Class Act

Smart Youngsters

Kenilworth 9^th April:  A workrider’s maiden event over 1200m got proceedings underway on Easter Monday and here it was nice to see the most experienced runner in the field STYLISTIC find the winner’s enclosure. Making her 28^th racecourse appearance here, the easy to back 3/1 favourite (op 2/1) was always handy. She was ridden to lead as they approached the 100m marker and kept on strongly late to beat the nibbled at BAXTER (5/1 into 4/1) by a length.

The first of a number of very easy victories on the card was registered byCAPEROYALwhen winning the maiden juvenile event over 1000m. Backed into 9/10 from 15/10 at the track, Dean Kannemeyer’s charge was taken straight to the front by Karl Neisius and led throughout. He was always in command and easily extended his two lengths advantage to six and a quarter, when given rein 250m out.

The first of the two listed events for juveniles to be run was the Perfect Promise Fillies Sprint and here we saw a very easy victory for the 13/20 favourite HAMMIE’S HOOKER. Just five went to post and nicely positioned in third the daughter of Trippi was always poised to strike. She was asked to take up the running going through the 300m and with a ton in hand she easily accounted for CAPTAIN’S LULLABY by four and a half.

The boys contested the listedSomerset1200 and here we saw a nice performance from the Western Winter colt THE WEST IS WIDE. One of a herd of very talented 2yo’s already produced by Vaughan Marshall this season, The West Is Wide was soon in touch with the leaders. He quickened best of all going through halfway and won going away after striking the front 150m from home.

Titbits

PUTNEY FLYER ran on well from the rear and had the rest well beaten when finishing runner up in the MR80 Handicap over 2500m.

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Back In Form

Scottsville 10^th April: Favourite backers got off to a nice start inNatal on Tuesday when GO AGAIN (25) did the business in the opening maiden juvenile event over 1200m. Soon up handy, the son of Muhtafal raced prominent throughout. He was ridden to lead as they approached the 100m marker and with some in hand he easily accounted for SKYWALK LUKE by a length.

The easiest victory on the card was registered by MURMERING SKY (20) in the girls division of the maiden juvenile 1200m. Taken straight to the front by Alex Forbes, the daughter of Jallad led throughout. She was always in command and won going away by four and a quarter.

The afternoon’s feature event was a MR98 Handicap over 1400m and here it was nice to see theWestern Capevisitor THE SHARK find his best form. Freely available at 13/1 on the off, Dean Kannemeyer’s charge was content to guard the rear for most of the journey. Once in the straight though he quickened nicely, and with the rest comfortably beaten, he did well to reel in the nibbled at pacemaker BIELORRUSO (8/1 into 13/2) close home.

Race seven on the card was a MR78 Handicap over 1500m and here another upset was to be had when theFlamingoParkraiderBAYOF GIBRALTAR (39) registered his eighth career victory. Allowed to ease out to 16/1 from 12/1 at the track, Sean Miller’s charge raced in midfield during the early part of the race. He began to take closer order early in the straight and got up nicely late to beat another outsider MATTEO by a length.

Titbits

Racing off a mark some eight points lower than that of seven months ago, the well handicapped CASEY DA LADY was flying at the finish after having had to switch out for a run 100m from home and was only beaten a neck in the MR87 Handicap over 1400m.

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To The Point

Turffontein 10^th April: They raced on the old stand side track on Tuesday night where as expected victory in the opening juvenile plate over 1160m went to the favourite SEA SHADOW (35). Sent off at the prohibitive odds of 1/10, Dominic Zaki’s charge was soon positioned close to the speed. She was asked to take up the running going through the 600m and although it didn’t prove to be a walk in the park as the betting had suggested, she did nonetheless score quite comfortably in the end by three.

The stable of Dominic Zaki were again on the mark in race three, a maiden event over 1000m, when CAPTAIN MCCAW (43) landed the spoils. Sent off a strong favourite at 11/10, Captain Mccaw broke well and was soon at the head of affairs. He had the field well strung out going through halfway and went on to score unchallenged by four and a half.

All eyes were on J J THE JET PLANE in the pinnacle stakes over 1000m, but on the day the champ found one better. Racing for only the second time since returning to our shores, the 1/4 favourite stumbled at the start, but despite that he was soon up handy. He held every chance going through the 400m, but try as he might he couldn’t get past WINKING JACK who held on to score by a neck.

The Gr1 Empress Club Stakes over 1600m topped the bill and here we saw a smart performance from the Rock Of Gibraltar mare EUROPA POINT (96). Nicely positioned in midfield for most of the journey, Europa Point made her move early in the straight and after striking the front 250m from home, she drew clear easily in the closing stages of the race to beat HIDDEN BEAUTY by three and a half.

Titbits

Lightly raced ETERNITY was finishing as well as the winner Tiger’s Retreat when running on from the rear to take second in the maiden 1400m.

Maiden 1800m winner ACQUIESCE found extra when challenged by the favourite The Planter and won very comfortably in the end by three and a quarter.

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In The Money

Durbanville 11^th April: Wednesday’s action took place at the country course where followers of the money got off to a good start when CAT DUBOIS did the business in the opening maiden juvenile event over 1400m. Backed into 22/10 second favourite from 4/1 on course, Dean Kannemeyer’s charge broke well when the gates opened and nicely positioned in fourth was always poised to strike. He was ridden to lead going through the 200m and easily accounted for the 17/10 favourite  BLACK CORAL by two and a half.

Another to win well after attracting the money was MARINE SKY in the MR72 Handicap over 1400m. Allowed to flirt with 33/10 at one stage after opening up at 6/1, Joey Ramsden’s charge raced close up in second during the early part of the race. He was asked to take up the running shortly after passing the 500m marker and after quickly grabbing a two lengths advantage he kept on strongly late to beat the fancied D’ANGELO by a length and a half.

The trend was continued in race seven when REPERTOIRE landed the MR72 Handicap over 1800m. Backed into 15/2 from 14/1, Bill Prestage’s charge was soon up handy. He took up the running as they approached the 200m pole and although EURUNDEREE finished well from midfield, he had that one held by two and a quarter at the wire.

The afternoon’s feature event was a MR76 Handicap over 1600m and here a bit of an upset was to be had whenGOLDACADEMYregistered her second career victory. Swiftly guided over from a wide draw by Robert Khathi, the 20/1 shot raced handy. She quickened well at the top of the straight and with the benefit of first run she comfortably accounted for the recent maiden winner EUROPE TO AFRICA by a length and a half. Europe To Africa finished well after having to switch out for a run 250m from home.

Titbits

Nibbled at LILY LAFITTE (7/1 into 5/1) won the maiden event over 1800m going away after running on from midfield.

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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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