Timed To Perfection

Improving Sheik

Clairwood 16^th June: Favourite backers got off to a good start at the garden course on Sunday when OWLS DO CRY did the business in the opening workrider’s maiden event over 1200m. On leaving the stalls it was COUNTING HOUSE (faltered 150m and reported lame off hind) who elected to make the running whilst Dennis Drier’s charge sat in midfield. He quickened well from halfway and cruised clear to score by five and three quarters after striking the front 150m from home.

Another to win very easily in the maiden ranks on this card was RED ROCK LADY in the 2000m event. Allowed a length and a half lead off what was a very sedate pace, Ivan Moore’s charge quickly went clear entering the straight and won without any anxious moments by three and a half.

The non-black type Durban Dash topped the bill and in what proved to be the faster of the two 1100m events victory here went to the 3yo son of Trippi DESERT SHEIK. He got away well when the gates opened and soon up handy raced prominent throughout. He was ridden to lead shortly after passing the 200m pole and kept on strongly late to beat MIDNIGHT RUN by a length and a quarter.

Also worthy of note on this card was the performance of VICTORIAN SECRET in winning the conditions event over 1100m. Sent off second favourite at 7/2, Justin Snaith’s charge was taken straight to the front by Sean Cormack and led throughout. She was always in command and won comfortably from the Var filly VALDIVIA by a length and a half.

Titbits

COSTLY ROMANCE had the remainder well beaten when comfortably accounting for the heavily supported Take Off (9/1 into 19/10) by a length in the maiden 1600m.

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8 Out Of 10

Kenilworth 17^th June: The going was once again soft in Cape Town on Saturday where victory in the opening maiden juvenile event over 1200m went to the Brett Crawford trained NORDIC WARRIOR. Having only his second career outing here, the son of Captain Al was soon up with the speed. He ran on strongly over the final 400m and comfortably accounted for the more experienced CAPTAIN REI by two and a half.

There were eight 1200m events on the ten race program in total and the fastest of these was the MR90 affair won by the aptly named BAD WINTER. He broke well when the gates crashed open and after initially leading sat close up in second. He put his head back in front going through the 400m and went on to score very easily by three from the running on GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

The easiest victory on the card was recorded by PRINCESS CREO in the girls’ maiden juvenile event over 1200m. Third in the betting market at 9/2, the most experienced runner in the field was soon up handy. She was ridden to lead shortly after passing the 200m marker and easily accounted for the deposed favourite TIGERESS DANCE by three and a half.

Another to win well in the conditions was AZINCOURT when opening his account at just the second time of asking in the maiden 1200m. Freely available at 45/1 on the off, Joey Ramsden’s charge raced in the backend of midfield for the first half of the race. Once given rein though, he quickly worked his way through the field and won in good style by two and a half. Another to look out for from this race is the runner up MIDNIGHT MASTER. Running on from a similar position to that of Azincourt, Shane Humby’s charge didn’t find the clearest of passages and quickened well late on.

Titbits

The newcomer DINESEN ran on from the rear when third in the fourth division of the maiden juvenile 1200m.

THE MORRIGAN won the MR76 Handicap over 1600m going away.

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With Authority

Vaal 18h June: They raced on the inside track on Tuesday where the best bet on the card for most was STORMY TIGER in the maiden 1400m. Taken straight to the front by S’manga Khumalo (3 winners on the day), the son of Tiger Ridge held just a slender advantage for most of the journey. Once given rein though he quickened well and comfortably accounted for the well tried ZEERUST by three and a quarter.

Another to win well under a weight of money was the lightly raced THE BARBADIAN in the maiden 2400m. Backed throughout the morning into 9/10 from 4/1, Weiho Marwing’s charge was always in touch with the leaders. He took a while to get going in the home straight, but once realising what was expected of him he quickened well and won going away by two and a quarter.

Three of the nine races on the card were run over 1000m and the fastest of these was the maiden event won by the lightly raced AUTHORICE. Confidently ridden by replacement rider Robbie Fradd, the 2yo son of Miesque’s Approval raced in midfield during the first half of the race. He made up the ground quickly when given rein and only having to be pushed out with hands and heels at the business end of the race, he went on to score with some in hand by a length and a half.

Titbits

In what proved to be much the faster of the two 2400m events GENTLEMAN JACK ran on well from midfield and won going away.

Having only his second outing following a seven month break, the 4yo PERIGRINE ran on well from towards the rear when winning the MR89 Handicap over 1700m going away.

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Top speedratings for this weekend include:-

Top rated winners last week included

Notebook:-

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