Winter’s Coming

Out Of The Question

Fairview 29^th March: The easiest victory in the maiden ranks in Port Elizabeth on Friday was that of DESERT EMBLEM in the 1600m event. Allowed to drift as if a win was out of the question at the track (4/1 out to 12/1), Dorrie Sham’s charge raced in midfield during the early part of the race. He quickened well at the top of the long home straight and won going away by three and quarter after striking the front 200m from home.

Runner up to the subsequent winner MUCHO GOLD last time out, MAJOR MACDONALD was not surprisingly sent off a well supported favourite to win the maiden 2000m and he didn’t let down his followers. He was always handy and when the new recruit from Cape Town LAGO CUOMO struck the front 200m out he was already on his heels. Both ran on stoutly in the closing stages of the race and it was only by a half that the son of Toreador got the verdict.

The afternoon’s feature event was a MR89 Handicap and in what proved to be the fastest of the four 1800m races on the card the 5yo ZEZINHO CAMPEAO registered his fourth success. Another to drift considerably in the betting market (7/1 out to 15/1), the son of Hard Buck raced prominent throughout. He was ridden to lead as they approached the 300m pole and in what proved to be a real thriller he went on to score by a neck from the running on SKIPPYJON JONES.

Titbits

DRUMMINOR ran on well from the rear when getting up in the very last stride to win the MR73 Handicap over 1800m.

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Getting Into Gear

Greyville 29^th March: Favourite backers got off to a nice start in Natal on Friday evening when KAPITI COAST did the business in the opening maiden event over 1300m. Backed into 18/10 from 5/2 at the track, the Anton Marcus ridden son of Greys Inn stumbled leaving the stalls, but despite that was soon up handy. He gave his all in the short home straight and only got up in the very last stride.

Champion jockey Anton Marcus was also on the mark in the MR87 Handicap over 1600m when guiding the 3yo KING OF TORTS to victory. Drawn in pole position the son of Mogok got away well when the gates opened and was soon positioned close to the speed. He was ridden to lead shortly after passing the 300m marker and comfortably accounted for the 5yo OLD MAC DONALD by three quarters.

A MR89 Handicap topped the bill and in what proved to be the fastest of the three 1400m events MURMERING SKY landed the spoils. Freely available at 12/1 on the off, the stable companion to the favourite raced sixth of the nine for most of the journey. She quickened well when asked for her effort at the top of the straight and with the rest well beaten she won by a length from the running on FELIX THE CAT.

Titbits

Lightly raced BEAUTIFUL JET came from the rear when getting up in the very last stride to open her account in the maiden 1400m.

FIRE CURTAINand KINGSTON BOY both ran on well from the rear when 1^st and 3^rd respectively in the MR78 Handicap over 1000m.

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So Close, Yet….

Turffontein 30^th March: The Gr1 SA Classic, the second leg of South Africa’s Triple Crown, topped the bill on the old stand side track on Saturday and here all eyes were on the first leg winner TELLINA. Backed into 16/10 from 33/10 during the afternoon, Geoff Woodruff’s charge raced seventh and was only two and a half lengths off the pace going through the 400m. The KZN raider LOVE STRUCK had just hit the front at that stage and under a determined ride from Sean Cormack that one ran on stoutly. Indeed, Tellina had to give his all in the closing stages of the race, and very steadily gaining at the finish, he only failed to stay in line for a R2M bonus (awarded to the winner of all three legs) by the narrowest of margins.

One who did stay in line for a healthy bonus though was CHERRY ON THE TOP who couldn’t have been more impressive when winning the Gr1 SA Fillies Classic over 1800m. Deep in the red at 13/20 on the off, the Fillies Guineas winner was always handy. She was asked to take up the running going through the 600m and after quickly skipping clear she cruised in by five and a quarter.

Another to win very well on this card was ARCETRI PINK in the Gr3 Pretty Polly Stakes over 1100m. Backed into 12/10 from 2/1 at the track, the unbeaten daughter of Rock Of Gibraltar raced in midfield during the early part of the race. She quickened well passing halfway and easily accounted for the running on FOR THE LADS (winner of the Ruffian Stakes last time out) by two and a half after taking up the running 200m out.

Titbits

SLUMDOGMILLIONAIRE showed real guts and determination when marginally getting the better of WHITELINE FEVER in the Gr1 Horse Chestnut Stakes over 1600m. Interestingly, KNOCK ON WOOD finished best of all in this race.

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Via Cape Town

Clairwood 31^st March: Five of the ten races at the garden course on Sunday were run over 1000m and not surprisingly the fastest of these was the non-black type KZN Stakes in which the recent Cape Flying Championship runner up VIA AFRICA did the business. Deep in the red at 1/4 on the off, Duncan Howells’ charge was soon in her favourite position at the head of affairs. Her only serious rival in the betting market MISS OCTOBER chased hard throughout, but despite her efforts the favourite only had to be pushed out with hands and heels in order to score by two.

Another to win well on this card was GOLDRIDGE in the girls’ maiden event over 1600m. Positioned in midfield as the eleven runners swung for home, Kom Naidoo’s charge ran on best of all, and won going away by a length and a half.

The final event on the card was a 600m dash and here victory went to the classy CAPE ROYAL. Allowed to drift right out to 2/1 from 8/10 on course, the 3yo, as with the vast majority, raced prominent throughout. She ran on best of all below the distance and with some in hand she comfortably accounted for PINK MARTINI by three quarters.

Titbits

Returning from a 67 week layoff here, LIANCOURT ROCK ran on strongly from off the pace when only failing to win the pinnacle event over 1450m by the narrowest of margins.

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Top speedratings for this weekend include:-

Top rated winners last week included

Notebook:-

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