Up In Distance

A Merry Dance

Kenilworth 27^th May: A maiden juvenile event over 1200m was first up inCape Town on Sunday and here victory went to the well supported joint favourite OCEANS EDGE (20). He got away well when the gates opened and soon up handy raced prominent throughout. He ran on strongly at the business end of the race and after a thrilling tussle with the pacemaker GOOI MIELIES it was only by a neck that he got the verdict.

Race five on the card was a Pinnacle Stakes over 1000m and finding the winner’s enclosure here was the ultra consistent CAP ALRIGHT (76).Close up in second early on, Justin Snaith’s charge took up the running 300m out and kept on strongly late to beat the running on FOREIGN SOVEREIGN by three quarters.

The first of the afternoon’s two feature events to be run was the listed Stormsvlei Mile and here a major upset was to be had when the lightly raced DANCING DYNASTY (64) landed the spoils. Freely available at 50/1 on the off, Stephen Page’s charge raced in midfield during the early part of the race. The much more fancied RIVATORIO got first run in the home straight and on striking the front 200m, she looked to have done everything right. Dancing Dynasty finished best all from there onwards though and under a well judged ride from Gareth Wright, she got up late to score by three quarters.

The Gr3 Winter Classic over 1800m was next up and here victory went to the Casey Tibbs gelding WHY WORRY (80). Nibbled at into 13/2 from, 8/1 at the track, Justin Snaith’s charge was always in touch with the leaders. He made his move at the top of the home straight and although the four timer seeking HILL FIFTY FOUR also ran on stoutly over the final 500m, he got up late to win by a half.

Titbits

Lightly raced SKIPPYJON JONES ran on from the rear when fourth, beaten less than two lengths in the maiden juvenile event over 1200m.

After finding late support on the tote, SAVANNAH LEIGH (6/1 out to 11/1) caught the eye running on strongly into fourth in the listed Stormsvlei Mile

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Three From Three

Fairview 28^th May: They raced inPort Elizabeth on Monday where victory in the opening maiden juvenile event over 1200m went to the lightly raced INFLORESCENCE (18). Making just her second racecourse appearance here, Inflorescence raced in midfield during the early part of the race. She ran on stoutly from halfway and in what proved to be a real thriller she only got the verdict by a neck from MISS AFRICA who also finished well.

A MR104 Handicap over 1200m topped the bill and here the Var gelding BOIS DE VAR (75) made it three out of three since relocating to the province. Confidently ridden by Richard Fourie, Justin Snaith’s charge raced in midfield during the early part of the race. Once given rein though, he quickened well and went on to beat THREE CAPTAINS fair and square after striking the front 200m out.

The final event on the eight race programme was a maiden 1200m and here we saw a nice performance from the 3yo son of Tamburlaine EBRO (28). Another to run on stoutly from midfield,Ebrogot the better of the favourite QUI SECRET going through the 200m and won going away by two and a quarter.

Titbits

NATIONAL FOREST ran on well from the rear when getting up late to beat CATALOJ in the maiden event for the girls over 1200m.

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Life Begins At 40

Vaal 29^th May: Tuesday’s action took place on the sand where the well supported outsider TAKAAMUL (35) did the business in the maiden event over 1450m. Backed into 7/1 from 16’s at the track, Kom Naidoo’s charge raced in midfield during the early part of the race. He ran on well down the long straight and cruised clear to win by two and a half after striking the front 100m from home.

The easiest victory on the card was undoubtedly that of THE WESTERN when opening his account in the maiden 1800m. Making his fortieth racecourse appearance here, the son of West Man was soon at the head of affairs. He kept up a healthy gallop throughout and drew clear easily over the final 600m to score by nine and a half.

The afternoon’s feature event was a MR90 Handicap over 1200m and as expected victory here went to the in form BOSS CAT (70). Taken straight to the front by Pierre STrydom, the son of
Tiger Ridge set a brisk pace. He was always in command and although MYTHICAL PALACE ran on well in the closing stages of the race, he went on to score comfortably by three quarters.

Titbits

PRIME MOVER ran on well from the rear when fourth in the race won by Boss Cat.

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Gutsy 3yo

Scottsville 30^th May: Favourite backers got off to a good start in Natal on Wednesday when the Mike De Kock trained newcomer HONORINE (27) did the business in the opening maiden event over 1000m. Allowed to ease right out to 19/10 from 11/10 at the track, Honorine was taken straight to the front by Derek David and led throughout. She was always in command and although the newcomer ICEONIC ran on strongly late, she went on to score comfortably by a length and three quarters.

A MR90 Handicap over 1600m topped the bill and here we saw a gutsy performance from the 3yo BESUGO (55). After racing handy, Dennis Drier’s charge struck the front 300m out. The heavily supported ICE DIAMOND in turn hit the front 150m from home, but Besugo rallied strongly once headed and in what proved to be a real thriller he got back up late to win by a half.

The easiest victory on the card was undoubtedly that of ROYAL GALAXY (38) in the maiden event over 1400m. Returning from a fourteen month break here after making a very promising debut, Sean Tarry’s charge wasn’t the quickest into stride, but despite that he was soon up handy. He moved through to take up the running as they approached the 300m marker and drew clear easily in the closing stages of the race to beat the well tried NOMZANE by five and a quarter.

Titbits

Well supported IMPARTIAL JUSTICE was continuously baulked for a run over the final 400m when fifth beaten less than three quarters of a length in the MR90 Handicap over 1000m.

MOZART’S GIOVANNI ran on strongly late when third in the race won by Besugo.

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Five From Seven

Vaal 31^st May: They raced on the turf on Thursday where victory in the opening workrider’s maiden event over 1700m went to the heavily supported outsiderCINDARELLAMAN. Backed through all rates into 10/1 from 33’s at the track, Kom Naidoo’s charge raced in midfield during the early part of the race. He ran on best of all over the final 400m and under a well judged ride from the very able Sean Patterson he got up late to deny the 33/1 shot THREE CHIMNEYS.

The St John Gray trained WHERE’S MY CHOP has been showing good improvement in recent outings and he was again on the mark in the bill topping Pinnacle Stakes over 1200m here. Freely available at 4/1 on the off, the son of Announce, as per usual, came from off the pace. He ran on the strongest over the final 400m and for the third time in five outings, he got up late to deny NAPOLEON DYNAMITE. Where’s My Chop has now won five of his last seven outings.

Another tight finish was to be had in the bill topping MR80 Handicap over 1800m where the 3yo HALVE THE DEFICIT landed the spoils. Allowed to ease out to 5/2 from 18/10 at the track although still retaining his position at the top of the boards, Halve The Deficit was always handy. The Mike De Kock trained CANTERBURY TALE raced with him and after a thrilling tussle with that one over the final 400m, it was only by a neck that Sean Tarry’s charge got the verdict.

Titbits

MILLENIUM WIND ran on strongly from the rear when fifth in the race won by the improving Halve The Deficit.

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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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FASTEST TIMES

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