Weighted To Bloom

Smart Double

Fairview 1^st March: The easiest victory in Port Elizabeth on Friday was undoubtedly that of WINTER FANTASY in the opening maiden juvenile event over 1000m. Soon up with the speed, Alan Greeff’s charge quickened away nicely from the 300m marker and in what proved to be a fast time he won very well by five and a half. One to follow.

Although the official times show otherwise, the fastest of the three 1000m events on my clock was the pinnacle stakes won by the classy 3yo SEDGE. Another to run on stoutly from a handy position, the son of Silvano had to give his all over the final 300m and in what proved to be a real thriller it was only in the very last stride that he got his whiskers in front of the pacemaker VILLANDRY.

There were also three 1200m events on the card and the fastest of these was the MR86 Handicap in which the Cape Town raider VILLA DEL LARGO did the business. Sent off a well supported favourite at 11/10 (op 18/10), Justin Snaith’s charge sat in midfield for most of the journey. Once given rein though he quickly began to make headway and although the hat-trick seeking LONDON PERFECT chased hard and had the rest well beaten, he went on to score with authority by two and a half.

The listed Lady’s Pendant over 1200m topped the bill and here the stable of Justin Snaith were also on the mark with the Captain Al filly VICTORIAN SECRET. Adopting similar tactics to those of Villa Del Largo, Victorian Secret ran on best of all and won very comfortably by a length and a quarter from the running on FLASHING STAR.

Titbits

DO OR DYE ran on well from off the pace when winning the graduation plate over 1600m going away.

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Fillies Faster

Turffontein 2^nd March: They raced on the old stand side track on Saturday where the easiest victory amongst the four maiden races was recorded by JUST FANTASIZE in the girls’ 1400m event. Confidently ridden by Fanie Chambers, the Right Approach filly sat in the rear during the early part of the race. Once given rein though she soon began to make headway and won going away by two after striking the front 200m from home.

In terms of prize money the Gr2 Guineas over 1600m topped the bill and in what proved to be a real thriller victory here went to the Silvano colt TELLINA. Well supported during the afternoon into 6/1 from 12’s, Geoff Woodruff’s charge was guarding the rear as the sixteen runners turned for home. The field was always closely grouped though and when asked for an effort he quickly began to make headway. Most were still in contention going through the 400m and in what proved to be a real thriller he got up late to deny last season’s Gr1 Golden Horseshoe winner WAR HORSE.

Contrary to the official times I clocked the Gr2 Fillies Guineas won by CHERRY ON THE TOP the fastest of the afternoon’s three 1600m events. On leaving the stalls it was FIRE WHEEL (later reported as having choked up in running) who elected to set the pace whilst Ormond Ferraris’ charge sat close up in fifth. She moved through to take up the running as they approached the 300m marker and comfortably accounted for the running on DO YOU REMEMBER by two and a quarter.

The faster of the two 1400m events on the card was the Gr2 Hawaii Stakes and here it was nice to see the talented WHITELINE FEVER back in the number one box. Freely available at 6/1 on the off, Sean Tarry’s charge raced in midfield during the early part of the race. He quickened well as they approached the 500m pole and won well by a length after taking it up 300m out.

Titbits

AMUR AFFAIR skated clear very easily over the final 200m when winning the Gr3 Acacia Handicap over 1600m by five and three quarters.

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Flying Machines

Clairwood 3^rd March: The best bet on the card for most at the garden course on Sunday was FRANNY in the conditions plate over 1000m and she didn’t let down her supporters. Always deep in the red Franny raced second for most of the journey. The pacemaker CHERRY TRIPPER, under 4kg claimer Craig Zackey, set a brisk pace and going through the 300m it was already evident that she had the rest well beaten. The classy Franny quickened nicely at that point though and won well after hitting the front 100m later.

Another to win well on this card was THE FLYING MACHINE in the maiden 1200m. Sent off favourite at 3/1, Dennis Drier’s charge raced seventh of the fifteen for the first half of the race. Once given rein though she quickened well and after taking up the running 200m out he went on to score with some in hand by two.

There were four 1200m events on this card in total and the fastest of these was the MR86 Handicap won by ISLAND FIESTA. He raced up with the speed throughout and went on to score comfortably by two after asserting his authority at the 200m marker.

The non-black type Umsinzi Handicap topped the bill and in a time surprisingly slower than the only other 1800m race on the card, a maiden plate, the 3yo DYLAN’S PROMISE registered her fourth victory from just ten starts. She got away well when the gates opened and soon at the head of affairs led throughout. She was two lengths clear at the top of the long home straight and despite the efforts of the running on SHIMMERING JET she extended her advantage to three.

Titbits

The newcomer DREAMBYTHEMASTER (Laird/Marcus) made all when winning the maiden 1800m in a faster time than that of his stable companion Dylan’s Promise when winning the non-black type Umsinzi Handicap.

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Top speedratings for this weekend include:-

Top rated winners last week included

Notebook:-

FASTEST TIMES