Super Saturday

What A Pleasure

Vaal 18^th March: A maiden juvenile plate for the girls got proceedings underway at the Vaal’s inside track meeting on Tuesday and in what proved to be the fastest of the three 1000m events the 12/10 favourite SILENT RUSH did the business. Third in the listed Ruffian Stakes last time out, the best bet on the card for Sporting Post made all. She was always in command and ran out a very easy winner by five. After being a little slow into stride, the well supported newcomer MIDDLE EARTH ran on well from the rear in this race to finish third.

The faster of the two 1400m events on the card was the MR76 Handicap won by the 3yo CAPTAIN’S DELIGHT. Always handy, the daughter of Captain Al ran on strongly over the final 400m and with the rest well beaten she got up late to deny the front running TELL MY STAR by a half.

Quickest against the clock in the two 2000m races was J’S OUTSIDER when winning the MR68 Handicap. On leaving the stalls it was the 7/2 favourite CARLISIE who elected to make the running whilst the nibbled at son of Miesque’s Approval (14/1 into 9/1) was content to sit in midfield. He quickened nicely when the race began in earnest and only having to be pushed out with hands and heels he got up late to beat the regular place getter COMMODORE AL.

A MR93 Handicap over 1200m topped the bill and here we saw a gutsy performance from the lightly weighted WEEKEND SPECIAL. Sent off a joint favourite at 4/1, Paul Matchett’s charge lost two lengths at the start, but despite that was soon up handy. She kept on determinedly at the business end of the race and won well from a wall of horses by a length and a quarter.

Due to the proximity of an electric storm and the fading light, race 11 was abandoned.

Titbits

UMGIYO made up many lengths when running on from the rear to take third position in the graduation event over 1800m.

SPRING BEAUTY also made up many lengths when running on from the rear to take third position in the MR76 Handicap over 1400m.

After losing two lengths at the start FIVE MOONS finished best of all when only beaten a half length in the MR82 affair over 1700m.

CASHA (midfield, had to switch out for a run) and DIVANO (midfield, baulked for a run 400m out) both ran on strongly in the closing stages when 1^st & 4^th respectively in the MR75 Handicap over 1400m.

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Six From Thirteen

Fairview 19^th March: They raced on the poly track on Wednesday where one of the easiest victories on the card was recorded by the heavily supported RED SQUARED when opening his account in the maiden 1600m. Soon up handy, Dorrie Sham’s charge took up the running at the halfway mark. He quickly skipped three lengths clear and despite the efforts of the chasing KING OF THE KNIGHT, he held that advantage all the way to the wire.

Another to win with authority in the maiden ranks on this card was   LAGO CUOMO in the 2200m event. Positioned in midfield for most of the journey, the 50/1 shot quickened nicely as the field began to concertina in the short home straight, and won going away by three and a quarter.

Four of the afternoon’s nine races were run over 1600m and the fastest of these was the graduation plate won by SWEDISH KING. Sent off as one of three co-favourites at 7/2, Justin Snaith’s charge raced close up in sixth. He ran on strongly when asked for his effort 400m out and comfortably accounted for the 20/1 shot BLACK THUNDER by a length and a half.

In terms of stakes, a MR76 Handicap over 1800m topped the bill and here the stable of Justin Snaith were again on the mark when the well supported 16/10 favourite BONNARD (op 5/2) registered his sixth career victory from just thirteen starts. Another to run on stoutly from midfield, the 5yo son of Spectrum struck the front going through the 200m and kept on strongly in the latter stages of the race to fend off a determined challenge from the supported SUETAN (9/2 into 33/10).

Titbits

SYLVIIDAE ran on well from the rear when winning the MR66 Handicap over 2200m.

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Dancing Shoes

Turffontein 20^th March: Thursday’s action took place on the inner track where the stable of Corne Spies continued their winning streak in juvenile events when the 9/1 shot TOPOSTWEGO got off the mark. Beaten some thirteen lengths by the subsequent listed Storm Bird Stakes winner Banaadeer on debut, the Muhtafal gelding raced handy in fifth. He was asked to take up the running shortly after passing the 400m marker and kept on strongly late to beat the running on newcomer ROCK ME VAR (a full brother to Solarium) by a length. Interestingly, Topostwego’s formless stable companion FIRST APPROACH touched 16/1 at one point after opening up at 75’s.

The best bet on the card for many was STIRLING LEAVES in the maiden 1200m and she didn’t let down her supporters. Confidently ridden by the national jockey’s log leader S’manga Khumalo, the Silvano filly sat in the rear during the early part of the race. She made her move as they came off the strip and kept on strongly to score by a length and a quarter after striking the front 220m from home.

Race 6 on the card was a MR68 Handicap over 1800m and here we saw a smart performance from the Fort Wood filly ERIN. Nibbled at on course into 5/1 from 7’s, Ormond Ferraris’ charge raced in the backend of midfield for most of the journey. She began to take closer order in the strip and once in the straight quickly made headway. She struck the front 200m out and comfortably accounted for JUMPSTART by two and a half. Third placed SILVA SHAMA (beaten 3,25 lengths) had been positioned at the back turning for home.

A pinnacle stakes over 1450m topped the bill and here an upset was to be had when the unfancied MOGGYTWOSHOES landed the spoils. Freely available at 25/1 on the off, the son of Mogok was guarding the rear as the eight runners turned for home. He ran on best of all in the straight and in what proved to be a real thriller he got up very late to deny the much more fancied LOVE VIVIEN.

Titbits

The newcomer BIG NICK ran on strongly from the rear when fourth in the maiden 1000m.

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Vauclair Lands Cup

Fairview 21^st March: Friday’s meeting took place on the turf where we saw a very comfortable victory for RUSHING LARK in the maiden juvenile plate over 1000m. Taken straight to the front by Aldo Domeyer, the son of Windrush led throughout. He was always in command and without ever being asked to engage the upper gears he won well with some in hand by two and a quarter.

Three of the afternoon’s nine races were run over 1400m and the fastest of these was the MR64 Handicap won by LAND OF MEADOWS. Sent off a joint favourite at 9/2 with the eventual third placed runner HOSTILE TAKEOVER, Justin Snaith’s charge raced in midfield during the early part of the race. He was ridden to lead shortly after passing the 200m marker and kept on strongly late to beat the running on BERRYMILLER by three quarters.

The listed East Cape Sprint Cup over 1200m topped the bill and here we saw a smart performance from the improving son of Var VAUCLAIR. Nibbled at into 4/1 from 6’s at the track, Tara Laing’s charge was always well positioned to strike. He moved up to tackle the front running COPPER PARADE (16/10f out to 22/10 2^ndfav) 150m out and after quickly taking command he went on to win with authority by a length and a quarter.

Titbits

CROWN OF GOLD ran on strongly from the rear and was steadily gaining at the finish when runner up in the non-black type Lakeside Handicap over 2400m.

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Top speedratings for this weekend include:-

Top rated winners last week included

Notebook:-

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