Promising Youngsters
Flamingo Park 2nd April: A maiden juvenile event over 1000m got proceedings underway in theNorthern Cape on Monday and here we saw a smart performance from the Sean Miller trained TRICENTENIARY. Allowed to flirt with 4/1 for a while before being backed in to her original opening price of 33/10, Tricenteniary was soon at the head of affairs. She kept up a healthy gallop throughout and went on to score with authority by six. One to look out for next time from this race is the newcomer BABY TJOKLITS who finished second. A stable companion to the winner, Baby Tjokolits raced in the rear and although she was never close enough to be a threat to Tricenteniary, she did have the rest well beaten at the wire.
Another to win very easily in the maiden ranks on this card was HANNAH GREEN in the 1800m event. Having only her second outing since relocating from theEastern Cape, Sean Miller’s charge raced fourth during the early part of the race. She moved through to take up the running shortly after passing the 400m marker and although the pacemaker SUVRETTA HOUSE kept on determinedly once headed, she cruised in by six.
The best bet on the card for many was BOSTON LEGAL in the MR78 Handicap over 1000m and he didn’t let down his supporters. Soon into stride, Vernon Rugg’s charge led throughout. He kept on strongly at the business end of the race and although the heavily supported BAREBACK (12/1 into 11/2) ran on strongly, he went on to score fair and square by a length and a half.
The afternoon’s feature event was a pinnacle stakes over 1600m and here a major upset was to be had when the lesser fancied of Sean Miller’s five runners in the event KENSINGTON GORE landed the spoils. Considerably out at the weights with a number of runners in this his first outing in theNorthern Cape, Kensington Gore was always in touch with the leaders. He was ridden to lead going through the 300m and although another under sufferance runner WEATHER WISE chased hard, he won comfortably by two and a half.
Titbits
Making her first appearance since relocating fromNatal, THIS IS IT won the MR67 Handicap over 1400m going away.
In the same race as This Is It was PICK A POCKET. Drawn in the car park, Pick A Pocket ran on strongly from the rear and did well to get within 2,25 lengths of the winner at the wire.
Heavily supported outsider SIR NEWTON (33/1 into 10/1) came from the rear under a very determined ride from Samango Khumalo in the MR72 Handicap over 1400m and was only beaten by three quarters of a length.
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Flying Filly
Scottsville 3rd April: First up inNatal on Tuesday was a maiden juvenile event over 1200m and here we saw a comfortable victory for the Tony Nassif trained MICROSTATE. Nibbled at on course into 9/2 from 5’s, the son of National Emblem was soon up with the speed. He began to assert his authority going through the 400m and although the favourite CAPTAIN FIRTH chased hard, he went on to score comfortably by two and a quarter.
The easiest victory on the card was undoubtedly that of MISS FILLY who came home smoking in the MR81 Handicap over 1400m. Content to amble along in midfield during the early part of the race, the daughter of Modern Day made up the ground quickly once in the straight. She struck the front shortly after passing the 300m marker and cruised clear in good style from there onwards to score by seven and a half.
Topping the bill was a MR88 Handicap over 1600m and as expected here victory went to the highly regarded ICE MACHINE. Reunited with Anton Marcus, Glen Puller’s charge raced close up in fourth. He moved through to take up the running as they approached the 300m marker and with rest some eight lengths adrift, he comfortably accounted for the determined HENCHMAN by two. Keep an eye on the 6yo Henchman. Pat Lunn’s charge has bumped some very good sorts lately and should gain compensation soon.
The lucky last was a maiden event over 1600m and here we saw a very easy victory for the favourite TAJMEEL. Priced up at 1/3 at one stage, Mike De Kock’s charge was allowed to ease out to 6/10 on course as money came for both SUMMER RAIN (14/1 into 7/1) and CRIMSON FIRE (14/1 into 15/2). Soon up handy, Tajmeel raced prominent throughout. She was ridden to lead at the top of the straight and kept up to her work all the way to the wire by Anthony Delpech, she easily accounted for Summer Rain by five.
Titbits
Having only her second career outing here, PARTY QUEEN ran on from the rear when finishing runner up in the maiden event over 1200m.
FormerCape Towncampaigner POLITICAL PLAYBOY won the MR76 Handicap over 1600m with authority.
