Blue Blood

Improving Quickly

Arlington 29^th April: A maiden event over 1400m was first up in Port Elizabeth on Monday and here we saw a very easy victory for the heavily supported CHEEKY CHANSON. Backed into favouritism at 18/10 (op 5/1), Alan Greeff’s charge was soon up handy. She was ridden to lead as they approached the 200m pole and drew clear easily in the closing stages of the race to score by three.

The easiest victory on the card though was undoubtedly that of DRUMMINOR who also found solid support (7/2 into 16/10) when winning the lucky last, a MR73 Handicap over 1800m. On leaving the stalls it was recent five length maiden winner FATHERANDSONS who elected to make the running whilst Drumminor sat some ten lengths away in sixth. Once in the short home straight though he quickly began to reduce the deficit and in what proved to be the fastest of the four 1800m races on the card, he cruised clear to win by four and a half after striking the front 150m from home.

A pinnacle stakes over 2700m topped the bill and favourite backers were again on the mark here when the uneasy favourite DRILL SARGEANT registered his seventh success. There was no pace on early in the race and nicely positioned in seventh when the race began in earnest he was perfectly placed to strike. He did so going through the 300m and although SOLO FLIGHT (who on 3kg better terms had gotten the better of him last time out) chased hard, he went on to score comfortably by a length and a quarter.

Titbits

The uneasy favourite DARESAY ran on strongly after being baulked 300m out in the maiden 1800m.

PRINCE IGOR and BOUCHERS INN ran on stoutly from well off the pace when 2^nd and 3^rd respectively in the novice 1600m.

STORMY COAST also finished well after being baulked for a run when only beaten half a length in the MR87 Handicap over 1600m.

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Valentine’s Day

Clairwood 30^th April: There were a number of easy victories in the maiden ranks at the garden course on Tuesday, but none more so than that of the newcomer HAPPY VALENTINE in the maiden juvenile 1000m. Always top of the boards, Vaughan Marshall’s charge was taken straight to the front by Anton Marcus and led throughout. She began to assert her authority going through the 400m and only having to be ridden with hands and heels she won by five and a half with plenty in hand.

Race four on the card was a MR86 Handicap over 2000m and here it was nice to see the 6yo STORM SAGAZ back in form. Usually one to run on stoutly from off the pace, Yogis Govender’s charge adopted a change of tactics here and raced from the front. He led by a length and a half for most of the journey and despite the efforts of both BADGE OF CHOICE and RADIO WAVES down the long home straight he extended his advantage to two and three quarters.

Another to win well from the front on this card was MIDNIGHT RUN in the graduation 1200m. Allowed to drift right out to 6/1 from 33/10 in this his first outing since December, the son of Captain Al kept up a healthy gallop throughout. He ran on strongly at the business end of the race and beat both the unfancied MR HARRY and the favourite ASTRO NEWS fair and square.

Titbits

MR PATMAN won the maiden 1200m going away by three.

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Unusual First Timer

Turffontein 30^th April: They raced on the old stand side track on Tuesday evening where victory in the opening maiden event over 1160m went to the well supported newcomer UNDERCOVER CAT. Backed into 9/2 from 8/1 at the track, St John Gray’s charge lost a length at the start, but despite that was soon up handy. She was ridden to lead as they approached the 200m pole and comfortably accounted for another supported newcomer in JUMPSTART by a length.

A MR78 Handicap topped the bill and in what proved to be the fastest of the three 1160m races on the card the 5yo KAPELLMEISTER registered his fourth career victory. Never the quickest into stride the son of Kahal raced in midfield during the early part of the race. He cut through the field with ease when given rein 400m out and easily accounted for the running on KINGSTON by two and a quarter.

There were also three 1400m events on the card and the fastest of these was the MR75 Handicap won by MUSIC AFFAIR. Thought good enough to contest the Fillies Mile earlier in the season, Stephen Moffatt’s charge was always handy. She initially struck the front going through the 300m, but was then headed by TZIGANE 100m later. Music Affair dug deep over the final 200m though and in what proved to be a real thriller she got back up on the nod.

Titbits

After being baulked for a run 250m out PARTY MAGIC was fairly flying at the finish of the MR75 Handicap won by Music Affair and only failed to get up by 0,35 lengths.

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Speedy Juveniles

Kenilworth 1^st May: The easiest victory in the Western Cape on Wednesday was recorded by CATCHPHRASE in the maiden juvenile plate over 1200m. In a race run faster than that of the only other 1200m event on the card, a MR74 Handicap, Catchphrase led throughout. She was always in command and only having to be ridden with hands and heels at the business end of the race, she won by three and a quarter with some in hand.

Interestingly, the fastest of the three 1400m events on the card was also a maiden juvenile plate. The winner here was LASTBUTNOTLEAST. After making most of the running Justin Snaith’s charge was headed by the uneasy favourite VICE ADMIRAL 200m out and at that stage it looked as if he might have to settle for a place. The son of Second Empire rallied gamely below the distance though and finding another gear close home she won going away by three quarters.

A MR76 Handicap over 1400m topped the bill and here we saw an eye catching performance from the Tiger Ridge filly FREDDY’S SISTER. Nibbled at on course into 8/1 from 14’s, Joey Ramsden’s charge raced second to last for most of the journey. Once in the long new course straight though the 3yo quickened well and in what proved to be a real thriller she got up in the very last stride to deny JET LADY.

Titbits

Lightly raced WINNING POST didn’t find the clearest of passages when starting his run from the backend of midfield and did very well to get up late when opening his account in the maiden 1000m.

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Master Class

Vaal 2^nd May: The best bet on the card for most at the Vaal’s outside track meeting on Thursday was MASTER SABINA in the bill topping MR85 Handicap and in what proved to be the fastest of the four 1600m races on the card, he didn’t let down his supporters. Confidently ridden by Robbie Fradd, the 6/10 favourite was content to guard the rear during the early part of the race. Once given rein though he soon began to make headway and went on to score comfortably after striking the front 200m from home.

Another to win well here was HILLBROW who in terms of distance recorded the easiest victory on the card when opening his account in the maiden juvenile plate over 1200m. Sent off second favourite at 33/10, Roy Magner’s charge was soon up handy. He was ridden to lead shortly after passing the 400m marker and drew clear easily in the closing stages of the race to win by four.

The 4yo ENCHANTED GUEST had finished runner up to Master Sabina last time out and with that one winning with authority earlier on the card it was no surprise to see him find support. Eventually sent off as one of three co-favourites at 7/2 then, Enchanted Guest raced seventh of the twelve early on. He visibly had a ton in hand as he moved through to take up the running 200m out and had he have been given more rein from there onwards he would have won much more easily than the official margin of a length and a quarter would suggest.

Titbits

After making all, both DEVIL WOMAN and MATTHEW ETHAN won their respective maiden events with authority.

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