Powerful Frontrunner
Vaal 22nd January: A half of the eight races on the classic track on Tuesday were staged over 1600m and by far the fastest of these was the MR66 Handicap won by ROCKSTAR CHILD. Always handy, the Mambo In Seattle gelding ran on strongly at the business end of the race and just got the better of another handily placed runner in FESTIVE LINNGARI.
The only other distance to stage more than one race was 1200m where the faster of the two handicaps was the MR84 affair in which the uneasy favourite CARBON ATOM registered his third career victory. Content to race fifth of the eight for most of the journey, Sean Tarry’s Charge was ridden to lead shortly after passing the 200m marker and with the rest some three lengths adrift, he beat the staying on veteran GREASEPAINT (set the pace) by a half.
A MR95 Handicap over 1600m topped the bill and here we saw another smart front running performance from the gutsy PILOU. Looking to complete a four timer here, the top weighted son of Western Winter made all. He was always in command and won without any anxious moments by a length.
Titbits
The Alec Laird trained newcomer BIZE came from the rear when winning the girls’ division of the maiden plate over 1600m going away.
Promising Local Debuts
Fairview 23rd January: Not surprisingly the faster of the two 1200m races that opened up proceedings was the novice plate in which DELIA’S DELIGHT caused an upset. Racing over a trip that looked short of her best in this her first outing since relocating to the Eastern Cape, the 4yo daughter of Dynasty was soon positioned close to the speed. She ran on strongly in the short home straight and with the rest well beaten she held off a determined challenge from the even money favourite LIGHT ON HER TOES.
The MR78 Handicap was the fastest of the three 1600m races and here the 5yo BORDER CONTROL registered his fifth career victory. Nicely positioned in second at the top of the straight, Grant Paddock’s charge was ridden to lead as they approached the 200m pole and comfortably accounted for the always handy DESERT CHIEF by two and a quarter.
The only favourite to oblige on the eight race program was JALEIKA in the maiden plate for the girls over 1900m. Another to race handy, Alan Greeff’s charge took up the running early in the home straight and won well from the always handy ROCK STARDOM by a length and a quarter.
Titbits
Making her first appearance since relocating from Cape Town, BARGEME won the maiden plate for the girls over 1200m with plenty in hand.
At His Peak
Vaal 24th January: Just half a second separated the winners of the three 1000m races, the fastest of which being the boy’s division of the maiden plate in which the fancied EASTERN HEALER opened his account. A promising fifth in his only previous racecourse appearance, the son of Warm White Night raced in midfield during the early part of the race. He ran on strongly over the final 400m and in what proved to be a real thriller he got up late to deny the heavily supported CHIEF OF STATE.
A pinnacle stakes over 1100m topped the bill and as is often the case in these types of events victory went to the best weighted runner, in this case PINNACLE PEAK. Freely available at 5/1 on the off, Dorrie Sham’s charge made most of the running. He was headed by the 11/10 favourite BILLY SILVER (reported lame near fore) 300m out, but rallied gamely to regain the lead 200m later, and won going away.
The lucky last was a maiden plate over 1800m and here the locals were sent home happy when the favourite BANK ROBBER did the business. Soon at the head of affairs despite stumbling at the start, Paul Peter’s charge raced clear throughout. He was always in command and despite losing a shoe in running, he won with authority by four.
Titbits
After racing over further for a year (9 starts), DESERT RHYTHM lined up in a MR91 Handicap over 1200m, and ran on stoutly from off the pace to get up close home.
Dame In Command
Fairview 25th January: The non-black type Fairview Merchants topped the bill on Friday’s turf card and here victory went to the easy to back KIMBERLEY STAR. Freely available at 8/1 on the off, Alan Greeff’s charge raced fifth of the nine for most of the journey. He was ridden to lead shortly after passing the 200m marker and kept on strongly late to fend off a determined challenge from one of the joint favourites EXELERO.
There were three 1200m races in total and in a time 13/100th of a second faster than that of the Merchants, the MR69 Handicap was won by DAME COMMANDER. Racing for the first time since relocating from KZN, the 4yo daughter of Western Winter raced up with the pace throughout. She ran on strongly at the business end of the race and won well by a length and a quarter from the always handy BUSHY PARK.
The MR79 Handicap was the faster of the two 1400m events on the card and here the Gimmethegreenlight gelding GREEN LANTERN won very cosily. Confidently ridden by Greg Cheyne, Green Lantern raced detached at the back of the six for most of the journey. He quickened well when given rein and after quickly working his way through the field, he won going away by a length and three quarters.
Titbits
Having only her second outing since relocating from KZN, ELEGANT EVA only had to be pushed out when opening her account in the maiden plate for the girls over 1400m.
