Magic Stuff
Vaal 9th April: They raced on the inside track on Thursday where the easiest victory on the card was recorded by LITTLE GENIE in the maiden plate over 1200m. Sporting blinkers for the first time, Dominic Zaki’s charge was taken straight to the front by Craig Zackey and led throughout. She was five lengths clear going through the 400m and despite the efforts of the always handy WENDISH, she extended her advantage to seven and had a ton in hand.
Run in an identical time was the only other 1200m event on the card, the MR75 Handicap won by ENDEARING. Nibbled at on course into 8/1 from 12/1, the recent work rider’s maiden winner was always positioned close to the speed. She ran on strongly in the closing stages of the race and got up late to beat the consistent WOODROSE by a half.
Four of the afternoon’s eight races were run over 1700m and the fastest of these was the not so lucky last won by MAI THAIGA. Freely available at 16/1 to win this MR74 affair, St John Gray’s charge was always handy. He was ridden to lead as they approached the 400m marker and kept on strongly late on to fend off determined challenges from both LOCO POR GANAR and AFRICAIN.
Also worthy of note over 1700m was the performance of the lightly raced CANDY ROCK in winning the boy’s division of the maiden plate. In what was a tightly bunched field for most of the journey, the son of Fastnet Rock raced sixth. He responded quickly when the 15/20 favourite ODD ROB put his head in front 400m out, and after a thrilling tussle he went on to win going away by two and a quarter.
Titbits
The well supported joint second favourite SILVER GODDESS only had to be pushed out when running on from midfield to win the girl’s division of the maiden 1700m going away.
NOBLE STAR didn’t find the clearest of passages when running on into fourth in the MR88 Handicap over 1700m.
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Winning Without Racing
Fairview 10th April: A maiden juvenile plate over 1400m was first up at Friday’s turf meeting and here we saw a smart performance from the newcomer KING OF CHAOS. Freely available at 33/1 on the off Dorrie Sham’s charge raced in the rear early on, of what soon became a strung out field. Indeed, he was easily twelve lengths off the pace. He quickened in good style when the field began to concertina going through the 400m though, and won going away from the favourite STRUBEN by a length and a half. Back in fourth beaten two and a quarter was THE CAT. He finished well from the rear.
There were four races run over 1400m in total and the fastest of these was the maiden plate for the boys won by the well supported favourite OREO. Backed into 2/1 from 4’s at the track, the former Gauteng campaigner was always handy. He was ridden to lead as they approached the 200m pole and comfortably accounted for the front running PLAIN OF WISDOM by two.
The faster of the two 1200m races on the card was the bill topping pinnacle stakes won by THE WEST IS WIDE. Having his first outing since relocating to the Eastern Cape, the son of Western Winter led from pillar to post. He kept on strongly at the business end of the race and just had enough in hand to beat his much faster finishing stable companion UNANNOUNCED (12/10 into 9/10) by a neck.
There was also two races run over 1800m and the fastest against the clock in these was STRONG SCENT when winning the MR83 Handicap. Positioned in midfield coming off the bend, Dorrie Sham’s charge ran on strongly down the long home straight and won well by two and a quarter after striking the front 250m or so from the lollipop.
Titbits
Although the winning margin might suggest otherwise, the well supported joint favourite KANARA never really had a race when opening her account at just the second time of asking in the fillies maiden juvenile 1400m.
TURNSTONE found good outside support (12/1 into 15/2) when running on from midfield to win the MR64 Handicap over 1200m going away.
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Mighty Fine Evening
Greyville 10th April: The carried over Easter Handicap listed over 2000m (turf) was first up on Friday evening and here we saw a gutsy performance from the hat-trick seeking DOUBLE CLUTCH. Sent off second in the betting market at 33/10, the Stronghold gelding led at a steady pace throughout. He answered every call when the race developed into a sprint in the straight and won comfortably by a length and a half from the running on CRIME VICTIM (came from the back).
The first of the four races on the poly track was the girl’s maiden juvenile plate over 1400m and here we saw a smart performance from the Mike De Kock trained newcomer PERSIAN RUG. Soon up handy despite being a little slow into stride, the even money favourite took up the running shortly after passing the 400m marker and went on to score very easily by three and three quarters from the second favourite ROY’S DOLLAR.
Another to win with authority on the poly was GENERALISSIMO in the progress plate over 1200m. Having his first outing since returning from the summer season in Cape Town, Dennis Drier’s charge led throughout. He was always in command and won without any anxious moments by four and a quarter.
Three of the evening’s nine races took place over 1400m on turf and fastest against the clock amongst these was ONE FINE DAY in the Gr3 Umzimkhulu Stakes. Just six went to post and in what proved to be one of a number of false paced races on the night, Mike De Kock’s charge sat fifth. She quickened nicely at the top of the straight and under a well-judged ride from Anthony Delpech she got up late to beat SILVER CLASS by a length.
Titbits
The 3yo SECRET ADMIRER came from the rear when getting up late to win the MR70 Handicap over 1600m (poly).
