Joyous Times
Turffontein 2nd January: They raced on the inner track on Tuesday where the fastest of the three 1000m races was the Gr3 Lebelo Sprint won by VIKING HERO. In a race where virtually all raced handy, the Mullins Bay gelding ran on stoutly at the business end of the race, and just got the better of TIGER TERRITORY (led 110m) by a neck.
The faster of the two 1400m races was the MR93 Handicap for 3yo’s in which the improving LUNAR APPROACH registered his third career victory. Always handy, Sean Tarry’s charge was ridden to lead going through the 400m and kept up to his work all the way to the wire, won very comfortably by three and a half.
Another to win a tad cosily on this card was CHRISTMAS CAROL in the MR76 affair over 1200m. Running on stoutly from midfield, Geoff Woodruff’s charge struck the front 150m out and with the rest well beaten, she won going away by a length and a half from ESTIMATION.
Titbits
The newcomer AUSSIE AUSTIN was flying at the finish when only failing to land the maiden juvenile plate over 1000m by the narrowest of margins.
The 3yo ARPAD ran on well from the backend of midfield when a three quarter length runner up in the maiden plate over 1160m.
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The Fastest Milkcart
Kenilworth 2nd January: The listed Sophomore Sprint for 3yo’s topped the bill in Cape Town on Saturday and in what proved to be the fastest of the three 1200m events on the card ERNIE found the winner’s enclosure. The Elusive Fort gelding raced in the rear early on, but in what was a tightly bunched field, he was only four lengths off the pace. He was ridden to lead as they approached the 200m marker and looked to win with a little in hand by three quarters.
The only other distance to stage more than one race on the card was 1400m and quickest home from these two was PRINCE OF THIEVES in the MR86 affair. Backed into favouritism at the track (3/1 into 15/10), Joey Ramsden’s charge was soon up handy. He put his head in front going through the 200m and drew clear easily in the closing stages of the race to score by three and three quarters.
Another to win with authority was FELICITY FLYER in the maiden juvenile plate over 800m. Always deep in the red, Mike Bass’ charge was soon positioned close to the speed. She only had to be pushed out in order to take up the running at the 200m pole, and won going away by a length and three quarters.
Titbits
Backed into joint favouritism in the maiden plate over 1400m, KATIES JAY ran on best of all over the final 400m and with the rest well beaten won going away from STOCKADE by a length and three quarters.
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Promising Beginning
Scottsville 3rd January: A maiden juvenile plate over 800m got proceedings underway in Pietermaritzburg on Sunday and here we saw a smart performance from the Mike De Kock trained newcomer INTRIGUING LADY. Allowed to ease out to 18/10 joint favourite from 11/10 at the track, the New Approach filly was soon at the head of affairs. She was always in control and with some in hand won very easily by four and three quarters.
Four of the afternoon’s nine races were run over 1000m and fastest against the clock in these was BELOVED COUNTRY in the non-black type African Holly Handicap. Just six went to post and although she wasn’t the quickest into stride, she was always handy. She ran on stoutly at the business end of the race and in what proved to be a real thriller she got the better of the Victory Moon gelding MUSCATT by a neck.
The remaining four races were all staged over 1200m and quickest home here was SHEZALEADER in the graduation plate. Freely available at 10/1 on the off, Dennis Bosch’s charge raced up with the speed throughout. She began to assert her authority shortly after passing the 300m pole and went on to score very easily by five and three quarters.
Titbits
After being a little slow into stride, REGARDSTOBROADWAY didn’t find the clearest of passages en-route from the rear when getting up late to win the MR77 Handicap over 1000m.
ETERNAL ICE won the maiden plate over 1200m going away by four.
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Quick Double
Vaal 5th January: Tuesday’s action took place on the outside track where the faster of the two 1200m races was the MR80 Handicap won by the lightly raced PURE BLONDE. Having only his second outing following a ten month layoff, Alec Laird’s charge was always handy. He was ridden to lead approaching the 200m marker and with a ton in hand won easing down by just over a length.
Race four on the card was a MR72 Handicap and in what proved to be the faster of the two 1000m races victory went to the 5yo GUN FIGHTER. Easy to back at 8/1 on the off the top weight raced in the rear early on. He ran on best of all over the final 400m and won going away after striking the front 80m or so from home.
Quickest home in the two maiden events over 1400m was CHEROKEE GREY in the boys’ affair. Sent off fourth in the betting market at 11/2, the 3yo son of Greys Inn was always in touch with the leaders. He made his move going through the 300m and after a thrilling tussle with the slightly more fancied PROFIT RATIO he got the verdict by a half.
Titbits
The always handy SPRING DANCE was eased late when winning the girl’s division of the maiden 1400m with authority.
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At Home In The Cape
Kenilworth 6th January: A conditions plate over 1400m topped the bill in Cape Town on Wednesday and in what proved to be the faster of the two 1400m events victory went to the Dennis Drier trained EVENTUAL ANGEL. Having her third run after an eleven month layoff here, the Right Approach mare was soon positioned close to the speed. She kept on determinedly at the business end of the race and in a blanket finish she got the verdict over the more fancied ALEXIS by three quarters.
