Colourful Return

Easy Victories

Vaal 27^th September: Tuesday’s action took place on the turf where victory in the opening workrider’s maiden event over 1200m went to the easy to back MOTHER SUPERIOR (28). Freely available at 14/1 on the off, the daughter of Sarge lost two lengths at the start and very quickly found herself in the rear. She made up the ground quickly during the first half of the race though and was already at the front going through the 500m. She ran on strongly at the business end of the race and despite the efforts of the much more fancied ROSEY’S SONG, she ran out a very easy winner by five and a quarter.

The first of three favourites to arrive was the Mike De Kock trained LARGESSE (16) who did the business in the maiden event over 1600m. Always deep in the red (3/10 out to 9/20), Largesse was soon up handy. He was ridden to lead shortly after passing the 600m marker and kept on strongly from there onwards to beat the running on newcomer MISTER CAT CLUB by three.

A MR90 Handicap over 1000m topped the bill and here we saw an improved performance from the Paul Peter trained GOLD SITE (55). Nibbled at on course into 9/2 from 5’s, the son of Goldkeeper raced prominent throughout. He was asked to take up the running as they approached the 200m pole and kept on strongly in the closing stages of the race to beat the running on favourite CHIP SHOT by two and a quarter.

Also worthy of note on this card was the performance of EUGENES (55) in winning the MR72 affair over 1400m. Sent off a strong favourite at 5/2, Mike Azzie’s charge raced up with the speed throughout. He began to assert his authority going through the 600m and although both COCO STRIPES and COMISSION DUE chased hard, he went on to score very easily by four and a quarter.

Titbits

After stumbling at the start SHALAKO ran on well from the rear and was only beaten two and a quarter lengths when third to Gold Site in the bill topping MR90 Handicap.

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Couple To Follow

Durbanville 28^th September: A maiden event over 1400m got proceedings underway at the country course on Wednesday and in what looked to be an above average field victory here went to the Silvano gelding PUNTA ARENAS. On leaving the stalls it was the friendless ROYAL PERFORMANCE (14/1 out to 22/1) who elected to make the running whilst Stan Elley’s charge raced close up in fourth. He quickened well going through the 400m and after getting the better of the well supported favourite MORE OF ME (3/1 into 2/1) 200m out, he kept on strongly late to beat the running on URBI ET ORBI by three quarters. Keep an eye on the runner up Urbi Et Orbi. He finished well and can be expected to improve plenty.

Also worthy of note in the maiden ranks on this card was the performance of SHEISAPROMQUEEN winner of the 1600m event. Sent off a rather uneasy favourite at 15/10, Mike Bass’ charge was soon up handy. She was ridden to lead shortly after passing the 400m marker and only having to be ridden hands and heels at the business end of the race, she comfortably accounted for the totally unfancied KISS AND RIDE by a length and a half.

A MR78 Handicap over 1800m was next up and here we saw a gutsy performance from the recent maiden winner STONE PINE. Allowed to ease out to 5/1 from 3/1 favourite at the track, Glen Kotzen’s charge was taken straight to the front. The friendless CAVALLI (14/1 out to 28/1) was the first to make a move in the straight and when that one struck the front 300m from home it looked as if Stone Pine would have to settle for a place. Stone Pine rallied gamely once headed though and with the rest well beaten he got back up close home.

A MR88 Handicap over 1400m topped the bill and here victory went to the Piet Steyn trained MASTER BARRY. Skilfully guided over from the widest draw by Grant Van Niekerk, the son of Jet Master led throughout. He was always in command and although WESTERN COUNT chased hard, he went on to score very comfortably by a length.

Titbits

After racing in the rear, BELOVED BETTY was running on nicely at the finish when third in the MR70 Handicap won by Feel My Love.

A 2,05 length sixth in the MR80 affair over 1200m, MASTERY ran on well from off the pace and would surely have been a threat to the winner Great Kali had he have obtained a clear passage.

