Strong Hand In KZN

Badger Lords It

Arlington 3^rd August: Favourite backers got off to a nice start in Port Elizabeth on Friday when the half sister to the talented Inca’s Spirit, INCA LAKE got off the mark. Having only her second career outing here, the 9/10 market leader got away well when the gates opened and led throughout. She was always in command and having been eased down before the line, she beat the second favourite CHICK OF THE GAME a lot more easily than the official winning margin of a length and a quarter will reflect.

There were a number of very easy victories on the day and none more so than that of CELEBRATION who came home smoking in the second division of the MR74 Handicap over 1600m. Running on from midfield, the Kahal mare struck the front 200m out and burst clear in good style from there onwards to score by six and three quarters.

Another to win well was LIGHT THE MOON in the first division of the MR74 affairs over 1400m. Always handy, Light The Moon moved through to take up the running shortly after passing the 200m marker and kept on strongly in the closing stages of the race to beat the running on SURGING STAR by two and three quarters. The runner up ran on from the rear and did well to get as close as she did.

The non-black type Friendly City Stakes over 1800m topped the bill and here we saw another smart performance from LORD BADGER. The winner of last season’s East Cape Guineas, Lord Badger as per usual, was content to race in midfield for most of the journey. Once in the short home straight though he quickly began to work his way through the field and after striking the front 200m from home, he comfortably accounted for the 5yo ZEZINHO CAMPEAO by three and three quarters.

Titbits

Friendless CONUNDRUM (16/1 out to 33/1) ran on well from the rear when fourth in the maiden event over 1600m.

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Fresh As A Daisy

Turffontein 5^th August: Sunday’s action took place on the old stand side track where victory in the opening maiden event over 1160m went to the well supported favourite NATIONAL KEY. Backed into 9/10 from 15/10 at the track, the son of National Assembly was soon up handy. He was ridden to lead passing the 400m marker and kept on strongly in the closing stages of the race to beat the easy to back HERE COMES BILLY by a length and three quarters.

Another to win well in the maiden ranks here was the Mike De Kock trained CAPTAIN LARS. Drawn in the car park, Captain Lars raced towards the backend of midfield during the early part of the race. Once in the long home straight though, the son of Captain Al quickened best of all and won comfortably by a length and a half after striking the front 170m from home.

Race five on the card was a MR86 Handicap over 1400m and here we saw a smart performance from the Lucky Houdalakis trained VIVACIOUS STAR. Racing for the first time since undergoing a throat op, this daughter of Victory Moon raced in midfield for most of the trip. She began to take closer order shortly after passing halfway and quickening nicely in the latter stages of the race she went on to score going away.

The afternoon’s feature event was a MR90 Handicap over 1160m and in what looked to be a very competitive contest victory here went to the 5/2 favourite MYTHICAL PALACE. The field was always very tightly bunched and going through the 400m just four lengths covered all except the ill-fated CHIP SHOT. Mythical Palace ran on stoutly at the business end of the race and in what proved to be a real thriller he got up late to deny the front running KENTUCKY SHEIK.

Titbits

The recent maiden winner CROWN GOLD followed up with a very comfortable victory in the MR73 Handicap over 1160m and that despite being reported as coughing.

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Rumoured Unbeatable

Arlington 6^th August: This was the meeting originally scheduled to take place at Fairview. The four races carded to take place over 1200m were all run over 1000m.

A maiden event for the girls over 1000m got proceedings underway and here we saw a smart performance from the 4yo DANAVANO. Allowed to ease right out to 7/1 from 4/1 at the course, Yvette Bremner’s charge was taken straight to the front by replacement rider Gareth Wright and led throughout. She was always doing it easily and with some in hand she easily extended her two lengths advantage to four and a quarter over the final 300m.

Even easier a winner in the maiden ranks here was the lightly raced SANDY CELEBRE in the second division over 1000m. Just as he had been when refusing to load last time out, Mitch Wiese’s charge was rumoured to be unbeatable if going in the pens and so it proved to be. At the helm from pillar to post Sandy Celebre never really had a race and in what proved to be the fastest of the five 1000m events, he cruised in by five and a quarter. One to follow.

Also worthy of note on this card was the performance of DAILY PROMISE in winning the MR66 affair over 1800m. Nibbled at on course into 12/1 from 20’s, the topweight raced in midfield for most of the journey. She quickened well at the top of the short home straight and under a well judged ride from Andrew Nienaber she got up late to beat the favourite FAUSTINA going away.

Topping the bill was a MR90 Handicap over 1000m and here victory went to the former Natal campaigner TAKE OVER TARGET. Sent off under the super heavyweight burden of 62,5kg, the 7yo son of Copperbelt ran on well from midfield and got up nicely late to deny the frontrunning AFRICAN ALLIANCE.

Titbits

Having his first outing since relocating to the Eastern Cape, IRON GREY ran on strongly from off the pace when runner up in the novice 1600m.

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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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