Winning With Authority
Greyville 25th January: Comparatively the fastest race on Friday evening’s poly track card was the MR88 Handicap over 1000m and here we saw a comfortable victory for the uneasy favourite CHANTYMAN. Soon up handy, the Oratorio gelding was ridden to lead 200m out by Warren Kennedy and went on to score with authority by a length and three quarters.
Three of the eight races were staged over 1400m and stopping the clock in the fastest of these was PLAY THE NIGHT in the lucky last. Always top of the boards in this MR64 Handicap, Sean Tarry’s ultra-consistent runner was soon prominent. He put his head in front going through the 200m and won well by two from the staying on pacemaker FLY BY SKYE.
They also ran three races over 1600m and quickest home here was HAYLOR in the MR82 handicap. Winning for the third time in his last four outings here, this improving son of Curved Ball also raced close to the speed. He took up the running as they approached the 200m marker and after quickly going clear he comfortably accounted for the running on SALTORO RIDGE by a length and a quarter.
Titbit
Positioned second to last turning for home, GREEN ICE ran on best of all over the final 400m of the MR60 apprentice handicap and won going away by a length and a half.
Top speedratings for this weekend include:-
Fairview (fri)
Race 1: (7) Flame Up 3
Race 2: (11) Desert Wanderer 18
Race 3: (10) Mystic Journey 10
Race 4: (1) Casual Diamond 63 (NAP**)
Race 5: (7) March Music 57
Race 6: (8) Wemibono 50
Race 7: (7) Desert Wisdom 75
Race 8: (10) Street Gaze 26
Greyville (fri)
Race 1: (5) Bonnie Dawn 48
Race 2: (10) Pink Cadillac 38
Race 3: (1) La Duchesse 6
Race 4: (8) Grande Maestro 29
Race 5: (8) Red Shift 60
Race 6: (9) South Paw 33
Race 7: (6) Sea Sponge 35
Race 8: (11) Josephine Baker 40
Turffontein (sat)
Race 1: (2) Liberado 18
Race 2: (1) What A Thrill 12
Race 3: (2) Targaryen Queen 5
Race 4: (5) Wonderous Climber 73
Race 5: (1) Jet Start 59 (nb)
Race 6: (2) Zouaves 92 (NAP*)
Race 7: (2) Ronnie’s Candy 61
Race 8: (2) National Park 79
Race 9: (12) Manitoba 54
Race 10: (14) Waqaas 42
Greyville (sun)
Race 1: (1) Kingsmead 49
Race 2: (2) Firstnavalofficer 3
Race 3: (6) Lotsa Silver 34
Race 4: (7) Noble Duke 34
Race 5: (1) Wordbuster 13
Race 6: (10) Little Miss Me 53
Race 7: (2) Sir Bernadini 61
Race 8: (2) Elusive Diva 19
Top rated winners last week included
Concealed Secret won 15/1
Rockstar Child won 27/4
Horse Haizi won 5/1
Desert Rhythm won 4/1
Bank Robber won 61/20
Now You See Me won 57/20
Jaleika won 37/20
Cirillo won 15/10
Notebook:-
Bank Robber (P Peter, Gauteng)
FASTEST TIMES
The number of races run over each distance is shown in brackets
*Denotes – Times taken by Clockwatcher
Vaal (classic) 22nd January
Penetrometer 21 – Going Good
1200m (2) Carbon Atom 68,29
1450m (1) Monopolize 87,11
1600m (4) Rockstar Child 96,07
2400m (1) Poison Ivy 151,68
Fairview (poly) 23rd January
Going Standard
1000m (1) Horse Haizi 58,05
1200m (2) Delia’s Delight 70,97
1600m (3) Border Control 96,31
1900m (1) Jaleika 117,83
2200m (1) Jay’s Hawk 139,35
Vaal 24th January
Penetrometer 22 – Going Good
Course Variant: 0,57s slow
1000m (3) Eastern Healer 57,75
1100m (1) Pinnacle Peak 63,17
1200m (1) Desert Rhythm 69,87
1700m (1) Serendipity 104,34
1800m (1) Bank Robber 111,18
2000m (1) Pretty Border 124,59
Fairview (turf) 25th January
Penetrometer 21 – Going Good
1000m (2) Fort Winter 56,50
1200m (3) Dame Commander 68,62
1400m (2) Green Lantern 85,98
1600m (1) San’s Dancer 99,03
1800m (1) Harrington Port 113,28
Greyville (poly) 25th January
Going Standard
Course Variant: 0,38s fast
1000m (2) Chantyman 56,75
1400m (3) Play The Night 82,30
1600m (3) Haylor 93,83
