Young And Old

Big Margins

Vaal 29^th March: Thursday’s action took place on the turf where the first of a number of very easy victories on the card was recorded by BERMUDA BOWL in the opening workrider’s maiden event over 2000m. Taken straight to the front by Samuel Mosia, the 15/10 favourite led throughout. She was always clear and went on to win unchallenged by seven.

The easiest victory on the card was registered by the newcomer UMNEEYATEE when opening her account in the maiden juvenile event over 1200m. Backed into favouritism at 12/10 (op 22/10), Mike De Kock’s charge was soon up with the speed. She began to assert her authority going through the 400m and drew clear easily late to score by eight and three quarters. Umneeyatee won well and is clearly useful.

There was a major upset in the second division of the maiden juvenile 1200m when the heavily supported favourite CAT’S GAME got rolled. Backed all the way in to 1/3 from 8/10, Cat’s Game didn’t break well and soon found herself positioned in the rear. She had gotten to within a length and a half of the front running SEA SHADOW 400m out, but when that one turned on the heat 100m later, she couldn’t go with her. Sea Shadow won by seven and a quarter.

The lucky last was a maiden event over 1700m and here the title chasing Gavin Lerena gained his third win on the card when the heavily supported favourite PYLON sent the locals home happy. Backed throughout the afternoon into 9/10 from 18/10, the son ofFortWoodwas always handy. He was asked to take up the running 600m from home and after quickly going clear, he easily accounted for the well tried IBHOLA by five and a half.

Titbits

Running on best of all, LUMINOUS LOVE came from the rear when winning the MR72 Handicap over 2000.

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A Merry Dance

Arlington 30^th March: First up on Friday was a maiden juvenile plate for the girls over 1000m and here we saw a nice debut performance from the Alan Greeff trained THE SMART KINGDOM. Well supported at the track into 3/1 second favourite from 6’s, the daughter of Var was soon up handy. She ran on strongly at the business end of the race and with the rest left trailing in her wake, she got up late to deny the aptly named pacemaker GUIDED ARROW.

A maiden event over 1400m was next up and here victory went to the friendless daughter of daylami PINDAN BLUE. Allowed to drift right out to 33/1 from 14/1 at the track, Gavin Smith’s charge raced in midfield during the early part of the race. Once in the short home straight though, she quickened well and under a well judged ride from apprentice Andrews she comfortably accounted for the well supported favourite DANCERS GRACE. Keep an eye on the runner up Dancers Grace. She ran on at least as well as the winner over the final 200m.

The afternoon’s feature event was a pinnacle stakes over 1600m and looking to extend his winning sequence to seven here was the 7yo son of Mogok TOMCAT. As expected it was the heavily supported DANCING KIWI (9/2 into joint 22/10 favourite) who elected to make the running whilst fellow joint favourite Tomcat raced some seven lengths away in third. Dancing Kiwi as per usual kept on determinedly in the straight and although Tomcat was reeling him in over the final 400m, he still had a length and a quarter to spare at the wire.

The final event on the card was a MR70 Handicap over 2000m and here victory went to the formerNatalcampaigner BATH OLIVER. Making his first appearance since relocating to theEastern Cape, Bath Oliver raced in the rear and was many lengths adrift of the leaders as they turned for home. Undeterred though, Barend Vlooh took him through the gears and in what proved to be a real thriller he got up to deny the easy to backEMBLEMPARKin the dying strides.

Titbits

Running on from the rear, recent winner ICY ZONE finished at least as well as the winner when runner up in the MR74 Handicap over 1000m.

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A Real Champion

Turffontein 31^st March: The first of eight graded races to be run on the stand side track on Saturday was the Gr3 Pretty Polly Stakes over 1100m and as expected victory here went to the favourite FRANNY (54). Deep in the red at 3/10 on the off, the daughter of Trippi soon made her way to the front. She kept up a healthy gallop throughout and although STRAIGHT SET (reported coughing and lost a shoe) tried her best to make a race of it, she went on to score very comfortably by three.

The juvenile boys contested the Gr3 Protea Stakes and here followers of the money were on the mark when the aptly named WAR HORSE (40) did the business. Backed into 15/10 favourite from 5/1 at the track, Corne Spies’ charge raced a few lengths off them in midfield for most of the journey. Once given rein though he steadily worked his way through the field and under a well judged ride from Fanie Chambers he got up late to deny the nibbled at MOGOK’S DESIRE.

The Gr3 Jacaranda Handicap over 1800m was next up and here victory went to the lesser fancied of Mike De Kock’s two runners CHECCETTI (78). Freely available at 14/1 on the off, Checcetti ran on best of all and comfortably accounted for his stable companion FLIRTATION (19/10 favourite) going away.

The first Gr1 event to get underway was the 1600m Horse Chestnut Stakes and here we saw another smart performance from DANCEWITHTHEDEVIL (104). Allowed to drift out to 33/10 from 22/10 on course despite being best in at the weights, St John Gray’s charge as per usual raced towards the rear for most of the journey. Once in the long home straight though, she quickened best of all and after striking the front 300m out, she easily drew clear.

GIMMETHEGREENLIGHT was sent off favourite to win the Gr1 SA Classic over 1800m and on striking the front 400m out, the raider from theWestern Capelooked to have done everything right. He could find no extra when challenged approaching the 200m marker and was later reported as lame on the near fore. Victory instead went to the highly regarded SLUMDOGMILLIONAIRE (81). Sent off second favourite at 7/2, Slumdogmillionaire made the early running and after rallying gamely to regain the lead 200m out, he just held on by the narrowest of margins from the faster finishing POMODORO.

The best bet on the card for most was DELIVER THE POWER (89) in the Gr3 Man O’ War Sprint over 1100m and he didn’t let down his supporters. Deep in the red at 1/4 on the off, the very well weighted son of Toreador raced fifth during the early part of the race. He was ridden to lead going through the 200m and although AMERICANO also finished well, he went on to score comfortably by a length and a quarter.

Titbits

The well supported 7/2 favourite ILHA BELA didn’t find the clearest of passages when running on stoutly to take third, beaten just a neck in the Gr1 SA Fillies Classic over 1800m.

Detached at the rear for most of the journey, RIGHT BEAUTY ran on well to take fourth (beaten 3,75 lengths) in the Gr3 Man O’ War Sprint.

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Top speedratings for this weekend include:-

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Top rated winners last week included

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Notebook:-

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FASTEST TIMES

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