Triple Two

Ten Wins For Piper

Vaal 6^th December: Thursday’s action took place on the sand where victory in the opening maiden event over 1000m went to the well supported outsider POWER JET. Backed into 10/1 from 25’s at the track, Leon Erasmus’ charge was soon up handy. He was ridden to lead as they approached the 200m marker and drew clear easily in the closing stages of the race to beat his supported stable companion FAMOUS CHARMER (50/1 into 14/1) by five and a quarter.

Another to win well after finding good outside support was JETSONS in what proved to be the fastest of the three 1000m events, a MR72 Handicap. Eventually sent off at 7/1 after opening up at 20’s, the lightly weighted son of Gilded Time was always handy. He was asked to take up the running going through the 400m and kept on strongly late on to beat one of the rank outsiders of the fourteen horse party DANZIG’S ODDS by a length and a half.

Nine time winner FOLLOW THE PIPER was the best bet on the card for many and she didn’t let down her supporters. Sent off favourite at 13/10, Sean Tarry’s charge was soon positioned close to the speed. The second favourite SOLARIUM set the pace and going through the 300m it looked as if the daughter of Var might well go on to make all. Confidently ridden by log leader Pierre Strydom though, Follow The Piper steadily began to edge closer and just as if scripted she got up late.

Also worthy of note on this card was the performance of UNCLE TOMMY in winning the MR88 Handicap over 1450m. Trying the sand for the first time the R2,4M son of Kahal raced fifth of the seven for most of the journey. He took a while to get going when the race began in earnest and only found top gear below the distance. Once finding that gear though he fairly flew and did very well to get up late.

Titbits

SMART GIRL was finishing best of all when only beaten 1,75 lengths by Follow The Piper in the bill topping conditions event over 1200m.

.

On The Move

Fairview 7^th December: The fastest of the three maiden races over 1200m in Port Elizabeth on Friday was won by the Justin Snaith trained SPACONE. Allowed to flirt with 10/1 at one stage after opening up at 7’s, the lightly raced son of Western Winter was soon positioned close to the speed. He quickened nicely at the business end of the race and won going away after striking the front 100m from home.

The only other event over 1200m was a MR68 Handicap and in a time considerably faster than that of Spacone, the 6yo COMEDY CARAVAN registered his eighth career victory. Freely available at 20/1 on the off, Grant Paddock’s charge was taken straight to the front by Sandile Khathi and led throughout. He kept on strongly at the business end of the race and with the rest well beaten he comfortably accounted for another 20/1 shot RIGHT OF ADMISSION by a length and a quarter.

There was also an upset in the fastest of the three 1800m events, a graduation plate, when CRYSTAL KIRSTEN recorded her third career victory. Another to start at 20/1, Alan Greeff’s charge raced prominent throughout. Running on from off the pace, the favourite SHOW TIME was the first to make a move and on striking the front 200m from home, she looked to have done everything right. Crystal Kirsten found extra at that point though and kept on strongly after she in turn struck the front 100m later to beat the fancied RUSHING ELF by a length and a quarter.

The afternoon’s feature event was the non-black type Glendore Sprint over 1000m and in what proved to be a real thriller victory here went to the 6yo son of Captain Al NEVER FOREVER. On leaving the stalls it was the speedy BANDOL who not surprisingly made the running and still going strong 200m out it looked as if he would go on to land first prize. Running on stoutly from the rear though, the former Natal campaigner Never Forever closed in quickly late and got up in the very last stride.

Titbits

MING WARRIOR came from midfield when wining the third division of the maiden 1200m very easily by three and a quarter.

.

Mr Fantastic

Turffontein 8^th December: Saturday’s action at the Big T got underway with a maiden event over 1000m and here we saw an improved performance from the 3yo DANISH BLUE. Backed into favouritism at the track (7/2 into 22/10), the daughter of Atso led throughout. She was always in command and with the rest well beaten she comfortably accounted for NATIONAL LADY by a length and a half.

A maiden juvenile plate over 1000m was next up and in a race where just five runners went to post the Black Minnaloushe colt KANDAHAR was backed at if unbeatable. Deep in the red at 5/10 on the off, Joey Soma’s charge was quickly two lengths clear. He was only asked for an effort 250m from home and after quickly extending his advantage he was eased down late to score by five.

Another to win impressively on this card was FANTASTIC MR FOX when successful in the afternoon’s feature event, the listed Secretariat Stakes over 1400m. Detached at the rear going through halfway, Paul Matchett’s charge was looking unlikely to place let alone win. Once given rein though he fairly flew and in eye catching fashion he got up late to deny the nibbled at COOKIE MONSTER (7/1 into 5/1).

The faster of the two 2000m events on the card was the MR94 affair in which GO GOLD registered his second career victory. Priced up at 9/1 in the six horse field, Spike Lerena’s charge raced close up in third for most of the of the journey. He quickened well when the race began in earnest and won comfortably after striking the front 140m from home.

Titbits

Initially priced up as joint favourite at 7/2 (sent off at 5’s), the newcomer MAGIC APPROACH caught the eye running on late when fifth to Danish Blue in the maiden 1000m.

HIGH HORSE LADY won the girl’s maiden event over 1400m going away.

FLAMING FORGE ran on strongly from the rear when a 1,25 length runner up in the MR70 Handicap over 1600m.

.

Top speedratings for this weekend include:-

Top rated winners last week included

Notebook:-

FASTEST TIMES