Winter In Durban

Reason To Be Cheerful

Vaal 13^th June: A workrider’s maiden event over 2000m got proceedings underway on the inside track at the Vaal on Thursday and here it was nice to see the Announce gelding GOLDEN RING gain just reward for his consistency. Allowed to ease out to 3/1 from 22/10 at the track as support came for the favourite DARK REIGN (8/10 into 13/20) Ormond Ferraris’ charge was always handy. He was ridden to lead going through the 400m and with the rest well beaten he comfortably accounted for the pacemaker NICK OF TIME by two and three quarters.

There were five 2000m races on the card in total and by far the fastest of these was the MR68 affair won by SHIMMERING GEM. Adopting very similar tactics to those used by Golden Ring, the 3yo took command going through the 400m, and won well by two from the running on INDIAN GIANT. The runner up didn’t find the clearest of passages and finished well after switching out for a run.

Race two on the card was a maiden plate over 1200m and here we saw a smart performance from the Geoff Woodruff trained newcomer NOT SULKING. On leaving the stalls it was TELL MY STAR who elected to make the running, whilst having lost three lengths at the start, the daughter of Trippi initially raced in the rear. In the hands of the vastly experienced Robbie Fradd though, Not Sulking steadily worked her way through the field. Indeed, she ran on best of all and in what proved to be a real thriller she got up to deny the frontrunner in the dying strides.

A conditions plate over 1000m topped the bill and here victory went to the heavily supported favourite GENUINE LEATHER. Allowed to flirt with 5/10 at one point after opening up at 21/20, the lightly raced daughter of Kabool was soon up with the speed. She ran on stoutly at the business end of the race and after a classic tussle with EASTERN GREETING she got the verdict by a half.

Titbits

Heavily supported on her return from a nineteen month break (4/1 into 16/10), the favourite BANCHORY broke down both fore tendons after finishing third in the girls’ maiden 1200m.

Only beaten a neck, JET FOR JOY was hampered 150m out when running on to take second position in the girls’ maiden 2000m.

1^st and 2^nd respectively in the MR68 Handicap over 2000m, the very well weighted VERROCHIO and MADAME MING (baulked 400m) both ran on well from off the pace.

.

Slipper Fits Darling

Fairview 14^th June

The ultra consistent ONE TRACK MIND was all the rage to win the opening maiden juvenile event over 1200m in the Eastern Cape on Friday, but once again he found one better. Up with the pace throughout, Alan Greeff’s charge ran on strongly at the business end of the race, but couldn’t hold off the running on newcomer HE’S A NADOE.

There were four events over 1200m on the eight race program and the fastest of these was the MR78 Handicap won by Vauclair. Positioned in midfield early on, Tara Laing’s charge ran on strongly from halfway and in what proved to be a real thriller he only got the better of BREEZING THROUGH in the very last stride.

At the other end of the scale the easiest victory on the card was recorded by MISS IMPERIAL when opening her account in the girls’ maiden 1200m. Another to run on stoutly from midfield, the 9/10 favourite took up the running 250m out and drew clear easily in the closing stages of the race to score by three.

The listed Lady’s Slipper Stakes for 2yo’s over 1400m topped the bill and here we saw a nice performance from the Western Cape raider DARLING MOON. Favourably drawn in gate two, Justin Snaith’s charge was always handy. The friendless newcomer TAIPAI TIGRESS (36/1 out to 90/1) was the first to make a move and she did have the rest well beaten after striking the front 200m from home. Darling Moon was running on strongly at that point though and got up late to win going away by a half.

Titbits

SERVICE OF SILENCE ran on well from the back end of midfield when getting up late to win the boy’s division of the maiden 1200m.

.

Money The Key

Turffontein 15^th June: They raced on the old stand side track on Saturday where backed as if unbeateable in the opening maiden plate over 1160m was the newcomer DIE KAT (23/20 into 11/20). Michael Azzie’s charge got away well when the gates opened and soon up handy held every chance. Fellow newcomer DUTY DANCE also raced handy though, and finishing strongly got the verdict by two and a quarter after taking up the running 200m out. Die Kat only really got going late and could come on plenty for the run.

Four of the afternoon’s nine races were run over 1400m and the fastest of these was the MR72 Handicap won by CITY TREASURER. Freely available at 14/1 on the off, the lesser fancied of Dominic Zaki’s two runners raced fifth for most of the journey. His stable companion KEAGAN’S JET was the first to make a move and struck the front going through the 600m. City Treasurer was just beginning to get into gear at that point though and under a well judged ride from apprentice Jarryd Penny he got up late to beat that one by a length and a quarter.

Race seven on the card was a conditions plate over 1400m and here it was nice to see the 4yo daughter of Indigo Magic GO INDIGO find her form. Well below best in 2013 until signalling a return to form last time out, Leon Erasmus’ charge raced seventh of the ten early on. In what was always a tightly bunched field though Go Indigo quickened well over the final 300m and in what proved to be a real thriller she only got the verdict by a neck over KNOCK AND ANNOUNCE.

A pinnacle stakes over 1000m topped the bill and in a race where just six went to post victory here went to the King Of Kings gelding CROWN GOLD. The 6/10 favourite VALBERG made the running and with the field well strung out going through the 400m it looked as if he had already got the race in the bag. His stride did begin to shorten quite considerably late on though, and perfectly placed in second Crown Gold quickly took advantage.

Titbits

The 6/10 favourite DOVER BEACH won the girls’ juvenile plate over 1400m very comfortably by three.

.

Rocket Propelled

Kenilworth 15^th June: The going was once again soft in Cape Town on Saturday where victory in the bill topping MR90 Handicap over 1400m went to the 3yo RECALL TO LIFE. Freely available at 25/2 on the off, the son of Greys Inn was positioned in the back end of midfield as the eleven runners turned for home. Once in the straight though he ran on strongly and got up late to beat the running HALF MOON HOTEL fair and square by a half.

Another to win well from off the pace was JOHNNY ROCKETS when gaining his third career victory from just six starts in the MR80 Handicap over 1800m. He quickened well after not finding the clearest of passages and won going away by a length from the useful MAN FROM JAPAN.

The fastest of the three 1000m events on the card was the MR72 Handicap in which BOBBY JAMES was successful. Initially carded as a reserve runner, Justin Snaith’s charge was always handy. He took up the running as they approached the 200m pole and comfortably accounted for TOP SPEC by a length and a quarter.

Titbits

The newcomer HIGHLY DECORATED ran on well from midfield when fourth in the girls’ division of the maiden 1000m.

Well supported COUNTS ROCKET (10/1 into 4/1) cruised clear in the latter stages when winning the maiden juvenile event over 1600m going away by six and a half.

.

Top speedratings for this weekend include:-

Top rated winners last week included

Notebook:-

FASTEST TIMES