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MR 95 HANDICAP at Vaal on Tuesday

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od willing, we are aiming African Ruler at the Computaform Sprint and that suggests that we really do think very highly of him,” says Paul Peter when quizzed on his charge’s prospects in the R106 000 MR 95 Handicap over the 1200m straight. And Paul

knows that talk is the cheapest commodity in the racing game!

On The UpAfrican Ruler is a progressive galloper and

has climbed the handicapper’s ladder from a 91 rating at the outset of his three run winning streak to the 102 that he jumps at here.

Two of his recent wins have been over the course and distance and he strips a fit horse some way off his season target, which is ten weeks away. The R1 million Gr1 Computaform Sprint will be run over 1000m at Turffontein at

the end of April, and there is ‘method to the madness’ in Paul having run his charge as often as he has recently. “He is a very green horse and I am trying to give him as much racing experience as I am reasonably able to. Gavin (Lerena) said that last time he pinned his ears back and dug his toes in when he saw the false rail and the advertising boards. We don’t need him to go into a Gr1 weight-for-age race and not do his best by running green,” he added.

JockeyHe went on to say that it was unfortunate

that Hong Kong-bound Gavin Lerena won’t be riding African Ruler, but that his cousin Brandon had won his post-maiden at Scottsville and was aware that the gelding liked to run at them late. “Funny enough, Gavin actually rode African Ruler for his bad draw last time and he scraped home ahead of Kapitan. He is better than that when ridden

as he prefers. I fancy him here and he has beaten many of them already anyway,” he said confidently.

As the only 3yo in the field of fourteen, and bumping a bunch of hardknocking battle scarred handicappers, African Ruler will have to bring his a-game to the track. Louis Goosen’s classy topweight One Man’s Dream is very capable but racing off form at the moment and looks held by African Ruler, who beat him 3,45 lengths last time out.

Big YardsSean Tarry and Mike De

Kock have three runners each in the race. De Kock’s three includes a pair of decent 4yo’s. Anton Marcus rides the Listed Michaelmas Handicap Algha-deer, who returns to action following a 12 week break after his short Cape campaign.

Anjaal has also been rested

for a similar time and looks the better over this trip – even if jockey engagements suggest otherwise. The 5yo four-time winner Capricorn Ridge has not run for over four months and was quite effective on the sand.

Tarry looks to be sharpening Tiger Territory and The Hangman, who are both more effective over more ground. Andrew Fortune is an eyecatching booking for the third of the Tarry trio. He is the 7yo Toreador gelding Prince Jazeem, who has not won in ages, and has been largely out of sorts lately.

Greasepaint ran 7,75 lengths behind Viking Hero in the Tommy Hotspur Handicap last time. His form has tapered negatively in his last few runs.

Strike CraftAlec Laird’s’ Amazing Strike

has run two consecutive fifths

and this sprinting so of Ideal World must have a shout as a course and distance winner.

Dennis The Menace cannot be discounted on the merits of his penultimate half length third to African Ruler, whom he now meets on 3kgs better terms. He failed to spark last time when 6 lengths behind Pure Blonde, but is capable of a good run every now and again.

Former Gavin Van Zyl runner Jet Fever returns from an 85 week break and would need further to show his very decent best ability.

Paul Peter has labelled Costa Da Costa’s Trippi gelding African Ruler one of the best he has ever trained and the 3yo gets another chance to prove that he really is as good as his trainer thinks he is. He goes for his fourth successive win at the Vaal on Tuesday.

FAIRVIEW POLY12:55pm (Monday) p.3

VAAL12:40pm (Tuesday) p.10

DURBANVILLE12:40pm (Wednesday) p.23

TURFFONTEIN INNER12:15pm (Thursday) p.28

MR 95 HANDICAP at Vaal on Tuesday

3yo African Ruler goes for his fourth straight win

MONDAY 22nd - THURSDAY 25th FEBRUARY 2016No. 2228 ISSN 1023 / 6996

2 SPORTING POST • MONDAY 22nd - THURSDAY 25th FEBRUARY 2016

On A PlateVaal 11th February

A Walk In The ParkFairview 12th February

Tasting SuccessGreyville 12th February

A Merry JigTurffontein 13th February

A review of the week's best SPEEDRATINGSwith Steve Furnish SPEEDRATINGS

Last week’s Top Rated

SPEED RATINGS winners incl.

