Worth The Wait

Few To Follow

Turffontein 8^th March: They raced on the old stand side track on Saturday where not surprisingly the Mike De Kock trained BANAADEER was sent off a very short priced favourite (1/5) to win the listed Storm Bird Stakes over 1000m. An impressive eight length winner of his only previous outing, the son of More Than Ready once again led throughout. He was always in command and although both KISS ME HARDY and JO MALONE tried their best to make a race of it, he won very cosily by three and a quarter.

The 2yo fillies contested the listed Ruffian Stakes and here the stable of Mike De Kock were again on the mark when the newcomer MAJMU did the business. Backed into 12/10 from 5/2 at the track, the grey daughter of Redoute’s Choice lost 2 lengths at the start and raced in the rear early on. Under a confident ride from Anthony Delpech though, she steadily worked her way through the field. She struck the front 100m out and with some in hand won going away by a length and a quarter.

Race two on the card was a maiden plate over 1160m and here we saw a very impressive performance from the 3yo DOLLAR DAZZLER. Having only his second career start here, the son of Var raced fourth during the early part of the race. He was asked to take up the running going through the 400m and with a ton in hand he ran out a very easy winner by ten!

The fastest of the afternoon’s three 1160m races was the listed Bauhinia Handicap and here we saw a smart performance from the lightly raced 3yo WINTER PASSION. Seeking a hat-trick here, the Var Filly was soon up with the speed. She ran on strongly at the business end of the race and did have the runner up HONORINE held at the wire by a half.

Races 8, 9 and 10 were postponed due to the weather.

Titbits

GLASSWING ran on well from the rear when fourth in the non-black type Gold Rush Sprint over 1100m.

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Three From Ten

Clairwood 8^th March: This was the meeting originally scheduled to take place on Friday 7^th March at Greyville. A maiden plate over 1000m got proceedings underway at the garden course on Saturday and in a very tight finish victory here went to the 16/10 favourite BEE MY HONEY. On leaving the stalls it was the deposed second favourite GIRLFRIEND (5/2 out to 4/1) who elected to make the running whilst Bee My Honey raced close up in fourth. Girlfriend kept on determinedly below the distance and it was only in the very last stride that Bee My Honey got her whiskers in front.

At the other end of the scale the biggest winning margin on the card was just the 2,25 lengths recorded by SAKANIA when winning the MR70 Handicap over 1450m. Swiftly guided over from a widish draw by Sean Cormack, the Mon Sang filly made all. She kept on strongly down the long straight and won comfortably.

Three of the afternoon’s eight races were run over 1600m and the fastest of these was the bill topping MR96 Handicap in which DELAWARE BAY registered his third career victory. Sent off as one of three outsiders of the eight horse party at 14/1, Charlie Laird’s charge raced close up in second for most of the journey. He was ridden to lead shortly after passing the 300m marker and kept on strongly late to beat the running on FOURTH ESTATE by a length and a quarter. Delaware Bay has now won three from ten.

Titbits

Seven lengths adrift of the leaders after being a little slow into stride, MAGICAL DYNASTY ran on strongly from the rear when only beaten a neck in the maiden 2000m.

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They Got The Money

Scottsville 9^th March: The races around the bend at this meeting were run on the old course and not as originally scheduled.

The Mike De Kock trained newcomer MASTERMIND (7/10 into 1/3) was backed as if defeat was out of the question in the maiden juvenile plate over 1200m, but it was by no means as easy as the support had suggested it would be. The son of Var faltered shortly after leaving the stalls, but despite that was soon up handy. He looked to be under pressure going through the 400m and those buying money must have been coming to terms with their losses. He seemed to suddenly realise what was expected of him at the 100m pole though, and only really getting going late he won going away by three quarters.

The stable of Mike De Kock were also on the mark with a newcomer in the fillies division of the maiden juvenile 1200m when PINE PRINCESS did the business. Another to find heavy support (3/1 into 13/20), the daughter of Captain Al was always well positioned to strike in third. She made her move as WHAT ABOUT ME (3/1 out to 10/1) struck the front 350m from home and with the remainder left trailing in their wake she got up late to win going away by a length and a quarter.

Three of the afternoon’s eight races were run over 1400m and the fastest of these was the MR72 Apprentice Handicap won by PLATE OF PLATINUM. Freely available at 20/1 (op 10’s) on the off, Ivan Moore’s charge was positioned in the backend of midfield for most of the journey. He ran on strongly in the straight and under a well judged ride from the 4kg claimer Mathew Thackeray, he got up late to score by a length.

Titbits

Prior to easily winning the MR73 Handicap over 2400m, the Tony Nassif trained TRUE STRENGTH found good outside support into 16/1 from 33’s.

Out at the weights with many, the 25/1 shot EDUCATED came from the back of the field when winning the conditions plate over 1400m.

YESAN STAR and IL PALIO (beaten 0,95 lengths) both ran on strongly from the rear when 2^nd & 5^th respectively in the maiden plate over 1400m.

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Top speedratings for this weekend include:-

Top rated winners last week included

Notebook:-

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