To The Point

Unbeaten In Six

Scottsville 12^th February: Favourite backers got off to a nice start in Natal on Sunday when GREYSTONE CHAPEL (36) did the business in the opening juvenile plate over 1100m. She got away well when the gates opened and along with her two market rivals, LITTLE PRINCESS and BELLA BLUE set a brisk pace. She began to assert her authority going through the 400m and went on to score very easily by three and three quarters.

The afternoon’s feature event was the non-black type Marula Sprint over 1200m and here we saw another very gutsy performance from the unbeaten UNANNOUNCED (87). Making his sixth racecourse appearance here, the son of Snitzel was soon at the head of affairs. The well supported LIZARD’S PASSION (7/1 into 4/1) challenged strongly as they approached the 300m pole and for a brief moment it looked as if he might bring Unannounced’s winning sequence to an end. Just as he had in three of his five previous successes though, Charlie Laird’s charge found extra and went on to win quite comfortably in the end by three quarters.

The final event on the card was a MR80 Handicap over 1200m and despite her jockey losing his whip 150m from home, SHE’S A STUNNER ran out a comfortable winner. Soon up handy, the 3yo daughter of Toreador raced prominent throughout. She was ridden to lead going through the 400m and kept on strongly in the closing stages of the race to beat the running on HURRICANE JEN by a length and a quarter.

Titbits

ICE DIAMOND ran on well from the rear when finishing runner up in the MR87 Handicap over 1600m.

After being a little slow into stride and racing many lengths off the pace in the rear, TREE OF PERFECTION did well to get up for third in the MR95 Handicap over 1200m.

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Smart Beginning

Fairview 13^th February: They raced in Port Elizabeth on Monday where the fastest of the two 1100m juvenile plates was the colts affair in which the newcomer SEDGE (26) landed the spoils. Taken straight to the front by Warren Kennedy, the son of Silvano led throughout. He kept on strongly over the final 400m and although fellow newcomer BLACKMALKIN chased hard, he went on to score comfortably by a length and a half.

The easiest victory on the eight race program was recorded by PARCEVAL (57) in the novice 1800m. He got away well when the gates opened and soon up handy raced prominent throughout. He was ridden to lead shortly after passing the 300m marker and easily accounted for the pacemaker VANDERCOMMANDER by two and three quarters.

The afternoon’s feature event was a MR90 Handicap over 1200m and here a bit of an upset was to be had when the lesser fancied of Yvette Bremner’s two runners FIRST TO GO (54) registered his third career victory. On leaving the stalls it was the top weight FINANCE MINISTER who elected to make the running whilst First To Go raced in midfield. He quickened best of all from halfway and under a well judged ride from apprentice Gould, he won well by a length and a quarter after striking the front 100m from home.

Titbits

The friendless newcomer (40/1 out to 66/1) ANN’S JET caught the eye running on nicely from off the pace to take fourth, beaten just 1,6 lengths, in the fillies juvenile plate over 1100m.

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Kings In Command

Scottsville 14^th February: Victory in a very interesting opening juvenile event over 1100m in Pietermaritzburg on Tuesday went to the well supported favourite REIGN AS KINGS (43). Backed into 7/10 from 13/10 at the track, Mike De Kock’s charge was taken straight to the front by Anthony Delpech and led throughout. He began to assert his authority going through the 400m and drew clear easily in the closing stages of the race to score by five and a quarter.

The afternoon’s feature event was a MR93 Handicap over 1000m and in what proved to be a real thriller victory here went to the nibbled at BURAGH (81). Eventually sent off at 7/1 after opening up 10’s, the son of Jet Master was always prominent. He ran on stoutly at the business end of the race and with less than a length covering the first five home, he only got the verdict by a neck.

Another very tight finish was to be had in the graduation event over 1200m where only three quarters of a length separated the first four home. The well supported BRATALOOCHEE won the event. Running on strongly from midfield, Des Egdes’ charge finished well and got up in the very last stride to deny DODGE CITY. One to look out for next time from this race is the recent maiden winner MR GIGILO who finished fifth. Positioned in the rear going through halfway, Mr Gigilo finished as well as the winner and was only beaten a length and a half.

Titbits

Poorly drawn PRINCESS RASTA was running on strongly at the finish when fifth, beaten 2,35 lengths, in the maiden event over 1400m.

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Super Power

Turffontein 14^th February: By far the fastest of the two juvenile plates run on the stand side track on Valentine’s night was the colts affair in which the heavily supported odds on favourite SOFT FALLING RAIN (48) did the business. Deep in the red at 3/10 at the off (op 6/10), Mike De Kock’s charge was soon prominent. He was asked to take up the running as they approached the 400m marker and although the previously unbeaten DUE AND PAYABLE tried his best to make a race of it, he went on to score very easily by four and a quarter.

The Gr3 Tommy Hotspur Handicap over 1000m topped the bill and here we saw another smart performance from the up and coming DELIVER THE POWER (86). Freely available at 7/2 on the off, Dominic Zaki’s charge was always positioned close to the pace. He moved through to take up the running shortly after passing the 300m pole and after quickly going clear he comfortably accounted for the heavily supported favourite MIDNIGHT SERENADE (7/1into 33/10) by two and a half.

Also worthy of note on this card was the performance of JET LEGEND (77) in winning the MR94 Handicap over 1600m. As honest as they come, the 6yo RADIANT ROCK was the first to make a move and after striking the front 400m out, kept on strongly. He had the rest well beaten, but the lightly raced Jet Legend quickened nicely at that point and after he in turn struck the front 100m later, he went on to score by two.

Titbits

MEDICEAN WOOD made up many lengths on the winner Modern Drive when running on from the rear to finish third, beaten just a length and a quarter, in the MR75 Handicap over 1600m.

3/10 favourite STOWAWAY was reported as coughing when beaten in the girls juvenile plate over 1000m.

Rocking On

Kenilworth 15^th February: All the rage to win the opener in Cape Town on Wednesday was ALBERT MOONEY, a newcomer from the stable of Justin Snaith. Backed into 7/10 from 12/10 at the track, the son of Captain Al looked to have done everything right as he moved through to take up the running 100m from home. Finishing best of all though was the original joint favourite TWITTER (12/10 out to 33/10) and in what proved to be a real thriller, that one got up in the dying strides.

Another tight finish was to be had in the maiden event over 1400m where POLO LOUNGE (17) opened his account. Freely available at 28/1 on the off, the 3yo son of Albert Hall was taken straight to the front by MJ Byleveld and led throughout. He was three lengths clear turning for home and just held on by a neck from the rapidly gaining COGNAC ON ICE.

Race six on the card was a MR70 Handicap over 2000m and here victory went to the hat-trick seeking Rock Of Gibraltar filly IMPRESSIVE ROCK. Allowed to ease out to 7/2 from 5/2 at the track as money came for his two stable companions, FULL REGALIA 22/10 into 17/10, and IT’S EXCITING 33/10 into 3/1, Impressive Rock was soon up handy. She took up the running at the top of the home straight and kept on strongly over the final 600m to beat the veteran Lizard Island mare REPTILIAN by a length and a quarter.

Titbits

Lightly raced AZANIAH quickened well when getting up late to win the girls maiden 1200m.

Runner up in the MR68 Handicap over 1400m, DADDY’S COUNTESS ran on well after being carried out 350m from home.

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Top speedratings for this weekend include:-

Top rated winners last week included

Notebook:-

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