Youngsters To The Fore

Made To Work

Scottsville 23^rd March: Favourite backers got off to a nice start in Pietermaritzburg on Sunday when GARDEN TREASURE did the business in the opening maiden juvenile plate over 1000m. On leaving the stalls it was the Dennis Drier trained newcomer BALKAN who elected to set the pace whilst the 14/10 favourite was always handy. Balkan kept on determinedly over the final 400m and with the rest some eight lengths adrift it was only close home that Garden Treasure struck the front. This was the fastest of the afternoon’s three 1000m events.

The faster of the two 1200m races was the maiden plate won by the newcomer LONDON CALL. Allowed to drift as if a win was out of the question (12/1 out to 33’s), Mark Dixon’s charge led from pillar to post. He was always in command and cruised in by five and a half.

The most notable performance of the four MR78 Handicaps that topped the bill was that of ADHIRA in the girls’ affair over 1950m. Drawn wide, Mike De Kock’s charge raced in midfield during the early part of the race. Once given rein though the daughter of Silvano quickened well and comfortably accounted for ROC ‘N ROSE by two after striking the front 200m out.

Titbits

The 7yo WARWICKADALE ran on strongly after having to switch out for a run when fifth beaten 2,1 lengths in the MR72 Handicap over 1200m.

.

Almost Five

Flamingo Park 24^th March:  Four of the nine races in the Northern Cape on Monday were run over 1200m and the fastest of these on my clock was the MR66 Handicap won by the 4yo KIRTLING TOWERS. Racing on sand for the first time, the son of Doowaley was soon up handy. He was ridden to lead as they approached the 300m pole and drew clear easily from there onwards to score by four.

The easiest victory on the card though was undoubtedly that of DASHING QUEEN in the opening maiden event over 1600m. Sent off second in the betting market at 15/4, the daughter of Ravishing led throughout. She stepped on the gas at the top of the straight and multiplied her one length advantage by ten on the run to the line.

The non-black type Flamingo Park Handicap over 1600m topped the bill and here victory went to the former Eastern Cape campaigner SIR ISAAC. Freely available at 10/1 on the off, the son of Newton raced eighth of the eleven for most of the journey. The in form BLUSHING GREY was the first to make a move in the straight and on striking the front 300m out it looked as if she would extend her winning sequence to five. Sir Isaac steadily reeled her in at the business end of the race though and got up nicely late to score by a half.

Titbits

CAPTAIN DE LAGO ran on stoutly from the rear when winning the MR69 Handicap over 1600m going away by a length and a quarter.

.

Easy Double

Vaal 25^th March: They raced on the sand on Tuesday where we saw a very comfortable victory in the opening maiden event over 1450m for the former Cape Town campaigner DOWN MEXICO WAY. Backed as if the result was already in the frame when making his first appearance since leaving the Cape at this circuit two runs back (10/1 here), David Rahilly’s charge was soon positioned close to the speed. He took up the running shortly after passing the 300m pole and drew clear easily from there onwards to score by four.

There were a number of very easy victories on the eight race program, but none more so than that of TOMMY GUN in the listed Riverside Handicap over 1450m. Nibbled at on course into 15/4 from 9/2, the 3yo son of Sail From Seattle led by just two for most of the journey. Once given rein though he quickly went clear and came home lonely by ten.

At the other end of the scale the shortest winning margin was the one length recorded by both GEMS APLENTY (maiden 1000m) and Rheims (MR80 Handicap over 1600m). Gems Aplenty made all whilst Rheims ran on stoutly from a handy position.

Titbits

The Argonaut filly JADE VINE cruised in by six and a quarter when making her debut on the surface in the maiden 1200m.

The Sean Tarry runners ACROSS THE ICE (pinnacle stakes 1000m) and JACKODORE (listed Nkosazana Stakes) won their respective races with plenty in hand.

.

To Be Sure

Kenilworth 26^th March: The Justin Snaith trained newcomer HARRY LIME found solid support throughout the morning to land the opening maiden juvenile plate in Cape Town on Wednesday and he didn’t let down his followers. Backed all the way in to 9/2 from 20/1, the son of Var led throughout. He was always a couple clear and although the uneasy favourite KING’S WORLD chased hard, he won well by two and three quarters.

Three of the afternoon’s nine races were run over 1200m and the fastest of these was the bill topping MR88 Handicap won by the 6yo Captain Al gelding CAPTAIN HARRY. Attempting to make all, Eric Sands’ charge was headed by CAPTIVE ACTION at one stage of the race, but fought back gamely late on to score by three quarters.

Race eight on the card was a MR80 Handicap over 1600m and here we saw another smart performance from the rapidly improving BLARNEY BAY. Sent off a well supported favourite at 5/2, the son of Nysaean was soon at the head of affairs. He was a length and a quarter clear turning for home and with the remainder some five and three quarter lengths adrift, he comfortably accounted for the running on GOLDEN DANE by two and a half.

Titbits

WET AUTUMN MIST ran on strongly from the backend of midfield when fourth in the MR75 Handicap over 1400m.

.

Eight Of Eleven

Vaal 27^th March: Thursday’s action took place on the inside track where amazingly eight of the eleven races were run over 1200m. The fastest of these somewhat surprisingly was the MR70 Handicap won by VELDDRIFTER. Racing off a mark some six points lower than his rating on sand the Windrush gelding was soon three lengths clear. He kept on strongly at the business end of the race and although the easy to back JOLLY GOOD SIR did manage to cut his advantage in half, he never looked like being overhauled.

A maiden juvenile plate for the girls over 1200m had gotten proceedings underway and here we saw an eye catching performance from the Sean Tarry trained newcomer RIO FILO. Freely available at 10/1 on the off (op 5’s), the daughter of Teofilo raced in midfield for most of the journey. She fairly flew past the 7/2 favourite LADY KY 150m from home and won in good style by four going away.

The easiest victory on the program was recorded by the best bet on the card for most SILENCE DESCENDS. Fifth to the very talented looking BANAADEER in the Storm Bird Stakes last time out, Silence Descends made all. He was always in command and won with authority by five and a half.

Titbits

More often than not seen out on sand, MAGIC SMOKE cut through the field like a knife after being baulked for a run twice when winning the MR76 Handicap over 2400m going away.

ICE GODDESS ran on well from midfield when getting up late to win the MR64 Handicap over 1200m.

.

Top speedratings for this weekend include:-

Top rated winners last week included

Notebook:-

FASTEST TIMES