The SplashOut Gr1 Cape Derby produced a humdinger at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday but it was also comparatively, the slowest run race on the card, with Eight On Eighteen recording a time of 2,42 secs slower than what he did carrying 6kgs less in the WSB Cape Town Met.
An important scientific complimentary tool of the trade for punters and racing enthusiasts, sectional timing data can enhance both the form study and horseracing viewing experience on both KwaZulu-Natal and Western Cape race meetings.
In our weekly Time Is Money, we look at some of the past weekend’s highlight against a sectional timing data backdrop.
Hollywoodbets Kenilworth 22 February
Track Condition: Good to Soft (both tracks)
Penetrometer: 24 Straight – 25 Turn
Rain: Previous seven days Nil
Irrigation: Previous seven days 55mm – Previous 24 hours 7,5mm
False Rail: 2m out from 1700m with a 4m spur at 600m mark.
Outside rail moved inwards 4m from the 600m mark
Wind: 3-21km/h South Easterly head wind
Course Variant: 1,80s fast (straight) – 0,53s fast (bend)
SplashOut Gr1 Cape Derby 2000m
On Merit ratings the recent Met winner EIGHT ON EIGHTEEN was 24 points clear and looked sure to become the first horse in 79 years to complete the Gr1 Met, Gr1 Derby double.
With just seven runners going to post though, there was a real possibility that the pace of the race could be his undoing.
Home! Richard Fourie and Eight On Eighteen – Grade 1 double in the bag (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)
One of his four stable companions Express Yourself made the running and although two and a half lengths clear early on, the pace wasn’t a good one. Indeed, they rounded the turn, over a second slower, than the slowest of the other five races negotiating that section.
Confidently ridden by Richard Fourie though, the 3yo son of Lancaster Bomber sat at the rear and was only five lengths off the leader when the race developed into a sprint at the top of the straight. He accelerated well at that point and after quickly cutting through the field the 5/10 favourite went on to score comfortably by a length and a half. This comparatively was the slowest race on the card
Khaya Stables Gr2 Diadem Stakes
The supporting act was the prestigious Gr2 Diadem Stakes and in a time slower than that of the only other 1200m event on the card, the Gr3 Cape Of Good Hope Nursery, the favourite GIMME A PRINCE completed a very smart double.
A facile winner of the Gr1 Cape Flying Championship last time out, the son of Gimmethegreenlight raced seventh some 4,5 lengths off a good pace set by Royal Aussie.
He quickened best of all from halfway and when the early effort began to take its toll on Royal Aussie 300m out he was perfectly placed to challenge. Cafe Culture got first run and struck the front 220m out. Dean Kannemyer’s charge was now in top gear though, and when he in turn hit the front passing the 100m marker Cafe Culturee could find no extra.
By just 1/100th of a second Gimme A Prince recorded the fastest 400-finish time of the afternoon.
SplashOut Gr3 Cape Of Good Hope Nursery 1200m
After showing good speed to easily win her only previous start, the Eastern Cape raider DIRECT HIT was strongly fancied here and as a result was sent off a joint favourite. She broke well when the gates opened and under a typical ride from Richard Fourie, Alan Greeff’s charge set a good pace. She asserted her authority between the 600m and 200m markers and at one point was easily four lengths clear. She did then start to tire late on, but went on to score unchallenged by two and three quarters.
Run in a time 0,67 seconds faster than that of the Gr2 Diadem, the time of 69,47 recorded here was only 0,62 seconds outside the course record.
Gavin Lerena steers Siddeley to a smart win (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)
SplashOut Gr3 Prix Du Cap 1400m
The biggest priced winner on the card was the 25/2 available on SIDDELEY in the Gr3 Prix Du Cap. In what proved to be the second slowest of the afternoon’s four 1400m races, the pace wasn’t a good one, going particularly steady on the second half of the turn. Justin Snaith’s charge had always been very nicely placed by Gavin Lerena just two lengths off the pace though, and she quickened well when the race developed into a sprint early in the straight. She struck the front 300m from home and kept on strongly late to score by a half.
Interestingly, the third placed runner Mon Petit Cherie (raced eighth 5 lengths off the pace) recorded the fastest 400-finish time in this race and that was only 1/100th of a second slower than the fastest 400-finish time of the afternoon recorded by Gimme A Prince.
Sent off in the red in this race, the heavily supported favourite Roccapina had been confidently ridden at the back. She had plenty of running in her when going for a rail’s run early in the straight. Passing the 400m marker though she was badly hampered and lost all momentum
Schweppes Listed Cape Fillies Classic 1800m
The pace was sluggish early and very tightly bunched turning for home the slowly run Fillies Classic also developed into a sprint. The easy to back Omikami made the running whilst the hattrick seeking winner GIVE ME EVERYTHING sat close up in fifth. She made headway quickly in the straight and was already at the front shortly after passing the 400m marker. Kinda Wonderful chased hard over the final 200m, but Dean Kannemeyer’s charge did have that one well held by a length and a half at the wire.
City Of Cape Town Listed Jet Master Stakes 1600m
The Dean Kannemeyer stable were also on the mark in the next, the listed Jet Master Stakes when the full brother to Gimme A Prince, THE REAL PRINCE ran out an impressive winner. Heavily supported into 5/2 second favourite from 8/1, The Real Prince raced seventh some six lengths off a fair pace set by Coastal Commander. He was ridden to lead shortly after passing the 300m marker and cruised clear in the closing stages of the race to score by five.
SABC Class 3 1400m
Another to win well when heavily supported on this card was GALLIC DREAM. After a steady start in what proved to be by far the fastest of the afternoon’s four 1400m races, San Pedro then set fast fractions around the turn and quickly strung them out. Handily placed in fourth though, Eric Sands’ charge was always ready to pounce. He did so going through the 300m, and with the benefit of first run he got the verdict over his fellow joint favourite Talk To The Master by a half. The runner up finished well and recorded by far the fastest 400m-finish time in this race.
- Fastest Times:
1200m (2) Direct Hit 69,47
1400m (4) Gallic Dream 85,97
400-finish Gimme A Prince 22,56
Notebook:
Eight On Eighteen (J Snaith)
The Real Prince (D Kannemeyer)
