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Fast Four

Scottsville 24^th May: The first of the four 1200m Gr1 events to be run on Saturday was the Allan Robertson Championship for 2yo fillies and here we saw a smart performance from the daughter of Rock Of Gibraltar ALBORAN SEA. Freely available at 12/1 on the off, Mike De Kock’s charge was soon up handy. She was ridden to lead shortly after passing the 200m pole and kept on strongly in the closing stages of the race to beat the more fancied RICH GIRL by two and a quarter. Third placed ONE FINE DAY (beaten 2,5 lengths) was baulked for a run between the 400m-200m poles and then had to switch out 150m from home.

The juvenile boys contested the Tsogo Sun Medallion over 1200m and leading from pillar to post here was the son of Seventh Rock GUINESS. Out of the pens in a flash, Dennis Drier’s charge always travelled well. The handily placed 22/10 favourite CARRY ON ALICE gave her all in a bid to get on terms over the final 400m, but although she was very steadily gaining, and did have the rest well beaten, she couldn’t get closer than a neck at the wire. Third placed HARRY’S SON (beaten 3,5 lengths) was squeezed out at the start and didn’t find the clearest of passages before running on very strongly late.

Deep in the red to win the SA Fillies Sprint was last year’s winner VIA AFRICA and she didn’t let down her supporters. Allowed to ease right out to 15/20 from 9/20 at the track as money came for ALL IS SECRET, the daughter of Var was soon in her favourite position at the head of affairs. She kept on strongly at the business end of the race and with the rest well beaten she just held on by the narrowest of margins from the steadily gaining 55/1 shot FLY BY NIGHT.

The fastest of the four Gr1 events was the Gr1 Golden Horse sprint won by the improving 3yo NORMANZ. Shouldering just 53kg in what in real terms was a handicap, the Var gelding raced up with the speed throughout. He kept on strongly over the final 400m and beat the always handy RED RAY (also a 3yo) fair and square by a length and a half.

Titbits

Despite having to switch out for a run 450m out and his rider dropping the rein 350m out, the 2yo FORRIES WALTZ ran on stoutly from midfield and won the MR79 Handicap going away by a length and a quarter.

NIGHT TRIP ran on well from midfield when comfortably accounting for his nine rivals in the MR97 Handicap over 1600m.

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Rocketing Home

Kenilworth 24^th May: A juvenile plate got proceedings underway in Cape Town on Saturday and in what proved to be the fastest of the afternoon’s three 1400m events victory here went to the Horse Chestnut colt CATKIN. Freely available at 10/1 on the off, Joey Ramsden’s charge broke well and was soon in command of a length and a half advantage. He was headed by the favourite RIVER GOD going through the 400m, but rallied gamely late on to score by a half.

The girl’s juvenile 1400m was won by the deposed second favourite IN LIMINE (5/2 out to 15/4). Another to find the front from the start, this daughter of JAY PEG looked as if she might have a race on her hands as LADY GRACA and FIRST OF MAY moved up to challenge 300m out. Once given rein though, she quickened away in good style and won with authority by three and a half.

In terms of distance the easiest victory on the card was recorded by VALERIO when opening his account in the maiden 1600m. Yet another to ply his trade from the front, Adam Marcus’ charge raced just a length and a quarter clear for most of the journey. He began to assert his authority going through the 300m and went on to score very cosily by five and a quarter.

A MR100 Handicap over 1600m topped the bill and heavily supported here was the 5yo son of Caesour SHISHANGENI. Backed throughout the day into 22/10 second favourite from 10/1, Shishangeni also attempted to make all. He kept on determinedly below the distance and did have the rest comfortably beaten. Running on stoutly from the rear though, the 2/1 favourite JOHNNY ROCKETS (op 14/10) steadily reeled him in and in what proved to be a real thriller he got up in the dying strides.

Titbits

EMERALD ALBERT and BOSTON CELTIC both ran on well from the backend of midfield when 1^st & 2^nd respectively in the maiden plate over 2000m.

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Easy Victories

Turffontein 25^th May: They raced on the inner track on Sunday where five of the afternoon’s nine races were run over 1450m. The fastest of these somewhat surprisingly was the maiden juvenile plate won by AMAZING STRIKE. Soon up handy, the nicely drawn son of Ideal World took up the running early in the short home straight and drew clear easily in the closing stages of the race to score by five and a quarter.

Another to win with authority on this card was the Mike De Kock trained newcomer BANG SUE in the opening maiden juvenile plate over 1450m. She got away well when the gates opened and soon at the head of affairs led throughout. She was just three quarters of a length clear turning for home and quickening nicely in the straight she went on to win by three and a quarter. Although never any kind of a threat, the runner up RASCALITY ran on well from midfield in this race.

SUNDAYS SISTER in the maiden event over 1800m was the best bet on the card for many and she didn’t let down her supporters. Confidently ridden by the national jockey’s log leader S’manga Khumalo, Sean Tarry’s charge sat fifth for most of the journey. She moved through to take up the running shortly after leaving the strip and cruised clear from there onwards to score by five and a half.

Titbits

The always handy MASTER SABINA won the pinnacle stakes over 1600m going away.

Poorly drawn TRUE ARROGANCE ran on well from the rear when runner up in the MR68 Handicap over 1800m.

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Top speedratings for this weekend include:-

Top rated winners last week included

Notebook:-

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