Flying Start

Chequered Flag

Clairwood 13^th May: First up at the garden course on Sunday was a workrider’s maiden event over 1200m and here victory went to the Deon Visser trained ONELEGLEZ (20). Nibbled at on course into 15/2 from 10’s, the son of Tamburlaine led throughout. He was always in command and ran out a very comfortable winner by two.

The easiest victory in the maiden ranks on this card was recorded by the newcomer SEXY AND FREE (43) in the 1200m event. A stable companion to Oneleglez, Sexy And Free also made all. She led by just three quarters of a length going through the 400m, but quickening well when given rein, she added another two lengths to her advantage on the run to the line.

Race seven on the card was a Pinnacle Stakes over 1200m and here we saw another smart performance from last season’s Cape Winter Guineas winner CASTLETHORPE (97). Having only his second outing following a six month layoff, Mike Bass’ charge was soon up handy. He was ridden to lead shortly after passing the 300m marker and drew clear easily in the closing stages of the race to score by three.

The non-black type Highland Night Cup over 2500m topped the bill and here victory went to the uneasy favourite VETTEL (65). One of just three 3yo’s in the event, Mike De Kock’s charge raced prominent throughout. He took up the running early in the straight and kept on strongly over the final 500m to beat the running on BELMONTE by two and a quarter.

Titbits

Unbeaten SUE FOR PEACE ran on well when winning the MR74 Handicap over 1200m. A little slow into stride, PARTY QUEEN raced in the rear in this race and made steady headway into sixth beaten just 3,8 lengths.

Both WINTER MIST and stable companion FAIRE SILVANO ran on well when 1^st and 4^th respectively in the MR70 affair over 1600m.

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Tactical Dance

Arlington 13^th May: The locals got off to a rough start in Port Elizabeth on Sunday when the friendless BABY HAKE (23) opened his account in the opening maiden juvenile event over 1000m. Freely available at 33/1 on the off (op 16/1), Justin Snaith’s charge was soon up handy. The second favourite WAY CLEAR raced with him and after a thrilling tussle over the final 200m it was only by a half that the long shot got the verdict.

The Gr3 East Cape Derby over 2400m topped the bill and here we saw a very easy victory for the favourite TRIBAL DANCE (73). Allowed to drift right out to double his opening price at the track (6/10 out to 12/10), Vaughan Marshall’s charge got away well when the gates opened and racing close up in third was always poised to strike. He did so going through the 300m and with the 2^nd, 3^rd & 4^th placed finishes running on stoutly from well off the pace, he went on to score very easily by two and three quarters.

A MR90 Handicap over 1000m was next up and here we saw a much improved performance from the Grant Paddock trained JELLA LOOCHEE (74). Backed into favouritism at the track (4/1 into 3/1), the son of Cataloochee was taken straight to the front by Grant Van Niekerk and led throughout. The back in form BERMUDA BREEZE put his head in front going through the 400m, but responding gamely when given rein, Jella Loochee quickly regained the lead and went on to score very easily by two and three quarters.

The lucky last was a MR75 Handicap over 1000m and here Jella Loochee’s stable companion REGAL MAN (56) was the focus of a major gamble. Backed through all rates into even money from 4/1, the well tried son of Kitalpha was always handy. He quickened well at the business end of the race and after striking the front 150m from home, he easily accounted for the friendless BLACK THUNDER by two and a quarter.

Titbits

Positioned 14^th of the fifteen turning for home, the former Natal campaigner NEW RESOLUTION ran on strongly in the straight and did well to get up for third in the maiden event over 1400m.

Easily eight lengths off the winning pacemaker Shujaa at the top of the straight, the runner up SPELLCASTER ran on well over the final 400m and was only beaten by two and a quarter.

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On The Prowl

Kenilworth 16^th May: A maiden juvenile event over 1200m got proceedings underway inCape Town on Wednesday and here victory went to the well supported favourite SOLID SISTER (27). She got away well when the gates opened and soon up handy raced prominent throughout. She was ridden to lead as they approached the 200m marker and drew clear easily in the closing stages of the race to beat the nibbled at GIRL’S BEST FRIEND by three and a half.

The best bet on the card for most was KING OF PAIN in the juvenile plate over 1400m and he didn’t let down his supporters. Allowed to ease right out to 13/10 from 8/10 at the track as money in the main came for NOVEMBER RAIN (5/1 into 22/10), King Of Pain raced sixth of the eight early on. Once in the straight though he quickened well and under a well judged ride from Bernard Fayd’Herbe he struck the front late. One to look out for next time from this race is SANSHAAWES the runner up. He was at the back early and also finished very well.

A MR87 Handicap over 1600m topped the bill and here the 3yo STUNNING TIGER (56) showed further improvement. On leaving the stalls it was the well supported GREAT KALI (14/1 into 13/2) who elected to make the running whilst Glen Puller’s charge was content to sit in midfield. SPY GLASS was the first to make a move and struck the front 200m out. Stunning Tiger finished best of all at the business end of the race though and under a well timed ride he got up late to score by a half.

The lucky last was a maiden event over 1200m and here we saw a very easy victory for the well supported favourite ROARING WIND (26). Backed throughout the day into 22/10 from 9/2, Glen Kotzen’s charge raced third for most of the journey. He took up the running going through the 200m and fairly cruised clear in the closing stages of the race to score by four and a quarter.

Titbits

Supported LOLA BUD (10/1 into 13/2) ran on well from the back end of midfield and did well to get up very close home in the MR70 Handicap over 1400m.

Not for the first time in recent outings, DUKE THE BEAUFORT caught the eye running on nicely from off the pace when third to Stunning Tiger in the MR87 Handicap over 1600m.

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All Up Front

Vaal 17^th May: Thursday’s action took place on the turf where victory in the opening workrider’s maiden event over 1400m went to the heavily supported second favourite GREAT SMOKEY (28). Backed throughout the day into 3/1 from 11/2,Paul Peter’s charge was always handy. He was ridden to lead going through the 200m and although the easy to back GAZ MAN through down a determined challenge late, he did have that one held by a length and a quarter at the wire.

Having finished runner up to the champion mare PRINCESS VICTORIA in last season’s Gr1 Allan Robertson, it was no surprise to see UP FRONT (38) open her account in the maiden 1400m. Deep in the red at 3/10 on the off, Barend Botes’ charge led throughout. She was always in command and when Anton Marcus pressed the button 300m out, she easily drew clear.

The afternoon’s feature event was a MR90 Handicap over 1800m and here favourite backers were again on the mark when GOLDEN CREST (82) did the business. Another winner for champion jockey Anton Marcus, Golden Crest sat fourth during the early part of the race. He was ridden to lead as they approached the 200m marker and although his stable companion LUMINOUS LOVE finished well from the off the pace to take second, he still had three quarters of a length to spare at the wire

The not so lucky last was a maiden event over 1800m and here a major upset was to be had when the formless ROMAN NUMERAL (37) opened her account. Unable to get within twelve lengths of a winner in each of her four previous outings, the 150/1 shot was taken straight to the front and led throughout. She rallied gamely after being headed 500m out and eventually won by two and a quarter.

Titbits

Having his second run after a rest here MILLENNIUM WIND was running on best of all at the finish when third in the race won by Golden Crest.

3^rd & 4^th respectively, SMART GIRL and CAPTIVE ACTION both ran on well from off the pace in the MR80 Handicap won by Aerofoil.

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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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