Beauty And The Beast

The Word Was Out

Scottsville 10^th November: Three of the ten races in Pietermaritzburg on Sunday were run over 1600m and the fastest of these was the MR82 Handicap won by CARIBBEAN DAY. On leaving the stalls it was SHOES ‘N COMPANY who elected to make the running whilst Mark Dixon’s charge raced close up in fifth. He ran stoutly over the final 400m and with the rest comfortably beaten he got up late to score by a neck.

A MR90 Handicap over 1950m topped the bill and in a time surprisingly slower than that of the MR78 Handicap won by MODERN ROYAL, the favourite TIME OF SONG landed the spoils. Usually one to run on stoutly from off the pace the son of Toreador wasn’t the quickest into stride when the gates opened, but with no real pace on he was already at the front going through the 1200m. He kept on strongly over the second half of the race and comfortably accounted for the 6yo RADIO WAVES by a length and a half.

The most notable performance in the maiden ranks was that of the newcomer CIO-CIO in the second division of the girl’s 1200m. Priced up as a strong favourite when the betting opened Mike De Kock’s charge found good support and eventually left the stalls in the red at 7/10. She raced prominent throughout and won well by two and a quarter after taking up the running 350m out.

Titbits

Lightly raced ROYAL COLOURS ran on well from the rear (switched 300m) when third in the maiden 1400m.

Easily eight lengths adrift turning for the home, GOGETTHESHERIFF ran on well from the rear when a 2,5 length runner up in the MR78 Handicap over 1950m.

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Outclassed

Fairview 11^th November: The first of the seven turf races to be run in Port Elizabeth on Friday was an Allowance Plate over 1100m and here we saw another smart performance from the Windrush mare BLOW ME A KISS. She got away well when the gates opened and soon up handy raced prominent throughout. She was ridden to lead as they approached the 100m marker and won going away by a length and a half.

Another to win very well in a plate race on this card was GREYS INN CONTROL in the graduation event over 1400m. Skilfully guided over from a wide draw by Richard Fourie, the best bet on the card for many was soon positioned close to the speed. He took up the running approaching the 400m pole and drew clear easily in the closing stages of the race to beat the running on BISHOP’S CHOICE by three and a quarter.

The non-black type Fillies Guineas Plate over 1400m topped the bill and here the stable of Justin Snaith were again on the mark when the favourite SHE’S A PIPPA did the business. Another to race handy, the daughter of Var won easing down by three and a quarter after striking the front 500m out.

Titbits

After striking the front 200m from home KOENIGSEGG won the maiden event over 1400m very easily by four and a quarter.

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Behind at WFA

Turffontein 12^th November: After the scratching of DO YOU REMEMBER due to colic, ESPUMANTI was always going to be very difficult to beat in the conditions plate over 1600m on Tuesday evening and so it proved to be. Confidently ridden by Raymond Danielson, the daughter of Dansili was always well positioned to strike. She did so shortly after passing the 400m marker and although the pacemaker SEA SHADOW kept on determinedly after being headed, she won comfortably by a length and a quarter. Beaten just a length and a half by BEACH BEAUTY in the prestigious Gr1 Garden Province at the backend of last season, Espumanti is behind at weight for age so further improvement can be expected.

Surprisingly the fastest of the three 1160m events on the program was the girls’ maiden plate won by SLINKY JALINKY. Taken straight to the front by champion jockey Piere Strydom the 3yo daughter of Jallad led throughout. She was always in command and ran out a very easy winner by four and a quarter.

The not so lucky last was a MR76 Handicap over 1000m and here it was nice to see the veteran KAYHALADIN register his seventh career victory. Freely available at 12/1 on the off, the 8yo son of Kahal had signalled a return to form when a close up fourth to Gold Site in much stronger company last time out. He ran on well from his handy position in this event and won going away by a length and three quarters from the lightly raced 3yo ONE COOL CAT.

Titbits

Swiftly guided over from a wide draw by Piere Strydom, DELAMERE won with authority by two and a quarter after making virtually all.

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Swirling Home

Kenilworth 13^th November: The Vaughan Marshall trained ALS BONANZA was all the rage to win the opening maiden event over 1200m in Cape Town on Wednesday and she didn’t let down her supporters. Soon up with the speed, the daughter of Captain Al began to assert her authority going through the 300m and won well by three and a quarter.

Another to win well on this card was DESERT SWIRL in the maiden event over 2400m. The unfancied OH SCHUCKS made the running and stealing a march early in the short home straight he was easily ten lengths clear of the eventual winner (in the rear) when the race began in earnest. Undeterred though, M J Byleveld took Desert Swirl through the gears and under a well judged ride they got up late to score by three quarters.

A MR98 Handicap topped the bill and in what proved to be the faster of the two 2000m events victory here went to the Silvano filly SILVER HOLLY. Freely available at 6/1 on the off, Joey Ramsden’s charge was always handy. She quickened well over the final 400m and won comfortably by three quarters of a length from the running on DANCING DYNASTY. The runner up came from the rear.

Titbits

CAREFUL HIKER showed a return to form when quickening best of all to win the very slowly run MR80 Handicap over 2000m.

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Well Overdue

Vaal 14^th November: They raced on the sand on Thursday where the easiest victory on the card was undoubtedly that of the costly to follow BROOKS-CLUB in the MR94 Handicap over 1450m. Amazingly a winner of just one from eighteen going into the race the talented son of Strike Smartly raced sixth during the early part of the race. He moved through to take up the running as they approached the 400m pole and drew clear easily in the closing stages of the race to score by nine and three quarters.

Another to come home lonely was the easy to back CLUB CAPTAIN in the MR91 affair over 1000m. Taken straight to the front by Hennie Greyling, the 12/1 shot led throughout. HOWHIGHCANUFLY raced close up in second early on, but even she couldn’t finish closer than six lengths after the Captain stepped on the gas 400m out.

Surprisingly the fastest of the four 1450m races on the card (although some would have us believe otherwise) was the opening maiden event won by GOLDEN DOLLAR.

The fastest of the three 1200m events was the MR80 Handicap won by STORM INCOMING. Freely available at 12/1 on the off, the 3yo son of Mullins Bay was always in touch with the leaders. He was ridden to lead shortly after passing the 300m pole and won comfortably from the Natal raider DEVON GOLD.

Titbits

Racing off a mark some 11 points lower than that of his best on the surface, DUAL ALLIANCE ran out a very easy winner of the MR80 Handicap over 1450m.

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Top speedratings for this weekend include:-

Top rated winners last week included

Notebook:-

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