Mine And Yours

On Another Day

Arlington 15^th May: There were a number of close finishes in Port Elizabeth on Sunday and none more so than that of the maiden event over 1400m won by COMMAND OFFICER. Backed into 75/20 from 9/2 at the track, Gavin Smith’s charge was always handy. He ran on stoutly over the final 400m and only got the verdict by narrowest of margins in a four way photo.

At the other end of the scale, the easiest victory on the card was undoubtedly that of SAVANAH PARK in the MR73 affair over 1800m. Soon up handy, the recent recruit from Natal raced prominent throughout. He was ridden to lead shortly after passing the 400m marker and drew clear easily in the closing stages of the race to score by six.

The Gr3 East Cape Derby over 2400m topped the bill and passing the post first here was the second favourite LORENZO MARGUES. Positioned in sixth alongside the heavily supported favourite VENGENCE for most of the journey, Justin Snaith’s charge was always nicely placed to challenge. He quickened well when the race began in earnest early in the home straight, but then shifting towards the inside running rail took up the running of the favourite. He was a length clear of the market leader at the wire, but after an enquiry the placings were reversed.

Titbits

Poorly drawn in the East Cape Derby, The Western Cape raider DESERT RAT ran on nicely from towards the rear and getting up for fourth is clearly better than his current record of just two wins from 14 starts would suggest.

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All Aboard

Vaal 17^th May: The easiest victory at the Vaal’s sand meeting on Tuesday was undoubtedly that of BOSS CAT who came home smoking in the maiden event over 1000m. Soon up handy despite being a little slow into stride, Boss Cat was always travelling well. He began to assert his authority going through halfway and with some in hand, he easily accounted for the well tried TENOR IN TUNE by five.

Another to win very well on this card was BOYLAN BLAZE who registered his fourth career victory in the MR88 affair over 1800m. Nicely positioned in fifth for most of the journey, Mike De Kock’s charge was asked to take up the running going through the 300m. He quickly went clear and despite the efforts of the favourite PARLOTONE, he went on to score very comfortably by three and a quarter.

A MR96 Handicap over 1000m topped the bill and here victory went to the well supported favourite KENTUCKY EXPRESS. Backed into 14/10 at one stage from 5/2, the top weighted son of Muhtafal was soon up with the speed. He began to quicken the tempo as they approached the 300m marker and although his stable companion WOROOD tried her best to make a race of it, he went on to score very comfortably by two.

Titbits

MEXICAN MAGIC showed good improvement when running on to take second in the maiden juvenile event over 1000m.

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Some In Hand

Kenilworth 18^th May: Favourite backers got off to a nice start in Cape Town on Wednesday when the Glen Kotzen trained PLATINUM CAT did the business in the opening maiden event over 2000m. Rock solid in the betting market at 14/10, Platinum Cat was always in touch with the leaders. She was asked to take closer order coming off the bend and after striking the front 350m from home, she easily drew clear. One to keep an eye on from this race is LADY DAPPLELOO who finished second. She was held by the winner in the latter stages, but she did nonetheless finish strongly from the rear.

Another to win with authority on this card was LEEWARD who registered her third career victory from just four starts in the Juvenile Plate over 1400m. Taken straight to the front by Glen Hatt, the daughter of Captain Al led throughout. She kicked clear nicely at the top of the straight and with some in hand, she easily accounted for the running on BUY AND MULTIPLY by four and a quarter.

A MR94 Handicap over 1800m topped the bill and here we saw a nice performance from the Pivotal gelding JEAN ROI. Confidently ridden by Andrew Fortune, Jean Roi sat towards the rear for most of the journey. The well supported favourite FIRST LAD was the first to make a move in the straight and on striking the front 300m from home, he looked to have done everything right. Pushed out just hands and heels though, Jean Roi finished best of all and under a well judged ride she got up close home.

Titbits

With winter now fast approaching its worth noting that Jean Roi has gained all five of her career wins in soft going.

Having just his second career start in the maiden event over 1600m here, unfancied AMANZI ran on nicely in the latter stages of the race to take fourth.

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Flying Stripes

Vaal 19^th May: They raced on the turf on Thursday where victory in the opening workrider’s maiden event over 1700m went to the low flying favourite COCO STRIPES (22). A fast finishing third in similar company last time out, Clinton Binda’s charge was again positioned in the rear during the early part of the race. The deposed favourite TYPICALMAN (12/10 out to 5/2) was the first to make a move and easily three lengths clear of Coco Stripes going through the 200m looked to have done everything right. Coco Stripes fairly flew below the distance though and in what proved to be a classic finish, he got up late to score by a half.

On what has to be said was a very moderate card, the first of the low grade handicaps for the less able was a MR61 Handicap over 1400m and here victory went to the favourite MASTENDE (38). Confidently ridden by Derek David, Mastende sat sixth for most of the journey. She was ridden to lead shortly after passing the 200m marker and went on to score very comfortably from PONTING’S ODDS by two and three quarters.

The first of the two MR66 Handicaps that topped the bill was a 1400m event and here victory went to the Penny Kimberley trained ROMAN WARRIOR (22). Allowed a very healthy 3,5 length lead for most of the trip, Roman Warrior was always in command. He kept on strongly at the business end of the race and although both LECTURE TOUR and INQUEST chased hard, he didn’t relinquish an inch of his advantage on the run to the line.

Titbits

After winning four in a row on sand at Flamingo Park, BEACH FLIGHT extended his winning sequence to five in the MR66 Handicap over 1000m here and judging by his sand rating, he could still be well handicapped when racing on turf next time.

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Deadly Shark

Greyville 20^th May: The best bet on the card for many on Friday evening was M’LORDS THROAT in the Allowance Plate over 1900m and he didn’t let down his supporters. On leaving the stalls it was the recent Scottsville scorer IRON WOOD who elected to set a rather sedate pace, whilst Glen Kotzen’s charge sat close up in second. He quickened nicely early in the straight and after taking up the running 250m out, he comfortably accounted for the running on GOLD ONYX by two.

Race six on the card was a Graduation Plate over 1000m and here we saw a very impressive performance from the Dean Kannemeyer trained THE SHARK. Having his first outing since finishing a well beaten eleventh in the Gr2 Selangor Cup, The Shark was racing over the minimum distance for the first time. He raced sixth during the early part of the race and coming off the bend he was still four lengths off the pace set by STORM VANIDOSO. Once given rein though, the son of Kitalpha quickened in good style and after striking the front 200m from home, he easily drew clear. The Shark went on to win by three and quarter despite only having to be pushed out hands and heels in the closing stages of the race and is clearly very useful.

The Gr2 Betting World 1900 topped the bill and in what proved to be a real thriller a dead heat was declared between the well supported GOLDEN CHARIOT and SAFWAN. Backed into 6/1 at one stage from 10’s, Golden Chariot attempted to lead throughout. He looked as if he had done enough to take first prize alone going through the 100m, but steadily gaining below the distance Safwan got up to share in the very last stride.

Titbits

Costly to follow AL SHIBA ran on very well from the rear when a runner up to Bay Leaf in the maiden event over 1600m.

TRENDLINE and ROCKING DANE both ran on strongly from off the pace when 3^rd & 4^th respectively in the MR79 affair over 1400m

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Top speedratings for this weekend include:-

Top rated winners last week included

Notebook:-

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