Double Fifteen

Made To Work

Kenilworth 16^th December: First up in Cape Town on Monday was a maiden plate over 1000m and here victory went to the easy to back ARCSIGN. Freely available at 10/1 on the off, the 3yo son of Argonaut was always handy. He moved through to take up the running as they approached the 200m marker, but once headed the ultra consistent pacemaker MUSKETS ‘N ROSES rallied gamely and it was only by a neck that Arcsign got the verdict.

A MR94 Handicap topped the bill and here the stable of Yogis Govender were on the mark when the 5yo son of Fort Wood PREMIUM WOOD registered his fourth career victory. Just six went to post and although Premium Wood raced fifth he was always close enough to challenge. He did so going through the 200m and went on to score comfortably from the regular place getter SUSSEX SONG by a length and a quarter.

Race five on the card was a maiden plate over 2000m and in what proved to be a real thriller victory here went to the 3yo Judpot filly SUPREME STAR. Marginally in the red at the off Mike Bass’ charge raced in the rear early on. She quickened well early in the straight and on striking the front 200m out it looked as if she would go on to score easily. Both ZAKUSKA (raced second) and JET TURBINE (led 300m) fought on gamely once headed though, and challenged strongly all the way to the wire it was only by a neck that the favourite did the business.

Titbits

With the rest well beaten ALS BONANZA ran on strongly in the MR70 Handicap over 1000m and steadily gaining at the finish only failed to get up by the narrowest of margins.

.

Another Rainy Day

Scottsville 17^th December: Originally scheduled to take place on the inside track this meeting was switched to the old course.

A maiden plate over 1200m got proceedings underway in Pietermaritzburg on Tuesday and here we saw a comfortable victory for the well supported 18/10 favourite DREAMY ECLIPSE. She got away well when the gates opened and was always poised to strike. She did so as they approached the 200m marker and comfortably accounted for the perennial maiden BEZ VALLEY by two and three quarters.

Another to win well in the maiden ranks under Anton Marcus on this card was DISKI in the second division of the girl’s 1200m. Soon at the head of affairs, the daughter of Woodborough led throughout. She was always in command and won without any anxious moments by a length and a half.

The afternoon’s feature event was a MR93 Handicap over 2000m (originally scheduled for 1950m) and here it was nice to see the 6yo ETON MESS register his ninth career victory. The field was always tightly bunched and although the former PE campaigner was a little slow into stride he was always in touch with the leaders. He ran on stoutly in the short home straight and in a three way finish he got the better of another 6yo RADIO WAVES by a half.

The lucky last was another maiden plate for the girls over 1200m and on an afternoon when continual light rain made for a miserable day, the well supported favourite WINTER GLORY brought some cheer. Soon at the helm, despite being a little slow into stride, the daughter of Western Winter made virtually all. She was always clear and although the friendless SISSY GRAY ran on strongly from midfield to take second, she went on to score with authority by three and a half.

Due to the deteriorating weather conditions race 8 (around the turn) had to be abandoned, but races 9 & 10 (straight course) did go ahead.

Titbits

On an afternoon where all of the winners had raced close to the pace, the only horse to really win from off them was MISS TIGER EYES in the MR65 Handicap over 2000m.

.

Rough Stuff

Turffontein 17^th December: They raced on the old stand side track on Tuesday evening where the easiest victory on the eight race program was recorded by IMPLODE in the maiden 2450m. Always handy in a race in which rain fell very heavily throughout, Weiho Marwing’s charge took up the running early in the long home straight. She quickly went clear and easing down at the finish effectively won as she liked.

A workrider’s maiden plate over 1400m had gotten proceedings underway and here we saw a comfortable victory for the uneasy favourite ROYAL PERFORMER. Taken straight to the front by Samuel Mosia, the son of Albert Hall led throughout. He kept on strongly at the business end of the race and won well from the nibbled at outsider GIANT EMPIRE who finished strongly.

A pinnacle stakes topped the bill and in what not surprisingly proved to be the faster of the two 1400m events victory here went to the grey daughter of Indigo Magic GO INDIGO. A winner of two from three over the course and distance coming into the race, Leon Erasmus’ charge adopted a change of tactics here and raced close up in fourth. She was ridden to lead as they approached the 100m pole and went on to score by a length from the running on UPTOTHEMOON. In the rear after losing three lengths at the start, the runner up finished surprisingly well.

The supporting act was a MR96 Handicap over 1600m and here a major upset was to be had when the veteran SPITFIRE RUN registered his seventh career victory. Taken straight to the front by Gunter Wrogemann, the son of Silvano led throughout. He kept on strongly down the straight and although the much more fancied RED BARREL was very steadily closing him down late on, he still had three quarters of a length to spare at the wire.

Titbits

The newcomer GREEN CREST ran on strongly from midfield when third, beaten a length and a half, in the maiden juvenile plate over 1000m.

.

In form Combination

Kenilworth 18^th December: The fastest of the three 1200m events in Cape Town on Wednesday was the MR76 Handicap won by MAYBE YES. Nibbled at on course into 7/1 from 10’s, Brett Crawford’s charge was positioned at the back going through the 500m. Once given rein though, she quickened best of all and under a confident ride from the evergreen Glen Hatt she won going away by two after striking the front 150m from home.

Another to win well from off the pace on this card was Maybe Yes’ stable companion ZACHARIAS, in the MR68 Handicap over 1600m. Beaten just 2,35 lengths by the very talented IN THE FAST LANE in the Gr2 Choice Carrier’s Championship last time out, the daughter of Lundy’s Liability raced in midfield for most of the journey. She ran on strongly in the straight and only had to be pushed out with hands and heels after striking the front 150m out.

Race five on the card was a MR69 Handicap over 1000m and in what proved to be a real thriller victory here went to the well supported favourite TOUR DE VAR. He got away well when the gates opened and soon up handy raced prominent throughout. He was ridden to lead shortly after passing the 300m marker and just held on from the determined SHEER DYNAMITE by the narrowest of margins. Third placed EASTERN FRONT ran on strongly from midfield and would have been a serious threat had he not been baulked for a run by the first two 100m out.

Titbits

Lightly raced MARMALADE TYCOON never really had a race when winning the maiden 1200m with a ton in hand.

.

Top speedratings for this weekend include:-

Top rated winners last week included

Notebook:-

FASTEST TIMES