Impressive Hattrick

A Maiden In The Derby?

Fairview 8^th April: Race four in Port Elizabeth on Friday was a novice event over 1000m and here we saw a smart performance from the 3yo SHEE’S GONE WEST. Sent off favourite at 3/1, the former Gauteng campaigner raced in midfield during the early part of the race. Once given rein though, she quickened well and after striking the front 200m from home, she easily drew clear. Now a winner of two of her three starts since relocating to the Eastern Cape, Shee’s Gone West won with authority here and is clearly one to keep tabs on.

The listed East Cape Nursery over 1200m was next up and here the Gavin Smith trained IN A RUSH completed a smart hattrick. Allowed to ease out to 2/1 from 14/10 at the track as money came for ROYAL TRIBE (16/10 into even money), the aptly named In A Rush was soon up handy. He was ridden to lead going through the 400m and went on to win comfortably from the easy to back JELLA LOOCHEE by two and a quarter.

The listed East Cape Guineas over 1600m was next up and in a race where the first three places were all filled by Western Cape raiders, the well supported AZEROTH (28/10 into 2/1) landed the spoils. Another to race handy, Joey Ramsden’s charge was always close to the speed. He took up the running early in the straight and although both BAYARD and MISTER GONE ran on strongly over the final 400m, he went on to score comfortably by a length and a quarter.

Titbits

Freely available at 100/1 on the off, the maiden ODYSSEY OF LIGHT caught the eye running on nicely when third to the very promising Ecclesiastic in the non black type Derby Plate over 2000m.

.

What A Beauty

Scottsville 9^th April: The Mike De Kock trained SALSABEEL (25) always looked to be the right one in the opening maiden juvenile event over 1400m in Natal on Saturday and so it proved to be. Always deep in the red (sent off at 1/4), the daughter of Elusive Quality was taken straight to the front by Anthony Delpech and led throughout. She was always in control and winning as a good odds on favourite should, she came home lonely by five with plenty in hand.

Another to leave the stalls at prohibitive odds on this card was LADY MAGPIE (1/3) in the conditions event over 1700m. The best bet on the card for most, Alistair Gordon’s charge sat at the back of the six during the early part of the race. She was five lengths adrift of the leader WINGS OVER SKYE turning for home and with champion jockey Anton Marcus having to give his all over the final 400m, it was only close home that she got her head in front.

The first of the two Gr3 events to be run was the Umzimkhulu Stakes over 1400m and here we saw an impressive performance from the rapidly improving BEACH BEAUTY. On leaving the stalls it was MISS ZUMMERUDD who elected to set the pace whilst Beach Beauty sat some five lengths away in sixth. The pacemaker kept on strongly in the straight and did hold the rest at bay. Beach Beauty produced a very nice turn of foot when asked for her effort though and after striking the front 200m out, she drew clear in good style late to score by three. Dennis Drier’s charge has now won four of her five career starts to date and is clearly very useful.

Titbits 

Although not racing in the strongest of maiden events, the Dennis Drier trained STAGE WHISPER ran on strongly from the rear after losing two lengths at the start and was only beaten a length.

.

Unbeaten Juveniles

Kenilworth 9^th April: The Justin Snaith trained ANNIE BE QUICK was sent off a strong favourite to win the maiden juvenile event over 1000m on Saturday and she didn’t let down her supporters. Soon at the head of affairs, Annie Be Quick held just a slender lead for most of the journey. Once given rein though, she steadily began to draw clear and only having to be pushed out with hands and heels over the final 400m, she cruised in by five and a quarter.

The first of the afternoon’s two juvenile features to be run was the listed Perfect Promise Sprint and here we saw another smart performance from the unbeaten TRINITY HOUSE. Always deep in the red, Joey Ramsden’s charge made virtually all. The easy to back SHEDRIVESMECRAZY narrowly put her head in front going through the 300m and at that stage it looked as if the daughter of Captain Al would have a real race on her hands. Confidently ridden by Glen Hatt though, Trinity House responded well when asked for an effort, and after quickly regaining the lead, she went on to score comfortably by two and a quarter.

The Somerset 1200 was next up and as expected victory here went to the unbeaten GIMMETHEGREENLIGHT. Another to leave the stalls at prohibitive odds, Justin Snaith’s charge sat close up in third during the early part of the race. He took up the running shortly after passing halfway and kept on strongly over the final 400m to beat the running on DEPARDIEU by a half. A comfortable winner of his only previous start, Depardieu finished well and is clearly one to keep tabs on.

Titbits

Beaten just 3,75 lengths by the unbeaten Trinity House in the listed Perfect Promise Sprint, the maiden GOLDEN DAWN was running on nicely at the finish.

After racing at the back of the fifteen, the newcomer SUPER ELEGANT fairly flew over the final 400m of the maiden 1100m and got up to win in the very last stride.

.

It Ain’t Over Til It’s Over

Turffontein 10^th April: Sunday’s action took place on the inner track where a major upset was to be had in the opening maiden juvenile event over 1450m when the heavily supported 4/10 favourite ROYAL RIDGE got rolled. Mike De Kock’s charge didn’t do anything wrong though. Nicely positioned in midfield after getting over from a wide draw, Royal Ridge was ridden to lead less than 100m from home. Finishing like a train from the back of the fourteen though was the poorly drawn newcomer EUROSILVER, and in what proved to be a real thriller, he got up late to win going away.

The easiest victory on the card was recorded by ILSANPIETRO (82) who came home smoking in the pinnacle event over 3000m. Content to race towards the rear of the eight for most of the journey, Mike De Kock’s charge began to take closer order moving into the strip. He struck the front early in the short home straight and with the three most prominent runners all fading badly at that point, he came home lonely by seven.

The listed Spook Express Handicap over 2600m topped the bill and here we saw another smart performance from the Geoff Woodruff trained JUSTTHEWAYYOUARE (62). On leaving the stalls it was the recent Sun Chariot Handicap winner DUNCTON QUEST who elected to set the pace whilst in a strung out field, Geoff Woodruff’s charge sat some ten lengths away in fifth. Clearly feeling confident, jockey Khumalo (aboard Duncton Quest) had a good look around early in the straight and then had the audacity to also look through his legs. As they approached the 300m marker though, Justthewayyouare suddenly took off and despite having everything except the kitchen sink thrown at him, Duncton Quest couldn’t go with the favourite when he loomed alongside at the distance.

Titbits

Supported into 8/1 from 33/1 at the track, the poorly drawn newcomer KATY’S LANE ran on strongly from the back to take third in the maiden event over 1450m.

.

Top speedratings for this weekend include:-

Top rated winners last week included

Notebook:-

FASTEST TIMES