New Beginnings

In Command Throughout

Fairview 27^th December: The first two races in Port Elizabeth on Friday were run on the poly track (1000m & 1200m). The remaining six races were staged on the turf.

A maiden plate over 1000m got proceedings underway and here we saw a very comfortable victory for DISTILLER. Making only her second racecourse appearance here (first on the poly), Yvette Bremner’s charge was soon up handy. She was ridden to lead as they approached the 200m marker and drew clear easily from there onwards to score by three.

The easiest victory on the card was recorded by FOREST DIGGER in the conditions plate over 2400m. As per usual found guarding the rear early on, Mitch Wiese’s charge ran on best of all in the long home straight and easily accounted for SYLVAN VISTA by three and three quarters after striking the front 300m out.

Three of the six turf races were run over 1200m and the fastest of these was the bill topping pinnacle stakes won by the recent recruit from Cape Town JAMIE LEE JET. Taken straight to the front by the 4kg claimer Nicholas Patel, Gavin Smith’s charge led from pillar to post. He raced clear throughout and won without any anxious moments by two and three quarters.

Titbits

The former KZN campaigner PACIFIC LINE came from the rear when getting up late to complete a double in the MR62 Handicap over 1200m.

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Flying Double

Greyville 27^th December: The easiest victory at Greyville on Friday evening was undoubtedly that of FLAMENCO FUSION in the maiden 1400m. She got away well when the gates opened and nicely positioned in third was always poised to strike. She did so early in the straight and went on to score with authority by five from the perennial maiden MISS MIRREN.

There were four races run over 1400m in total, the fastest of which was the MR70 Handicap won by the recent maiden winner FLYING FELLOW. Freely available at 8/1 on the off, Alyson Wright’s charge was always positioned close to the speed. The favourite WALTZED HOME was the first to make a move in the straight and on striking the front 350m from home the hat-trick seeking 3yo looked to have done everything right. Flying Fellow ran on strongly at the business end of the race though and under a confident ride from Anthony Delpech he got up late to score by a length.

The faster of the two maiden events over 1600m was the second division won by the well supported favourite CHERISHED. In the red at 13/20 on the off, the son of Jay Peg was always handy. He was asked to take up the running going through the 400m and won going away by three.

Titbits

Poorly drawn JAMBOREE didn’t find the clearest of passages when running on from the rear to take fourth position (beaten a length and a half) in the MR66 Handicap over 1200m.

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Speedy Workriders

Turffontein 28^th December: Four of the nine races on the old stand side track on Saturday were run over 1800m and surprisingly the fastest of these was the workrider’s maiden event in which the aptly named EXPRESS DELIVERY put up an eye catching performance. Unable to get within 11,75 lengths of a winner in three previous outings, Joey Soma’s charge (66/1, a stable companion to the favourite CAPTAIN’S PLEASURE) was drawn wide and as a result he raced in the rear for most of the journey. The field soon became strung out and as they approached the 400m pole he was still at least ten lengths adrift of Captain’s Pleasure, who had just taken up the running. Express Delivery fairly flew from there onwards though, and not only did he get up, but he won going away by a length and three quarters.

Another to win with authority was SOLAR TRIPTYCH in the fastest of the three 1160m events. In the red at 7/10 on the off, the best bet on the card for most was always handy. He was ridden to lead shortly after passing the 200m marker and won going away by three and a quarter from the front running NEWS FLASH.

A pinnacle stakes over 2450m topped the bill and here we saw a very easy victory for the Geoff Woodruff trained RHYTHMIC ROXY. On leaving the stalls it was the veteran WINNING LEAP who elected to make the running whilst the Requiem mare was content to sit in midfield. The favourite ILHA BELA made the first move and looked to have the race at her mercy on hitting the front 400m out. Hanging and later reported as sore behind though, she could find no extra when Rhythmic Roxy drew alongside 200m later and although she did stay on for second, she was six lengths adrift at the wire.

Titbits

COBY showed a nice turn of foot over the final 200m when getting up late to open her account in the maiden 1800m.

The 3yo TAARISH ran on well from midfield when easily winning the MR72 Handicap over 1800m by five. After losing two lengths at the start, MILLENNIUM WIND (a winner last time out) ran on well from the rear to take second position in this race.

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In Full Bloom

Kenilworth 28^th December: The Gr2 Diadem Stakes over 1200m topped the bill in Cape Town on Saturday and here it was nice to see the only female in the eight strong field, WELWITSCHIA find her form. Seldom seen racing up with the speed, Mike De Kock’s charge sat second here. She took up the running shortly after passing the 200m pole and kept on strongly in the closing stages of the race to beat the prepping JACKSON by a length and a quarter.

The supporting act was the listed Laisserfaire Stakes over 1100m and here we saw a smart performance from the Captain Al filly VICTORIAN SECRET. Taken straight to the front by Sean Cormack, the 4yo made all. She kept on strongly at the business end of the race and with the rest well beaten she finished a length and a quarter clear of the running on REFLECTIVE IMAGE. The runner up had battled to get a run and flew when seeing daylight 150m from home.

Three of the afternoon’s nine races were run over 1600m and the fastest of these was the MR67 Handicap won by OREO SHAKE. On leaving the stalls it was ROBERTSON who elected to make the running whilst Justin Snaith’s charge raced seventh of the ten. He quickened well in the straight and under a well judged ride from Richard Fourie he got up late to deny the easy to back PIRATE FLAG (led 300m).

Titbits

The 1600m maiden winner AFRICA BLUE was baulked for a run 300m out and did very well indeed to get up late.

VOL DE NUIT (didn’t find the clearest of passages) and LIFT OFF (came from the rear) both ran on strongly when 1^st & 2^nd respectively in the MR74 Handicap over 1400m.

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Top speedratings for this weekend include:-

Top rated winners last week included

Notebook:-

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