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Crest Of A Wave
Turffontein 3rd April: They raced on the old stand side track on Tuesday night where victory in the opening maiden juvenile event over 1400m went to the newcomer CHERRY ON THE TOP (12). Sent off favourite at 11/10, Ormond Ferraris’ charge was soon up handy. She was ridden to lead as they approached the 400m marker and with plenty in hand she easily accounted for the second favourite LONDON DIPPER.
Race five on the card was a MR88 Handicap over 1600m and here we saw a nice performance from the lightly raced 3yo GOLDEN CREST (56). On leaving the stalls it was the nibbled at ASSOGIA WOOD (11/2 into 4/1) who elected to make the running whilst Geoff Woodruff’s charge was content to amble along towards the rear. He quickened well at the top of the long home straight and after striking the front 230m from home, he kept on strongly late to beat the running on FESTIVAL SPIRIT by a length and a quarter.
A MR74 Handicap over 2000m was next up and here it was nice to see the Western Winter filly BRANDY NAN find her best form. Having her third run here following a short break, Michael Azzie’s charge was always in touch with the leaders. She moved through to take up the running at the 200m marker and held on gamely in the closing stages of the race to beat SUNNY DISPOSTION by a half.
The evening’s feature event was a MR90 Handicap over 1160m and here we saw a nice performance from the 4yoBERMUDAWINTER. Well supported on course to go off second favourite at 33/10 (op 9/2), Diane Stenger’s charge was soon up with the speed. She began to assert her authority going through the 200m and comfortably accounted for the easy to back BENBOW by two.
Titbits
OHIKIBAYdidn’t find the clearest of passages before running on strongly late to win the maiden event over 1000m.
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Top speedratings for this weekend include:-
Scottsville Race 1: No Qualifiers Race 2: No Qualifiers Race 3: (2) Senorita Al 19 Race 4: (6) Northern Emperor 80 Race 5: (4) Ra Ra Ra 45 Race 6: (1) Sauna’s Rose 61 Race 7: (11) Sweet Oliver 60 Race 8: (5) Kiriya 16 Turffontein Race 1: (1) Queens Home 15 Race 2: (2) Mogok’s Desire 38 Race 3: (2) Emblazoned Star 22 Race 4: (3) Beautiful Dawn 6 Race 5: (3) Stroller 22 Race 6: (1) J J The Jet Plane 106 (nb) Race 7: (1) Dancewiththedevil (NAP**) Race 8: (11) The Planter 21 Durbanville Race 1: (7) King O Dreams 12 Race 2: (10) Our Dizzy Emblem 12 Race 3: (6) Lookatmego 22 Race 4: (2) Count Dumani 38 Race 5: (3) Count Me Lucky 11 Race 6: (15)JewelCoast49 Race 7: (9) Dandyman Can 37 Race 8: (9) Princessjacqueline 12 Vaal Race 1: (1) City OfAngels18 Race 2: (1) Winning Wild 28 Race 3: (3) Flute Enchantee 8 Race 4: (1) King Scott 7 Race 5: (11) Sateen 46 Race 6: (12) Sermon 66 Race 7: (10) Coco Stripes 47 (EW) Race 8: (4) Howhighcanufly 48 Race 9: (2) Goldstream 47
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Top rated winners last week included
Cane Martini won 15/1 Al Felon won 7/1 Jean’s Pride won 13/2 Dancewiththedevil 33/10 Spartan Emblem won 28/10 Joie’s Winter won 15/10 Parado won 1/1 Pylon won 9/10.
Notebook:-
Baby Tjoklits (S Miller, N-Cape) Ice Machine (G Puller, KZN).
FASTEST TIMES
(Shown in brackets is the number of races run in each category)Flamingo Park 2nd April Fastest Sprint 1000-1300 (5) Secret Tune Fastest Middle 1400-1800 (4) Kensington Gore Fastest Long 1900-3600 (0) No Qualifiers
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Scottsville 3rd April Fastest Sprint 1000-1300 (4) Always Al Fastest Middle 1400-1800 (4) Miss Filly Fastest Long 1900-3600 (0) No Qualifiers.
Turffontein 3rd April Fastest Sprint 1000-1300 (3) BermudaWinter Fastest Middle 1400-1800 (4) Golden Crest Fastest Long 1900-3600 (1) Brandy Nan