Split Timing
Fairview 15th April: First up in Port Elizabeth on Friday was a maiden juvenile plate over 1200m and here a bit of an upset was to be had when the newcomer IRISH MAID landed the spoils. Nibbled at into 20/1 from 50/1, Gavin Smith’s charge was always handy. The heavily supported favourite SPONDULICS (6/1 into 5/2) challenged strongly over the final 150m and in what proved to be a real thriller it was only by the narrowest of margins that Irish Maid got the verdict.
Race four on the card was a Graduation Plate over 1600m and here the stable of Gavin Smith were again on the mark when the 3yo SAMMY JO registered her third career victory. Sent off a joint favourite at 33/10, the daughter of Dynasty raced in midfield for most of the journey. She ran on best of all at the business end of the race and under a well judged ride from Musi Yeni, she got up nicely late to deny the front running MGEDE.
The afternoon’s feature event, a MR90 Handicap over 1200m was next up, and here we saw a very comfortable victory for the Barry Steenkamp trained TORCIDA SPLIT. Sent off favourite at 9/2, the son of Victory Moon led throughout. He was always in command and although both HAIL THE DUKE and KABAMBA did make some headway over the final 300m, he went on to score by a length and a quarter without any anxious moments.
Also worthy of note on this card was the performance of ANOTHER MISTRAL who registered his fourth career victory in the MR73 affair over 1200m. Positioned in midfield going through halfway, Another Mistral looked destined for a place at best when the costly to follow DANCING LEE struck the front 400m out. Once given rein though, the son of Nino’s Mistral quickened best of all and just as if scripted, he got up in the dying strides.
Titbits
Third in the non black type Derby Plate last time out, ODYSSEY OF LIGHT was gaining rapidly at the finish of the maiden event over 2400m.
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What A Performance
Kenilworth 16th April: Racing in Cape Town on Saturday got underway with a Maiden Juvenile Plate over 1000m and here victory went to the Vaughan Marshall trained BERKLEY. Backed into 33/10 at one point from 5/1, the son of Var was soon at the head of affairs. He kept up a healthy gallop throughout and although ROYAL TREASURE and the newcomer ROYAL DUKE both chased hard, he went on to win very comfortably by two.
A conditions event over 1200m was next up and here we saw a very impressive performance from the Cape Flying Championships winner WHAT A WINTER. Sent off at the prohibitive odds of 1/3, Mike Bass’ charge was always in touch with the leaders. He was clearly cruising as he moved through to take up the running 250m from home and without ever really being asked to race, he went on to score by four and a half. Now destined for a crack at the Gr1 Computaform Sprint, What A Winter won well and clearly has a very bright future ahead of him.
RIGHT AND READY had won both starts prior to being a fast finishing runner up last time out and so it was no surprise to see her find heavy support into 13/20 from 16/10 to win the MR76 affair over 2000m. Racing much closer to the pace than she had done in recent starts, Right And Ready looked to have done everything right when she struck the front approaching the 200m marker. Running on best of all at that stage though was the easy to back BLUE VISTA and when that one flew up at the distance she could find no extra.
The final event on the card was a MR94 Handicap over 1400m and here victory went to the well supported ASAAL’S MAGIC. Sent off at 9/2 after opening up at 8/1, Piet Steyn’s charge raced towards the rear during the early part of the race. Once given rein though he quickened best of all and under a well judged ride from Morne Winaar, he got up late to beat the front running EXPLORATION by three quarters.
Titbits
Runner up in the maiden event over 1200m, the heavily supported newcomer BORN TO BE WILD (25/1 into 11/2) finished by far the best and would have won going away with another ten metres to travel.
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Oh So Easy
Flamingo Park 18th April: A maiden juvenile event over 1000m got proceedings underway in the Northern Cape on Monday and here victory went to the Corne Spies trained DANCING AWAY (4/1 into 33/10). He got away well when the gates opened and taken straight to the front by Francois Naude, led throughout. He kept on strongly at the business end of the race and duly found extra when challenged by the favourite SHARP DRESSED MAN close home.
Race four on the card was a maiden event over 1600m and here a major upset was to be had when GALE FORCE VAR opened his account. Taken straight to the front by Nicola Welsh, the son of Var was always at the head of affairs. The much more fancied PETRADI ran on strongly over the final 400m and steadily gaining at the finish, he only failed by a neck to get up.
The afternoon’s feature event was a Pinnacle Stakes over 1000m and here we saw another smart performance from the 5yo son of Jet Master BEACH FLIGHT. He got away well when the gates opened and soon up handy, raced prominent throughout. The favourite BOMBER BILL on the other hand had been slow into stride, but going through the 400m he held every chance. Indeed, Bomber Bill ran on stoutly at the business end of the race, but always looking to have his measure, Beach Flight went on to score very comfortably by two. Beach Flight has now won four in a row.
The easiest victory on the card, although not in terms of distance, was undoubtedly that of PETRUS who completed a hattrick in the MR70 affair over 1600m. Sent off at the prohibitive odds of 1/4, Peter Miller’s charge was soon up handy. He was ridden to lead early in the straight and with jockey Fortune asking him to do as little as possible in the closing stages of the race, he went on to win by a length. Petrus never really had a race and could quite easily have won this by a steeplechase margin.
Titbits
Lightly raced PINNAQUIN showed good improvement when running on to take fourth in the opening maiden juvenile event over 1000m.
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