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No Smoke Without Fire

Vaal 29^th September: They raced on the turf on Thursday where the easiest victory in the maiden ranks was recorded by DANNY’S DREAM (41) in the 1600m event. Not without his supporters in an event priced up as a boat race between FRONTINO GOLD and THE LAST SAMURAI by the bookmakers, Paul Matchett’s charge led throughout. He was always in command and kicked clear nicely over the final 400m to beat the best of the fancied runners on the day, Frontino Gold by five and a half.

Another to win comfortably in the maiden ranks was the well supported WAGNER (32) who did the business for followers of the money in the 1400m affair. Backed into favouritism at the track (5/1 into 22/10), Joey Soma’s charge was always handy. He was ridden to lead shortly after passing the 200m marker and with some in hand he went on to beat the deposed favourite BUGLE CALL going away by two and a quarter.

A graduation event over 1200m provided the highest purse on the afternoon and here victory went to the sparingly raced 5yo HIDDEN RAVE (62). Having only his second outing following two very lengthy breaks, the son of Var wasn’t the quickest into stride. He was soon up handy despite that though and after getting the better of the well supported pacemaker CRUNCH TIME (5/1 into 3/1) 200m from home, he fairly cruised clear in the latter stages of the race to score by seven.

The best bet on the card for many was the unbeaten MAGIC SMOKE (56) in the MR70 affair over 1600m and she didn’t let down her supporters. Always in the red, Michael Azzie’s charge sat in midfield during the early part of the race. She raced very green when asked for her effort 400m from home and did well taking everything into account to get the better of GOLDEN HANDSHAKE by a length and a half. Magic Smoke has now won both starts in eyecatching fashion and is clearly one to keep tabs on.

Titbits

Although never a threat to the winner, newcomer ELEGANT TUNE ran on nicely from the rear when finishing second in the maiden event over 1200m.

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Masterful Ride

Arlington 30^th September: A maiden event over 1400m was first up in Port Elizabeth on Friday and here a bit of an upset was to be had when the easy to back newcomer VAROMA landed the spoils. Freely available at 16/1 on the off, Gavin Smith’s charge was soon up handy. He was ridden to lead shortly after passing the 400m marker and kept on strongly in the closing stages of the race to fend off a determined challenge from the nibbled at THE BERRYMAN (12/1 into 8/1) by a neck.

Much easier a winner in the maiden ranks here was MARIONETTE when opening her account in the 1800m event. Backed into joint favouritism at 7/2 (opened 5/1), George Uren’s charge was always in touch with the leaders. She quickened well when the race began in earnest at the top of the short home straight and after striking the front 150m from home, she drew clear easily below the distance to beat one of the ante-post favourites MOONLIGHT FLIT (9/2 out to 15/2) by three and a quarter.

The first of the two non-black type feature events to take place was the Arlington 1800 and here the stable of Justin Snaith were on the mark when SOCIAL MASTER landed the spoils. On leaving the stalls it was the veteran CAPE TRAFALGAR who elected to make the running whilst Social Master was content to amble along in the rear. Once in the home straight though, he quickened well and under a well judged ride from Richard Fourie, he got up late to deny the well supported OZZIE DUDE (14/1 into 8/1) who had taken it up 400m out.

The Racing Association Plate over 1400m was next up and here we saw a smart performance from the Alan Greeff trained LORD BADGER. Sent off a well supported second favourite at 22/10 (opened 28/10), the son of Badger’s Drift was always in touch with the leaders. He quickened well as they came off the bend and running on stoutly over the final 400m he got up late to score by a length and a quarter. One to look out for next time from this race is ACT OF SUPREMACY who finished second. Also running on strongly from midfield, Act Of Supremacy was finishing at least as well as the winner, but didn’t get the clearest of runs.

Titbits

FIRST TO GO was running on nicely at the finish when third to his more fancied stable companion OXFORD DON in the MR89 Handicap over 1200m.

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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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