Time To Celebrate

Uptown Girl

Clairwood 6^th April: Favourite backers got off to a nice start at the garden course on Sunday when PEARLWARE did the business in the opening maiden event over 1450m. Always handy, Mike De Kock’s charge took up the running going through the 300m and comfortably accounted for REGENTS AGENCY by two and a quarter.

Two Gr3 juvenile events over 1100m topped the bill, and the faster of these was the Strelitzia Stakes contested by the girls. The lightly raced RICH GIRL was all rage and was eventually sent off at 11/20 after opening up at 2/1. She broke well when the gates opened and soon at the head of affairs led throughout. She quickened in good style when given rein 200m out and cruised in by four.

In a time some 0,8 seconds slower than that of the girls, the boys’ affair, the Gr3 Godolphin Barb Stakes, was won by PUNK ROCKER. Also sent off top of the boards (28/10 into 22/10), Gavin Van Zyl’s charge lost a length at the start, but despite that was soon positioned close to the speed. He moved up to tackle the pacemaker BECKEDORF 200m out and after a thrilling tussle on the run to the line he only got the verdict by a neck.

Also worthy of note on this card was the performance of one of the bottom weights, GREAT RUMPUS, in winning the listed Easter Handicap. Another to dawdle a little when the gates opened, the son of Black Minnaloushe was positioned towards the rear for most of the journey. He began to take closer order at the top of the long home straight and won well by a length and three quarters after striking the front 100m from home.

Titbits 

ROYAL KEEPER (backend midfield – finished best of all late) and SLOT IN (detached at the rear early on) both ran on strongly when 2^nd & 3^rd respectively in the maiden 1450m. 

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Never In Doubt

Clairwood 8^th April: They also raced at the garden course on Tuesday where the best bet on the card for most BALKAN duly landed the odds in the maiden juvenile plate over 1000m. Allowed to flirt with 1/6 at one stage after opening up at 8/10, Dennis Drier’s charge led throughout. She was always in command and just as the betting had suggested she won going away by six. Although never anywhere near the winner, third placed MOGOKITY (slow into stride) caught the eye running on strongly from the rear in this race.

Another to win with authority on this card was CLIPPERTON ISLAND in the MR72 Apprentice Handicap over 1600m. Nicely positioned in fifth as the ten runners turned for home, the son of Fort Wood was ridden to lead shortly after passing the 400m pole by Lerato Mohapi and won well by three.

The faster of the two 1200m races on the card was the MR76 Handicap won by the recent maiden winner RAINIER. Easy to back having taken 17 starts to get off the mark (22/1), Michael Roberts’ charge was soon positioned close to the speed. He was asked to take up the running as they approached the 300m marker and comfortably accounted for the much more fancied JAY’S MAN by a length and a quarter.

There were also two races run over 1900m (both maiden events) and the fastest of these was the boys’ affair won by the lightly raced GO WEST MCGRAW. Having only his second career outing here, the son of Go Deputy was a little slow into stride and as a result very quickly found himself positioned in the rear. He quickened well as the field began to concertina at the top of the long home straight and under a well judged ride from Brandon Lerena he got up late to beat the 25/1 shot BATTLE HAMMER by a half.

Titbits

After being slow into stride ICE PACK had to switch for a run twice en-route from the rear when only beaten 0,6 lengths into third in the maiden event won by Go West Mcgraw.

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Banca Lands The Odds

Durbanville 9^th April: They raced at the country course on Wednesday where victory in the opening maiden juvenile plate over 1300m went to the uneasy favourite RIVER GOD (7/10 out to 1/1). Taken straight to the front by M J Byleveld the son of Argonaut led throughout. Both CHESTER’S WISH and VALERIN threw down determined challenges in the straight and River God had to work hard all the way to the wire to secure his three quarter length win.

Run in faster time than that of River God was the maiden plate in which BLACK BANCA opened her account. Marginally in the red at the off, Black Banca was always handy. She ran on strongly in the straight and after getting the better of the pacemaker MYSTICAL MOON 100m out she won comfortably by a length and a half.

The easiest victory amongst the five maiden events on the nine race program was that of ZINGZILLA in the 1600m event. The last of three favourites on the card to oblige, Joey Ramsden’s charge sat fifth during the early part of the race. He quickened nicely at the top of the straight and won well by two and a quarter after striking the front 250m out.

A MR78 Handicap over 2000m topped the bill and in what proved to be a very false paced affair victory here went to the 3yo son of Dynasty GLOBAL DESTINY. On leaving the stalls it was GOLD MOUNTAIN who elected to make the running whilst in what soon became a very strung out field Paddy Kruyer’s charge sat second. He moved through to take up the running early in the home straight and although A TIME TO KILL finished strongly from off the pace, he still had three quarters of a length to spare at the wire.

Titbits

Third placed MISTER MATCHETT was finishing best of all when only beaten a short head in the MR69 Handicap over 1600m.

The runner up in the MR68 Handicap over 1400m, STRIDE OUT ran on stoutly from the back.

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Impressive Return

Vaal 10^th April: The fastest of the three 1000m events at the Vaal’s inside track meeting on Thursday was the MR72 Handicap won by the lightly raced 3yo SOLE MIO. Freely available at 10/1 on the off, Mike De Kock’s charge was soon positioned close to the speed. He was asked to take up the running going through the 200m and with some in hand he won very comfortably by two and a half.

There were also three races run over 1400m and the fastest of these was the second division of the MR78 Handicap won by LOST ISLAND. Soon at the head of affairs, the son of Lizard Island led throughout. The more fancied START YOUR ENGINES chased hard from pillar to post, but try as he might he couldn’t get within half a length at the wire.

By far the fastest of the three 1800m events was the MR77 Handicap won by the lightly raced 4yo EUROKILON. In touch with the leaders throughout, Ormond Ferraris’ charge finished best of all and won going away after striking the front 100m from home.

Titbits

2/1 favourite GUN FIGHTER won the 1000m maiden event going away by four and a half.

BARRACK BABE showed a nice turn of foot when quickening 400m out to win the MR68 Handicap over 1800m.

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Top speedratings for this weekend include:-

Top rated winners last week included

Notebook:-

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