Western Heritage
Kenilworth 18th August: The going was again heavy in Cape Town on Saturday where victory in the opening maiden event over 1200m went to the friendless newcomer AWESOME POWER. Freely available at 55/1 on the off, Glen Puller’s charge was soon in touch with the leaders. He ran on strongly from halfway and after a thrilling tussle with the more fancied WILMINGTON he got the verdict by a half.
The ultra consistent GOOI MIELIES gained a well deserved victory in the third division of the maiden 1200m. Backed into 18/10 from 28/10 at the track, the 3yo son of Var was taken straight to the front by Morne Winnaar and led throughout. He began to assert his authority going through the 300m and went on to score comfortably by two and a quarter.
The Gr3 Champagne Stakes over 1200m topped the bill and here we saw a smart performance from the Mike Bass trained NORTHERN HERITAGE. Easy to back at 18/1 on the off, Northern Heritage sat in the rear for most of the journey. He cut through the field like a knife when given rein 400m out and under a well judged ride from Brandon Morganrood he got up late to beat KWITIZINA by a length and quarter.
A MR76 Handicap over 1700m was next up and here we saw a gutsy performance from the 6yo Western Winter mare COOL RIVER. Drawn in pole position, Eric Sands’ charge got away well when the gates opened and led throughout. She kept on determinedly at the business end of the race and just held on by the narrowest of margins from the 4yo MASAI PRINCESS.
Titbits
After being baulked for a run at a crucial stage of the race, GAME OVER was running on strongly at the finish when fifth in the MR78 affair over 1200m.
It was a similar story with COSMIC FLOWER in the MR78 Handicap over 1200m. She too finished well after being baulked for a run.
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Quick Step
Scottsville 19th August: They raced in Pietermaritzburg on Sunday where an upset was to be had in the maiden event over 1000m when the lesser fancied of Dennis Drier’s two runners ANDREAS opened his account. Stable companion LORD AL had been backed as if unbeatable (11/20 into 1/3) and prominent throughout (later reported as being cut on the near hind and hanging) held every chance. Andreas finished much the stronger over the final 200m though and went on to score quite comfortably in the end by a length and a quarter.
A MR98 Handicap over 1000m topped the bill and here we saw a smart performance from the nibbled at SIDESTEP (10/1 into 8/1). One of a herd of runners performing at their peak from the stable of Alec Laird at the moment, Sidestep raced at the back and had to be switched out for a run when asked for his effort. Once seeing daylight though the son of Mogok finished by far the best and won going away after striking the front 100m from home.
In terms of distance the easiest victory on the card was recorded by EMALIYAMI in the maiden 1600m. Swiftly guided over from a wide draw by Anthony Delpech, the daughter of Rock Of Gibraltar raced close up in second. She was ridden to lead early in the straight and drew clear easily over the final 400m to win by five and a quarter.
Another to come home lonely was MISS FILLY in the conditions event over 1600m. Clearly very well weighted in our book, the Modern Day mare was soon up handy. She was ridden to lead going through the 300m and won very easily by four.
Titbits
After losing two lengths at the start and racing detached in the rear, the newcomer SAN VICENZO fairly flew over the final 400m and did well to get within 2,75 lengths of Andreas in the maiden 1000m.
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In A Rush
Scottsville 21st August: Racing returned to Scottsville on Tuesday where a major upset was to be had in the opening maiden event over 1200m when the lesser fancied of Mike De Kock’s two runners EMERALD APPROACH got off the mark at the first time of asking. Freely available at 40/1 on the off, the son of Right Approach raced in the rear and looked to have more than enough to do going through halfway. Running on stoutly under little known apprentice Zackey though, Emerald Approach fairly flew over the final 400m and got up very late. One to look out for next time from this race is runner up SWIFT AND STRONG. Also making his debut here, Swift And Strong raced alongside Emerald Approach throughout and was only beaten by the narrowest of margins.
