Well Clear On Form

Scary Place

Kenilworth 19^th February: The easiest victory in Cape Town on Sunday was registered by ALL IS SECRET when getting off the mark at the first time of asking in the maiden juvenile event over 1200m. Sent off joint favourite at 14/10 (op 12/10), Vaughan Marshall’s charge was soon prominent. She was ridden to lead shortly after passing halfway and easily accounted for the other joint favourite SHE’S GOT IT by four.

Another to win well on this card was the recent maiden winner BRONCO BUSTER (4/1 into 3/1) who gained his second career victory from just six starts in the MR74 Handicap over 1400m. Nibbled at on course to go off a joint favourite with DAN PATCH (5/1 into 3/1), Joey Ramsden’s charge was taken straight to the front by Felix Coetzee and led throughout. He kept on strongly over the final 400m and although Dan Patch chased hard, he couldn’t make any impression after getting within two lengths.

The Gr3 Prix Du Cap over 1400m topped the bill and causing an upset here was the friendless CROC VALLEY. Allowed to ease right out to 22/1 from 14/1 at the track, Mike Bass’ charge raced towards the backend of midfield for most of the journey. Once in the straight though, she quickened best of all and under a well judged ride from Aldo Domeyer, she got up late to deny another unfancied individual in STREET RUNNER.

Titbits

Lightly raced ATAMASCO caught the eye running on nicely late when third in the maiden event over 1200m.

LORD PARAMOUNT was hampered late when third in the MR90 affair over 1400m.

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Saving The Day

Vaal 21^st February; Tuesday’s action took place on the turf where horses priced at 16/1 or more won the first three races. Sanity did prevail in the MR66 Handicap over 1400m though when the first of just two favourites on the card to oblige FINVARRA (34) did the business. Backed into 15/10 from 2’s at the track, the son of Fort Wood raced in midfield during the early part of the race. Once given rein though he quickened well and got up nicely late to beat MAKE SPACE by three quarters.

Another to win well from off the pace on this card was PACIFIC DESTINY (42) in the MR62 affair over 1400m. Running on from the rear after losing two lengths at the start, Wallace Tolmay’s charge ran on best of all and easily accounted for SPERO MELLIORA by two and three quarters.

The lucky last was a MR66 Handicap over 1000m and saving the day for some here was PRINCESS RUE (45). Sent off a rather uneasy favourite at 33/10, the daughter of Mogok was soon at the head of affairs. She kept up a healthy gallop throughout and although CAPITOLINE tried her best to make a race of it, she went on to score without any anxious moments by three.

Titbits

Racing in the rear after losing two lengths at the start, MR MAGIC was then baulked for a run 150m from home when running on to take third position in the MR65 Handicap over 1400m.

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Consistency Rewards

Greyville 21^st February: The first of just two favourites to arrive on Tuesday evening was TORRO BAY (59) who did the business in the MR78 Handicap over 1000m. Swiftly guided over from a widish draw by Stuart Randolph, the daughter of Cape Cross was soon in touch with the leaders. She quickened nicely at the top of the short home straight and after striking the front 150m out, she easily drew clear.

An allowance plate over 2000m was next up and on the mark here was the James Goodman trained LAS RAMBLAS (61). Sent off favourite at 15/10, Las Ramblas raced close up in third for most of the journey. She was ridden to lead shortly after passing the 200m marker and comfortably accounted for the friendless ATAIR by a length.

A MR92 Handicap over 1900m topped the bill and here it was nice to see the ultra consistent DANISH SILVER (55) register his sixth career victory. Adopting a change of tactics here, Yogis Govender’s charge led throughout. He was always clear and although ZEZINHO CAMPEAO chased hard over the final 400m, he went on to score by a length without any anxious moments.

Titbits

The well supported newcomer COUNTER RIDGE (10/1 into 13/2) won the maiden juvenile plate over 1000m with quite a bit in hand.

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Game Set And Match

Kenilworth 22^nd February: A maiden juvenile plate over 1200m got proceedings underway in Cape Town on Wednesday and here a major upset was to be had when one of the rank outsiders of the party HALF MOON HOTEL opened his account. Freely available at 66/1 on the off, the lesser fancied of Vaughan Marshall’s two runners raced in midfield during the early part of the race. He ran on strongly from halfway and under a well judged ride from Craig Du Plooy, he got up very late to deny the heavily supported STORMY RIDGE (33/1 into 9/1).

The afternoon’s feature event was a MR85 Handicap over 1600m and here it was nice to see the costly to follow MARGARET COURT make the bookies open their satchels. Perfectly placed in fourth by Bernard Fayd’Herbe, the daughter of Lake Coniston was always poised to strike. She did so going through the 200m and although the nibbled at pacemaker YOUNG CAESOUR kept on determinedly once headed, she went on to score very comfortably by two.

Also worthy of note on this card was the performance of BLUSHING GREY when winning the MR69 Handicap over 1600m. Surprisingly a winner of just one of her previous sixteen outings taking into account today’s effort, this lightly weighted daughter of Dupont raced towards the rear for most of the journey. She quickened best of all in the home straight and with the rest well beaten, she easily accounted for LOLA BUD by two and a quarter.

Titbits

Newcomer SHERIFF MARSHALL was finishing best of all when third to his lesser fancied stable companion in the maiden juvenile event over 1200m.

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Super Impressive

Vaal 23^rd February: They raced on the turf on Thursday where the best bet on the card for most SEA BOMB did the business in the opening workrider’s maiden event over 1000m. Taken straight to the front by Samuel Mosia, the heavily supported 1/5 favourite (op 9/10) led throughout. She was always in command and despite the efforts of the chasing THROUGH IT ALL, she went on to score, as an odds on favourite should, very easily.

The most impressive performance of the afternoon was undoubtedly that of the newcomer SKITT SKIZZLE (41) when getting off the mark in the maiden event over 1200m. Sent off a well supported favourite (13/10 into 15/20), Sean Tarry’s charge was soon prominent. He was ridden to lead as they approached the 400m marker and only having to be ridden with hands and heels in the closing stages of the race, he cruised in by ten with some in hand.

A MR90 Handicap over 1200m topped the bill and here we saw a smart performance from the Dynasty filly PACIFIC DYNASTY (63). Sent off joint second favourite at 5/2, Wallace Tolmay’s charge raced towards the rear for most of the journey. The field was always tightly bunched though and once given rein she soon began to make headway. She struck the front 150m from home and with the rest well beaten, she comfortably accounted for COME WITH ME by a length and a quarter.

Titbits

Improving EDICT again ran on best of all when getting up in the dying strides to win the bill topping MR93 Handicap over 1200m.

AHOY CAPTAIN and ACE OF HEARTS both ran on well from the rear when first and second respectively in the MR80 affair over 1400m.

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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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