The One And Only

Plenty Of Support

Vaal 19^th April:  They raced on the turf on Tuesday where once again a couple of well supported runners arrived. Indeed, the first race on the card, a workrider’s maiden event over 1200m was won by the nibbled at MEMORIES OF MOZART (9). Backed into 13/2 from 10/1 at the track, Chris Erasmus’ charge raced in midfield during the early part of the race. She quickened well from halfway and in what proved to be a real thriller, she only got the verdict by the narrowest of margins from the PINK ORCHID, who also finished well.

The first of three favourites to arrive (neither of which opened top of the boards) was A KIND OF MAGIC (24) who opened his account in the maiden event over 1200m. On leaving the stalls it was the nibbled at OUR BUDDY (12/1 into 10/1) who elected to make the running whilst A Kind Of Magic was content to guard the rear. Once given rein though, he cut through the field quickly and after striking the front 150m from home, he went on to score comfortably by a length and three quarters despite finishing lame on the near fore.

JET DOT COM was the focus of a major gamble in the MR66 affair over 1600m and he didn’t let down his supporters. Backed throughout the day into 33/10 from 10/1, Lucky Houdalakis’ charge was raced in midfield for most of the journey. The field was always tightly bunched though and once given rein the son of Jet Master soon began to make headway. He moved up to dispute matters going through the 400m and after fending off a determined challenge from THOMOND over the next 200m, he went on to score comfortably by two and a quarter.

The lucky last was a MR62 Handicap over 1200m and in what was clearly a very competitive affair, victory here went to the 11/2 favourite CORPES DA ELITE (37). Adopting a change of tactics here, Scott Kenny’s charge was taken straight to the front by the in form Gavin Lerena and led throughout. She was two lengths clear going through halfway and despite the efforts of the running on HIGH BLUE SKY, she more than doubled that advantage on the run to the line.

Titbits

Positioned in the rear of the maiden event won by A Kind Of Magic, GAZ MAN also ran on very well and might well have been a threat had he not been hampered 200m out.

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Excuse Me

Greyville 19^th April: Priced up 1/3 on the off, the Black Minnaloushe filly MOON SPUN (32) looked to be a good thing in the opening maiden juvenile event over 1300m in Natal on Tuesday evening, but she didn’t find it as easy as the betting had suggested. Nicely positioned in fourth turning for home, Moon Spun raced green and took a while to respond to the urgings of champion jockey Anton Marcus. Once getting the message though, she quickened well and with the rest well beaten she got up close home to deny the newcomer FANCY FOOTWORK.

The Progress Plate over 1400m had been priced up as a boat race between the unbeaten ROYAL ZULU WARRIOR and  the J&B Met third placed runner RUN FOR IT by the bookmakers and on exposed form that did look to be the case. Amongst the six going to post though was the lightly raced EXCUSE MY FRENCH (53) and it was he who landed the spoils. Freely available at 14/1 on the off, Duncan Howell’s charge sat fifth for most of the journey just a length behind the market leader Royal Zulu Warrior. He quickened nicely at the top of the straight and with the favourite soon under pressure and Run For It looking to be in need of the run, he went on to score comfortably from the in form WHOLE KABOODLE by three quarters.

The evening’s feature event was a MR88 Handicap over 2000m and in what proved to be a real thriller, the 3yo BLACK WING (76) extended his winning sequence. Sent off a well supported favourite at 16/10, Black Wing was soon up handy. The lightly raced ESTECO, a winner of three of his four previous starts, also raced close to the speed and when the pair moved up to dispute matters 350m from home battle quickly commenced. Both gave their all on the run to the line and with the remainder some eight lengths adrift at the wire, it was only by a half that Black Wing got the verdict. Black Wing has now won four in a row.

Also worthy of note on this card was the performance of BERRY BLAZE (58) in winning the progress event over 1400m. A little slow into stride, Mike De Kock’s charge raced towards the rear during the early part of the race. Once given rein though, she quickened well and soon began to make headway. She struck the front 150m from home and went on to score comfortably from the running on WICKET MAIDEN.

