Smart Start
Turffontein 15th October: They raced on the inner track on Saturday where victory in the opening maiden event over 1200m went to the newcomer LOCKHEED JETSTAR (43). Backed into even money at one stage before being allowed to ease right back out to 28/10, Geoff Woodruff’s charge raced in midfield during the early part of the race. He quickened very nicely coming off the strip and after striking the front 220m from home, he drew clear easily to score by four and a quarter. Lockheed Jetstar won well and is clearly one to keep tabs on.
Another newcomer to win well after finding solid betting support on this card was the Weiho Marwing trained PEBBLE EYES (20). Backed throughout the morning into 14/10 from 9/2, Pebble Eyes was soon prominent. She was asked to take up the running going through the 300m and only having to be pushed out hands and heels from there onwards, she easily accounted for the deposed favourite ELEGANT TUNE (16/10 out to 5/2) by four and a quarter.
Also worthy of note on this card was the performance of MOUNT CARMEL (40) in winning the MR73 Handicap over 1600m. Freely available at 13/1 on the off, Robbie Sage’s charge had to set off from a wide draw and very quickly found herself in the rear. Once in the short home straight though, she quickened well and in a thrilling blanket finish she got up in the very last stride to deny another improving 3yo in BLUROUTE.
The afternoon’s feature event was a MR94 Handicap over 1600m and here we saw a very gutsy performance from the nibbled at MADE OF MAGIC (63). Sent off at 5/1 after opening up at 7’s, the son of Announce was taken straight to the front by Sherman Brown and quickly grabbed a two lengths advantage. He kept on strongly in the straight and although the easy to back EXHILARATION chased hard over the final 400m, he went on to score without any anxious moments.
Titbits
Although never able to get in a blow at the winner, poorly drawn AMERICANO was running on nicely at the finish when fourth in the maiden event over 1200m won by Lockheed Jetstar.
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She’s Back
Durbanville 15th October: A maiden event over 1200m got proceedings underway at the country course on Saturday and here we saw a nice performance from the Mike Bass trained SLICK JET. Backed throughout the morning into 33/10 second favourite from 7/1, Slick Jet raced in midfield during the early part of the race some six lengths off the pace set by TRANSCENDENT. He quickened well in the straight and under a well judged ride from Grant Van Niekerk, he got up late to score by a length and a quarter.
Another to win well in the maiden ranks on this card was DAAJER who opened his account at just the third time of asking in the maiden event over 2400m. Allowed to ease out to 5/1 from 7/2 at the track, the northern hemisphere bred son of Alhaarth was always in touch with the leaders. He made his move early in the home straight and comfortably accounted for the regular place getter RUSHING ELF by two and three quarters.
The best bet on the card for most was SILVER HAVEN in the novice 1600m and the 3yo son of Silvano didn’t let down his supporters. Deep in the red at 1/4 at the off, Joey Ramsden’s charge was content to race at the back of the five for most of the journey. He cut through the field like a knife when given rein at the top of the straight and after striking the front 300m from home, he drew clear with contemptuous ease. Now a winner of two from four, Silver Haven had no more than an exercise gallop here and is clearly one to keep tabs on.
The Gr3 Diana Stakes run over 1400m topped the bill and here all eyes were on the Gr1 Cape Fillies Guineas winner EBONY FLYER. Racing for the first time since finishing third in the Queen’s Plate in January, the 3/10 favourite got away well when the gates opened and was soon up handy. She was ridden to lead shortly after passing the 500m marker and kept on strongly in the closing stages of the race to beat the four timer seeking BARCELONA WINTER by two.
Titbits
Recent maiden winner BERMUDA SLOOP quickened nicely in the latter stages when winning in
.handicap company over 1800m.
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Five Front Runners
Greyville 16th October: The first of five front runners to win at Greyville on Sunday afternoon was SEXY SALSA (32) in the opening maiden event over 1200m. Sent off a joint favourite at 33/10, the well tried Sexy Salsa was soon in command of a two lengths lead. She kept on strongly over the final 400m and never surrendered an inch of her advantage.
Another to win well from the front in the maiden ranks on this card was LATINOVA (33) when opening her account in the 1600m affair. She was always clear and although the favourite LITTLE SWAN chased hard, she went on to score unchallenged by three and a half.
