Taking A Break

R1M Target

Vaal 19th June: They raced on the sand on Thursday where victory in the opening maiden plate over 1450m went to the well supported THERE IS A DREAM. Backed into 28/10 from 5/1 at the track, the 3yo son of Muhtafal broke well and was soon up handy. He ran on strongly over the final 400m and comfortably accounted for the pacemaker MYSTIC EXPRESS after striking the front 100m out.
The newcomer MIDNITE SPIRIT was rumoured to be the right one in the fillies maiden 1200m and so it proved to be. Initially available at 9/2 in the ante-post betting market, Midnite Spirit was allowed to flirt with 7/10 at one stage before easing back to even money before the off. Soon into stride, the daughter of Newton was already at the front before reaching halfway. She asserted her authority from the 400m pole and won very easily by seven and a quarter from CORAL KEY.
Race four on the card was a pinnacle stakes over 1600m and here we saw another smart performance from the R1M Emerald Cup hopeful JET JAMBOREE. Another to take command early, Dominic Zaki’s charge drew clear easily when asked to do so and despite being eased down before the 100m pole won very comfortably by four and a quarter.
A pinnacle stakes over 1000m topped the bill and here the rapidly improving TRIP TEASE completed a five timer. On leaving the stalls it was the speedy JADE BAY who elected to make the running whilst Louis Goosen’s charge raced close up in second. He was ridden to lead going through the 100m and won well by a length and a half. Trip Tease has now won six of his nine starts.
Titbits
The veteran FILLY BUSHWACKER ran on well from the rear and was gaining at the finish when a length and a quarter runner up in the MR85 Handicap over 1600m.

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Star Spangled Banner

Fairview 20th June: Racing in Port Elizabeth on Friday took place on the poly track where we saw a very easy victory for the favourite ROARING SEA. Taken straight to the front by Greg Cheyne, the son of Sail From Seattle led throughout. He asserted his authority at the top of the short home straight and won with plenty in hand by four.
Four of the afternoon’s nine races were run over 1200m and the fastest of these was the bill topping MR85 Handicap won by STARS AND STRIPES. Soon up handy, the son of National Emblem took up the running at the top of the straight and kept on strongly in the closing stages of the race to beat the always handy BROTHER IN ARMS by a length and a quarter.
Race nine on the card was a MR64 Handicap over 1900m and here we saw a comfortable victory for the top weight RUM AND RAISIN. Taking another step closer towards his first national jockey’s title, S’manga Khumalo soon had the 6yo son of Victory Moon handily placed. They took up the running going through the 400m and comfortably accounted for BRIGHT APPROVAL by a length and a quarter.
Titbits
KEYNOTE ran on strongly from midfield when winning the maiden plate over 1600m going away by a length and three quarters.
FIRST SURPRISE ran on strongly from the rear when runner up in the MR67 Handicap over 1200m.

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Improving Princess

Turffontein 21st June: The fastest of the three maiden events run at Saturday’s inner track meeting was the maiden plate won by the well supported favourite PRINCESS TANTAN. Backed into 2/1 from 3’s at the track, the 2yo in open company was positioned in the backend of midfield for most of the journey. Once in the short home straight though she quickened best of all and under a well-judged ride from Weichong Marwing, she won well by a length and a half.
Another to win well in the maiden ranks on this card was MIRROR THE MOON in the girl’s event over 1600m. Also ridden by Weichong Marwing, the daughter of Slew The Bold raced sixth during the early part of the race. She made her move coming off the strip and cruised clear after taking up the running 150m out to score by four and a quarter. Third placed TITANIA ran on well from the rear in this race.
There were four races run over 1600m in total and the fastest of these was the MR86 Handicap won by BE MINE TONIGHT. Well supported into 22/10 from 3’s before the off, Dominic Zaki’s charge was taken straight to the front by Ryan Munger and soon had the field very strung out. She kept on strongly in the short home straight to hold off a determined challenge from NTOMBI.
Titbits
TRUE ARROGANCE ran on well from the rear when comfortably accounting for twelve rivals in the MR68 Handicap over 1600m.
Although never close enough to be a threat to the 9/20 winner Red Rain, ORIENTAL BLUE ran on well from the rear when runner up in the maiden 1800m and the remainder were at least six lengths adrift.

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Top rated winners last week included

Notebook:-

FASTEST TIMES

The number of races run over each distance is shown in brackets
*Denotes – Times taken by Clockwatcher

Vaal (sand) 19th June
Going Standard
1000m (2) Trip Tease             57,71
1200m (1) Midnite Spirit       72,78
1450m (1) There Is A Dream 89,93
1600m (3) Jet Jamboree       99,59
1800m (1) Shakaland            115,04

Fairview (poly) 20th June
Going Standard
1000m (2) Roaring Sea           57,48
1200m (4) Stars And Stripes 69,31
1300m (1) Ready For Spring  76,61
1600m (1) Keynote                   97,94
1900m (1) Rum And Raisin   116,05

Turffontein (inner) 21st June
Going Good
1000m (1) Indira                    58,16
1200m (3) Princess Tantan  72,46
1600m (4) Be Mine Tonight 97,90
1800m (1) Red Rain               113,05
2600m (1) J’s Outsider          165,35