KISSIMMEE ..................WON 6/1

ZRINSKI ........................WON 6/1

BRAVE VISION ..............WON 9/2

GAUTENG......................WON 7/2

DE LUJO .......................WON 33/10

DRIFTING DUSK ............WON 5/2

JET NTOMBI .................WON 8/10

TIP OF THE GLACIER ....WON 7/10

TOP SPEED RATINGS for this MID-WEEK

(Ratings shown have already been adjusted to allocated weights)

FAIRVIEW (MON)Race 1: (1) Harmston Herald 16 (NAP*)Race 2: (3) Sportstrader 18Race 3: (9) Hunting Eagle 14Race 4: (8) Kumiko 78Race 5: (10) Tiger Hotspur 33Race 6: (1) Frederick Fox 55Race 7: (5) Dream To Reality 73Race 8: (10) Conquering Queen 54

VAAL (TUES)Race 1: (1) Beckoning 8Race 2: (4) Janoobi 16Race 3: (1) Seal My Fate 14Race 4: (3) Gaggle 7Race 5: (4) The Hangman 79Race 6: (4) Imperial Gold 53Race 7: (1) Tiger’s Touch 70 (nb)Race 8: (5) Heywot 51Race 9: (4) Aldiara 58 (NAP*)DURBANVILLE (WED)Race 1: (10) Molly Chambers 18Race 2: (6) Pirangi 44Race 3: (1) Secret Plan 15Race 4: (1) Twenty Four Carat 10Race 5: (1) Variance 17Race 6: (5) Magical Bet 58 (EW)Race 7: (8) Chanukah 43Race 8: (7) Half Moon Hotel 58

TURFFONTEIN (THUR)Race 1: (1) Winning Sister 18Race 2: (5) American Storm 65Race 3: (1) Koncealed 16Race 4: (10) Bird Alley 10 (NAP*)Race 5: (5) Captain Chips 21Race 6: (4) Kenton On Sea 40Race 7: (11) Soft Sand 36Race 8: (1) Mod Barley 67Race 9: (5) Savethelastdance 57

NAP BETS* Fancied ** Strongly fancied

*** Very strongly fancied

FASTEST TIMES (The number of races run in each category shown in brackets)

(*Denotes - Times taken by Clockwatcher) (P = Polytrack)

VAAL (INSIDE) 11TH FEBRUARYPenetrometer 20 – Going Good1000m (1) Ha Lucy 56,691200m (2) Pure Blonde 69,181400m (2) De Lujo 83,441700m (2) Abashiri 101,172000m (1) Tip Of The Glacier 124,562400m (1) Rocky Stallone 147,61

FAIRVIEW (TURF) 12TH FEBRUARYPenetrometer 21 – Going Good1000m (1) O Tamara 57,16 1200m (1) Brave Vision 68,291400m (1) Oreo 84,931600m (3) Eternal Winter 97,911800m (1) Arezzo 109,972000m (1) Rock Like Jagger 125,002400m (1) Oh So Modus 154,34

GREYVILLE (POLY) 12TH FEBRUARYGoing Standard1000m (2) Ginger Biscuit 58,381400m (3) Do Be Snappy 83,791900m (3) Kileigh 115,96

TURFFONTEIN (INNER) 13TH FEBRUARYPenetrometer 20 – Going Good1200m (1) Yankee Captain 75,481450m (5) Irish Pride 87,711600m (1) Wukkin’ Up 97,78 1800m (1) Lovingkindness 112,322200m (1) Kissimmee 138,91

NotebookHorses worth following at their next few starts...ABASHIRI (M Azzie, Gauteng)IRISH PRIDE (JJ v Vuuren, Gauteng)MATER FAMILIAS (D Drier, KZN)O TAMARA (A Greeff, E-Cape)

Hot Off The PressThey raced on the inside track

on Thursday where the best bet on the card for most ABASHIRI did the business in the faster of the two 1700m events, a graduation plate. Thrown in at the weights, the 1/5 shot raced in the rear for most of the journey. He didn’t find the clearest of passages when asked for his effort, but despite that won comfortably by a length and a half after striking the front 140m or so from home.

