Plenty To Go At

Another One Bites The Dust

Arlington 6^th December: A maiden plate over 1400m got proceedings underway at the last ever meeting to be held at Arlington on Friday and here we saw a comfortable victory for AFRICAN LILY. Allowed to drift right out to 5/1 from 5/2jtfav at the track, Tara Laing’s charge was soon up handy. She was ridden to lead shortly after passing the 300m marker and kept on strongly in the closing stages of the race to beat the running on favourite MISS JAMIE by a length and a quarter.

Another to win well in the maiden ranks on this card was SUPER VILLAIN in the 1600m event. The best bet on the card for many, the son of Black Minnaloushe also raced close to the pace. He took up the running as they approached the 100m pole and comfortably accounted for the 45/1 shot EVARISTE by a length and a quarter.

Three of the afternoon’s eight races were run over 1600m and the fastest of these was the MR69 Handicap won by MANONTHECATWALK. Positioned in midfield coming off the bend, Grant Paddock’s charge ran on best of all in the short home straight and won going away after striking the front close home.

The non-black type Glendore Sprint topped the bill and in what proved to be the faster of the two 1000m events BLACKMALKIN was first past the post. On leaving the stalls it was the speedy veteran BANDOL who elected to make the running whilst Blackmalkin and the four-timer seeking INSEARCHOFTHESUN raced in midfield. Both quickened well over the final 300m and after a thrilling tussle Blackmalkin got the verdict by the narrowest of margins. Blackmalkin was adjudged to have carried Insearchofthesun out in the closing stages though, and as a result the placings were reversed.

Titbits

PACIFIC LINE ran on well from midfield when getting up in the dying strides to win the MR66 Handicap over 1400m.

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Avoiding Danger

Vaal 7^th December: They raced on the outside track on Saturday where the easiest victory on the card was recorded by the newcomer LEODOCUS in the maiden 1000m. Allowed to drift at the track as if a win was out of the question (10/1 out to 28/1), Stanley Ferreira’s charge raced in the backend of midfield early on. Once given rein though he quickened well and went on to score with some in hand by two and three quarters.

Another to win from off the pace on this card was REBEL MAGIC in the MR72 affair over 1000m. A fluent winner of her only previous racecourse appearance, the daughter of Rebel King was always travelling well. She made her move as they approached the 400m pole and thanks to the braveness of her jockey Gavin Lerena when the loose horse ducked sharply towards them close home, she got up late. Third placed FAB CAT (beaten 2,25 lengths) raced detached at the rear early on.

Four of the afternoon’s eleven races were run over 1400m and the fastest of these was the MR67 Handicap won by DANIELLE. In the rear going through halfway, the 40/1 shot finished best of all over the final 700m and in a race where less than half a length separated the first four home she got up in the dying strides to deny the Modern Day mare LIKE THE WILLOW.

The fastest of the three 1200m races was the bill topping MR96 Handicap in which PHENOMENAL registered her third career victory. The only female in the eleven horse line up, Phenomenal was soon positioned close to the speed. She struck the front going through the 200m and in another thrilling finish she only held on by the narrowest of margins from the running on COHIBA.

Titbits

Lightly raced ZEPHIRA ran on well from the rear when getting up late to open her account in the maiden 1600m.

75/1 shot MATILDA’S LOVE came from the rear when winning the MR68 Handicap over 1400m by a length and three quarters going away.

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Fast And Furious

Kenilworth 7^th December: The first of the two graded races to be run in Cape Town on Saturday was the Gr2 Southern Cross Stakes over 1000m and here we saw another smart performance from the Count Dubois filly FAIRYINTHEWOODS. Now unbeaten in six starts since finishing downfield on debut, Darryl Hodgson’s charge raced in the rear early on. Once given rein though she quickened nicely and despite not finding the clearest of passages she got up late to win by three quarters.

The Prestigious Gr1 Cape Fillies Guineas over 1600m topped the bill and here the aptly named IN THE FAST LANE showed that her win in the Gr2 Choice Carriers Championship last time out was no fluke. Confidently ridden by Richard Fourie, the daughter of Jet Master raced in midfield for most of the journey. She ran on stoutly down the longer new course home straight and won well by a length from the running on LANNER FALCON. As well as the first two, ALONG CAME POLLY also finished very well from off the pace in this race.

The final event on the card was a MR74 Handicap over 1800m and here jockey Grant Van Niekerk capped a day to remember (5 winners on the card) when successful aboard the well supported GOING MY OWN WAY. Always handy, the daughter of Sail From Seattle came together with the fancied CAREFUL HIKER going through the 200m and after a thrilling tussle she only got the verdict on the nod.

Titbits

SEVEN GRAND won the first juvenile race in Cape Town going away after running on from midfield.

STUDY THE STARS won the maiden 1400m very comfortably by a length and a half.

TEVEZ ran on strongly from the off the pace when third beaten a short head in the listed Southeaster Sprint over 1100m.

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Top speedratings for this weekend include:-

Top rated winners last week included

Notebook:-

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