With Natural Improvement

Got The Verdict

Turffontein 1st June: Four of the afternoon’s nine races at Sunday’s inner track meeting were run over 1450m and the fastest of these was the bill topping MR85 Handicap won by the 5yo ALL IN THE MIND. Soon up handy, the Var mare raced prominent throughout. She was ridden to lead early in the short home straight and comfortably accounted for the running on CIRCLE OF SPEED by two and a quarter.
The fastest of the three 1800m events was the MR83 affair won by BRASS VERDICT. Freely available at 17/2 on the off, Gavin Van Zyl’s charge raced in the rear early on. The friendless AUGUSTINUS (7/1 out to 14/1) was the first to make a move in the straight and on striking the front 300m out, he looked to have done everything right. The 3yo Brass Verdict ran on best of all over the final 400m though, and with the rest some four and three quarter lengths adrift, he got up in the very last stride.
At the other end of the scale the easiest victory on the card was recorded by THE LIGHT HOUSE when opening her account in the maiden 2200m. Backed into favouritism at the track, Geoff Woodruff’s charge was content to sit towards the backend of midfield for most of the journey. Once given rein though she quickened well and drew clear easily after striking the front 300m from home to score by five and a quarter.
Titbits
SHAYNA and STIRLING LEAVES both ran on strongly from off the pace when 1st & 3rd respectively in the MR72 Handicap over 1450m.
Poorly drawn LIZZY GREY ran on well from the rear when getting up in the very last stride to win the MR69 Handicap over 1450m.

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E-Type Pace

Flamingo Park 2nd June: MODUS TELLENDI was backed into favouritism to win the opening maiden juvenile plate in the Northern Cape on Monday and he didn’t let down his supporters. Always handy, the son of Albert Hall ran on strongly at the business end of the race and comfortably accounted for the heavily supported newcomer IRON DRAGON (20/1 into 7/2) by two and a quarter.
Three of the afternoon’s nine races were run over 1200m and the fastest of these was the MR83 Handicap won by GIANT STRIDES. He got away well when the gates opened and soon up handy raced prominent throughout. He was ridden to lead going through the 300m and won well by three from the more fancied KIRTLING TOWERS.
The non-black type Kimberley Classic for 3yo’s over 1600m topped the bill and here victory went to the Corrie Lensley trained JAGUAR. Taken straight to the front by Musi Yeni, the son of Tiger Ridge led throughout. He was always in command and although the uneasy favourite HE’S A NADOE chased hard throughout, he won comfortably by a length and a half. Third placed PRECIOUS PRISCILLA (beaten 2,5 lengths) ran on strongly from the backend of midfield.
Titbits
WOLF IN WINTER ran on strongly from the backend of midfield when third in the MR66 Handicap over 1000m.
TUDOR STAR made up many lengths in the straight when running on stoutly to fill 3rd position in the MR74 Handicap over 1200m.

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Easy Double

Kenilworth 3rd June: The easiest victory in Cape Town on Tuesday was undoubtedly that of CLASSY FIGHTER in the fastest of the three 1200m events, a MR80 Handicap. Content to race in midfield early on, Dean Kannemeyer’s charge made his move as they approached halfway. He took up the running going through the 400m and cruised clear from there onwards to score by seven and a quarter.
Another to win with authority on this card was Classy Fighter’s stable companion IT IS WRITTEN in the MR87 affair over 1600m. Confidently ridden by Gerrit Schlechter, the 3yo son of Dynasty also came from midfield. He was ridden to lead shortly after passing the 300m pole and won going away by four and a half.
The faster of the two 1000m events on the eight race program was the MR76 Handicap won by the Counter Action mare FIRST FAVOUR. Soon in her favourite position at the head of affairs, Carl Burger’s charge led throughout. She kept on determinedly at the business end of the race and just had enough in hand to hold off the faster finishing SEATTLE MAGIC by a neck.
Titbits
SUNDARI and LETS PARTY both ran on well from the rear when 1st & 2nd respectively in the maiden 1400m.
ITSTARTEDWITHAKISS (midfield) and TITUS (rear) both ran on strongly when 1st & 3rd respectively in the MR74 Handicap over 1800m.

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Flashy Debut

Scottsville 4th June: A maiden juvenile plate over 1200m got proceedings underway in Pietermaritzburg on Wednesday and here we saw a smart performance from the newcomer FLASH MCQUEEN. The focus of some support at the track Alyson Wright’s charge was always handy. She raced against the rail though and when the race began in earnest 400m out she was badly baulked for a run. She only really saw daylight 200m out and showing a nice turn of foot in the latter stages of the race she did well to get up late. Flash Mcqueen won going away by a length and a quarter and is clearly one to keep tabs on.
There were five races run over 1200m in total and the fastest of these was the MR70 Handicap won by COOL ANNE. Racing off a mark some 8 points below that of her former best, and ridden by a 4kg claimer (Tristan Godden) to boot, the easy to back daughter of Fort Wood made all. She was always a couple clear and won without any anxious moments.
The biggest winning margin on the card was the three lengths recorded by the Kahal gelding RAZED IN BLACK when opening his account at just the second time of asking in the maiden plate over 1200m. On leaving the stalls it was the well exposed CHANTECLER who elected to make the running whilst Mike De Kock’s charge raced close up in second. He took up the running 400m out and with the rest a minimum of seven and a half lengths adrift, he comfortably accounted for the well supported DESTINED FOR DAWN.
Titbits
SILVA HAWK won the graduation plate over 1500m going away by a length and a half.
The heavily supported even money favourite ALLENBY PARK (op 5/2) won the maiden juvenile plate with authority.

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Steeplechase Margin

Vaal 5th June: They raced on the sand on Thursday where victory in the maiden juvenile plate over 1000m went to the newcomer MALTA ROCKS. Allowed to flirt with even money at one stage before drifting right back out to 2/1 (op 22/10 2ndfav), the newly installed favourite made all. He was always in command and in a time only marginally slower than that of the MR74 Handicap winner PAPA JOE he won with authority by three and a half.
Papa Joe also won well. Always handy, he took up the running shortly after the more fancied SALUTE THE SUN had put his head in front 200m out and went on to score by two and a quarter.
The faster of the two 1800m races on the card was the MR72 Handicap won by the Sean Tarry trained PEREGRINE. Sent off favourite at 5/2 in this only his second outing on the sand, the 5yo son of Strike Smartly raced in the rear many lengths adrift of the leaders early on. Once in the straight though he cut through the field like a knife and only having to be pushed out he cruised clear to win by twelve after striking the front 400m out.
Titbits
THERE IS A DREAM made up many lengths on the leaders when running on from the rear to finish runner up in the maiden 1200m.
MASSACHUSETTS impressed when steaming up from the rear to win the maiden 1450m going away by two and three quarters.

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Top speedratings for this weekend include:-

Top rated winners last week included

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