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No. 1768 ISSN 1023 / 6996
MONDAY 26th- THURSDAY 29th SEPTEMBER 2011
FLAMINGO PARK
12:20pm (Monday) p.4
VAAL TURF
12:45pm (Tuesday) p.12
GREYVILLE NIGHT
5:20pm (Tuesday) p.21
DURBANVILLE
1:00pm (Wednesday) p.33
VAAL TURF
1:15pm (Thursday) p.40
MR86 HANDICAP over 1600m at Greyville on Tuesday night. As we steadily edge towards the Gauteng and Western Cape seasons, we have a busy and very competitive program in midweek. Night racing returns to Greyville on Tuesday where the highest rated runners contest the MR86 Handicap over 1600m, writes STEVE FURNISH.
O
ne of two runners in the race saddled by the in form Alec Laird, Stella Mia shoulders top weight. Stella Mia
Sires 2011
siderably up in class in her bid for the hat trick, but she does have a fair draw here, and Anthony Delpech, who partnered her when gaining both of those latest two successes, stays with her. This 6yo daughter of Labeeb Bourbon Rose has gained two of her four wins over today’s distance, but interThe only other coupling in estingly, she is yet to race at this the race is that of Duncan circuit. She has done well at the Howells. He saddles both Boursharp Turffontein inner track bon Rose and La Belle Vita. though, and having run on well The Requiem mare Bourbon to win last time out, she is at the Rose runs on nicely on her day top of her game. Stella Mia races and although she would ideally off a mark seven points lower in prefer a longer straight in which the handicap than that of ten to unwind, she has won here. months ago, and if overcoming That win, along with her other her wide draw, she should be most recent success though, was right there again. achieved over further. Divine Right La Bella Vita Stable companion Divine Younger stable companion Right has shown good im- La Bella Vita on the other hand provement since moving down is ideally distance suited and she to Natal. Indeed, she’s won both did gain her only win to date starts. She is now stepping con- over today’s trip. This daughter
of West Man does have a tendency to be slow into stride though and it did take her eleven outings to gain that success. She returns from a break here and up in class to boot, she won’t find this easy. Bet On Blue Dennis Drier’s charge has gained all three of her wins over 1400m at this circuit. As with La Belle Vita, she too is not usually the quickest into stride and she has been below par in her most recent outings. Bet On Blue has been keeping good company over the past few months though, and she has also been tried over various distances. She’s done well over today’s trip and were she to find her best form, she would have a shout. Control Tower Lightly raced Control Tower has shown ability from day one and she did look like she might go on to better things when winning two in a row after returning from a layoff in March. Her two subsequent starts were a little disappointing in comparison, but she did then show signs of life again when a runner up in graduation company last time out. Control Tower has drawn well here and usually one
Stella Mia - well handicapped on earlier form. Brown Eyed Beauty to race up with the speed should be there for nothing. The Bezrin filly Brown Eyed Artistically Done Beauty showed a very nice turn Doug Campbell’s charge met of foot when winning on debut stronger when badly out at the over 1200m here back in Apr weights on her return from a ’10 and as a result her next five three month break last time out, starts were all in top class feabut she did nonetheless run up tures. Her only success since that to her best rating in that event. debut win though was in a Artistically Done is yet to score MR70 Handicap and having beyond 1450m, and she has failed to fill a place in the Quaralso failed to find the winner’s tet in each of her last eleven enclosure in six starts at this cir- outings, she is not easy to fancy cuit. She has done well over here. Miss Filly today’s distance though, and only recently turned four, could Des Egdes’ charge has also still improve. not found winning easy of late, Timetogoby but she has often been seen out The most lightly raced runner in stronger company than she in the field is the Mike De Kock meets here, and she is as consisttrained Timetogoby. She didn’t ent as they come. She was only bump the strongest of fields beaten a length by Stella Mia when well supported on debut, over today’s distance at but she did nonetheless win Clairwood last time out and with some in hand. She was now 1kg better off at the weights originally priced up as the sec- with that one, and better drawn ond favourite when breaking to boot, she has to be a serious through the front of the pens runner. Midnight Fox and sustaining a mouth injury in her only subsequent outing Although the Victory Moon in similar company to that of mare is more often than not seen today’s and although she folded out over further, she has won tamely in that event, she did twice over 1600m, and she was clearly have excuses. She tries a a runner up when last tried over mile for the first time here and today’s distance. She has a shout could improve out of all pro- at the weights and usually one portion. The dark horse. to race handy should be therea-
bouts. Cane Martini After taking nine outings to shed her maiden tag, Cane Martini then went on to win two of her next five starts. She did only scrape home in much weaker company when gaining her latest two successes though, and returning from a break, and up in class here, she clearly has a very stiff task. Silver Heath Usually one to run on stoutly from off the pace, Michael Roberts’ charge gained her only success over today’s course and distance. She has been slow into stride in each of her last seven outings though and now taking on stronger, she won’t find it easy to get in a blow. About The Pace They usually go a fair clip over today’s course and distance and although there are no out and out front runners in the field there is enough speed in the race to ensure at least a fair pace. Plenty have chances if finding their best form and that makes this a very open contest. Stella Mia, Artistically Done, Bet On Blue and Miss Filly are my favourites to fight it out, but it certainly doesn’t stop there.
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