The faster of the two 1600m events was the MR70 Handicap in which the 3yo MUTZI registered his second career victory from just five starts. Nibbled at on course into 8/1 from 10’s, Justin Snaith’s charge raced fourth during the early part of the race. He struck the front going through the 200m and won well by three quarters from the uneasy favourite KILRAIN (led 250m).
Surprisingly the quicker of the two 1200m events was the maiden plate in which ENTRE NOUS got off the mark. Soon at the head of affairs the 9/1 shot kept up a healthy gallop throughout, and won well by a length and a quarter from the friendless SECRET PLAN (12/1 out to 33/1)
Titbits
The well supported THIS IS SPARTA flew late when getting up in the very last stride to win the maiden plate over 1400m.
Gaining at the finish, SWEETCHILD O MINE had to switch en-route from midfield when only beaten a neck in the MR70 Handicap over 1000m.
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Top speedratings for this weekend include:-
Fairview (fri)
Race 1: (11) Fourteen 10
Race 2: (6) Tiger Tim 18
Race 3: (8) On My Wits Alone 35
Race 4: (11) Sudden Surprise 44
Race 5: (11) Captains Slipper 44
Race 6: (5) Razed In Black 55
Race 7: (12) Girl In Time 59
Race 8: (1) Gauteng 7
Greyville (fri)
Race 1: (13) Zagora 9
Race 2: (1) Suzie’s Arrow 14
Race 3: (1) Shine Up 25
Race 4: (11) Ntokazi 13
Race 5: (8) Keep Your Light On 54
Race 6: (2) King Of Torts 66
Race 7: (11) Vitruvian Man 59
Race 8: (15) Hunger Games 40
Turffontein (sat)
Race 1: (4) Might As Well 8
Race 2: (4) Angel Of Light 13
Race 3: (2) Arpad 20
Race 4: (2) Moofeed 92
Race 5: (1) French Navy 94 (NAP*)
Race 6: (5) Abashiri 70 (nb)
Race 7: (1) She’s A Dragon 65
Race 8: (5) Bilateral 82
Race 9: (13) Sir Trippi 44
Race 10: (8) Lavish Gal 67
Race 11: (6) Luca Delago 54
Kenilworth (sat)
Race 1: (1) Hilaria 25
Race 2: (6) Roman Silvanus 43
Race 3: (1) Search Party 19
Race 4: (2) Aspen Fire 21
Race 5: (10) Masked Lady 78
Race 6: (3) Bichette 91
Race 7: (2) Captain Bagg 53
Race 8: (10) Magic Ice 19
Scottsville (sun)
Race 1: (1) Jollerie 7
Race 2: (1) Brave Knight 27
Race 3: (5) Protea Power 24
Race 4: (8) Quick Answer 16
Race 5: (13) Sputnik Sweetheart 35
Race 6: (9) Royal Honeymoon 43
Race 7: (7) Panza 61
Race 8: (17) Red Red Ruby 48
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Top rated winners last week included
Shezaleader won 10/1
Ernie won 9/2
Crystal Glamour won 22/10
Red China won 2/1
Spring Dance won 2/1
Eastern Front won 18/10
New Predator won 1/1
Felicity Flyer won 5/10
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Notebook:-
Christmas Carol (G Woodruff, Gauteng)
Ernie (M Bass, W-Cape)
Pure Blonde (A Laird, Gauteng)
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FASTEST TIMES
The number of races run over each distance is shown in brackets
*Denotes – Times taken by Clockwatcher
Turffontein (old) 2nd January
Penetrometer 22 – Going Good
1000m (3) Viking Hero 56,75
1160m (1) Dragoon 67,39
1400m (2) Lunar Approach 84,53
1600m (2) Shimmering Brook 99,18
2000m (1) Christmas Carol 125,65
Kenilworth (new) 2nd January
Penetrometer 23 – Going Good
800m (1) Felicity Flyer 49,78
1000m (1) Eastern Front 58,84
1200m (3) Ernie 72,18
1400m (2) Prince Of Thieves 86,33
2000m (1) Elusive Silva 126,06
2500m (1) Three Balloons 157,93
Scottsville 3rd January
Penetrometer 25 – Going G/Soft
800m (1) Intriguing Lady 46,01
1000m (4) Beloved Country 56,79
1200m (4) Shezaleader 68,83
Vaal (outside) 5th January
Penetrometer 20 – Going Good
1000m (2) Gun Fighter 56,58
1200m (2) Pure Blonde 68,92
1400m (2) Cherokee Grey 82,22
1600m (2) Analyse This 94,86
Kenilworth (new) 6th January
Penetrometer 22 – Going Good
1000m (1) Tumbles 60,50
1200m (2) Entre Nous 73,08
1400m (2) Eventual Angel 87,44
1600m (2) Mutzi 100,77
1800m (1) Paladin 114,18
