Weighted To Score

Smart Debut

Vaal 6^th March: They raced on the turf on Tuesday where victory in the opening workrider’s maiden event over 1400m went to the friendless STUNNING JET (28). Allowed to drift right out to 15/1 from 8/1 at the track, Michael Azzie’s charge was soon up handy. She was ridden to lead as they approached the 200m marker and easily accounted for the regular place getter LECTURE MOMENTS by three and a quarter.

A maiden juvenile event over 1000m was next up and here victory went to the newcomer VALBERG (49). Backed into even money from 15/10 at one stage, Valberg was taken straight to the front by Gavin Lerena and led throughout. He was always in command and although CELLARMASTER (beaten just 2,25 lengths by the subsequent listed Storm Bird Stakes winner SOFT FALLING RAIN last time out) chased hard, he went on to score by two and a quarter.

The easiest victory on the card was recorded by COSMOGENIC (43) when opening her account in the maiden 1200m. Another to make all, Cosmogenic began to assert her authority going through the 300m and won with some in hand by three and three quarters.

A MR93 Handicap over 1200m topped the bill and here an upset was to be had when BE ASSURED registered his fourth career victory. Positioned in the rear going though halfway, Kom Naidoo’s charge ran on best of all at the business end of the race and in what proved to be a real thriller he got up late to deny the joint favourites HIDDEN RAVE and EDICT.

Titbits

Running on stoutly from the rear, NAPOLEON DYNAMITE finished best of all after having to switch out 300m from home and only failed to get to the lightly raced winner TIGER FLASH by the narrowest of margins.

Recent maiden winner TERRA MARIANNA ran on strongly late when winning the MR71 Handicap over 1400m.

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More Of Him

Durbaville 7^th March: A maiden juvenile event over 1000m got proceedings underway at the country course on Wednesday and here victory went to the deposed favourite HAMMIE’S HOOKER (24). Allowed to ease right out to 13/10 from 7/10 during the morning as support came for her only serious rival in the betting market OUR WAY (18/10 into 11/10), the daughter of Trippi was soon positioned close to the speed. She was asked to take up the running early in the straight and with plenty in hand, she easily accounted for the 12/1 shot GIRL’S BEST FRIEND by three and three quarters.

Another to win well in the maiden ranks on this card was EUROPE TO AFRICA (31) who did the business for favourite backers in the 1600m event. On leaving the stalls it was the nibbled at CAPE FLORAL (opened 10/1 touched 6’s) who elected to make the running whilst Europe To Africa raced close up in second. The winner was visibly cruising as she moved through to take up the running 400m out and went on to score comfortably by two and a half.

A MR72 Handicap over 1200m was next up and here the in form stable of Yogis Govender were on the mark when MORE OF ME registered his second career victory. He was always handy and in a race where only two and a half lengths separated the first five home, he quickened nicely late to get the better of the recent maiden winner CALLISTO MOON by three quarters.

The afternoon’s feature event was a MR78 Handicap over 1400m and here victory went to the well supported CAVALLI (63). Backed into 22/10 from 4/1, Cavalli was soon up handy. He was ridden to lead shortly after passing the 400m marker and went on to score comfortably by two and a quarter.

Titbits

HIJACKED ran on strongly from the rear when only beaten a neck by Cool River in the MR69 Handicap over 1800m.

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What A Gamble

Vaal 8^th March: Thursday’s action took place on the turf. A maiden juvenile event over 1000m was first up and here a major upset was to be had when the lesser fancied of Leon Erasmus’ three runners KLEINTJIE (19) landed the spoils. Freely available at 66/1 on the off, the daughter of Bezrin was always handy. She ran on strongly from halfway and after striking the front 150m from home, she comfortably accounted for another outsider in SPANISH VICTORY by two.

The talented SHEA SHEA (97) in the Conditions Plate over 1100m was the best bet on the card for most and he didn’t let down his supporters. Backed into 17/20 from 11/10 on course, Geoff Woodruff’s charge was soon at the head of affairs. He was almost four lengths clear going through the 400m and with a ton in hand, he didn’t surrender an inch of his advantage on the run to the line.

A maiden event over 1200m was next up and all the rage here was the newcomer AEROFOIL (56). Backed throughout the day into 18/10 favourite from 14/1, Lucky Houdalakis’ charge was always positioned close to the speed. He quickened well from halfway and after striking the front 200m from home, he cruised clear to score by five with plenty in hand.

Race five on the card was a MR87 Handicap over 1200m and completing a smart hat-trick here was

the 4yo PACIFIC DYNASTY (64). Sent off second favourite at 3/1, Wallace Tolmay’s charge raced in midfield for most of the journey. She was produced with her usual strong late run and in what proved to be a thrilling finish she got the better of the nibbled at SIMPLY BLUE by a half.

Titbits

Initially priced up favourite to win the MR73 Handicap over 1200m, the friendless SPEED DIAL (3/1 out to 15/2) caught the eye running on strongly after being a little slow into stride.

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Flying Late

Greyville 9^th March: Favourite backers got off to a nice start in Natal on Friday evening when the newcomer MAIN DANE (42) did the business in the opening maiden event over 1600m. Backed into 15/10 from 18/10 at the track, Mike De Kock’s charge lost a length at the start and very quickly found himself positioned towards the rear. Once given rein though, the son of Fastnet Rock quickly began to work his way through the field and easily accounted for the pacemaker SADHU by two and a quarter after striking the front 100m from home. Main Dane won well and is clearly one to keep tabs on.

After guiding Main Dane to victory, champion jockey Anton Marcus went on to ride the first four winners on the card, the last of which was PRINCESS RASTA (37) in the maiden event over 1400m. Usually one to run on from off the pace, Garth Puller’s charge adopted a change of tactics here and raced close to the speed. She always poised to strike and went on to score comfortably after doing so 200m out.

A MR72 Handicap over 1400m was next up and here it was nice to see the well tried STUNNING GUY (43) register his second career victory. The 9/1 shot WUNDABAR was the first to make a move in the straight and on striking the front 200m from home, he looked to have done everything right. Clearly relishing the drop in class though, Pat Lunn’s charge ran on best of all and in what proved to be a real thriller, he got up in the dying strides.

The evening’s feature event was a MR90 Handicap over 2000m and here we saw a smart performance from the Yogis Govender trained STORM SAGAZ (65). Backed throughout the evening into 11/2 from 10/1, Storm Sagaz was always in touch with the leaders. He didn’t find the clearest of passages when the race began in earnest and it was only after switching out for a run 150m from home that he really got going. Storm Sagaz produced a very nice turn of foot once seeing daylight though and in eye catching fashion he got up late.

Titbits

JOIE’S WINTER ran on stoutly from midfield when a runner up to Princess Rasta in the maiden event over 1400m.

At the head of affairs throughout, PINTARI quickened well in the straight and won the maiden event over 2000m by 6,75 lengths.

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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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