Pillar To Post
Fairview 25th November
They raced on the poly track on Friday where victory in the faster of the two 1200m races, a MR61 Handicap, went to VICTOR REBELLIOUS. Soon up handy, the grey Rebel King gelding raced prominent throughout. He was ridden to lead as they approached the 200m marker and comfortably accounted for NEWCREST by a length and a quarter.
The non-black type November Stakes topped the bill and in what proved to be the faster of the two 1400m events, the 5yo OCHONCAR registered his fifth career victory. Usually one to race handy, Alan Greeff’s charge adopted a change of tactics here and raced from the front. He was two and a half lengths clear coming off the bend and although GOGETTHESHERIFF did cut that down to three quarters, he did look to have that one held.
They also ran two races over 1900m and stopping the clock in the fastest time here was SANCTUARY in the MR68 Handicap. Well supported on course into 8/1 from 15’s, the daughter of Natonal Emblem raced fifth in what soon became a strung out field. She quickened well at the top of the straight and with the rest well beaten she comfortably accounted for the always handy LEMON LILY by a length.
Titbits
Having his first outing since relocating from Gauteng, the Fort Wood gelding PAY AS YOU GO won the MR62 Handicap over 1400m with authority by a length and three quarters. Racing off a mark some 18 points below that of his former best here, Pay As You Go should still be well handicapped next time.
Sean’s Big Five
Turffontein 26th November
The Gr1 Summer Cup topped the bill on the old stand side track on Saturday and here we saw a smart performance from the Geoff Woodruff trained MASTER SABINA. Sent off favourite at 5/1, the 7yo Jet Master gelding was content to sit in the backend of midfield for most of the journey. He was carried in when looking to take command 100m out, but after forcing his way through a gap he cruised clear late to score by a length and a quarter.
Four of the afternoon’s ten races were staged over 1600m and in by far the fastest of these, the Gr2 Dingaans, the stable of Geoff Woodruff were again on the mark when SINGAPORE SLING showed good improvement. Positioned in midfield during the early part of the race, the son of Philanthropist raced alongside the favourite HEAVENLY BLUE. Both ran on stoutly at the business end of the race and with the rest well beaten, Singapore Sling won fair and square by just over a length.
They also staged four races over 1160m and stopping the clock in the fastest time amongst these was the best bet on the card for many GREEN PEPPER in the Gr3 Magnolia Handicap. Confidently ridden by regular partner Randal Simons, the daughter of Gimmethegreenlight also raced in midfield. She was ridden to lead as they approached the 200m marker and although CRYSTAL GLAMOUR tried her best to make a race of it, she won with some in hand by two and a quarter.
Run in a time 0,62 seconds slower than that of Green Pepper on my clock was the Gr2 Merchants in which TRIP TO HEAVEN registered his sixth career victory from just sixteen starts. As per usual slow into stride when the gates opened, Sean Tarry’s charge was positioned at the back early on. The field was always very tightly bunched though and going through the 400m just two lengths covered all except the backmarker. It looked as if he would win easily after striking the front shortly after that point, but he was then cut back to just 0,3 lengths by his steadily gaining stable companion BULL VALLEY.
Titbits
FORTISSIMA ran on well from towards the rear when easily accounting for his fifteen rivals in the Gr3 Racing Association Handicap over 3200m.
Four For Tactical Greg
Kenilworth 26th November:
Three of the eight races on the old course on Saturday were run over 1800m and stopping the clock in the fastest time amongst these was ICY TRAIL when completing a double over the course and distance in the MR101 Handicap. Sent off second in the betting market at 7/2, the son of Go Deputy was always handy. He put his head in front as they approached the 200m marker and kept on strongly late to beat the running on PRINCE OF WALES by three quarters.
Two of the remaining five races were staged over 1400m and quickest home here was Icy Trail’s stable companion MOONLIGHT ‘N ROSES in the MR95 affair. The more fancied GOODTIME GAL raced just ahead of her and on striking the front 400m out she looked to have done everything right. The daughter of Captain Al quickened nicely at that point though and after a thrilling tussle over the final 150m, she got the verdict by the narrowest of margins.
