No Substitute For Class

Seven by Three

Turffontein 14^th April: They raced on the inner track on Sunday where seven of the ten races were run over 1450m. The fastest of these was the MR72 Handicap in which the costly to follow MILKWOOD MANOR registered his third career victory. Always one to run on stoutly from off the pace, the 5yo son of Mogok finished best of all and in what proved to be a real thriller he got up in the very last stride to deny the lightly raced 3yo SENESCHAL.

The other three races were all run over 2600m and the quickest of these was the pinnacle stakes won by the best weighted runner in the field SEAL. Just five went to post and nicely positioned in third he was always poised to strike. He did so going through the 400m and kept on strongly in the short home straight to beat the veteran MIRAGE DRIVE by two and a quarter.

The easiest victory on the card was recorded by SKY RISE in the maiden 2600m. Heavily supported on course into 33/10 second favourite from 7/1, Weiho Marwing’s charge sat fifth of the ten for most of the journey. He took up the running coming off the strip and drew clear easily over the final 500m to score by six.

The listed Spook Express Handicap over 2600m topped the bill and here it was nice to see the 6yo mare SALUTATION gain just reward for her recent consistency. Freely available at 11/2 on the off, Stuart Pettigrew’s charge was always handy. She was ridden to lead as they approached the 300m marker and kept on determinedly in the latter stages of the race to fend off challenges from both ATLANTIC OAK and RHYTHMIC ROXY.

Titbits

The 25/1 shot OLYMPIC GOAL came from midfield when winning the girls’ maiden juvenile plate over 1450m going away.

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Winning Local Debuts

Flamingo Park 15^th April: The going was standard in the Northern Cape on Monday where the easiest victory on the nine race program was recorded by MAESTRALE in the opening maiden event over 1000m. Having his first outing here since relocating from KZN, the son of Muhtafal was soon up handy. He was ridden to lead going through the 300m and drew clear easily in the closing stages of the race to score by five and a half.

Another to win well in his first appearance at the track was LOVE NAUTILUS in the second race on the card, a maiden plate over 1800m. The first of two winners on the card for Gauteng trainer Gary Alexander, Love Nautilus was always in touch with the leaders. He was asked to take up the running coming off the bend and comfortably accounted for the slightly more fancied KHULUMA by two and a half.

The trend continued in race three, a maiden plate over 1600m, when the former KZN campaigner POLE DANCE made a winning local debut. Allowed to ease out to 16/10 at the track (op 12/10) although still retaining her position at the top of the boards, Pole Dance was always positioned close to the speed. She took up the running going through the 600m and went on to score with authority by three and a quarter.

The afternoons’ feature event was the non-black type Northern Cape stayers Handicap over 2200m and here an upset was to be had when one of the outsiders KARLO landed the spoils. Freely available at 22/1 on the off, the 5yo son of Qui Danzig raced close up in third for the vast majority of the trip. The hat-trick seeking AFRICAN GLADIATOR set the pace and passing the 400m marker it was clear that he had the rest well beaten. Karlo quickened nicely at the business end of the race though and try as he might the favourite couldn’t go with him when he loomed alongside 200m out.

Titbits

Detached at the rear turning for home in the MR78 Handicap over 1400m, CAPTAIN DE LAGO ran on best of all in the straight and did well to get within three lengths of the winner.

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Forging Clear

Vaal 16^th April: Tuesday’s action took place on the inside track where the fastest of the three 1000m maiden events was won by the Leon Erasmus trained DREAM LEADER. Freely available at 9/1 on the off, the 2yo son of Kahal was soon positioned close up in second. He moved through to take up the running as they approached the 200m pole and although the pacemaker ABSTRACT kept on strongly, he went on to score very comfortably by two and a quarter.

Topping the bill was a MR93 Handicap over 2000m and in what proved to be a real thriller victory here went to the 4yo YER-MAAN. On leaving the stalls it was the 11/10 favourite TEQUILA SUNRISE who elected to make the running whilst St John Gray’s charge raced close up in fourth. Tequila Sunrise rallied gamely when Yer-Maan put his head in front 100m from home and it was only by the narrowest of margins that he failed to get back up.

There were three races run over 2000m in total and the fastest of these was the MR75 Handicap won by the 5yo FLAMING FORGE. Allowed to flirt with 11/2 at one stage after opening up at 7’s, Brian Wiid’s charge raced in midfield. Another supported runner SHIMMERING JET was the first to make a move and on striking the front 250m from home the son of Dynasty looked to have done everything right. Flaming Forge had been very steadily gaining on that one from the 500m pole though and when he in turn put his head in front 100m later the 3yo could find no extra.

Also worthy of note on this card was the performance of SAINT ANGELIQUE (10/1 into 7/1) in winning the first division of the maiden juvenile 1000m. Making her first racecourse appearance here the daughter of Var got away well when the gates opened and raced close up in fourth. She quickened well from halfway and comfortably accounted for the unfancied newcomer ICELANDIC FIRE by two.

Titbits

The luckless LUMINOUS LOVE was moving up to challenge when baulked for a run 150m out in the bill topping MR93 Handicap won by Yer-Maan.

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In Good Form

Arlington 17^th April: They raced in Port Elizabeth on Wednesday where victory in the opening maiden event over 1600m went to the former Cape Town campaigner KISS AND RIDE. Freely available at 9/1 on the off (op 12’s), the daughter of Jallad sat fourth for most of the journey. She quickened well at the top of the straight and although the uneasy favourite GIBRALTAR EXPRESS (12/10 out to 22/10) threw down a determined challenge she went on to win fair and square by three quarters.

A little unlucky not to land the spoils in the MR70 Handicap over 2000m was the favourite DRUMMINOR. Positioned in midfield in what was a very strung out field turning for home, Drumminor was easily eight lengths off the pace. He fairly flew down the short home straight and only failed to get to the winner BIG WINTER CHILL (raced second and led 200m out) by the narrowest of margins.

A conditions plate over 1800m topped the bill and here the market leader was on the mark when PARCEVAL did the business. Always handy, Tara Laing’s charge took up the running going through the 400m and kept on strongly in the latter stages of the race to beat the rallying pacemaker BLAZE OF FIRE by a half.

Titbits

Running on from towards the rear, ROSES IN SPRING had to switch around a half of the field before getting up in the dying strides to open her account in the maiden 1000m.

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Top speedratings for this weekend include:-

Top rated winners last week included

Notebook:-

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