Winter Wonderland

11 Lengths Over 1200

Flamingo Park 1^st July: There were a number of easy victories in the Northern Cape on Monday, but none more so than that of the juvenile plate over 1200m in which HAWKSWORTH came home smoking. Deep in the red at 2/7 on the off, the son of Lecture raced fourth during the early part of the race. He was ridden to lead shortly after passing halfway and cruised clear over the final 500m to score by eleven.

Another to win with lengths to spare was EYE OF THE WORLD when registering his fourteenth career victory in the pinnacle stakes over 1800m. Usually one to run on stoutly from well off the pace, the son of Windrush adopted a change of tactics here and sat close up in third. He took up the running as they approached the 400m marker and drew clear easily from there onwards to win by five and a quarter.

In total three of the afternoon’s nine races were run over 1200m and the fastest of these was the MR84 Handicap won by the consistent METRO MAN. He got away well when the gates opened and soon up handy raced prominent throughout. He struck the front 200m out and comfortably accounted for KING’S GLORY by a length and a half.

The final event on the card was a MR68 Handicap over 1200m and running out an easy winner here was the Newton filly GYPSY FAIR. Freely available at 14/1 on the off, Gypsy Fair also raced handy. She began to assert her authority coming off the bend and won well by four and a quarter.

Titbits

Easily nine lengths adrift of the leaders coming off the bend, AIRANI ran on well from the rear when third (beaten 2 lengths) in the 1200m MR84 Handicap won by Metro Man.

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Winter Darling

Vaal 2^nd July: Favourite backers got off to a nice start at the Vaal’s outside track meeting on Tuesday when the aptly named WINTER DARLING did the business in the opening maiden juvenile plate over 1000m. Backed throughout the morning into 9/10 from 5/2, the daughter of Announce made all. She soon had the field strung out and went on to win very easily by four.

The faster of the two 1200m events on the card was the MR84 Handicap won by DENNIS THE MENACE. Up with the speed throughout, the son of Bezrin was forced to give his all over the final 300m and in what proved to be a real thriller he only got the verdict by the narrowest of margins over the easy to back MAGIC’S MAGIC.

A MR85 Handicap topped the bill and in what proved to be the fastest of the three 1400m races victory here went to the talented, but not so consistent FANZENE. Freely available at 18/1 on the off (op 10’s), the daughter of National Emblem raced prominent throughout. She moved through to take up the running as they approached the 300m pole and comfortably accounted for the 45/1 shot RAILS RUN by a length and three quarters.

The not so lucky last was a MR68 Handicap over 1400m and here victory went to the 3yo SHEEN QUEEN. Always handy, Ernie Anderson’s charge ran on strongly over the final 400m and won well from the improving MOGGYTWOSHOES.

Titbits

Strongly fancied KALAMATA BABY clipped heels and fell when moving up to challenge 300m out in the maiden 1400m.

Baulked 250m out, SAMMY SILVER finished strongly after switching out for a run when fourth in the MR68 Handicap over 1600m.

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Smart 2yo’s

Durbanville 3^rd July: Racing at the country course on Wednesday got underway with a maiden juvenile plate over 1400m and here we saw a very easy victory for the aptly named favourite IN THE FAST LANE. Always in the red, Justin Snaith’s charge sat fifth during the early part of the race. She took up the running going through the 400m and despite being eased down late, she cruised in by nine and a half.

There were three races run over 1400m in total and the fastest of these was the maiden event won by the 2yo PAOLO. In the rear as the eight runners turned for home, the son of Casey Tibbs ran on best of all and in what proved to be a real thriller he got up in the very last stride to deny the luckless O JALLAD. ADOREYOUTOO also finished well in this race.

A MR80 Handicap over 2400m topped the bill and here it was nice to see BRITISH BANKER land the spoils. Winning for the first time since breaking a bloodvessel earlier in the season, Joey Ramsden’s charge led throughout. He kept on determinedly down the long home straight and in another very tight finish he only got the verdict by the narrowest of margins over the 3yo BORDERED IN GREY.

The final event on the card was a MR74 Handicap over 1600m and here we saw a smart performance from the 6yo PASADERA. Never the quickest into stride, the Dynasty mare was guarding the rear as the fourteen runners came off the bend. She cut through the field like a knife in the straight and won going away by a length and a half after striking the front close home.

Titbits

Third, beaten just 2 lengths in the boys’ division of the maiden juvenile plate over 1400m, the lightly raced PHIRI E KWATILE ran on well after having to switch out for a run 300m from home.

AZANIAH and POUNCE both ran on very well after being baulked for a run when 2^nd and 3^rd respectively in the MR70 affair over 1000m.

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Patient Tiger

Vaal 4^th July: Thursday’s action took place on the sand where we saw an eye catching performance in the opening juvenile plate over 1200m from the uneasy favourite TIGER QUEST. Allowed to ease right out to 14/10 from 6/10 at the track as money came for both NOT SULKING and CYBER SPACE, the Where’s That Tiger filly was caught for early toe and was easily eight lengths adrift going through halfway. Once into stride though she quickly worked her way through the field and after striking the front 300m later she easily drew clear.

The fastest of the three 1200m events on the card was the bill topping pinnacle stakes won by the top weight ACROSS THE ICE. Thrown in at the weights with all except the only female in the race FOLLOW THE PIPER, Sean Tarry’s charge was soon positioned close to the speed. He was ridden to lead as they approached the 400m marker and won very comfortably by two. Second placed Follow The Piper finished very strongly from the rear in this race, as did the fourth placed runner BAY ROUTE.

The 5yo OLYMPIC SPRING was all the rage to win the lucky last, a MR68 Handicap over 1800m, and the Parade Leader mare didn’t let down her supporters. Eventually sent off as the favourite at 14/10 after opening up at 4/1, Olympic Spring was always handy. She took up the running at the 600m pole and although the friendless BEAUTIFUL DAWN (18/1 out to 40/1) chased hard, she went on to land the gamble very easily by three and a half.

Titbits

At the head of affairs throughout, WHITE PARTY opened her account in the maiden 1450m with authority by six and a half.

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Top speedratings for this weekend include:-

Top rated winners last week included

Notebook:-

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