well at the business end of the race and with the rest some nine lengths in arrears, he went on to win going away by two and a quarter after striking the front 100m from home.

Race six on the card was a conditions plate for 3yo’s over 1160m and as expected victory here went to the rapidly improving DELIVER THE POWER (64). Seeking a hat-trick here, the son of Toreador was always handy. The easy to back LEGAL ACTION got first run and after quickly going two lengths clear after striking the front at the 500m marker, kept on strongly. With the rest comfortably beaten though, Deliver The Power steadily wore him down in the closing stages and under a well judged ride from Weichong Marwing, he got up late to score by a half.

The listed Swallow Stakes over the same distance topped the bill and in what proved to be a real thriller victory here went to the well supported favourite JACKODORE (11/10 into 15/20). The friendless VARIOMETER made the running whilst Sean Tarry’s charge raced close up in third. She was ridden to lead as they approached the 200m marker, but last season’s listed Ruffian Stakes winner found extra when headed, and having to be kept up to her work all the way to the wire, it was only by a neck that the favourite got the verdict.

Titbits

After racing in the rear of what soon became a strung out field, the newcomer UP ABOVE was running on nicely at the finish of the maiden event over 1400m and did well to get within a length and a quarter of the winner.

.

All The Way

Kenilworth 18^th January: Racing got off to an exciting start in Cape Town on Wednesday when POINTING AT A STAR won the opening maiden event over 1200m. Positioned in midfield early on, the daughter of Jallad ran on best of all over the final 400m and in what proved to be a thrilling three way finish she got up late to score by a half. Keep an eye on the winner Pointing At A Star. She finished well and looks sure to improve.

Race four on the card was a MR72 Handicap over 1000m and here victory went to the Mike Bass trained AFRICAN AIRWAYS. Sent off favourite at 18/10, the daughter of Jet Master raced in midfield for most of the journey. She made her move going through halfway and under a well judged ride from Bernard Fayd’Herbe she comfortably accounted for the nibbled at outsider GOLDEN FLUTE (33/1 into 18/1) by a length.

A MR88 Handicap over the same distance topped the bill and here it was nice to see the ultra consistent daughter of Var VARUSHKA register her fifth career victory. As per usual quick into stride, Mike Stewart’s charge soon had the field strung out. She kept on strongly at the business end of the race and went on to score by a length and a half without any anxious moments.

Another to win very comfortably on this card was ERFAAN when registering his second career victory in the MR72 Handicap over 1400m. Confidently ridden by Sean Cormack, the son of Fort Wood raced fourth during the early part of the race. He was ridden to lead shortly after passing the 400m marker and with some in hand he won going away by a length and a half.  

Titbits

First and fourth respectively, GENTEEL APPROACH and MISS PINK both ran on very well from off the pace in the MR70 Handicap over 1400m.

.

Resounding Success

Vaal 19^th January: Thursday’s action took place on the sand where victory in the opening maiden event over 1200m went to the easy to back HONEYVIEW. Allowed to ease out to 8/1 from 5/1 at the track, the lightly raced daughter of Lecture raced in the rear for the first half of the race. Once given rein though she quickened well and in what proved to be a real thriller, she only got the verdict by the narrowest of margins from the deposed favourite WALTZING DUEL (22/10 out to 7/2).

Much easier a winner in the maiden ranks was RESOUNDING SUCCESS who opened her account in the third division over 1200m. Swiftly into stride, Stephen Moffatt’s charge was four lengths clear going through halfway. She kept on strongly over the final 600m and still had three and a half lengths to spare at the wire.

The easiest victory on the card was registered by LAUREL CANYON in the MR73 affair over 1200m. Another to lead from pillar to post, the daughter of Tiger Ridge was always in command and came home lonely by four.

The final event on the card was a MR68 Handicap over 1600m and here followers of the money were on the mark when AMERICAN GANGSTA did the business. Backed into 33/10 second favourite from 9/2 at the track, Tyrone Zackey’s charge as per usual raced towards the rear for most of the journey. Once in the straight though, he quickened best of all and under a well judged ride from Pierre Strydom, he got up late to deny the costly to follow AL FELON.

Titbits

Although never near enough to be a threat to the winner, well supported CASA NOSTRA ran on well from the rear when second to Laurel Canyon in the MR73 Handicap over 1200m.

.

Top speedratings for this weekend include:-

.

Top rated winners last week included

.

Notebook:-

.

FASTEST TIMES

Fastest Long 1900-3600 (3)     Viva Maria

.

.

.