Code Rocks Alright!
Scottsville 5 July
Code Rock- Impressive winner at Scottsville. Worth following on this effort
With the previous day’s Arlington meeting rained out, local punters got stuck into the Scottsville card and some entertaining racing materialised.
The most impressive winner of the day was the three year old CODE ROCK who was having his first run for his new trainer Alyson Wright. Highly thought of by his former yard, he stepped out in the 1400m Novice Plate and won impressively. Often campaigned in the Cape over slightly further, he enjoyed the extended sprint here and as this was only his second win, he looks to have plenty of scope. The good looking filly CHERRY ON THE CAKE ran on well for second just 0,75 lengths back, while AMPERE ran his usual game race in third.
MJ THRILLER, trained these days by Louis Goosen, had taken ten runs to win his Maiden and looked pretty ordinary. But he came through under a great ride by Anthony Delpech to beat FRIAR TUCK narrowly in the MR 72 Handicap over 1000m. Delpech said afterwards that he had not used his whip as the Captain Al gelding did not appear to enjoy it. This form may be a trifle dicey.
The Michael Roberts trained Var filly LAMORNA certainly runs for young apprentice Doctor Sifiso Lembethe and she ran on powerfully at any price to win the MR70 Handicap over 1000m. She beat the game WOODEN GOLD , who seldom runs a below-par race, while COTSWOLD flashed though late and is one for the notebook. The fancied TWO TONE ROCKA faded late after showing pace early, and may be worth a chance to redeem herself.
The Parade Leader filly CONDOLEEZZA put it all together at her tenth start to win the Fillies and Mares Maiden Plate over 1950m and get Pick Six punters off to a flying start. Bernard Fayd’Herbe rode a great race to launch her at the top of the straight and she won readily. MATERIAL GIRL ran on well for second and should not be a maiden for life , judged on this run.
Anthony Delpech and Mike De Kock teamed up to win the Maiden Juvenile Plate for Fillies with the Right Approach filly WINGED FOOT, who powered through to win going away. She is a nice scopy filly who looks set to improve in her three year old year and while she beat nothing of note, there was something interesting about her win.
Anton Marcus enjoyed a cushy ride on the promising Modus Vivendi filly SYLVAN SPECIAL, who was always up with the action before pulling clear to win the 1600m Maiden Plate for Fillies and Mares. She was having her third run here and looked to have improved with the experience of her second outing over the course and distance. TACALOOCHEE stayed on well for second and is improving slowly. PERSIAN SUN ran into fifth after looking dangerous early and might be worth following as there was a tickle or three on her. THEED ran a noticeable shocker at her third start to finish thirty eight lengths behind.
The Duncan Howells trained Street Cry mare FIRST ‘N FAST made it a winning swansong when she flew late to easily win the MR 76 Handicap, giving Robbie Fradd his first winner since returning to SA. MISS FILLY is always so reliable and consistent and she ran on well for second, while FOXTROT BABY maintained her recent upward form curve with a good effort from the bad draw. FIRST ‘N FAST goes to stud a six time winner and she should make quite an impact as a broodmare, if her talent and heart on the racecourse is anything to go by.The kind of horse we would all want to own.
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Hatt Hits a High
Durbanville 6 July
Jockeys Glen Hatt and Richard Fourie dominated the proceedings at the country course with seven winners on the nine race card, including some thrilling tight finishes.
Hatt started his memorable afternoon in the second race when bringing the neat chestnut CASEY DE ROCHE through down the inside to run away from the well-backed ADMIRAL JOHN PETER, who appeared to be going up and down late. CASEY DE ROCHE only won by 0,75 lengths but the Joey Ramsden owned and trained gelding did not look in danger of losing. FLIGHTOFTHEPHOENIX caught the eye in third when running on from a shocking draw to show nice improvement at only his second start.
Fourie rode the unfancied Manshood filly HARUM SCARUM to a good looking win in the third race, a Maiden Juvenile Plate for fillies over 1400m. She stormed through late to collar the free-striding AQUALUNG, who should not be long in winning, while the fancied LIGHT BLUE should improve next time on her third place here.
Paul Reeves shrewdly brought ROSE OF DUBAI back in distance after she ran out of puff in a mile race last time. Brandon Morgenrood took her to the front in the Qualified Maiden Plate for fillies and mares over 1400m and she was never headed, showing tremendous fight at the finish. In a blanket finish she held off the flying EMILY MOON, with the improved again EMBLEM OF INTRIGUE a close third. All of LUNAR LANDING, EXCELLENT COVE and GRISETTE were very disappointing, and they will battle to win on this kind of performance.
A strong rider finally got long-battling maiden SOUL SINGER home. The plodding son of Jet Master was having his 23rd start and beat the blind school here in this Maiden Plate over 2000m. SPANDANGLE and ELI VINCIT showed pace but both ended up tiring badly and are very moderate.
Glen Hatt was at his brilliant best on CAPULETTE who looked a beaten horse in the MR 91 Handicap for fillies and mares. The well-travelled and once promising mare PROMISES TO KEEP maintained her strong gallop right to the line and it was a superb exhibition of power riding by Hatt, who got CAPULETTE to dig deep. PEONIE PARADISE ran on really well for third and should be monitored in her next start or two. CAPULETTE was highly thought of early, and might be fulfilling that early promise now. One to watch!
In a similar display to the previous race, Hatt got another Ramsden filly to fly late as he drove GREY ROSE up to collar the pacy SINGLE LINE, who is only average but is threatening to win her second race at any time. GREY ROSE may well be worth following as she is obviously very talented and won impressively here after being confidently ridden.
It was three on the trot for Hatt in the penultimate race, when he got the Mike Bass trained SHIMMERING FLAME to grab the unlucky MASTER BARRY, who did everything but win the MR 91 Handicap over 1600m. Hatt was highly complimentary about the son of Saumarez, who he said was honest and talented and always did his best. The favourite COASTING AVALANCHE is much better than this effort and ran disappointingly in fourth. He appears to have respiratory problems.
Fourie recorded his hat-trick when getting TERRY LISTER home to beat the long-striding GREAT KALLI in the final event. GREAT KALLI is sure to win his second race at any time, while WESTERN LEADER ran an improved race close up in third and is another who should always be considered as he looks overdue to pop up at anytime.
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