That’s The Spirit

Hot Hat-trick

Fairview 18^th November: Heavily supported to win the maiden event over 1400m on Friday was the 3yo GUN POINT (11/10 into 17/20). The first of four favourites to arrive, Alan Greeff’s charge was soon up handy. The easy to back OK CORRAL was the first to make a move in the straight and quickly grabbing a two lengths advantage after striking the front 200m out, he looked to have done everything right. Gun Point ran on stoutly at the business end of the race though and in what proved to be a real thriller he got up in the dying strides.

The afternoon’s feature event was a MR103 Handicap over 1800m and here victory went to the top weight SURFIN’ USA. Freely available at 9/1 on the off, Jacque Strydom’s charge was always well positioned close to the pace. He ran on strongly in the long home straight and in another very tight finish he just got the better of both SOCIAL MASTER and MAKZOOS. The lucky last was a MR74 Handicap over 1200m and here we saw a smart performance from the unbeaten HOT GIRL. Allowed to ease right out to 2/1 from 13/10 on course, although still retaining her position at the top of the boards, the daughter of Way West was always up with the pace. She began to assert her authority going through the 200m and comfortably accounted for the recent recruit from Gauteng, HIGHTOWER by two and a quarter. Hot Girl has won well in all three starts and clearly has more to come.

Titbits

Running on from the rear, the Justin Snaith trained PLAYED ON finished best of all in the allowance plate over 1600m and only failed to get up by the narrowest of margins.

Positioned towards the back end of midfield turning for home, FATHERANDSONS finished well after having to switch out for a run and was only beaten three quarters of a length in the maiden event won by the hot favourite Gun Point.

.

Heavy Going

Greyville 18^th November: With the going already heavy and rain falling throughout the evening it was surprising that in the main the form horses still figured prominently. Indeed, four of the eight races were won by the favourite. A maiden event over 1200m got proceedings underway and here we saw a comfortable victory for the heavily supported SAVONA (28). Backed all the way in to 7/2 from 10/1, Alec Laird’s charge was taken straight to the front by Musi Yeni and led throughout. He was always in command and although the newcomer LORD LEIGH finished well from midfield, he went on to score very comfortably by two and a quarter.

Another to win very comfortably in the maiden ranks was TYCOON TOUCH (26) in the 1600m event. Nibbled at on course into 33/10 from 5’s, the improving son of Royal Applause got away well from his advantageous draw and was soon up handy. He quickly went clear after taking up the running coming off the bend and although the 7/20 favourite VETTEL (op 1/5) finished well from off the pace, he went on to score by two and a quarter without any anxious moments.

A MR94 Handicap over 1900m topped the bill and here victory went to the uneasy favourite CODE ROCK (79). Allowed to ease out to 28/10 from 2/1 at the track, Alyson Wright’s charge sat second for most of the journey. The well supported joint second favourite KING FERNANDO had taken up the running 800m out and kept on determinedly all the way to the wire. Code Rock quickened nicely in the latter stages though and just as if scripted he got up close home.

Titbits

Running on from the rear, MIESQUE’S STAR did well to get within two lengths of the winner Sweet Charity in the maiden event over 1000m.

Another to run on strongly from well off the pace on this card was WHITE HOUSE when only beaten a length and a half in the race won by Code Rock.

.

Jetting In

Kenilworth 19^th November: The first favourite to arrive in Cape Town on Saturday was BIG BIRD who did the business in the maiden event over 1600m. He got away well when the gates opened and soon up handy raced prominent throughout. He was ridden to lead early in the straight and kept on strongly on the run to the line to beat the running on QUITE SOMETHING by a length and three quarters.

Race six on the card was a MR80 Handicap over 1400m and here all eyes were on the highly regarded DIVINE JET. Sent off at the prohibitive odds of 1/5, Dean Kannemeyer’s charge raced second last during the early part of the race. Confidently ridden by Karl Neisius though, the 3yo son of Jet Master picked them off under just hands and heels in the straight and went on to score by a length and a quarter without ever having to engage the upper gears. One to follow.

The Gr2 Green Point Stakes topped the bill and here victory went to the best weighted runner in the field BRAVURA. Sent off a well supported favourite at 22/10 (op 28/10), Joey Ramsden’s charge was always positioned close to the speed. He was asked to take up the running shortly after passing the 300m marker and although TALES OF BRAVERY finished well, he still had half a length to spare at the wire.

Titbits

Now unbeaten in two starts, MISS OCTOBER won well when beating a useful looking field in the MR86 Handicap over 1000m.

 .

Edict To The Rescue

Vaal 20^th November: Sunday’s action took place on the turf where the easiest victory in the maiden ranks was recorded by GUN POWDER (15) in the 2400m event. Freely available at 20/1 on the off, Kom Naidoo’s charge was always in touch with the leaders. He was asked to take up the running going through the 300m and easily accounted for another outsider BRIDGEWATER by two and a half.

The afternoon’s feature event was a MR88 Handicap over 1800m and in what proved to be a bit of a farce victory here went to the once highly regarded ECHOHAWK (60). Taken straight to the front by Pierre Strydom, Dominic Zaki’s charge steadily went clear and entering the straight was easily ten lengths clear. He still held that advantage going through the 300m and would probably have won by that distance had he not been eased down late.

For the second race in a row, the hero of the lucky last, a MR88 Handicap over 1200m, was the well supported EDICT (46). Backed into 28/10 favourite from 4/1 at the track, Lance Wiid’s charge as per usual raced towards the rear for most of the journey. He was produced with his usual strong late run and in what proved to be a real thriller he got up late to deny ROMEO’S REWARD.

Titbits

Runner up JAROS was gaining quickly at the finish when beaten three quarters of a length by the 9/20 favourite Janus Man in the maiden event over 1700m.

After losing three lengths at the start, lightly raced SHE’S A LADY, and the newcomer DELTA LIONESS, both ran on strongly when 4^th and 5^th respectively in the maiden event over 1200m.

.

Top speedratings for this weekend include:-

.

Top rated winners last week included

.

Notebook:-

.

FASTEST TIMES

.

.

.