To Be Sure

Winning With Authority

Flamingo Park 26^th August: There were a number of very comfortable victories in the Northern Cape on Monday but none more so than that of ISLAND FLYER in the MR70 Handicap over 1600m. Allowed to ease right out to 15/2 from 9/2 at the track, Jannie Borman’s charge was soon up handy. He was ridden to lead as they approached the 400m marker and drew clear easily from there onwards to beat the running on SIR NEWTON by five and a half.

The easiest victory in the maiden ranks was recorded by DUCHESS CATHERINE when opening her account in the 1400m event. Sent off favourite at 22/10, the 3yo daughter of Solskjaer also raced prominent. She took up the running shortly after passing the 200m pole and cruised clear in the latter stages to score by five.

The only other 1400m event on the card was a MR64 Handicap and in a time over 2 seconds faster than that of Duchess Catherine victory here went to COOL TEMPEST. Taken straight to the front by the man of the moment S’manga Khumalo, Cool Tempest led throughout. He was always in command and won unchallenged by four and a quarter.

Race seven on the card was a MR72 Handicap over 1000m and a little unlucky not to land the spoils here was the top weight MEMGHAR. Easily six lengths off the pace early on, the 6yo Bezrin gelding fairly flew over the final 400m and with the rest some six lengths adrift, he only failed to get to another 6yo in DERBAAS by a neck.

Titbits

The fastest of the three 1200m events was the bill topping pinnacle stakes won by CODE RED.

RESTRAINT OF TRADE won the maiden 1200m by three and a half going away.

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Golden Victory

Scottsville 27^th August: By far the easiest victory in Pietermaritzburg on Tuesday was that of the easy to back AURUM POT in the opening maiden event over 1200m. Freely available at 25/1 on the off, the son of Judpot led throughout. He began to assert his authority going through the 300m and cruised clear in the closing stages of the race to win by eight.

There were three 1200m events on the card in total and the fastest of these was the afternoon’s feature event, the MR106 Handicap won by COFFEE SHEIK. The 6yo son of The Sheik got away well when the gates opened and soon up handy raced prominent throughout. He ran on strongly from halfway and after striking the front 100m from home he just held on from the running on GUANTANAMERA.

Having been beaten by three very promising sorts in each of his previous outings, it was no surprise to see BREEDERS CUP get off the mark in the second division of the maiden 1400m. Always handy, Breeders Cup won with authority by four lengths and that despite being eased down late.

In what proved to be a very false paced affair, the conditions plate over 2600m was won by the hat-trick seeking ALEXANDER. There was no real pace on early, but despite that the field was very strung out and Alexander sat in the rear. Realising the danger though, jockey Anthony Delpech made an early move and had Alexander close up in third at the top of the home straight. He quickly took command and although the favourite KNIGHT TO REMEMBER chased hard, he went on to win comfortably by a length and a half.

Titbits

Six lengths off the pace turning for home, the poorly drawn CASSIA ran on strongly over the final 400m and did well to get up late when opening her account in the first division of the maiden 1400m.

COOL ANNE ran on well from the rear when third in the conditions plate over 1600m.

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Clinton’s Day

Vaal 29^th August: Thursday’s action took place on the outside track where an upset was to be had in the opening maiden event over 1200m when the easy to back TORERO DANCER opened his account. Freely available at 25/2 on the off, Clinton Binda’s charge raced in midfield early on. He ran on well from halfway and comfortably accounted for CLUB FLAG (running on from the rear) by a length and a quarter.

There were five races run over 1200m in total and surprisingly the fastest of these was the MR78 Handicap won by the Binda trained MEMEZA. Interestingly, Clinton saddled five runners on the card, but won all three of the races that he contested. Memeza broke well and led throughout. He was always a couple of lengths clear and won without any anxious moments.

Another to win well over this distance was NEGEV in the graduation plate over 1200m. Confidently ridden by champion jockey Piere Strydom, the well weighted Negev ran on well from midfield and won going away by two after striking the front 120m from home.

In terms of distance, the easiest victory on the card was recorded by the well exposed CHEDWIN PARK in the MR72 Handicap over 1400m. Well supported into 9/2, Leon Erasmus’ charge was positioned in midfield at the halfway mark. Belying his recent form though, the son of Jet Master quickened well at that point and despite being reported as not striding out, he cruised in by seven and a half after striking the front 300m from home.

Titbits

JOLLY GOOD SIR came from the rear when getting up late to win the MR72 Handicap over 1000m.

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Let It Rain

Fairview 30^th August: The going was soft in Port Elizabeth on Friday where we saw a very comfortable victory in the second division of the maiden 1600m for the favourite NORVIC. Unusually sluggish into stride, Tara Laing’s charge sat towards the backend of midfield during the early part of the race. Once in the long home straight though, he quickly made his way through the field and won with authority by two and a quarter after hitting the front 200m from home.

The stable of Justin Snaith takes some beating when it comes to listed events in the Eastern Cape and they were again on the mark in the bill topping Jockey Club Stakes (listed) here when the aptly named RAIN GAL landed the spoils. Sent off a rather uneasy favourite at 33/10 (op 18/10), the 6yo Galileo mare was always handy. She was ridden to lead going through the 500m and kept on strongly at the business end of the race to beat the recent Eastern Cape Paddock Stakes runner up DAFFODIL DAY by two and a quarter.

Four of the afternoon’s nine races were run over 1200m and the fastest of these was the MR104 Handicap won by BLACKMALKIN. Sent off joint second favourite at 4/1, Justin Snaith’s charge raced in fourth for most of the journey. He quickened well from halfway and in what proved to be a real thriller he only got the verdict over the easy to back RUSSIAN MIG by a short head.

Titbits  

HANDSOME FELLOW came from the rear when getting up late to win the opening maiden event over 1600m.

MONEYFORLOVE was finishing; best of all when only failing by a half length to get to the in form Insearchofthesun in the MR80 Handicap over 1200m.

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Top speedratings for this weekend include:-

Top rated winners last week included

Notebook:-

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