The costly to follow REGAL RACER was sent off favourite to win the maiden event over 2400m, but once again he found one better. Perfectly positioned in second turning for home, Regal Racer held every chance, but try as he might he couldn’t reel in the front running CAPTAIN CHARLIE who answered every call.
Topping the bill was a MR100 Handicap over 1600m and here we saw a nice performance from the 4yo IN A RUSH. A short head winner over last season’s Champion race horse Variety Club when winning the Gr3 Champion Juvenile Cup in Port Elizabeth fourteen months ago, In A Rush was soon up handy. He was ridden to lead as they approached the 200m marker and kept on strongly late to beat the running on ROMAN WALL by a length. Roman Wall had raced in the rear and finished particularly well.
The not so lucky last was a MR80 Handicap over 1600m and in a race where the Quartet paid over R40000 victory here went to the ultra consistent 7yo HENCHMAN. Running on stoutly in a race where the vast majority of the thirteen were still in contention going through the 300m, Henchman took up the running 200m out and won well.
Titbits
Beaten favourite TAKADUM only got going very late when finishing runner up in the maiden 1600m.
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Top speedratings for this weekend include:-
Flamingo Park Race 1: No Qualifiers Race 2: (1) Kiwi Island 5 (EW) Race 3: No Qualifiers Race 4: No Qualifiers Race 5: (5) Kiriya 34 Race 6: (11) Eli Vincit 31 Race 7: (6) Beast Of Burden 45 Race 8: (8) Clearly Keen 33 Race 9: (6) Lunar Lee 82 (EW) Clairwood Race 1: (1) Indigo Child 33 Race 2: (11) Olivealice 29 (nb) Race 3: (7) Tappin’The Stars 13 Race 4: (4) Party Rocker 20 Race 5: (2) Manjur 43 Race 6: (10) Jet Set Model 60 Race 7: (7) Hors D’oeuvre 79 Race 8: (5) Pilot Mike 57 Race 9: (3) Savannah Leigh 43 (NAP*) Race 10: (1) Regal Breeze 28 Kenilworth Race 1: (2) Our Dizzy Emblem 22 Race 2: (3) Western Movie 18 Race 3: (1) Maltese Falcon 30 Race 4: (8) Man From Japan 49 Race 5: (9) Madame Rooney 71 Race 6: (2) Amber Palace 65 Race 7: (10) Talent Scout 54 Race 8: (13) Pasadera 51 Vaal Race 1: No Qualifiers Race 2: (5) Radiant Rock 70 Race 3: (3) Levanto 9 Race 4: (10) Gallic Bay 22 (NAP*) Race 5: (8) Blue Nile 65 Race 6: (14) Acquiesce 51 Race 7: (9) Smart Girl 61 Race 8: (8) Wings Of An Angel 42 Race 9: (1) Sugar And Shake 14 .
Top rated winners last week included
Miss Filly won 14/1 Cool River won 8/1 Fleuriste won 7/2 Sanshaawes won 33/10 Mozart’s Giovanni won 22/10 Gooi Mielies won 18/10 Deliver The Power won 1/1 Aconcagua won 9/20 .Notebook:-
Northern Heritage (M Bass, W-Cape) San Vicenzo (P Lafferty, KZN) Sidestep (A Laird, KZN) .FASTEST TIMES
(Shown in brackets is the number of races run in each category)Kenilworth 18th August Fastest Sprint 1000-1300 (6) Awesome Power Fastest Middle 1400-1800 (4) Sanshaawes Fastest Long 1900-3600 (0) No Qualifiers . Scottsville 19th August Fastest Sprint 1000-1300 (4) Sidestep Fastest Middle 1400-1800 (4) Miss Filly Fastest Long 1900-3600 (0) No Qualifiers . Scottsville 21st August Fastest Sprint 1000-1300 (2) Friar Tuck Fastest Middle 1400-1800 (3) In A Rush Fastest Long 1900-3600 (3) Shimmering Jet