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No Match For Majmu
Turffontein 11th April: The Gr1 Empress Club Stakes over 1600m topped the bill on the old stand side track on Saturday and here all eyes were on the recent Gr1 Cape Fillies Guineas winner MAJMU. Always deep in the red, the daughter of Redoute’s Choice was soon up handy. She was ridden to lead going through the 400m and kept on strongly in the latter stages to beat the running on TROPHY WIFE (lost whip 150m) by three.
In terms of distance the easiest victory on the card was also recorded by a De Kock in mate, ANJAAL, when registering his second career victory in the graduation plate over 1400m. Taking a considerable drop in class here, the son of Lonhro was always handy. He put his head in front as they approached the 500m marker and won going away by four.
Most of those who didn’t banker Majmu saw TRIP TEASE in the pinnacle stakes over 1000m as the best bet on the card and he too did the business. Rock solid in the betting market at 1/3, Louis Goosen’s charge was soon at the head of affairs. The unfancied ISPHAN raced close up in second and might have very briefly gotten his head in front 250m from home. Under a typically cheeky ride from Piere Strydom though, the top weight moved up a gear below the distance and looked to win with a tad more in hand than the official winning distance of a neck would suggest.
Titbits
Sent off at 11/20 the Mike De Kock trained newcomer SHAAMA won the fillie’s juvenile plate over 1160m easing down by a length and three quarters.
Poorly drawn ULTIMATE TIGER ran on well from the rear when fourth, beaten just a length and a quarter, in the MR72 Handicap over 1400m.
Both JAMMING and THE MIDNIGHT TRAIN ran on well from off the pace when 1st & 2nd respectively in the maiden plate over 2000m.
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Top speedratings for this weekend include:-
Fairview (fri)
Race 1: (10) The Cat 5 (NAP*)
Race 2: (4) The Great Guru 18
Race 3: (9) Regal Ring 15
Race 4: (11) Pretty Flamingo 19
Race 5: (5) Miss Friskie 63 (EW)
Race 6: (8) Straw Market 75 (EW)
Race 7: (7) Massachusetts 69
Race 8: (17) Sir Swarovski 55
Greyville (fri)
Race 1: (4) Cutting Edge 5
Race 2: (7) Malrebellio 53
Race 3: (2) Resolution 63
Race 4: (6) Roy’s Royalty 46
Race 5: (4) Destined For Dawn 23
Race 6: (1) Libertine 50
Race 7: (7) Royalsecurityjet 63
Race 8: (2) Merebank Trip 9 (NAP*)
Turffontein (sat)
Race 1: (2) Capricious 8
Race 2: (8) Malak El Moolook 18
Race 3: (1) Strictlycumdancin 9
Race 4: (1) Blazing Brave 15 (NAP*)
Race 5: (14) Tuvano 53
Race 6: (12) Jumpstart 55
Race 7: (7) Kosava 65
Race 8: (12) Paintyourface 56
Race 9: (1) American Magic 14
Durbanville (sat)
Race 1: (7) Prince Of Thieves 16 (NAP*)
Race 2: (6) Malachite Sunbird 1
Race 3: (3) Hilaria 23
Race 4: (5) So Suspect 15
Race 5: (8) Hellzapoppin 73
Race 6: (5) Emblem Honour 47
Race 7: (8) Be Fabulous 56
Race 8: (9) Zakuska 37
Greyville (sun)
Race 1: (4) King’s Knight 8
Race 2: (5) Seek The Summit 5
Race 3: (2) Barega 16
Race 4: (6) Roy’s Ambassador 22
Race 5: (3) Gogreaselightning 47
Race 6: (1) Arion 67
Race 7: (1) Zante 53
Race 8: (3) Coco Love 11
Race 9: (3) Watch The Winner 14
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Top rated winners last week included
Turnstone won 15/2
Silver Goddess won 7/2
Saratoga Dancer won 5/2
All The Bids won 12/10
Paulus won 1/1
Sea Fan won 7/10
Fly By Night won 9/20
Trip Tease Won 1/3
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Notebook:-
Kanara (A Greeff, E-Cape)
Majmu (M De Kock, Gauteng)
Shaama (M De Kock, Gauteng)
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FASTEST TIMES
The number of races run over each distance is shown in brackets
*Denotes – Times taken by Clockwatcher
Vaal (inside) 9th April
Penetrometer 20 – Going Good
1000m (1) Flag Of France 56,74
1200m (2) Little Genie 69,22*
1700m (4) Mai Thaiga 102,28
2400m (1) Aza Arrow 154,23
Fairview (turf) 10th April
Penetrometer 25 – G/Soft
1200m (2) The West Is Wide 69,37
1400m (4) Oreo 84,87
1800m (2) Strong Scent 111,58
Greyville (P/T) 10th April
Poly /Turf
1200m (1) Generalissimo 69,59P
1400m (1) Persian Rug 86,22P
1400m (3) One Fine Day 84,78T
1600m (2) Secret Admirer 95,96P
1600m (1) Saratoga Dancer 98,94T
2000m (1) Double Clutch 121,59T
Turffontein (old) 11th April
1000m (1) Trip Tease 57,10
1160m (2) Shaama 67,58
1400m (3) Anjaal 84,42
1600m (1) Majmu 97,50
2000m (1) Jamming 126,75
2450m (1) Wild Ash 154,55
