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Big Improver

Flamingo Park 22^nd April: The faster of the two 1000m events in the Northern Cape on Monday was the MR84 affair in which the ultra consistent SMART SALLY registered her fifth career victory. She got away well when the gates opened and was soon up handy. She was ridden to lead as they approached the 200m marker and comfortably accounted for her stable companion VARSITY STAR by a length and three quarters.

The best bet on the card for most was RICHARD’S GRACE in the maiden 2200m and although he made hard work of it he did nonetheless open his account. Pitched in against what has to be said was a very moderate looking bunch on this his 47^th attempt to break out of the maiden ranks, Corne Spies’ charge raced fourth for most of the journey. He was asked to take up the running at the top of the home straight and having to be reminded of the task at hand several times from there onwards he kept on to beat GOLDEN BREEZE by two and three quarters.

A pinnacle stakes over 1600m topped the bill and here victory went to the rapidly improving POWEROFTHEFLOWER. Badly out at the weights with market rivals JACK DAN and CLAVERHOUSE, Dorrie Sham’s charge was always in touch with the leaders. He quickened well at the top of the straight and after as thrilling tussle with the well weighted JACK DAN over the final 200m he got the verdict by a neck.

Titbits

DESERT RAT ran on well from towards the rear when third in the MR65 Handicap over 1800m.

Detached at the rear turning for home, ICE KITTEN made up many lengths over the final 400m when only beaten 2,5 lengths in the MR74 Handicap over 1400m.

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Back In Form

Vaal 23^rd April: Tuesday’s action took place on the sand where victory in the opening maiden event over 1000m went to the heavily supported ROYAL ROY. Backed throughout the morning into 7/2 from 12/1, Kom Naidoo’s charge raced in midfield during the early part of the race. He took a while to get going, but once into gear he ran on strongly under a determined ride from Robbie Fradd, and much to the delight of his followers he got up late to deny the favourite CHAZAK.

Race three on the card was a pinnacle stakes over 1200m and here we saw a comfortable victory for the favourite ACROSS THE ICE. Another to find good support at the track (15/10 into 9/10), Sean Tarry’s charge was soon up handy. He was ridden to lead going through the 300m and drew clear easily in the closing stages of the race to beat RIGHT BEAUTY by two and three quarters.

The first of the two listed events to be run was the Highveld Sand Challenge over 1600m and here victory went to the former winner of the prestigious Gr2 Emerald Cup THE MOUSEKETEER. Sent off second favourite at 28/10, the son of Kahal raced third during the early part of the race. He moved up to dispute matters going through the 400m and after a protracted battle with his stable companion TAPTAP MAKHATINI it was only by the narrowest of margins that he got the verdict.

The girls contested the Listed Queen Of The Sand over the same distance and here a major upset was to be had when the 25/1 shot RIVULET landed the spoils. Positioned at the back of what was a strung out field as they turned for home, Diane Stenger’s charge was looking unlikely to place let alone win. Once into stride though she fairly flew and in eye catching fashion she got up late to deny the much more fancied MAGIC SMOKE.

Titbits

Racing on sand for just the second time the 50/1 shot SPECTROSCOPE ran on well from the rear when winning the MR78 Handicap over 1600m.

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Flying Up Late

Kenilworth 24^th April: Followers of the money got off to a nice start in Cape Town on Wednesday when MOULIN ROYALE did the business in the opening juvenile plate over 1000m. Backed into 2/1 favourite from 4/1 at the track, Paddy Kruyer’s charge made all. She kept up a healthy gallop throughout and comfortably accounted for the supported newcomer ABYSSINIA (op 8/1 touched 4’s) by two and a half.

It was a similar story in the boys’ juvenile plate won in a faster time by KREMLIN CAPTAIN. He too led from pillar to post and although the strongly fancied SILK ROAD chased hard he won without any anxious moments.

Race five on the card was a MR74 Handicap over 1200m and here we saw another smart performance from the lightly raced FAIRYINTHEWOODS. Freely available at 8/1 on the off, the daughter of Count Dubois raced in the back end of midfield for most of the journey. Once given rein though she quickened in good style and won well by two and a quarter after striking the front 130m from home.

Another to catch the eye on the afternoon was IMPERIAL STATE when winning the afternoon’s feature event, a MR86 Handicap over 1600m. Nibbled at on course into 6/1 from 10’s, Glen Kotzen’s charge was positioned in the rear as the eleven runners swung for home. She ran on best of all over the final 600m and under a well judged ride from apprentice Andrews she got up late to beat MARGARET COURT by three quarters.

Titbits

COTTON COUNTRY and I’M A ROCK STAR both ran on well from the rear when 1^st and 2^nd respectively in the girls’ maiden 1200m.

The Galileo mare RAIN GAL was finishing best of all when fourth in the MR86 Handicap over 1200m.

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Smart Newcomer

Vaal 25^th April: They raced on the outside track on Thursday where we saw an impressive debut performance in the third division of the maiden juvenile 1200m from the newcomer CHEKILLI. Backed into 3/1 second favourite from 7’s at the track, Alec Laird’s charge was soon positioned up with the speed. He began to assert his authority going through the 400m and easily accounted for the useful looking favourite PRINCIPLED MAN by four and a half.

There were five 1200m races on the card in total and the fastest of these was the graduation plate won by YUKON GOLD. On leaving the stalls it was CHILL FACTOR who elected to make the running whilst the 28/10 second favourite raced close up in fourth. He was ridden to lead as they approached the 300m marker and easily accounted for the running on SUGAR AND SHAKE by two and a half.

In terms of distance the easiest victory on the card was recorded by THE MUTINEER when opening his account in the second division of the maiden 1400m. He got away well when the gates opened and soon up handy was always prominent. He was ridden to lead as they approached the 500m pole and drew clear easily in the closing stages of the race to score by five and a quarter.

SECRET MAGOK won the first division of the maiden 1400m by just 0,35 lengths, but the winning margin is deceiving. Whereas the runner up LET’S PLAY gave her all over the final 300m, Secret Magok was only asked to do the necessary and with the rest some five lengths adrift she won without ever engaging the upper gears.

Titbits

After losing four lengths at the start, the newcomer ATHINA ran on well from the rear when runner up in the first division of the maiden juvenile 1200m.

The newcomer CITY OF ATHENS flew up from the rear after losing a length at the start and only failed to get up by the narrowest of margins.

BREAK OF DAWN had to switch out for a run 300m from home when finishing strongly from the rear to take second position in the MR76 Handicap over 1200m.

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