The Champs’ In Town

Stone Cold

Fairview 10^th May: The easiest victory in Port Elizabeth on Friday was undoubtedly that of DRUMMINOR in the MR74 Handicap over 2400m. Sent off a well supported favourite at 18/10 (op 5/2), the rapidly improving son of Western Winter sat in midfield during the early part of the race. He was ridden to lead shortly after passing the 200m pole and comfortably accounted for WHINK by three.

Another to win well on this card was VICE ADMIRAL in the opening maiden juvenile event over 1200m. Running on from a similar position to that of Drumminor, Justin Snaith’s charge didn’t find the clearest of passages and won going away after striking the front 100m from home.

Six of the events on the eight race program were run over 1200m and the fastest of these was the MR90 Handicap won by the Western Cape raider Stone Pine. Confidently ridden by Musi Yeni, the son of Spectrum raced in the backend of midfield for most of the journey. Once given rein though he quickened well and in what proved to be a real thriller he got up in the very last stride to deny LONDON PERFECT.

Titbits

Following a break, the Mike Bass trained LATIN MAGIC was only having his second outing in the province when running on stoutly from the rear to take third position behind the progressive Drumminor.

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Speedy Margot

Turffontein 11^th May: They raced on the inner track on Saturday where victory in the opening maiden juvenile event over 1450m went to the deposed favourite DOVER BEACH. Allowed to ease out to 18/10 from 16/10 at the course as money came for CITY OF ATHENS (2/1 into 11/10), the daughter of Mullins Bay was soon up handy. She was ridden to lead early in the short home straight and kept on strongly in the closing stages of the race to beat the board topper by two and a half.

There were six races over 1450m in total and the fastest of these was the bill topping MR92 Handicap in which MARGOT ON STAGE registered her second career victory. The nine runners were well strung out early on and racing in sixth Roy Magner’s charge had quite a few lengths to find as they came off the strip. Once in the straight though she quickened well and got up late to beat the more fancied MUSIC AFFAIR by a half.

The faster of the two 2600m events was the MR72 Handicap won by the 5yo WINTER DESIRE. Sent off second favourite at 5/1, Stuart Pettigrew’s charge got away well when the gates opened and was soon up handy. He was ridden to lead going through the 500m and with the rest well beaten he comfortably accounted for the nibbled at GENTLEMAN JACK by two.

Titbits

Heavily supported FOYLE (16/10 into 11/20) rallied gamely after being headed by the talented Principled Man 200m out and got back up late to win fair and square by a neck.

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Heading North

Kenilworth 11^th May: The best bet on the card for many in Cape Town on Saturday was ARTIKA in the opening maiden event over 1200m and he didn’t let down his supporters. Taken straight to the front by Glen Hatt, the son of Western Winter led throughout. He was always in command and ran out a very easy winner by three and a half.

The first of the two 1200m juvenile features to be run was the Gr3 Cape Of Good Hope Nursery won by FLASH DRIVE. He too made all and won well by a length and a half after fending off a determined challenge from the running on TIGER ISLAND.

In a time 0,6 seconds slower than that of Flash Drive the Gr3 Fillies Nursery was won by the rapidly improving WHEREDOWEGO. In the rear when the race began in earnest 500m out, the daughter of Captain Al ran on best of all and won going away from PURE POWER.

Titbits

Running on from midfield CHANGING HEART didn’t find the clearest of passages and did well to get up late when winning the maiden 1200m.

STAR JET ran on well from midfield when runner up in the MR86 Handicap over 1600m.

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Upward Crossing

Clairwood 12^th May: Racing at the garden course on Sunday got underway with a maiden plate over 1000m and here a bit of an upset was to be had when the friendless ADVANCE WARNING (14/1 out to 25/1) opened her account. Racing for the first time since June last year, Gavin Van Zyl’s charge was always in touch with the leaders. She quickened well from halfway and won comfortably by a length and three quarters after striking the front 100m from home. One to look out for next time from this race is the winners’ more fancied stable companion TIP TOE. Making her debut here, the very green daughter of Trippi raced in the rear and only really getting going late, she did well to get up for second.

The easiest victory on the card was recorded by BEEWITHMEE when opening his account in the slower of the two maiden events over 2500m. On leaving the stalls it was the costly to follow SZECHUAN who elected to make the running whilst the 14/10 favourite sat close up in fifth. He cut through the field like a knife when making his move at the top of the home straight and cruised clear in the latter stages to win going away by four and a quarter.

The non-black type Highland Night Cup topped the bill and in what proved to be the fastest of the three 2500m events victory here went to the 4yo son of Caesour RIVER CROSSING. Nibbled at on course into 4/1 second favourite Mike Bass’ charge was soon up handy. He was ridden to lead as they approached the 300m marker and with the rest well beaten he comfortably accounted for the Opera King gelding SCOOP THE POOL by a length and a half.

Titbits

Easy to back NORTHERN EMPEROR beat the strongly fancied pair of BARBOSA and CAPE ROYAL fair and square when winning the pinnacle stakes over 1200m.

KING JACE ran on well from midfield when getting up late to win the maiden event over 1450m.

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Top speedratings for this weekend include:-

Top rated winners last week included

Notebook:-

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