The faster of the two 1200m races was the MR86 Handicap won by the lightly raced 3yo PURE BLONDE. A winner of two from four coming into the race, Alec Laird’s charge made all. He kept on strongly over the final 400m and went to score by a half from the easy to back veteran

COHIBA. The faster of the two maiden plates over 1400m was the second division in which DE LUJO finally got off the mark. Sent off third in the betting market, in this his 22nd appearance in the maiden ranks, the son of Ravishing led from pillar to post. He was two lengths clear for the majority of the event and although another with potential to be a long time maiden in WILLIAM NICOL was very steadily gaining at the wire, he still had just under a length to spare.TITBITS

The 4yo HA LUCY came from the rear when winning the allowance plate over 1000m going away by over a length.

Friday’s action took place on the turf where the easiest victory on the card was registered by AREZZO in the graduation plate over 1800m. Soon up handy, the very well weighted Western Cape raider raced prominent throughout. He put his head in front shortly after passing the 300m marker and with a ton in hand cruised clear to score by five and three quarters.

Another to win with authority on this card was O TAMARA in the opening maiden juvenile plate over 1000m. Positioned fifth of the eight during the early part of the race, the well-supported second favourite was ridden to lead going through

the 300m, and drew clear easily in the closing stages of the race to win by two and a quarter. Three of the afternoon’s nine races were run over 1600m and quickest home amongst these was ETERNAL WINTER in the MR60 Handicap. Confidently ridden by Francois Herholdt, the 4/1 favourite sat in midfield for most of the journey. She ran on strongly down the long home straight and in what proved to be a real thriller she got up in the very last stride to deny JAY BELLE.

TITBITSThe easy to back 3yo RAVE KING ran out a very comfortable winner of the boy’s division of the maiden 1600m.

All of the eight races on Friday evening were run on the poly track. A MR83 Handicap topped the bill and in what proved to be the fastest of the three 1900m races victory went to the top weight KILEIGH. She got away well when the gates opened and was always handy. She was ridden to lead shortly after passing the 200m marker and kept on strongly in the closing stages of the race to beat the running on favourite LITTLE CHAPEL by a length and three quarters.

They also ran three races over 1400m and quickest home amongst these was DO BE SNAPPY in the MR80 Handicap. Nicely positioned in fifth in what was always a very tightly bunched field, Dean Kannemeyer’s charge took up the running

250m out and with the rest well beaten he won comfortably from the running on SHREYA’S STAR by a half. The remaining two races were staged over 1000m and stopping the clock in the fastest time here was GINGER BISCUIT in the MR80 Handicap. Positioned in the backend of midfield as the ten runners swung for home, the daughter of Admire Main ran on best of all in the straight, and under a well-judged ride from Warren Kennedy she got up late to score by a half.TITBITS

The full sister to Paterfamilias MATER FAMILIAS couldn’t have been more impressive when open-ing her account by five and three quarters in the maiden plate over 1400m.

They raced on the inner track on Saturday afternoon where five of the nine races were run over 1450m. The fastest of these was the MR75 Handicap won by the well thought of IRISH PRIDE. Allowed to drift out to 7/1 from 9/2 at the track, the poorly drawn son of Ideal World raced in the rear early on. He ran on strongly in the short home straight and with the rest comfortably beaten he did well to collar KANGAROO JACK (led 220m) close home. Fourth placed AMERICAN TIGER also ran on well from the rear in this race.

A maiden plate for the girls had opened up proceedings and here we saw a smart performance from the second favourite LOVINGKINDNESS. Another to run on stoutly from the rear, Gavin Van

Zyl’s charge struck the front 150m from home and cruised clear below the distance to score by three and a quarter.

