What A Gem

Queen In Command

Clairwood 6^th August: Followers of the money got off to a nice start at the garden course on Saturday when GOLDEN SHEIK (28) did the business in the opening maiden event over 1000m. Backed throughout the morning into 18/10 from 9/2, Dennis Drier’s charge was soon up handy. He was ridden to lead as they approached the 200m pole and kept on strongly in the closing stages of the race to beat the running on LAURENCE OFLENASIA by three quarters. The runner up ran on nicely on debut and looks sure to come on plenty next time.

The easiest victory in the maiden ranks was recorded by CHARRO NEGRO (30) in the 1600m event. Initially priced up favourite at 11/10 (sent off 16/10 second favourite), Joey Ramsden’s charge was a little slow into stride and to make matters worse, took a bump 600m out. Once given rein though, the son of Go Deputy quickened well and was already at the front 350m from home. He kept on strongly at the business end of the race and comfortably accounted for the unfancied SPACEBEAM (18) by two. Back in third was the well supported favourite RAILWAY BEST (14/10 INTO 9/10), who after leading 500m out, stayed on.

Race six on the card was a MR87 Handicap over 1800m and here we saw an impressive performance from the Commands filly QUEEN’S COMMAND (76). Always top of the boards (33/10 into 28/10), Glen Kotzen’s charge raced prominent throughout. She was asked to take up the running early in the home straight and with plenty in hand she went on to score by three and a quarter.

A MR96 Handicap over 1000m topped the bill and here favourite backers were again on the mark when the Yogis Govender trained BURAGH (75) did the business. The field of seven was always tightly bunched and as they passed the halfway mark just three lengths covered all. The well supported KINGS GOLD (12/1 into 15/2) was the first to make a move and struck the front 300m out. Buragh always had that one in his sights though, and when he loomed alongside 150m later, it soon became clear that the lightly weighted Kings Gold had found one better.

Titbits

Allowed to ease right out to 33/10 after opening up at even money in the maiden event over 1000m, the well bred newcomer PRINCE OF WINGS raced green after being slow into stride and running on nicely from the back at the finish was only beaten four lengths.

PUNK ROYALE ran on strongly to take second in the maiden event over 1800m.

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New Recruit

Turffontein 7^th August: They raced on the old stand side track on Sunday where victory in the opening workrider’s maiden event over 1400m went to the favourite CHILLI BABY (31). Allowed to ease a little at the track as money came for PIRATE’S BOUNTY (9/2 into 5/2), Chilli Baby lost a couple of lengths at the start, but despite that was soon up handy. She ran on best of all in the straight and after striking the front 230m from home, she easily accounted for INFALLIBLE by two and a quarter.

The afternoon’s feature event was a MR96 Handicap over 1160m and here a bit of an upset was to be had when the 1/3 favourite MR BLACK TOM got rolled. Sent off second favourite at 5/1, Paul Peter’s charge was taken straight to the front by Francois Naude and led throughout. He kept up a healthy gallop throughout and although the favourite raced close up in second, he didn’t relinquish an inch of his advantage over the final 400m.

A MR96 Handicap over 1600m was next up and here favourite backers were on the mark when the Geoff Woodruff trained HOUSE OF WAX (74) did the business. On leaving the stalls it was the easy to back D J DETZKY who elected to set the pace whilst House Of Wax sat some four lengths away in sixth. The well supported KALUROOZ JET was the first to make a move and struck the front 400m out. House Of Wax began to quicken nicely at that point though, and when he in turn put his head in front 120m from home, the money horse could find no extra. House Of Wax won well and is clearly on the upgrade.

The lucky last was a MR64 affair over 1400m and here the bookies again had to reach into their satchels when the 3yo PASCHAL MOON (26) landed the spoils. Sent off favourite despite being allowed to ease out to 16/10 from 9/10 at the track, Barend Botes’ charge was taken straight to the front by Weichong Marwing and led throughout. She raced three lengths clear for the vast majority of the journey and although HIGHTOWER did manage to make some headway late on, she still had a length to spare at the wire.

Titbits

Backed into favouritism in the MR88 Handicap over 1000m, KALAAM (33/10 into 22/10) ran on well after racing in the rear and was only beaten a length and a half. Her two recent wins had both been achieved over 1200m.

Shouldering 0,7kg overweight, the 33/1 shot GEORGE CROSS ran on well after receiving a severe bump 500m out and gaining at the finish only went down by the narrowest of margins in the MR78 Handicap won by Radiant Rock.

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Taking Off

Flamingo Park 8^th August: A maiden event over 1200m got proceedings underway in the Northern Cape on Monday and here an upset was to be had when the well tried SAVINIEN opened her account. Freely available at 25/1 on the off, the daughter of champion sire Jet Master was taken straight to the front by Musi Yeni and led throughout. She was always in command and although the well supported FUN TIDE chased hard in the straight, she went on to score comfortably by a length and three quarters.

The easiest victory in the maiden ranks on this card was recorded by the 4yo AIRANI when getting off the mark in the boys division over 1200m. Another to lead from pillar to post, Vernon Rugg’s charge soon had the field well strung out. He was four lengths clear going through the 400m and maintained that advantage all the way to the wire.

A Pinnacle Stakes over 1400m topped the bill and backed into favouritism here was the hat trick seeking HUNTERS GREEN. On leaving the stalls it was the rank outsider of the fourteen horse party SAFFRON BLUE who elected to set the pace whilst Vernon Rugg’s charge raced close up in seventh. He made his move early in the straight and after a thrilling tussle with both COMEDY CARAVAN and ARCTIC JET he went on to score fair and square by a half.

The final event on the card was a MR62 Handicap over 1400m and here we saw another smart performance from the improving TAKE OVER. A nine length winner in similar company last time out, Sean Miller’s charge not surprisingly found support on course and eventually left the stalls in the red at 9/10 after opening up at 16/10. She got away well when the gates opened and just as she had last time out, was soon at the head of affairs. She gave a nice kick at the top of the straight and only having to be pushed out hands and heels over the final 400m, she extended her length and three quarter advantage to five.

Titbits

Recent maiden winner ED’S ANGEL quickened clear nicely when winning the MR68 affair over 1800m.

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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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