Good Things
Scottsville 8th January: Favourite backers got off to a good start in Natal on Sunday when MY JELLY BEAN (16) did the business in the opening maiden juvenile event over 1000m. Always in the red, despite good support for the newcomer REIGN AS KINGS (28/10 into 17/10), My Jelly Bean made virtually all. The money horse did briefly get his head in front going through the 300m and at that stage of the race it looked as if he might go on to score. Reign Of Kings raced very green in the closing stages though and in what proved to be a real thriller the experienced favourite got back up on the nod.
The best bet on the card for many was DISTINGUISHED (38) in the maiden 1200m and he didn’t let down his supporters. Soon at the head of affairs despite losing two lengths at the start, the son of Kahal led throughout. He was always in command and despite the efforts of the chasing JAMAL, he extended his one length advantage to three and three quarters over the final 300m.
The afternoon’s feature event was a Conditions Plate over 1200m and here we saw another workmanlike performance from the unbeaten UNANNOUNCED (87). Making his fifth racecourse appearance here, Charlie Laird’s charge was always handy. He was ridden to lead as they approached the 200m marker and found extra late on to hold off his running on stable companion ICE AXE.
The not so lucky last was a MR71 Handicap over 1950m and here a bit of an upset was to be had when the well supported outsider PUNK ROYALE landed the spoils. Nibbled at throughout the afternoon into 11/1 from 25’s, Mark Dixon’s charge raced in midfield for most of the journey. Once in the straight though, he quickened best of all and under a well judged ride from Stuart Randolph he got up late to deny the hat-trick seeking RULE THE NATION.
Titbits
Positioned in the rear after losing a length at the start, TRIPLE VORTEX was finishing best of all when third in the MR88 Handicap over 1950m.
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Confidently Ridden
Vaal 10th January: Tuesday’s action took place on the turf where victory in the opening workrider’s maiden qualified handicap over 1200m went to the well tried SOUL SISTER (26). Making her 24th racecourse appearance here, Louis Goosen’s charge raced in the rear for most of the journey. Once given rein though, she cut through the field like a knife and went on to score very easily by a length and a quarter going away.
Another to win well from off the pace on this card was CHOP SUEY (28) when registering his second career victory in the MR66 Handicap over 1600m. He ran on strongly at the business end of the race and after striking the front 150m from home he easily drew clear.
Race seven on the card was a MR66 Handicap over 1200m and here we saw an improved performance from the 5yo son of Rakeen RETURNEE (28) Nibbled at on course into 5/1 from 8’s, Erico Verdonese’s charge raced in midfield during the early part of the race. He made his move as they approached the 500m marker and went on to score with some in hand after hitting the front 200m out.
A MR62 Handicap over 1200m for the girls brought proceedings to a close and in what proved to be a real thriller victory here went to the uneasy favourite CAYMAN LADY. Allowed to ease out to 4/1 from 33/10 at the track, Cayman Lady got away well when the gates opened and elected to make the running. Her easy to back stable companion MEMORIES OF MOZART got her head in front 300m from home and after a thrilling tussle all the way to the wire it was only by the narrowest of margins that the market leader got the verdict.
Titbits
Well supported MR MAGIC (16/1 into 8/1) ran on from the rear when getting up in the very last stride to win the MR65 Handicap over 1400m.
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Progressing Nicely
Greyville 10th January: First up on Tuesday evening was a maiden event over 1000m and here a bit of an upset was to be had when the formless TRULY EXCLUSIVE (32) opened his account. Nibbled at on course into 14/1 from 20’s, Gavin Van Zyl’s charge sat in midfield early on. He quickened well coming off the bend and with the rest well beaten he got up late to deny the newcomer MAAK’N PLAN (2/1 jt fav out to 75/20) by three quarters.
The easiest victory on the card was recorded by TOUCH ‘N FLY (31) who came home smoking in the maiden event over 1400m. Sent off a well supported favourite at 17/10 (opened 5/2), Deon Visser’s charge was soon up handy. She was ridden to lead early in the short home straight and easily accounted for SPECTRE LADY by four.
