Weighted To Win

Easy Does It

Fairview 9^th December: Favourite backers got off to a nice start in Port Elizabeth on Friday when DREAMING BEAUTY landed the odds in the opening maiden event over 1200m. She got away well when the gates opened and raced up with the speed throughout. She kept on strongly at the business end of the race and comfortably accounted for the well tried ICE ON FIRE by three quarters.

The easiest victory on the card was undoubtedly that of MARIONETTE who came home smoking in the MR66 Handicap over 1600m. Well supported on course to go off favourite at 7/2 (op 5/1), George Uren’s charge raced seventh for most of the journey. The field was closely grouped as the sixteen runners turned for home though and once given rein she quickly began to make headway. She hit the front going through the 300m and drew clear easily in the closing stages of the race to beat one of the deposed joint favourites TIGER CAT (4/1 out to 11/2) by five and a half.

Another to win well in handicap company on this card was ETON MESS who registered his fifth career victory in the MR90 affair over 1800m. Allowed to drift right out to double his opening price of 8/1 before the off, Alan Greeff’s charge as per usual raced towards the rear early on. He made his move early in the home straight and after striking the front 150m from home, he comfortably accounted for the supported outsider SUPERFEDERATION (33/1 into 18/1) by a length and a half.

A MR73 Handicap over the same distance was next up and in a time almost identical to that of Eton Mess victory here went to the improving CARSON CITY. A very easy winner in the maiden ranks in his previous start, Carson City was soon up handy. He was ridden to lead going through the 200m and with some in hand, he comfortably accounted for LUCKY FLAG by a length and a half. Now a winner of two of his three outings since relocating to the Eastern Cape, the 3yo Carson City won well and is clearly one to keep tabs on.

Titbits

Running on from midfield, VICTORIALAINE did well to get the better of the useful Jervis close home in the MR74 Handicap over 2700m.

FOREST DIGGER ran on well from off the pace in the graduation event over 1400 and did well to get within three quarters of a length of the winner Cool Conqueror.

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Steeplechase Margins

Vaal 10^th December: This was the meeting originally scheduled to take place on the inner track at Turffontein.

They raced on the turf on Saturday where the first of two very easy victories was recorded by MUSHREQ (63) in the novice 1800m. Taken straight to the front by Anthony Delpech, the 15/20 favourite led throughout. He was two lengths clear going through the 400m and despite the efforts of the chasing second favourite BARACAH on the run to the line, he extended his advantage to seven and a half.

The easiest victory on the card though was that of SUPER PURSUIT (32) who came home smoking in the maiden event over 1450m. Another to make all, the lightly raced daughter of Silvano fairly cruised clear at the business end of the race and with some in hand came home lonely by eleven, one to follow.

At the other end of the scale, the first of two very close finishes went to ASSOGIA WOOD (45) in the afternoon’s feature event, a MR94 Handicap over 1450m. On leaving the stalls it was the nibbled at EMIR who elected to make the running whilst Assogia Wood raced some seven lengths adrift in midfield. The Sean Tarry trained ACROSS THE ICE was the first to make a move and on striking the front 200m from home, he looked to have done everything right. Assogia Wood ran on stoutly under a determined ride though and in what proved to be a real thriller, he got up in the dying strides.

Also worthy of note on this card was the performance of LOUVRE (60) in winning the MR90 affair over 1600m. Soon into stride, Weiho Marwing’s charge led throughout. She was always travelling well and although QUEEN MIRA chased hard over the final 400m, she went on to score by a length and a half without any anxious moments.

Titbits

PENNY FARE was reported as having a slipped saddle when only failing to get the better of Himalayan Hill by the narrowest of margins in the MR72 affair over 1600m.

1800m maiden winner PRISTINE found extra when headed 300m out and fought back gamely to win going away by a length.

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Confidence The Key

Kenilworth 10^th December: The first race for professional jockeys in Cape Town on Saturday was a maiden juvenile plate over 800m and here favourite backers were on the mark when CAPTAIN DINO did the business. Sent off at 15/10 in a field of sixteen newcomers, Dennis Drier’s charge was soon up handy. He hit the front shortly after passing the 200m marker and with some in hand, he comfortably accounted for TIGER’S CHARM by a length and a half.

A maiden event for the girls over 1400m was next up and here we saw a much improved performance from the Western Winter filly LA BELLE HELENE. Unable to get within five lengths of a winner in her two outings since returning from a break in November, Mike Bass’ charge raced towards the back end of midfield for most of the journey. Once given rein though, she quickened well and after striking the front 150m from home, she drew clear in good style late to win by a length and a half. La Belle Helene won very well here and is clearly one to keep tabs on.

Race five on the card was a MR90 Handicap over 1000m and here it was nice to see the speedy VARUSHKA manage to keep her head in front. As per usual very quick into stride, the daughter of Var led throughout. She kept on determinedly at the business end of the race and although the well supported favourite PUNTA DEL ESTE chased hard over the final 300m, he couldn’t make any impression.

Topping the bill was the Gr2 Premier Trophy run over 1800m and here we saw a nice performance from the up and coming CHESALON. Nibbled at into 5/1 from 6’s at the track, the son of Fort Wood was always in touch with the leaders. He was asked to take up the running as they approached the 200m marker and ran on strongly in the closing stages of the race to beat last year’s winner CASK by three quarters of a length.

Titbits

Supported throughout the day, THE LACEWORK KID (8/1 into 33/10) won the MR73 Handicap over 1000m with authority.

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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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