Titbits

After losing three lengths at the start, runner up VICTORY GARDEN was racing at the back as the thirteen runners turned for home in the maiden event over 2000m. She was finishing best of all and might well have gotten up had she have obtained a clear passage.

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Five For Gavin

Arlington 20^th April: Race five in Port Elizabeth on Wednesday was a MR92 Handicap over 2400m and here it was nice to see the much travelled GILMORE GIRL register her fourth career victory. Making her debut here for the local stable of Gavin Smith, the Roi Normand mare was soon up handy. She was ridden to lead as they approached the 400m marker and looking to have a little in hand she comfortably accounted for her much more fancied stable companion LOVETORN by three and a quarter.

A MR81 Handicap over 1400m was next up and here we saw a smart performance from the Yvette Bremner trained MAIN MIRACLE. Positioned at the back as the twelve runners entered the short home straight, Main Miracle was looking unlikely to place let alone win. Once given rein though, the daughter of The Sheik fairly flew and in eye catching style she got up late to deny the useful SHORTLIST.

A MR104 Handicap over 1400m topped the bill and here victory went to the Gavin Smith trained VANGELIS. On leaving the stalls it was stable companion DANCING KIWI who somewhat predictably made the running and still four lengths clear 400m out, it looked as if once again he might steal it. Running on stoutly with all of his old zest though, the 7yo son of Kahal steadily began to reel him in at the business end of the race and under a determined ride from Sandile Khathi, he got up very late.

The lucky last was a novice 1600m and here the locals were sent home happy when the heavily supported SAVANAH PARK (6/1 into 19/10 fav) did the business. He got away well when the gates opened and nicely positioned was always well positioned to strike. The deposed favourite PEMBERLEY went with him when the race began in earnest 300m out and after a thrilling tussle all the way to the wire it was only by a neck that the gamble was landed.

Titbits

Newcomer FOREST DIGGER was running on nicely when third in the maiden juvenile event over 1400m and looks sure to come on plenty.

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Well Positioned

Vaal 21^st April: Thursday’s action took place on the turf where victory in the girls 1600m maiden event went to the Scott Kenny trained KIM POSSIBLE. She got away well when the gates opened and nicely positioned in sixth was always poised to strike. She was ridden to lead at the 200m marker and kept on strongly in the closing stages of the race to beat the fancied CINNAMON by two.

Another to win well in the maiden ranks on this card was DECAMERON who opened his account at just the second time of asking in the maiden event over 1400m. Allowed to ease out to 8/1 from 6/1 at the track, Michael Azzie’s charge sat in midfield for most of the journey. He quickened well going through halfway and after striking the front 300m from home, he went on to score very comfortably by two from FULL COLOUR.

Race six on the card was a MR87 affair over 1200m and here we saw a nice performance from the well supported SOLAR VOYAGER. Allowed to flirt with 7/2 at one stage after opening up at 6/1, Solar Voyager was still positioned towards the rear as the nine runners went through the 500m. Running on stoutly once given rein though, the Captain Al mare quickly cut through the field and drew clear easily after striking the front 150m from home to score by three.

The afternoon’s feature event was a MR94 Handicap over 1400m and here followers of the money were again on the mark when EXTRA COVER did the business. Nibbled at throughout the day into 33/10 from 9/2, Alec Laird’s charge was always handy. He ran on best of all at the business end of the race and in an event where plenty held chances going through the 300m, he went on to score by a length fair and square.

Titbits

Gaining rapidly at the finish, 50/1 shot KINGS HOME only lost out on the nod in the MR72 Handicap over 1400.

Racing off a mark 10 points lower than that of his former best, Royal Patrol ran on nicely in the race won by the useful looking Alibaba’s Jewel.

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Top speedratings for this weekend include:-

Top rated winners last week included

Notebook:-

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