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Electrical Interference

Vaal 5^th January: Thursday’s action took place on the turf where because of continual close proximity to an electric storm the meeting had to be abandoned after just two races.

A Maiden Juvenile Plate over 1000m got proceedings underway and in a race where there was very little form to speak of victory here went to the newcomer SIZE DOES COUNT (4). Sent off favourite at 13/10, the daughter of Count Dubois was soon prominent. She was ridden to lead as they approached the 200m marker and drew clear nicely in the closing stages of the race to beat the running on second favourite RUN GIRL WILD by three.

What proved to be the final event on the card then was a maiden plate for the girls over 1400m and here victory went to the Paul Matchett trained SHE’S A LADY (28). Allowed to drift right out to 20/1 from 10’s at the track, the Captain Al filly raced in midfield for most of the journey. Once given rein though she quickened well and under a well judged ride from Gunter Wrogemann, she got up late to beat the uneasy favourite CINNAMON SPICE (15/10 out to 19/10) by a length.

Titbits

Making only her second racecourse appearance here, LADY’S DESIRE was running on from the rear when fourth, beaten just 2,25 lengths, in the maiden 1400m.

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Well Deserved

Fairview 6^th January: First up in Port Elizabeth on Friday was a maiden juvenile event over 1000m and here we saw a nice performance from the Var colt LORD JONATHAN. Close to the speed throughout, Lord Jonathan made his move going through the 400m. He struck the front as they approached the 100m marker and with the rest well beaten he comfortably accounted for the pacemaker GREENACRE by a length.

Race three on the card was a novice 1400m and in what proved to be a real thriller victory here went to the well tried THE BERRYMAN. Racing for only the second time after taking nineteen starts to win his maiden, The Berryman was always handy. The visiting favourite THE BALLADEER quickened nicely 300m from home and at that stage of the race he looked to have done everything right. The Berryman finished best of all at the business end of the race though and got up late to score by a neck.

A graduation event over 1200m was next up and here it was nice to see the costly to follow CHEKECHE register her second career victory. Nicely positioned in sixth as the sixteen runners went through halfway, the daughter of Kahal was always poised to strike. She ran on strongly over the final 600m and although both IRISH MAID and the well supported favourite SHE WOLFF (5/2 into 2/1) also finished well, she went on to win fair and square by three quarters.

The listed Lady’s Bracelet topped the bill and in what proved to be the most exciting finish of the afternoon victory here went to the Gavin Smith trained SAMMY JO. Always one to be seen running on stoutly from off the pace, the easy to back daughter of Dynasty (10/1 out to 14/1) was positioned in midfield as they rounded the turn. Once in the straight though she produced her usual burst of speed and in a race where only a neck separated the first three home, she got up in the very last stride to deny the Cape Town raider PLATINUM CAT.

Titbits

HARRY HALL made it two from two since relocating from Cape Town when winning the MR69 Handicap over 1200m.

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Green For Go

Kenilworth 7^th January: The first race for professional riders n Cape Town on Saturday was a Juvenile Plate over 1000m and here we saw another smart performance from the Justin Snaith trained THE BLACK ROSE.          Sent off a well supported favourite at 19/10 (op 5/2) the unbeaten daughter of Black Minnaloushe raced up with the speed throughout. She took command shortly after passing halfway and without having to be given a hard ride, she comfortably accounted for her stable companion (a winner of her only previous outing) CONISTON GOLD by two and a quarter.

The first of the afternoon’s two Gr1 events to be run was the prestigious Paddock Stakes and in what proved to be a very false paced affair victory here went to the 3yo THUNDER DANCE. Just six runners went to post and with none of them wanting to make the running they were barely going a canter for the first 200m. The favourite Beach Beauty reluctantly found herself in front and once in the straight she ran on strongly. Finishing best of all in what developed into a 500m sprint though, Thunder Dance picked her off late to score by a half.

Fortunately they set off at a brisk pace in the Gr1 Queen’s Plate and in what proved to be a real thriller victory here went to the easy to back GIMMETHEGREENLIGHT. Freely available at 13/1 on the off, Justin Snaith’s charge raced sixth for most of the journey, but with the confirmed front runner GIBRALTAR BLUE getting on with things up front she was easily seven lengths adrift as the eleven runners turned for home. VARIETY CLUB, the recent Cape Guineas winner had meanwhile raced second, and when he skipped three lengths clear 400m out it looked as if he would again run out a very easy winner. Undeterred though, the vastly experienced Piere Strydom steadily took Gimmethegreenlight through the gears and just as if scripted they got up close home to win by a half.

The listed Politician Stakes was next up and here we saw an impressive performance from the up and coming JACKSON. Confidently ridden by Karis Teetan, Brett Crawford’s charge sat in the rear for most of the journey. Once in the straight though the 3yo son of Dynasty quickened best of all and after striking the front 150m from home he easily accounted for SOLAR CAPTAIN by two and a quarter. Now a winner of three from four, Jackson won well again here and clearly has a very bright future ahead of him.

Titbits

Having only her second career outing here, ICE GODDESS ran on well from the rear when winning the workrider’s maiden event over 1000m.

After being caught for early toe, CAPTAIN DINO was running on strongly late in the juvenile plate won by the The Black Rose.

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By A Whisker

Turffontein 8^th January: They raced on the inner track on Sunday where we saw a very easy victory for the easy to back LOOKING FOR ERIC (30) in the maiden event over 1000m. Freely available at 15/1 on the off, Dominic Zaki’s charge was taken straight to the front by Nouresh Juglall and led throughout. He began to assert his authority at the top of the short home straight and cruised clear in the latter stages of the race to beat the running on favourite GOLDEN VEIL (8/10 into 11/20) by four and a half.

Another to win well in the maiden ranks on this card was ENCHANTED GUEST (33) when opening his account in the 1800m event. On leaving the stalls it was the well tried MATCHLESS FLAG who elected to make the running whilst the son of Hinton Wells raced close up in fifth. He quickened well as they came off the strip and kept on strongly after striking the front 300m from home.

The easiest victory on the card though was undoubtedly that of the highly regarded SLUMDOGMILLIONAIRE (61) who kept his unbeaten record in tact when winning the listed Sea Cottage Stakes over 1800m. Sent off favourite at 28/10, Gavin Van Zyl’s charge was soon up handy. He was ridden to lead shortly after passing the 400m marker and after quickly skipping clear he easily accounted for ZAMBUCCA by five and three quarters. Slumdogmillionaire won very well in this just his second career start and clearly has a bright future ahead of him.

The Gr3 London News Stakes topped the bill and in what proved to be a real thriller victory here went to the 5yo Kahal gelding SMANJEMANJE (90). Easy to back at 14/1 on the off, Tyrone Zackey’s charge was always well positioned close to the speed. He ran on well over the final 300m and accompanied all the way to the wire by the very talented THE APACHE, he surprisingly got the verdict over that one by the narrowest of margins.

Titbits

Running on from midfield, THE DUKE did well to reel in the favourite Roaming In Rome when opening his account by the narrowest of margins in the maiden event over 1450m.

Well supported favourite PIERRE JOURDAN (22/10 into 13/10) battled to get a run at the business end of the Gr3 London News Stakes and did well to get up for third after being hampered 300m out.

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Top speedratings for this weekend include:-

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Top rated winners last week included

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Notebook:-

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FASTEST TIMES

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