Black Swan Stud Busy few days ahead

We have a very busy few days ahead with runners that we have bred, and hopefully can pick up a few more wins. Those marked * I still own a share.
Friday 4th Fairview
Race 3 Mhlabeni has been disappointing in CT, and relocates to PE. Gets a good draw, and I think a good chance on his CT form.
*Race 4 Mistress of Means. Showing signs of regaining confidence after her mishap a few runs ago. A good draw, back on the turf, top jockey. Hoping that she can regain her best form, if so can pop up.
*Race 7 Vic Falls Stepping up in class, against top local fillies and two useful CT raiders. Should enjoy the extra trip, and is still learning and improving. Tough task here but hoping she can get into the first 3 and earn black type.
* Race 8 Secret Dream. Was a decent 3yo in Gauteng, but lost form, so relocated to PE. Tried the poly last time, and she didn't take to it. Back on the turf. Wide draw to overcome, but should be competitive off her current rating. Hoping she can surprise here.
Saturday 5th Scottsville
*Race 5 Just for Laughs. Won her only start with a very good turn of foot. Have thrown her in the deep end here against top opposition. Hope to see her running on strongly.
Race 5 Sound of Warning (bred at Drakenstein in partnership ) Out of my top race mare Siren's Call. Two very impressive wins, and looks a huge runner here. The one to beat is Sheela.
Race 7 Sarah. Very speedy, and looks to have regained form at the right time. True to Life is the one to beat, but a good chance of making the first 3.
Saturday 5th Kenilworth
Race 2 Versailles. Was green on debut. Bred for further, and Call It Fate would appear to be the stable elect. Should show good improvement and I think a good chance of running into the money.
Race 3 Veni Vidi Vicci. Never out the places in his 4 starts. returns from a 6 month break, but if fit must have a very good winning chance.
Race 6 Exceeder. Unlucky loser last time. Should relish the distance. Bad draw, but a good winning chance.
*Race 6 Cape Point. Is improving steadily. Will enjoy the trip, and should run into the money.
*Race 7 Fynbos. Steps up to a higher division after a good win last time. Plum draw, and although this is a stronger field, has a winning chance with low weight.
*Race 8 Helen's Blush. Progressive filly, and a good winning chance in a competitive race.
*Race 8 Grey Princess. Bad draw, but always capable of a place in this class.
Monday 7th Fairview
*Race 5 Twin Falls. Coming to the end of her career, and a bit too high in the ratings. Capable at best, and a nice draw, so could surprise.
Race 6 Pharr Out. Enjoyed his first run on the poly, and can win again here off a modest rating.

Not a bad start, with one winner from 4 runners at Fairview.
Thanks to Richard Fourie for an exceptional ride. He had to avoid the kamikazi pilot who tried to take us us out shortly after the start, and timed his run to perfection in the straight.

Smart win by Veni Vedi Vicci. Excellent training feat to bring him back in such good nick after a life threatening illness and 6 months break. Will pay to follow.
Good seconds Helen’s Blush and Fynbos, the latter very unlucky when baulked for a run. Gutsy third by Grey Princess from wide draw.
Cape Point and Exceeder undone by slow pace and poor placement- this race was a canter / sprint and not a test of stamina.

The highlight of the weekend for us the 2nd place in the Allan Robertson by Sound of Warning when just pipping the favourite Sheela, but both blown away by a scintillating performance by the stable companion Under Your Spell.
A good few days for Elusive Fort who continues to churn out the winners.
He has more promising runners lining up this week.

Today just one from the stud - Super Tanaye at the Vaal. Good debut a year ago, and then went wrong at second start. Comeback run was moderate. The connections have persevered, and I hope she rewards them with an improved performance.

Tomorrow at Kenilworth four runners.
The up and coming 3yo Pretty Betty takes on the consistent older mare Secret Depths in race 5 and both have a good shout. If Betty had a better draw she would be my clear first choice as she is improving every run, but needs some luck from the wide draw.
Treasure Hunt takes her chances in the Perfect Promise. A small but talented field, and she will need to show more improvement. I will be happy if she can run in the first 3. As with all these babies the rate of improvement is the key factor. Had she run straight she would have won by a much wider margin last time. That was just inexperience- she led with the same leg the whole race which may explain why she hung out in the finish.
The game front runner Elusive Tango runs in the 8th. He gets the worst of the draw and that will make it very tough for him. However, he has good gate speed and if he can get a decent position without working too hard, could run in the money.

Thrilled with Pretty Betty today- has really stepped up and is developing into a very smart filly. Secret Depths was forced to check and that cost her a decent position and otherwise would have run a place.
Gutsy performance by Elusive Tango- had to do a lot to overcome the draw but stayed on bravely.
Treasure Hunt also took a couple of bumps- could otherwise have perhaps run 4th. Will be interesting to see how she goes over further.

Quiet week ahead, just Drama Queen on Saturday.

Top class performances PeterD. May you continue to go from strength to strength.
Thanks once again for your input regarding the local race meetings and other topics.

Drama Queen every chance but on that run needs to drop a few points in the ratings.
I bred two runners in Mauritius- Groban and Brilliant Disguise. Both should win races there. In particular, Brilliant Disguise had his first run there over a trip too sharp (990m) and ran on into fourth spot. He is one to follow there when he goes over a more suitable trip.
Our stallion, Elusive Fort, had a superb performance from Catch Twentytwo in the Gold Challenge. Both he and Kommetdieding are solid gr1 performing 3yearolds.
In the week ahead, two runners at Fairview on Tuesday -Encryption and Mhlabeni. I fancy Encryption to win again despite the 4 point raise in her MR and up in class.

Moderate efforts by the two PE runners on Tuesday. Encryption perhaps did a bit too much early on, and tired the last bit.
*Jean Paul runs in a strong juvenile race against winners in race 2 at Fairview on Friday. He was very disappointing in his last start when overracing and then fading badly. Dropping back in trip- they will go faster and he should be able to settle and run on. He is the rank outsider, but the weight difference could just bring him into the picture if he can build on his very promising second start when beaten 3L by the useful Safari Blue at level weights.
Montfort runs in the 8th race at Scottsville on Saturday. She was badly under sufferance in her two post maiden runs, and now is in the correct division. A very open race and she still has plenty scope for improvement.
*Fort Dawn is 3rd reserve in race 9 at Scottsville, so unlikely to get a run.
*Gentleman makes his debut at Kenilworth race 4 on Saturday. He is the second foal of an Ideal World mare, and a full brother to a winning filly, I'm a Lady. She was a promising filly, but died prematurely. She bumped no less a filly than Captain's Ransom on their debuts, and was only beaten 1.25 lengths that day!. He has had a grass gallop at Kenilworth, and he looks a nice sort. This will be a learning experience for him, and he will probably be better over further, but expecting a fair showing if not too green.
Veni Vidi Vicci gets a good draw of 2 in the 8th race, and steps up to 1600m which should suit him. He meets some hard knockers, but I think that he has a lot of scope for improvement and I'm hoping that he wins again.
Understated runs in the 3rd race on Sunday at Turffontein. He is no star, but he stays all day, and two promising places his last two runs. He gets a good chance to shed his maiden in a small field over 2600m.