Another favourite to win well after finding good support was CUPID’S DAUGHTER (5/2 into 16/10) in the novice 1600m. She got away well when the gates opened and close up in fourth turning for home, was perfectly placed to launch an assault. She struck the front going through the 300m and although DADEWETHU finished well from off the pace, she went on to score very comfortably by a length and three quarters. Cupid’s Daughter has now won two from three and is clearly one to keep tabs on.
A MR91 Handicap over 1600m topped the bill and here we saw a smart performance from the improving BAY ROUTE (77). Usually one to make the running, the top weight was positioned in third as the eight runners turned for home. He found his favourite position going through the 300m and although the in form INDIAN HAWK finished well, he went on to score comfortably by a length and a half.
Titbits
After losing three lengths at the start of the maiden 1400m, DAWN ECLIPSE ran on strongly and only failed to get to the winner Equivalence by a short head.
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Top speedratings for this weekend include:-
Arlington Race 1: (3) Nuns Narrative 15 Race 2: (1) Springtime Flame 13 Race 3: (5) Cosi Fan Tuti 7 Race 4: (1) Blaze Of Fire 46 Race 5: (6) De La Danza 75 (NAP*) Race 6: (6) Emblem Park 53 Race 7: (6) Running Tide 43 Race 8: (6) Coup De Foudre 33 Scottsville Race 1: (2) Greystone Chapel 19 Race 2: (7) Anna The Tiger 13 Race 3: (4) Senorita Al 19 Race 4: (2) Spitting Mad 14 Race 5: (2) Saltwater Girl 63 Race 6: (2) Foxtrot Baby 45 Race 7: (2) Make My Day 56 Race 8: (3) Arabian Empire 80 Race 9: (1) Desert Warrior 47 Turffontein Race 1: (2) Cellarmaster 12 (nb) Race 2: (3) Cinnamon Spice 22 Race 3: (6) Tsitsikama Strike 25 Race 4: (4) Rebel Heart 13 Race 5: (7) Colour Quest 29 Race 6: (1) Deliver The Power 70 (NAP*) Race 7: (1) Jackodore 69 Race 8: (5) Beacon Flare 68 Race 9: (11) Xis Boy 52 Kenilworth Race 1: (1) Eyeofthebeholder 15 Race 2: (5) Fort Nelson 12 Race 3: (2) Colorado Ski 17 Race 4: (5) Rose Lorraine 44 Race 5: (5) Light The Moon 67 Race 6: (4) Dandyman Can 33 Race 7: (6) Talent Scout 45 (EW) Race 8: (14) Lemon Meringe 38 Vaal Race 1: (7) Waltzing Duel 7 Race 2: (5) Active Power 21 Race 3: (1) Conne Mara Black 17 Race 4: (7) Goldstream 55 Race 5: (2) Veto 62 (NAP*) Race 6: (1) Poppins 65 Race 7: (4) Polish Lady 49 Race 8: (12) Ushkadel 53 Race 9: (7) Gershwin Tiger 37
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Top rated winners last week included
Jolly Poppins won 16/1 Ace Of Hearts won 15/2 Mighty Oak won 15/2 Marvellous Captain won 5/1 Sparkling Sapir won 5/1 Enchanted Guest won 33/10 My Jelly Bean won 15/20 Distinguished won 9/20.
Notebook:-
Cupid’s Daughter (A Rivalland, Natal) Unannounced (C Laird, Natal).
FASTEST TIMES
(Shown in brackets is the number of races run in each category) Scottsville 8th January Fastest Sprint 1000-1300 (3) Unannounced Fastest Middle 1400-1800 (3) Golden Sled Fastest Long 1900-3600 (2) Roll Count.
Vaal 10th January Fastest Sprint 1000-1300 (4) Returnee Fastest Middle 1400-1800 (4) Mr Magic Fastest Long 1900-3600 (0) No Qualifiers.
Greyville 10th January Fastest Sprint 1000-1300 (2) French Reef Fastest Middle 1400-1800 (5) Clear As Daylight Fastest Long 1900-3600 (1) Misty Morn