What A Blessing

Impressive Flyer

Greyville 7^th October: Favourite backers got off to a good start in Natal on Friday evening when GORONGOSA (60) did the business in the opening MR78 Handicap over 2400m. Deep in the red at 11/20 on the off (op 7/10), Mike De Kock’s charge wasn’t the quickest into stride and as a result she raced towards the rear during the early part of the race. Just eight had gone to post though and once in the home straight she made up the ground quickly. She hit the front 150m from home and went on to score very easily by four and a quarter.

The most impressive performance on the night was undoubtedly that of Gorongosa’s stable companion SILVER FLYER (75) in the MR95 Handicap over 1400m. Allowed to ease out to 22/10 from 15/10 favourite at the track as money came in buckets for the 4yo EXCUSE MY FRENCH, Silver Flyer sat four lengths off the pace in sixth for most of the journey. He made his move coming off the bend and after striking the front 150m from home, he went on to beat the useful Excuse My French going away by two and three quarters. Now a winner of two from four, Silver Flyer could well be a top sort in the making.

The evening’s feature event was the listed Michaelmas Handicap over 1900m and in what proved to be a real thriller victory here went to the recent Clairwood winner STORM SAGAZ (67). Freely available at 12/1 on the off, Yogis Govender’s charge raced in midfield early on. He moved up to dispute matters at the 200m marker and in a race where less than half a length covered the first four home, he just got the better of one of the 9/2 joint favourites KOLKATA.

Also worthy of note on this card was the performance of WHITELINE FEVER (33) in winning the final event on the card, a maiden plate over 1600m. Swiftly guided over from a wide draw by Robbie Fradd, the well supported favourite (2/1 into 15/10) was always in touch with the leaders. He quickened well when given rein coming off the bend and after striking the front shortly after passing the 300m marker, he easily accounted for the easy to back DENOZZO by three and a quarter.

Titbits

SARASINI winner of the maiden event over 1000m looked to win a bit more easily than the official winning margin of just a neck would suggest.

RAPID FLOW was finishing best of all when third to Storm Sagaz in the listed Michaelmas Handicap over 1900m.

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Red Hot Stable

Turffontein 8^th October: Globetrotter Mike De Kock has been in devastating form in the last few meetings in Gauteng and he bagged the first of his five winners at the inner track on Saturday when FRONTINO GOLD (38) opened his account in the second division of the maiden 1450m. Allowed to ease out to 28/10 from 2/1 at the track, the son of Hussonet was always handy. He was ridden to lead as they approached the 300m marker and with the rest well beaten, he went on to beat the odds on favourite STROLLER by a length and a quarter.

The two Gr3 feature events were amongst Mike’s four successes on this card, the first of which was the victory of GIBRALTAR BLUE (84) in the Joburg Spring Challenge over 1450m. Sent off a strong favourite at 11/10 (op 16/10), Gibraltar Blue as per usual was very quickly at the head of affairs. He ran on strongly in the short home straight and although the hat trick seeking JET JAMBOREE ran on stoutly from off the pace, he went on to win without any anxious moments by two and three quarters. Keep an eye on the runner up Jet Jamboree. Out at the weights with most here, Jet Jamboree finished well and is clearly better than his current mark would suggest.

The girls division of the Joburg Spring Challenge was next up and here we saw a nice performance from the very promising Oasis Dream filly WELWITSCHIA (80). Sent off a joint favourite with the very talented DANCEWITHTHEDEVIL, Mike De Kock’s charge was always nicely positioned close to the pace. She moved through to take up the running shortly after passing the 400m marker and although Dancewiththedevil did make some headway from the rear under a very hard ride from Gavin Lerena, she went on to win very comfortably by two and a quarter.

The lucky last was a MR76 Handicap over 1800m and here followers of the money were sent home happy when BETA (59) did the business. Backed throughout the afternoon into 3/1 from 6’s, Sean Tarry’s charge had not drawn well and as a result he raced towards the back end of midfield early on. Coming off the strip though, he quickened well and after striking the front 150m from home, he went on to score comfortably from WILDEST DREAM by a length and a quarter.

Titbits

1/5 Favourite IN A SECOND held every chance when beaten in the first division of the maiden 1450m.

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Speedy Stuart

Clairwood 9^th October: The easiest victory in Natal on Sunday was recorded by SING THE BLUES (25) in the opening maiden event over 1200m. Taken straight to the front by Ian Sturgeon, the daughter of Dynasty soon had the field well strung out. She was three lengths clear going through halfway and although I GOT YOU BABE and VIVA MARIA both chased hard, she extended her lead to four over the final 500m.

The best bet on the card for many was ROCKY BAY (25) in the maiden event over 1450m and although there were some anxious moments, he didn’t let down his supporters. A little slow into stride, the 8/10 favourite raced at the back of the ten for most of the journey. He began to take closer order early in the long home straight, but it was only in the very last stride that he got his whiskers in front.

Race eight on the card was a novice 1200m and here victory went to the lesser fancied of Sean Tarry’s two runners MARY STUART (38). Allowed to drift right out to 15/1 from 7’s at the track as her stablemate EXTRA ZERO found support into 75/20 (op 6/1), the recent maiden winner was soon at the head of affairs. She was always a couple of lengths to the good and although Extra Zero tried hard to get on terms at the business end of the race, she never surrendered an inch of her advantage. Mary Stuart is now unbeaten in two starts.

The not so lucky last was a maiden event for the girls over 1200m and here a major upset was to be had when the friendless newcomer NORDIC ECLIPSE (36) opened her account. Freely available at 50/1 on the off, Yogis Govender’s charge raced in the rear during the early part of the race. On reaching halfway though she quickened well and under a well judged ride from Sean Veale, she got up late to beat the much more fancied BRATALOOCHEE by a length and a quarter.

Titbits

After losing a length at the start, the heavily supported newcomer GOLDEN CHATEAU ran on very well in the closing stages of the second division of the maiden 1200m and did well to get within a length and three quarters of the heavily supported winner Joshuas Crown (9/2 into 17/10).

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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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