R25.00 No. 1716
MONDAY 28th - THURSDAY 31st MARCH 2011
5
ISSN 1023 / 6996
water when Flowing Amber returned to action in a conditions event last month and beaten just 4,75 lengths to the useful Waywest Goddess, she was far from disgraced. Flowing Amber gets every inch of today’s trip and the alumites go back on. She has a nice draw and could still improve plenty if taking to the sand.
FLAMINGO PARK
Shuffles
12:20pm (Monday) p.4
The Sarge mare Shuffles is a fair handicapper on the sand, but her wins in lesser company have been few and far between. She was penalized six points for a race which she clearly stole in her penultimate outing and now up in class, she clearly has a very stiff task.
VAALSAND
12:10pm (Tuesday) p.14
GREYVILLE NIGHT 5:20pm (Tuesday) p.27
KENILWORTH
Swan Neck
1:10pm (Wednesday) p.33
VAALTURF 11:55am (Thursday) p.39
With two listed races on Tuesday’s card at the Vaal, its sand racing that comes to the fore in midweek. The girls contest the Nkosazana Stakes and with the race being run under handicap conditions, and most having scope for improvement, plenty have chances, writes STEVE FURNISH.
H
eading the weights is the most accomplished runner on the surface, Bella Jet. This daughter of Jet Master has won three times at the Vaal’s sand track and two of those victories were over today’s course and distance. She was racing on the surface for the first time since November when cruising in by three and a quarter lengths over 1800m here last time out and is clearly at the top of her game.
Strong Hand The only coupling in the race is that of Paul Matchett and with both Raise The Bar and Xilomante representing the stable they clearly hold a very strong hand. After winning well in just her second career start, Raise The
Raising The Bar NKOSAZANA STAKES (L) over 1450m at Vaal Sand this Tuesday
Bar was considered good enough to contest both the Pretty Polly Stakes and the Gauteng Fillies Nursery. She was off the track for nine months after finishing down field in the latter of those events, but since her return she has begun to fulfill that early promise. Indeed, since being switched to the sand after finishing a fair sixth on her return in February, this 3yo daughter of Goldkeeper has won both starts in very good fashion. She was badly out at the weights when winning a Conditions Plate going away over 1200m here last time out and with the official handicapper only allowed to give her a maximum penalty of six pounds for winning that event, she is clearly well in at the weights. Her style of racing would suggest that she will appreciate the extra here and she could still improve plenty. Stable companion Xilomante also goes very well on the sand. Indeed,
her merit rating on the surface is fifteen points superior to that of her mark on turf. She had been campaigning over further prior to her most recent outings and three of her four career victories have been gained over 1600m or more. Xilomante challenged strongly when only a length and a half off Tilbury over 1200m in her penultimate start and the extra ground here can only aid her cause. She was beaten fair and square by Raise The Bar in her latest outing though and now 0,5kg worse off at the weights, she won’t find it easy to turn the tables.
Tilbury As with Raise The Bar, the lightly raced Tilbury was off the track for a while after being thought good enough to contest a feature event very early in her career. She had seemed to be below best, having been beaten after holding every chance in each of
her first four starts on her return, but she did then suddenly blossom when trying the sand for the first time in the non black type Woodland Sprint over 1200m here last time out. Tilbury had both Xilomante and Ugly Betty behind her when winning that latest outing and having plenty of scope for further improvement, Sean Tarry’s charge does look likely to confirm the form with those two on just 0,5kg less favourable terms. A serious runner.
Flowing Amber Sparingly raced since winning under just hands and heels on debut way back in July ’09, Flowing Amber is the only runner in the field yet to race on today’s surface. She has won three of her eight starts on the turf though, and prior to being laid off in July, Charlie Laird’s charge was progressing very nicely. With no alumites on, it suggested that they were testing the
When YYou ou Have That Vision TToo Mak Makee
The Big Catch
ItIt’s ’s Good TToo Know Who Stocks The Dam
Gavin Van Zyl’s charge has won two of her five starts on today’s surface and is yet to miss the frame. She has climbed very quickly in the handicap though, and has been beaten fair and square in each of her last two starts in weaker company. Swan Neck will be thereabouts if finding her best form, but there are others with greater scope for improvement and it is a concern that she has made a respiratory noise in each of her five starts on sand.
Ugly Betty Roy Magner’s charge has done well on sand and she does go particularly well over today’s distance. She looked to be on the upgrade when winning by four on turf in December, but having been reported to be coughing when a runner up in her penultimate start, and then failing to quicken when beaten 5,75 lengths behind Tilbury last time out, she is perhaps best just watched for now.
Jewel Of The Nile Michael Azzie’s charge won very comfortably by three on debut and the 2nd, 4th & 5th placed runners in that event have all won since. She’s battled to make her presence felt in her six runs since though and having been well beaten by Raise The Bar (albeit on 3kg less favourable terms) when trying the sand for the first time in her latest outing, she does seem unlikely.
About The Pace The Speed is usually on over 1450m at the Vaal’s sand track and with a number of today’s runners having done well racing from the front, at least a fair pace can be expected. The 3yo’s Raise The Bar and Tilbury are both unbeaten on sand and they do also have the greatest scope for improvement. Raise The Bar is best in on our ratings and on a line through her stable companion Xilomante, she does look like the one to beat.
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