Taking Advantage

From Outer Space

Clairwood 26^th December: First up on the Day of Goodwill was a workrider’s maiden event over 1000m and here we saw a comfortable victory for the deposed favourite GOOLAGOOLA (33). Allowed to ease out to 18/10 from 15/10 at the track as money came for MAJESTIC EMBLEM (2/1 into 15/10), Alistair Gordon’s charge was soon up handy. He was ridden to lead as they approached the 200m marker and although SPECIAL HENNY chased hard, he won well by a length and a half.

The easiest victory on the card was recorded by CHOCOLICIOUS (82) in the conditions event over 1200m. Sent off a well supported favourite at 13/10, Herman Brown’s charge was soon at the head of affairs. She was always clear and despite the efforts of the Sean Tarry trained pair of GIVE ME FIVE and HAPPY ARCHER, she extended her advantage to four over the final 300m.

Another to win well on this card was COFFEE SHEIK (73) who registered his fourth success from just ten outings in the MR94 affair over 1200m. Another to lead from pillar to post, Coffee Sheik kept on strongly at the business end of the race and comfortably accounted for the well supported MALIYAKHE (5/1 into 75/20) by two and a quarter.

The Gr3 Christmas Handicap over 1600m topped the bill and in what proved to be a real thriller victory here went to one of the rank outsiders of the eleven horse party ORBIT WAR (69). Freely available at 50/1 on the off, Adam Kethro’s charge raced in the rear for most of the journey. The much more fancied CODE ROCK got first run in the home straight and on striking the front 100m from home, he looked to have done everything right. Orbit War finished best of all below the distance though and got up late to win going away by a half.

Titbits

After being a little slow into stride, SLEEK QUEEN ran on well from the rear when winning the MR70 Handicap over 1600m.

.

Sailing Home

Greyville 27^th December: The majority of the locals got off to a rough start in Natal on Tuesday evening when NECK OR NOTHING (13) got off the mark in the opening maiden event over 1300m. It wasn’t a surprise to everybody though as Craig Eudey’s charge had been nibbled at into 16/1 from 25’s. The 4/10 favourite IMPARTIAL JUSTICE made the running and did have the rest well beaten. The son of Greys Inn ran on strongly in the short home straight though and after striking the front 100m from home, he went on to score comfortably by a length and three quarters.

The easiest victory on the card was undoubtedly that of NOBLE LEGEND (25) who came home smoking in the maiden event over 1600m. Always prominent in what soon became a strung out field, Mike De Kock’s charge took up the running shortly after passing the 400m marker and fairly cruised clear in the closing stages of the race to win by six and a quarter.

The afternoon’s feature event was a MR92 Handicap over 1400m and here we saw a nice performance from the Gavin Van Zyl trained WILD TYPE (72). Sent off a well supported favourite at 22/10, Wild Type sat fourth for most of the journey. He quickened well early in the straight and in an event where most had a shout going through the 300m, he went on to score comfortably by a length and a quarter.

The lucky last was a MR69 Handicap for the girls over 1400m and here we saw an eye catching performance from the favourite AMERICAS CUP (46). Positioned in the rear as the fourteen runners turned for home, Alec Laird’s charge fairly flew in the straight, and won going away after striking the front 100m from home.

Titbits

In touch with the leaders throughout, PENTHOUSE ran on best of all in the MR84 Handicap over 1400m and won going away.

After having to switch out for a run 330m from home, PROUD MOMENT won the first division of the maiden 1600m going away with some in hand.

.

Money, Money, Money

Kenilworth 28^th December: Followers of the money got off to a nice start in Cape Town on Wednesday when the newcomer LEISURE JET did the business in the opening maiden event over 1200m. Backed into 28/10 second favourite from 11/2 at the course, Glen Kotzen’s charge ran on strongly from midfield and in a thrilling three way finish he just got the better of the well tried COLORADO SKI by a neck.

Another to find the winner’s enclosure after receiving good support in the ring was ADMIRALOFTHEFLEET when opening his account in the maiden 1600m. Backed into favouritism at the track (9/2 into 18/10), the son of Captain Al was soon up handy. He was ridden to lead early in the home straight and despite the efforts of SHOES ‘N COMPANY who never gave up the fight, he went on to score easily by two and a half.

Race three on the card was a graduation event over 1600m and as expected here victory went to the recent Gr1 Cape Fillies Guineas third placed runner THUNDER DANCE. Deep in the red at 1/3 on the off, the daughter of Jet Master raced second for most of the trip. She was asked to take up the running going through the 200m and went on to score comfortably by two.

A MR90 Handicap over 1600m topped the bill and here victory went to the ultra consistent son of Jet Master GREAT KALI. Another to find solid betting support in the ring (5/1 into 3/1), Alan Higgins’ charge led throughout. He kept on determinedly in the home straight and found extra late to hold off the running on BRILLIANT CUT by a half.

Titbits

REAL TABASCO ran on strongly late when a runner up to her stable companion Palo Santo in the MR70 Handicap over 1000m.

.

Jolly Upset

Vaal 29^th December: They raced on the turf on Thursday where victory in the maiden event over 1200m went to the newcomer GENERAL SHERMAN. Well supported at the track to go off favourite at 2/1 (op 28/10), Sean Tarry’s charge raced in midfield during the early part of the race. He quickened well when given rein passing halfway and went on to score comfortably by two and a half after striking the front 300m from home.

Another to win well in the maiden ranks on this card was WO-MAN UNITED when opening her account in the girl’s maiden event over 1200m. The daughter of Solskjaer was soon up handy. She was asked to take up the running going though the 200m and won comfortably by two and a quarter.

The afternoon’s feature event was a MR94 Handicap over 1000m and here a bit of an upset was to be had when the easy to back JOLLY POPPINS landed the spoils. Freely available at 16/1 on the off, Louis Goosen’s charge was always handy. She was ridden to lead as they approached the 200m marker and kept on strongly in the closing stages of the race to beat the running on favourite MALAGA-BELLE by a length and a quarter.

Titbits

Newcomer ALLEGHENY caught the eye running on nicely from midfield when third in the maiden event over 1200m.

.

Top speedratings for this weekend include:-

.

Top rated winners last week included

.

Notebook:-

.

FASTEST TIMES

.

.

.