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Vaal 4^th October: They raced on the turf on Tuesday where victory in the opening maiden event over 1200m went to the well supported newcomer RED BARREL (30). Backed into second favourite at 28/10 (op 5/1), Mike De Kock’s charge was a little slow into stride, but despite that he was always in touch with the leaders. He ran on strongly at the business end of the race and under a well judged ride from apprentice Appie, he got up late to deny the favourite SAINT JOHN BOSCO (evens out to 15/10).

The easiest victory on the card was undoubtedly that of JEWEL COAST (25) who came home smoking in the maiden event over 1600m. Taken straight to the front by Weichong Marwing, the daughter of Dubawi led throughout. She was always in command and clearly relishing the soft underfoot conditions, she cruised in by eight.

A MR94 Handicap topped the bill and in what proved to be a real thriller victory here went to Jewel Coast’s stable companion MASAI WARRIOR (62). Soon in to stride, Masai Warrior raced close up in second for most of the journey. He was ridden to lead as they approached the 400m marker and giving his all in the closing stages of the race, he only held on by the narrowest of margins from the costly to follow favourite AMATOL.

Race seven on the card was a novice 1200m and here we saw a nice performance from the lightly raced Dynasty filly PACIFIC DYNASTY (52). Racing on turf for the first time, Wallace Tolmay’s charge sat in midfield during the early part of the race. She quickened well from halfway and after getting the better of the favourite STAR FACTOR 150m from home, she went on to score comfortably by a length and a quarter. Pacific Dynasty won well and is clearly one to keep tabs on.

Titbits

FESTIVAL SPIRIT was visibly cruising as he moved through to take up the running in the MR77 affair over 1600m.

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Masterful Performance

Durbanville 5^th October: Favourite backers got off to a nice start at the country course on Wednesday when RAZZLE DAZZLE ROSE did the business in the opening maiden event over 1200m. Allowed to ease out to 13/10 from 6/10 at the track as money in the main came for the Stephen Page trained DREAM AGAIN (9/2 into 22/10), the daughter of Jet Master sat ninth of the twelve during the early part of the race. She fairly flew after taking a while to get going in the straight and in what proved to be a real thriller, she got up in the dying strides to deny the supported AIM OF THE GAME (8/1 into 7/1).

The easiest victory on the card was recorded by JEAN’S PRIDE when opening her account in the second division of the maiden 1200m. Swiftly guided over from a wide draw by M J Byleveld, the daughter of Western Winter led throughout. She was always in command and although the well supported FALLING BLOSSOM (11/2 into 33/10) chased hard over the final 400m, she went on to score without any anxious moments by seven.

Race four on the card was a Graduation Plate over 1200m and here we saw a smart performance from the Joey Ramsden trained MASTER MASCUS. A fluent winner of the listed Winter Juvenile Stakes last time out, Master Mascus was always in touch with the leaders. He quickened well early in the straight and under a well judged ride from Glen Hatt, he got up late to beat the lesser fancied of Yogis Govender’s two runners BAD WINTER by three quarters.

Another 3yo to win very nicely on this card was TAIPAN (33/10 out to 5/1) who registered his second career victory from just four starts in the graduation event over 1600m. Pitched in against some very useful opponents here the recent maiden winner was always handy. The original favourite  LAKE ARTHUR (18/10 out to 3/1) was the first to make a move in the home straight and struck the front 300m out. Taipan quickened best of all from that point though and after he in turn put his head in front 150m later, he went on to win well by a length and a quarter.

Titbits

First and third respectively, MARCHANT and DUPONT CIRCLE both ran on well in the third division of the maiden 1200m.

Positioned in the rear turning for home, recent maiden winner THE PHENOM (12/1 into 13/2) finished well when third in the MR72 Handicap over 1400m.

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Mixed Fortunes

Vaal 6^th October: Thursday’s action took place on the turf where the best bet on the card for most CALL THE CHALLENGE (38) duly landed the odds in the opening maiden event over 1000m. Heavily supported at the track into 11/20 from 8/10, Mike De Kock’s charge as expected was soon at the head of affairs. He kept up a healthy gallop throughout and although the well tried pair of TONY’S TIPPLE and IN TO BEEP both tried hard over the final 400m, he went on to score very comfortably by three and a quarter.

Race four on the card was a graduation event over 1400m and here it was nice to see the sparingly raced MASSIMILIANO (46) back in the winner’s enclosure. Very well in at the weights here, Sean Tarry’s charge was always positioned close to the speed. He won well after taking up the running 170m from home, but sadly for connections he finished lame on the near fore.

Also worthy of note on this card was the performance of POLISH LADY in winning the MR71 Handicap over 1200m. A close up fourth in a strong form line to IBROX PARK in her previous outing, Lucky Houdalakis’ charge was taken straight to the front and led throughout. She kept on determinedly at the business end of the race and with the rest well beaten, she comfortably accounted for the recent easy winner MAGIC POTION by three and a half.

A maiden event over 1600m brought proceedings to a close and here victory went to the well supported ALBERT DOCK (31). Backed into 28/10 second favourite from 5/1 on course, Sean Tarry’s charge raced in midfield for most of the journey. She quickened well from halfway and under a well judged ride from Pierre Strydom, she got up late to beat THUNDER STRIKE going away. One to look out for next time from this race is MISSED A WHISPER who finished third. Backed into 20/1 from 200/1 in the ante-post market, Terry Lowe’s charge was easily four lengths behind Albert Dock going through the 500m and was only beaten three and a quarter.

Titbits

After racing in the rear newcomer FINAL SCORE was flying late when only beaten a length and a quarter in the maiden event over 1400m.

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Smart Sorts

Arlington 7^th October: A maiden event over 1000m was first up in Port Elizabeth on Friday and here we saw a nice performance from the Gavin Smith trained ZEPHYR BREEZE. The first of four winners on the card for the stable, the lightly raced Zephyr Breeze raced prominent throughout. She was ridden to lead going through the 200m and went on to score very comfortably from the running on favourite EMERALD GEM by two and a quarter.

The first of three outright favourites to oblige was SERGEANT AT ARMS who did the business in the maiden event over 2000m. Confidently ridden by Musi Yeni, the former Cape Town campaigner raced in midfield during the early part of the race. Once in the short home straight though, he quickened well and went on to score comfortably after getting the better of the fancied JAMBEROO 220m from home.

Race eight on the card was a MR86 Handicap over 1000m and here we saw another smart performance from the Fusaichi Pegasus filly BIG ON BROADWAY. Well supported on course into 2/1 from 33/10, Alan Greeff’s charge sat a few lengths off them early on. Once given rein though, she picked them off quickly and after striking the front 200m from home, she easily drew clear. One to follow.

Another to win well on this card was SEPTEMBER MOON who did the business in the lucky last, a MR70 Handicap over 1000m. Sent off a joint favourite at 3/1, Yvette Bremner’s charge also came from midfield. She struck the front approaching the 100m pole and would have beaten the runner up ST LOUIS BLUES much more easily than the official winning margin of a length and a quarter would suggest had she not been eased late.

Titbits

For the second race in a row, MY CHELSEA GIRL was making good headway in the latter stages when third in the maiden event won by Zephyr Breeze.

PREMIER GRADE was finishing strongest of all when getting up late to share the spoils in the bill topping MR93 affair over 2800m.

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Top speedratings for this weekend include:-

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Top rated winners last week included

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Notebook:-

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