They also ran two races over 1600m (both maiden plates) where quickest home was ROCKETEER in the boy’s division. Positioned fifth of the seven early on, the son of Muhtafal got the race thanks to a clever move from jockey Greg Cheyne. Electing to loop runners rounding the turn, Rocketeer was already at the front coming off the bend, and quickly went a couple clear. Both VERDIER and GIMME ONE NIGHT were closing in late on, but the early move proved to be decisive. Jockey Greg Cheyne went on to ride four winners on the afternoon.
Titbits
The well supported favourite BIG BANG THEORY ran on well from midfield when getting up late to open her account in the girls’ division of the maiden plate over 1600m
Top speedratings for this weekend include:-
Flamingo Park (mon)
Race 1: (5) Lily Love 13
Race 2: (1) Yours And Mine 9
Race 3: (6) Sky Full Of Stars 67
Race 4: (1) Lord Luton 9
Race 5: (4) Mr Balboa 30
Race 6: (9) Ngong Hills 64
Race 7: (1) Black Toga 6
Race 8: (13) Buster Posy 23
Race 9: (5) So Suspect 41
Kenilworth (tues)
Race 1: (4) Over Drive 8
Race 2: (9) Border Control 8
Race 3: (1) Step Out 16
Race 4: (8) In The Jungle 51
Race 5: (9) Elusive Rose 57
Race 6: (7) Newlands 70 (NAP*)
Race 7: (3) Indigo Storm 40
Race 8: (9) Chestnut Wild 54
Turffontein (tues)
Race 1: No Qualifiers
Race 2: (8) Furiosa 32
Race 3: (1) Juba 10
Race 4: (3) South Atlantic 40
Race 5: (11) Seventh Heart 74
Race 6: (7) Catch A Thief 38
Race 7: (5) Rafeef 80
Race 8: (2) Cannes 52
Greyville (wed)
Race 1: (12) Roy’s Pony 15
Race 2: (10) Angel Landing 17
Race 3: (13) Roy’s Sailor 35
Race 4: (6) Fashion Dancer 50
Race 5: (6) Bengal Boy 65
Race 6: (1) School Run 44 (EW)
Race 7: (1) Royal Regatta 20
Race 8: (1) Soldier’s Bride 22
Vaal (thur)
Race 1: (9) Oracle Of Delphi 9 (NAP*)
Race 2: (5) September Bloom 10
Race 3: (1) Comtessa Antonia 8
Race 4: (11) Tharoos 31 (nb)
Race 5: (3) Ronin Warrior 40
Race 6: (8) Jay River 35
Race 7: (8) Fort Eagle 62
Race 8: (8) Thatho Magestique 57
Race 9: (11) De Lujo 40
Top rated winners last week included
Fortissimus won 11/1
Miss Minver won 4/1
Icy Fire won 22/10
Royal Regatta won 2/1
Expresso Martini won 18/10
Elusive Singer won 18/10
Big Bang Theory won 12/10
Devadip won 2/11
Notebook:-
Singapore Sling (G Woodruff, Gauteng)
FASTEST TIMES
The number of races run over each distance is shown in brackets
*Denotes – Times taken by Clockwatcher
Fairview (poly) 25th November
Going Standard
Course Variant: 0,56s slow
1200m (2) Victor Rebellious 70,41
1300m (1) Jets-A-Blazing 76,06
1400m (2) Ochoncar 82,08
1600m (1) Class Queen 97,72
1900m (2) Sanctuary 115,27
Turffontein (old) 26th November
Penetrometer 26 – Going G/Soft
Course Variant: 0,50s slow
1160m (4) Green Pepper 67,16
1600m (4) Singapore Sling 98,00
2000m (1) Master Sabina 124,44
3200m (1) Fortissima 212,26
Kenilworth (old) 26th November
Penetrometer 21 – Going Good
Course Variant: 0,20s fast
1200m (1) Elusive Singer 72,68
1400m (2) Moonlight ‘n Roses 85,65
1600m (2) Rocketeer 98,65
1800m (3) Icy Trail 110,09
