Royal Ending

Arlington 23rd July
It’s A Record
First up in Port Elizabeth on Friday was a maiden event over 1000m and in what proved to be a real thriller victory here went to the Yvette Bremner trained OXFORD DON (28). Nibbled at on course to go off at 11/2 (op 7/1), Oxford Don raced in midfield during the early part of the race. He ran on best of all from halfway and with the rest well beaten, he did very well indeed to reel in the strongly fancied NELL GWYNN in the very last stride.
A Pinnacle Stakes over 1000m was next up and here all eyes were on the local favourite HEAR THE DRUMS (102). Looking to gain his 33rd win here which would break the South African record, Hear The Drums, a little surprisingly, was allowed to ease out to even money from 7/10 before the off. Our champion jockey elect Anton Marcus had especially made the trip to ride him, and he wasn’t disappointed. He did have to work though. With the pace throughout, Hear The Drums was challenged strongly by OCEANS AWAY over the final 300m and it was only by three quarters of a length that he prevailed.
Apart from Hear The Drums, the best bet on the card for most was LOCKHEED (27) in the maiden event over 1400m. Beaten just 3,5 lengths in the Champion Juvenile Stakes last time out, Gavin Smith’s charge was not surprisingly sent off deep in the red at 6/10. Confidently ridden by Warren Kennedy, the son of Victory Moon was always in touch with the leaders. He was asked to take up the running shortly after passing the 300m marker and kept on strongly on the run to the line to beat MILLION MILES by three quarters.

Kenilworth 24th July
Progressive Youngsters
Race two in Cape Town on Saturday was a Maiden Juvenile Plate over 1200m and here we saw a nice performance from the Dean Kannemeyer trained DARCY’S ARCY. Having only his second career start here, the son of Spectrum was content to sit towards the rear during the early part of the race. The field was always tightly bunched though and as they passed halfway, he was only four lengths off them. He quickened best of all at the business end of the race and after striking the front 100m from home, he easily drew clear.
Another to win well in the maiden juvenile ranks here, albeit by a much smaller margin, was BARCELONA WINTER. Confidently ridden by Bernard Fayd’Herbe, the Western Winter filly raced in midfield early on. She moved up to dispute matters as they approached the 200m pole and at that stage the easy to back BLUE ON BLUE threw down a determined challenge. Whereas Blue On Blue had to give her all on the run to the line though, Barcelona Winter was just doing the necessary. The official winning margin was only a neck, but Barcelona Winter won much more easily than that would suggest.
The easiest victory on the card was undoubtedly that of HARRIS who came home smoking in the last, a maiden event over 1400m. Nicely drawn in gate three, Harris got away well when the gates opened and in what soon became a strung out field, raced close up in second. He was asked to take up the running at the top of the straight and after quickly going clear he cruised in by five and a quarter.

Turffontein 24th July
Getting The Bug
They raced on the old stand side track on Saturday where the easiest victory on the card was recorded by the Michael Azzie trained JUNE BUG (31). Sent off a very strong favourite at 15/20, the daughter of Cataloochee was taken straight to the front by apprentice J P Van Der Merwe and led throughout. She held just a two lengths lead for most of the journey, but once given rein, she easily kicked clear. June Bug won by eight and is clearly one to keep tabs on.
Another favourite to win very well on this card was BLUE BABY JEAN (40) who did the business in the maiden event over 2000m. Backed throughout the day into 15/20 from 16/10, Geoff Woodruff’s charge raced in midfield during the early part of the race, some four lengths off the pace set by MILESANMORE. She began to take closer order early in the home straight and after striking the front 200m out, she easily drew clear.
A MR90 Handicap over 1400m topped the bill and here we saw a nice performance from the 4yo Kitalpha gelding PLEASANT VALLEY (67). Allowed to drift right out to 5/1 from 28/10 at the track as money came in buckets for the former Cape Town campaigner REBEL KNIGHT, Pleasant Valley got away well when the gates opened and was nicely positioned in fifth. He moved through to take up the running 250m from home and kept on strongly in the closing stages to beat the running on FIRST UP by a half.

Scottsville 25th July
Flying Late
A Maiden Plate over 1200m got proceedings underway in Natal on Sunday and although the victory of the newcomer HOT ROCKET was an upset for most, somebody landed a very nice gamble. Backed into 10/1 from 33/1 during the morning, the son of Bezrin was soon up handy. He was asked to take up the running passing halfway and after quickly stealing a march, he kept on strongly in the latter stages to beat the running on CASEY’S WAR by a length and a quarter.
The afternoons’ feature event was the Off To Stud Handicap run over 1800m and in a race where trainer Glen Kotzen saddled the first two home, victory here went to the well supported RECONCILE. Sent off a joint favourite at 3/1 (op 9/2), the daughter of Silvano sat towards the rear during the early part of the race. Her stable companion CLEMATIS made the running and as they turned for home Reconcile was easily seven lengths adrift. Indeed, Reconcile still had some three lengths to find 150m from home. Reconcile was fairly flying at that point though, and with the rest well beaten, she got up in the dying strides.
Also worthy of note on this card was the performance of LANCELIN in winning the MR86 affair over 1600m. Showing no signs of needing this first outing since December, Lancelin was soon up handy. He was ridden to lead as they approached the 300m marker and kept on strongly in the closing stages to beat the running on HENCHMAN by a length and a quarter.