Race two on the card was a maiden plate over 1200m and here we saw a very comfortable victory for the favourite YANKEE CAPTAIN. On leaving the stalls it was the well exposed ASHKENAZI who elected to make the running whilst the son of Captain Al raced in midfield. He quickened well at the business end of the race and only having to be pushed out won comfortably by three quarters. TITBITS

The 3yo JUNGLE MIST was gaining at the finish when only beaten a neck in the graduation plate over 1450m.

Betting World Gr2 GAUTENG GUINEASR1 000 000 • 1600m

1 3 Abashiri 60 109 A K Zechner Mike Azzie2 10 Brazuca (AUS) 60 109 T A A Marcus Johan Janse van Vuuren3 11 New Predator (AUS) 60 107 A S Randolph Johan Janse van Vuuren4 6 Champagne Haze 60 106 A A Fortune Gary Alexander5 13 Rocketball 60 103 A M Yeni Gavin van Zyl6 16 Suyoof (AUS) 60 103 A A Delpech Mike de Kock7 1 Muwaary (AUS) 60 102 A *C Murray Mike de Kock8 15 Romany Prince 60 101 A B Fayd’Herbe Ormond Ferraris9 8 Le Clos 60 99 A *M Thackeray Mike Azzie10 4 Lunar Approach 60 95 T A S Khumalo Sean Tarry11 2 Celtic Captain 60 94 BA B Lerena Gavin van Zyl12 9 Liege 60 93 T A J P v’d Merwe Sean Tarry13 7 Rikitikitana 60 93 A C Zackey Sean Tarry14 5 Malak El Moolook 60 91 A M V’Rensburg Sean Tarry15 12 Ole Gunnar 60 87 T A K de Melo Paul Lafferty16 14 Coral Fever 60 79 BA R Danielson Robbie Sage

Same Trainer – Not Coupled on Tote: (1,9) (2,3) (5,11) (6,7) (10,12,13,14)

Guineas Day ClassTop-class fields of 3yo's have been

assembled for the two races

Joburg’s Prawn Festival forms a mouthwatering back-drop to the Gauteng Guineas meeting at Turffontein on Saturday 27 February, where the Triple Crown and Triple Tiara series launches with the locally run first leg.

The Triple Crown, which includes the alternate ‘away’ first leg of the Grand Parade Cape Guineas won by the overseas bound Noah From Goa, runs on 2 April and reaches a climax on Champions Day, scheduled for 30 April. Top-class fields of 3yo’s have been assembled for the two races.

Wilgerbosdrift Gr2 GAUTENG FILLIES GUINEASR500 000 • 1600m

1 5 Negroamaro 60 104 A A Marcus Johan Janse van Vuuren2 2 She’s A Dragon 60 101 A R Munger Craig Mayhew3 13 Juxtapose 60 98 A C Maujean Stanley Ferreira4 9 Princess Varunya (AUS) 60 98 A A Delpech Kumaran Naidoo5 6 Heaps Of Fun 60 95 A S Khumalo Sean Tarry6 4 Persian Rug 60 94 A B Lerena Mike de Kock7 14 Frosty Friday 60 93 A M Yeni Gavin van Zyl8 10 Lala 60 92 A I Sturgeon Doug Campbell9 15 Melliflora 60 90 A *M Thackeray Mike Azzie10 8 Crystal Glamour 60 88 A A Fortune Gary Alexander11 11 Alexa 60 87 A R Danielson Geoff Woodruff12 7 Khonza 60 87 A *C Murray Weiho Marwing13 17 Jungle Mist 60 85 A K Zechner Mike Azzie14 12 Bella Sonata 60 84 A C Zackey Gavin van Zyl15 3 Christmas Carol 60 83 A B Fayd’Herbe Geoff Woodruff16 1 Penny Serenade 60 82 A J P v’d Merwe Mike Azzie17 16 Polyphonic 60 82 A R Simons Alec Laird

Same Trainer – Not Coupled on Tote: (7,14) (9,13,16) (11,15)

36 SPORTINGPOST•MonDAY 22nd - THURSDAY 25th FEBRUARY 2016