Heavenly Hat-Trick
Kenilworth 14th January
The Gr2 Diadem Stakes topped the bill in Cape Town on Saturday and in what proved to be the fastest of the three 1200m races we saw another smart performance from the improving TRIP TO HEAVEN. Completing a hat-trick here, the son of Trippi raced joint second last early on. He quickened best of all when given rein and won going away by three and three quarters after striking the front 200m from home.
They also ran three races over 1400m and stopping the clock in the fastest time amongst these was KENNY TRIX when registering his second career victory in the MR79 Handicap. Soon positioned close to the speed, Vaughan Marshall’s charge took up the running as they approached the 200m marker and went on to score comfortably by a length and a half.
The faster of the two 1000m races was the MR83 Handicap won by MAKE IT RAINE. Allowed to ease right out to 9/1 from 5’s at the track, the New Approach filly raced in the rear during the early part of the race. The field was always very tightly bunched though, and in a race where just a half-length covered the first three home, she won fair and square.
Titbits
The Star Witness colt LORD BALMORAL made all when comfortably accounting for his five rivals in the listed Sophomore Sprint over 1200m.
46 For 9
Fairview 16th January
A pinnacle stakes topped the bill on Monday’s turf card and in what proved to be the faster of the two 1400m events, the veteran BLARNEY BAY registered his ninth career victory. Making his first appearance since relocating from the Western Cape, the 8yo Nysaean gelding was soon in his favourite position at the head of affairs. He kept up a healthy gallop throughout, and although JET EXPLORER was gaining at the finish, he won comfortably by three quarters.
The 5yo IN FULL REGALIA caused a bit of an upset when winning over today’s course and distance last time out and he repeated the dose at 7/1 in the MR83 Handicap here. In the rear some 4,5 lengths off the pace early on, Alan Greeff’s charge was ridden to lead going through the 300m and won well from the uneasy second favourite IMPERIAL GUARD by a length and a quarter.
The only other distance to stage more than one race was 1000m where the quicker of the two was the MR68 Handicap won by BLACK JADE. Freely available at 15/1 on the off, Dorrie Sham’s charge raced in midfield early on. She quickened nicely at the halfway mark and won well by three quarters.
Titbits
STREAK ran on well from midfield when getting up late to win the MR72 Handicap over 2400m.
Off Like A Rocket
Turffontein 17th January
They raced on the inner track on Tuesday, where, by far the fastest time comparatively was recorded by RONNIE ROCKET in the MR80 Handicap over 1000m. Out of the pens in a flash, the Noordhoek Flyer gelding led throughout. He kept up a strong gallop throughout, and ridden with just hands and heels won going away by three and a quarter.
BRAVE NATION was the best bet on the card for most and in what proved to be the faster of the two maiden plates over 1200m, he did the business. Marginally in the red at the off, Geoff Woodruff’s charge was always handy. He ran on strongly at the business end of the race and got the better of the running on MR RAMBO by just over a half.
The faster of the two 1600m races on the card was the MR66 Handicap won by DAWN FLIGHT. Backed into favouritism at the track, Sean Tarry’s charge also raced handy. She quickened well coming off the strip and won nicely by a half from the always handy SAMMI MOOSA.
Titbits
In the rear early on, the lightly raced 4yo WEST COAST WARRIOR cut through the field like a knife in the short home straight and won going away by a length and a half.
Another to win with authority from the Tarry stable was TANDANA. After racing handy, she won the girl’s division of the maiden 1200m going away by two and a quarter.
COOL FANTASY (came from rear) and DALLEY (midfield, baulked 450m) both ran on well from off the pace when 1st & 3rd respectively in the MR62 Handicap over 1800m.
Top speedratings for this weekend include:-
Flamingo Park (mon)
Race 1: (3) Lord Luton 11
Race 2: (7) Black Rake 30
Race 3: (1) Miesque’s Secret 8
Race 4: (4) Roy’s Dispren 20
Race 5: (6) Rajen’s Babe 28
Race 6: (8) Groovy News 32
Race 7: (6) Megan Jones 33
Race 8: (9) Dancingwithjackson 38
Race 9: (11) First Sign 14
Race 10: (12) Ngong Hills 53
Turffontein (tues)
Race 1: (5) Lolita Delago 1
Race 2: (5) Mujallad 33 (NAP*)
Race 3: (1) Together Forever 18
Race 4: (4) Ordained 4 (nb)
Race 5: (5) Chili Con Carne 62
Race 6: (7) Cumberland 56
Race 7: (1) Al Azraq 73 (EW)
Race 8: (2) Kapellmeister 48
Fairview (wed)
Race 1: (1) Messageinabottle 8
Race 2: (1) Aloxxi 2
Race 3: (10) Sketches Of Spain 16
Race 4: (8) Party Tibbs 39
Race 5: (8) Bold Aspen 32
Race 6: (12) Samian 40
Race 7: (8) Mercado 65 (EW)
Race 8: (13) Oracle 58
Vaal (thur)
Race 1: (1) Western Warrior 20
Race 2: (1) Lakahal 37
Race 3: (6) Pippi Shortsock 30
Race 4: (1) Moss Gas 13
Race 5: (8) Lisnoble 42
Race 6: (11) Woody Glow 39
Race 7: (7) Revelation 55
Race 8: (1) Vulcan 48
Race 9: (9) Blue Diamond Road 49
Top rated winners last week included
Peach Valley won 7/1
Dawn Flight won 33/10
Tandana won 28/10
Bold Respect won 5/2
Choir Of Angels won 22/10
Let Her Fly won 18/10
Lord Balmoral won 18/10
Brave Nation won 9/10
Notebook:-
Trip To Heaven (S Tarry, W-Cape)
FASTEST TIMES
The number of races run over each distance is shown in brackets
*Denotes – Times taken by Clockwatcher
Kenilworth (new) 14th January
Penetrometer 22 – Going Good
Course Variant: 0,01s slow
1000m (2) Make It Raine 59,71
1200m (3) Trip To Heaven 71,56
1400m (3) Kenny Trix 86,23
1600m (1) Variance 101,27
Fairview (turf) 16th January
Penetrometer 22 – Going Good
Course Variant: o,94s fast
1000m (2) Black Jade 56,46
1200m (2) In Full Regalia 68,43
1400m (2) Blarney Bay 83,29
1600m (1) Peach Valley 98,99
2400m (1) Streak 151,97
Turffontein (inner) 17th January
Penetrometer 20 – Going Good
Course Variant: 1,05s fast
1000m (1) Ronnie Rocket 57,06
1200m (2) Brave Nation 72,85
1450m (1) West Coast Warrior 90,13
1600m (2) Dawn Flight 100,10
1800m (2) Fangia 111,36