The afternoon’s feature event was a Pinnacle Stakes over 1100m and as expected victory here went to the very useful 3yo TENNESSEE STRATEGY (71). Deep in the red at 1/5 on the off, Charlie Laird’s charge was always handy and took up the running 250m from home. Unaware of the script though, the 6yo MR MICKEY MOUSE ran on strongly in the closing stages of the race and in what proved to be a real thriller the favourite only held on by the narrowest of margins.
The not so lucky last was a MR78 Handicap over 2000m and here an upset was to be had when the Captain Al gelding MAKE MY DAY (62) registered his third career victory. Freely available at 16/1 on the off, Make My Day was always positioned close to the speed. He was asked to take up the running shortly after passing the 300m marker and kept on strongly in the closing stages of the race to beat the running on FRIDAY LUNCH CLUB by a half.
Titbits
Not particularly well drawn, and then hampered twice to boot, the well supported newcomer INJAAZAAT (16/1 into 7/1) was running on nicely at the finish when a runner up in the second division of the maiden 1200m.
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Top speedratings for this weekend include:-
Flamingo Park Race 1: No Qualifiers Race 2: (10) Heresay 26 Race 3: (5) Eloise 57 Race 4: (1) Azalai 8 Race 5: (8) Heaven 39 Race 6: (7) Shantaram 26 Race 7: (6) Ask Me 41 Race 8: (7) Special Club 57 Race 9: (8) Al Speedy 15 Clairwood Race 1: (17) Modern Royal 54 Race 2: (1) Casta Luccio 12 Race 3: (4) Ninth Symphony 16 Race 4: (1) Metro Man 29 (EW) Race 5: (1) Mr Gigilo 26 Race 6: (4) Head Of The House 43 Race 7: (4) Storm Vanidoso 53 Race 8: (17) Westa 57 Race 9: (9) Foxtrot Baby 72 Turffontein Race 1: (1) Bullard 24 Race 2: (5) Stroller 28 (NAP*) Race 3: (1) Conne Mara Black 12 Race 4: (11) Captain Vedici 25 Race 5: (4) Mirage Drive 73 Race 6: (1) Mannequin 80 Race 7: (9) Boylan Blaze 99 Race 8: (6) Queen’s Command 80 Race 9: (6) Where’s My Chop 41 (EW) Durbanville Race 1: (3) Cosmic Flower 4 Race 2: (10) Even Chance 12 Race 3: (4) Second-In-Command 18 (nb) Race 4: (9) Talent Scout 55 Race 5: (5) Blanic 67 Race 6: (4) Omaha Beach 82 Race 7: (2) Winter Migrant 35 Race 8: (4) Pale Night 22 (NAP*) Vaal Race 1: (5) Beloved Jean 11 Race 2: (2) Super Boy 23 Race 3: (1) Silver Bull 21 Race 4: (16) Tasteful 33 Race 5: (9) Al Felon 46 Race 6: (2) Benbow 53 Race 7: (5) Kim Possible 35 Race 8: (7) Glamazon 46.
Top rated winners last week included
Star Brite won 8/1 Aurum won 13/2 Castanelli won 6/1 Asiatic Moon won 19/10 Enrani won 16/10 Indian Connection won 16/10 Gold Onyx won 14/10 Saint John Bosco won 1/1.
Notebook:-
Ebony Flyer (J Snaith, W-Cape) Lockheed Jetstar (G Woodruff, Gauteng) Silver Haven (J Ramsden, W-Cape) Tennessee Strategy (C Laird, Gauteng).
FASTEST TIMES
(Shown in brackets is the number of races run in each category) Turffontein 15th October Fastest Sprint 1000-1300 (3) Pebble Eyes Fastest Middle 1400-1800 (5) Made Of Magic Fastest Long 1900-3600 (1) Amarantine.
Durbanville 15th October Fastest Sprint 1000-1300 (2) Ridge Too Far Fastest Middle 1400-1800 (4) Ebony Flyer Fastest Long 1900-3600 (2) Equitoria.
Greyville 16th October Fastest Sprint 1000-1300 (3) Tennessee Strategy Fastest Middle 1400-1800 (4) Ses Riem Fastest Long 1900-3600 (2) Make My Day
