Powerful Frontrunners
Vaal 18th September: They raced on the turf on Tuesday where victory in the opening workrider’s maiden event over 1600m went to the lightly raced MOIKAVANO. On leaving the stalls it was FESTIVE INTERLUDE who elected to make the running whilst Weiho Marwing’s charge was content to wait in midfield. She made her move going through the 400m and after striking the front 200m later she cruised clear to score by six.
The afternoon’s feature event, a MR104 Handicap over 1000m was next up and here it was nice to see the 5yo son of Goldkeeper GOLD SITE find his form. Freely available at 18/1 on the off, Paul Peter’s charge made virtually all. He kept on strongly at the business end of the race and did well to fend off a determined challenge from the well supported SOWETO SLEW (5/1 into 7/2).
Race four on the card was a maiden event over 1600m and here we saw a smart performance from the Var gelding VANTAGE (4/1 into 28/10). Trying a mile for the first time, Vantage was taken straight to the front by Pierre Strydom and led throughout. He was always in command and although the heavily supported BARON ZEMO (touched 7’s sent off 75/20) gave his all over the final 400m, he went on to score with plenty in hand by two and a half.
Another to win very well on this card was the 3yo VALBERG when registering his third career victory from six starts in the MR80 Handicap over 1000m. Another to lead from pillar to post, Dominic Zaki’s charge was soon in command of a three lengths lead. He kept up a healthy gallop throughout and doubled his advantage over the final 500m.
Titbits
Positioned in the rear for most of the journey, VIDEO GAMES ran on well over the final 400m and did well to get within 2,5 lengths of the winner in the maiden 1000m.
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Progressing Nicely
Durbanville 19th September: Wednesday’s action in Cape Town took place at the country course where victory in the opening maiden event over 1000m went to the well supported WESTERN MOVIE. Backed into 33/10 at one stage after opening up at 7’s (sent off 4/1), Carl Burger’s charge was soon up with the speed. He kept on determinedly at the business end of the race and did well to fend off a determined challenge from the favourite LION’S ROAR.
The best bet on the card for many was TAJ MAHAL TRIP in the girls division of the maiden 1000m and she didn’t let down her supporters. Allowed to ease out to 12/10 from 8/10 at the track as late money came for the newcomer LIFES DESIGN, Justin Snaith’s charge raced close up in second during the early part of the race. She was ridden to lead as they approached the 400m marker and although Lifes Design did run on strongly in the closing stages of the race, she did have that one held by three quarters of a length at the wire.
Topping the bill was a MR90 Handicap over 1400m and here we saw another smart performance from the improving Jet Master mare HALFWAY TO HEAVEN. Firm in the betting market at 9/2, Halfway To Heaven raced a little closer to the pace than she had done in recent starts. She quickened well at the top of the long home straight and after quickly skipping two lengths clear 200m out, she went on to score very comfortably.
A MR76 Handicap over 1400m was next up and here it was nice to see the costly to follow DUKE OF BEAUFORT register his second career victory. He got away well when the gates opened and soon up handy raced prominent throughout. He took up the running shortly after passing the 400m marker and kept on strongly in the closing stages of the race to hold off a determined challenge from the recent maiden winner DOGMATISM.
Titbits
Fancied FLAME OF AFRICA didn’t find the clearest of passages when fifth beaten a length and a half in the maiden 1400m.
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Top speedratings for this weekend include:-
Durbanville (Mon) Race 1: (4) Lake Benjamin 11 Race 2: (1) Baldwin 19 Race 3: (11) Pinotage Pete 24 Race 4: (3) Margaret Court 68 Race 5: (6) Capetown Noir 64 (NAP**) Race 6: (6) Sanshaawes 42 Race 7: (9) Count My Luck 70 (EW) Race 8: (7) Putney Flyer 90 Race 9: (3) Daily Flight 54 (EW) Flamingo Park Race 1: (9) Kate’s Emblem 10 Race 2: (1) Summer Loving 9 Race 3: (10) Royal Rajah 12 Race 4: (16) Shadow Pink 27 Race 5: (11) Silly Mid-On 25 Race 6: (6) Heyouneverknow 85 (NAP*) Race 7: (9) Are We There Yet 71 Race 8: (9) Kiriya 46 Race 9: (15) The Great Caruso 24 Vaal (Tues) Race 1: (14) Zanzibar Man 28 Race 2: (3) Hold On 4 Race 3: (6) Torch Singer 58 Race 4: (13) The Intervention 28 Race 5: (12) Smart Royal 49 Race 6: (9) Canute The Great 71 Race 7: (10) Funny Glory 67 Race 8: (6) Speed Dial 62 Race 9: (11) Heads Up 40 Durbanville (Wed) Race 1: (2) Lookatmenow 35 (NAP*) Race 2: (5) Doris Duke 16 Race 3: (3) Coltraine 38 (nb) Race 4: (5) Foam Party 16 Race 5: (8) Half Moon Hotel 71 Race 6: (12) Pan Amm 69 Race 7: (8) Pasadera 51 Race 8: (12) The Real Nick 60 Race 9: (7) Patriotic Rebel 37 Vaal (Thur) Race 1: (4) Eagle Face 25 Race 2: (7) Kimura Cat 23 Race 3: (1) Cufflinks 20 Race 4: (3) King’s Destiny 55 Race 5: (10) Where’s My Chop 71 Race 6: (7) Heyouneverknow 65 Race 7: (1) Maji Moto 50 Race 8: (6) Princess Rue 37 .
Top rated winners last week included
Blarney Bay won 33/1 Felix The Cat won 11/2 Are We There Yet won 11/2 Halfway To Heaven won 9/2 Wings Of Fortune won 9/2 Showmetheway won 4/1 Sabadell won 28/10 Taj Mahal Trip won 12/10 .Notebook:-
Halfway To Heaven (A Sands, W-Cape) Vantage (G Woodruff, Gauteng) .FASTEST TIMES
(Shown in brackets is the number of races run in each category)Vaal 18th September Fastest Sprint 1000-1300 (4) Gold Site Fastest Middle 1400-1800 (5) Liquid Motion Fastest Long 1900-3600 (0) No Qualifiers . Durbanville 19th September Fastest Sprint 1000-1300 (4) Western Movie Fastest Middle 1400-1800 (5) Halfway To Heaven Fastest Long 1900-3600 (0) No Qualifiers
