Rushing Home
Fairview 13th May: A maiden juvenile event over 1200m got proceedings underway in the Eastern Cape on Friday and here we saw a very comfortable victory for the newcomer CASHMERE MAFIA. Freely available at 14/1 on the off, Barry Steenkamp’s charge was soon up handy and in what very quickly became a strung out field, was perfectly positioned to strike. She hit the front going through the 200m and despite the efforts of the well supported favourite SPONDULICS (22/10 into 17/10) in the latter stages of the race, she won well by a length and a quarter.
Another to win well in the maiden ranks on this card was the Mitch Wiese trained INCA’S SPIRIT who opened her account in the 1600m event. Confidently ridden by Graham Gregorowski, the 6/1 shot sat sixth for most of the journey. She was very visibly doing it easily as she began to take closer order in the straight and on striking the front shortly after passing the 400m marker was cruising. She kept on strongly from there onwards and without ever having to engage the upper gears, she easily accounted for the running on TURBODANCE by two and a quarter. Inca’s Spirit won well and is clearly on the upgrade.
The listed Dahlia Plate over 1200m topped the bill and here we saw another impressive performance from the East Cape Nursery winner IN A RUSH. Deep in the red at 5/10 on the off, Gavin Smith’s charge, as per usual, was soon up handy. He was ridden to lead going through the 300m and after quickly drawing clear he went on to score easily by four and three quarters.
The stable of Gavin Smith were also on the mark in the MR74 Handicap over 1400m when the promising young Jallad gelding GAJA registered his third career victory. Drawn very wide at 15 here and returning from a short break to boot, Gaja was freely available at 14/1 on the off. Positioned towards the back end of midfield as the fifteen runners turned for home, Gaja ran on best of all in the long home straight and under a well judged ride from Samango Khumalo, he got up late to beat DESERT KITE by three quarters.
Titbits
Having his first start since relocating from Natal, HYPOTHETICAL was easily ten lengths off the leaders at the back of the MR90 field turning for home and did very well to get up for second.
Now racing off a mark nine points lower than that of just five runs back, the former Cape Town campaigner LA DAZZLE has run on well in each of her last two starts.
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Smart Hattrick
Turffontein 14th May: They raced on the old stand side track on Saturday where the best bet on the card for most was the aptly named DELIVER THE POWER (33) in the maiden juvenile event over 1160m. Backed into 11/20 from 8/10 at the track, Dominic Zaki’s charge was taken straight to the front by Anton Marcus and led throughout. He was always in command and despite the efforts of the chasing JANUS, he extended his advantage from a length and a quarter to five over the final 400m.
The easiest victory on the card though was undoubtedly that of the Marcus ridden MR INDIGO (36) who opened his account in the maiden 2450m by a steeplechase margin. Sent off a clear second favourite at 2/1, Geoff Woodruff’s charge raced in midfield for most of the journey. He was asked to take up the running shortly after passing the 500m marker and after quickly skating clear he came home lonely by thirteen!
A MR84 Handicap over 1600m topped the bill and here it was nice to see the promising 3yo SYNCOPATE (76) return from a four month absence as fresh as a daisy. Allowed to ease a little in the betting market (16/10 out to 19/10) as money in the main came for BLUE BABY JEAN (9/2 into 75/20), the top weight was soon up handy. She moved up to dispute matters as they approached the 300m marker and although the money horse did fight on strongly when challenged, she asserted her authority late to score by a length and a quarter. Syncopate completed a smart hattrick here and is clearly one to keep tabs on.
The lucky last was a maiden event over 1600m and here the locals were sent home happy when the heavily supported SWIFT LADY (23) did the business. Backed throughout the afternoon into 2/1 from 4’s, Ormond Ferraris’ charge sat towards the rear for the vast majority of the journey. Indeed, even going through the 300m she still had a good four lengths to find. Not pitched in against the strongest of fields here though, Swift Lady fairly flew in the latter stages and under a determined ride from jockey’s log leader Anthony Delpech, she got up in the dying strides.
Titbits
Although never able to get anywhere near the winner Syncopate, GOOSE VALLEY caught the eye running on nicely after being cramped at the start in the MR84 Handicap.
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4 Visits, 4 Wins
Clairwood 15th May: Favourite backers got off to a nice start at the garden course on Sunday when the Mike De Kock trained ELLE RASSA (47) did the business in the opening workrider’s maiden event over 1200m. Soon at the head of affairs, the daughter of Toreador led throughout. She was always in command and ran out a very easy winner by four.
Another De Kock inmate to win very easily in the maiden ranks here was FANCY FOOTWORK (28) who opened her account in the 1600m event. On leaving the stalls it was the easy to back TASTE OF HONEY who elected to set the pace whilst Fancy Footwork raced close up in third. She was ridden to lead passing the 200m pole and quickening nicely from there onwards won going away by three and a quarter.
The non black type Highland Night Cup over 2500m topped the bill and in what proved to be a real thriller victory here went to the Duncan Howells trained KNIGHT TO REMEMBER (67). After being a little slow into stride, the son of The Sheik raced in the rear for most of the journey. The field quickly began to concertina early in the home straight though and in a race where only a half length separated the first four home, he got up in the dying strides to deny the consistent TAMARILLO.
Another to win well from off the pace was EXCLAIM’N’EXCLUDE (84) who kept his unbeaten record at the circuit in tact when landing the pinnacle event over 1200m. Usually one to race up with the speed, Charlie Laird’s charge adopted a change of tactics here and sat in the rear. He ran on best of all when the race began in earnest 400m out and under a well judged ride from Anton Marcus, he got up nicely late to beat CAPTAIN’S SECRET by a half.
Titbits
EXCLAIM’N’EXCLUDE is now unbeaten in four starts at Clairwood, three of which were over 1200m.
Lightly raced LEO RAPAX (14/1 out to 20/1) was fairly flying at the finish of the maiden juvenile event over 1200m and would have gotten the better of the well supported favourite Surruptitious in a couple more strides.
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