Counting On Monte Christo
Scottsville 19th August: A half of the races in Pietermaritburg on Sunday were run over 1200m and stopping the clock in the fastest of these was MONTE CHRISTO in the bill topping MR90 Handicap. Always handy in a small field of just seven runners, the 6yo son of Trippi was asked to take up the running 200m out by Anton Marcus, and kept on strongly late to beat the much more sparingly raced 6yo TRIBAL FUSION by a length and a quarter.
The MR76 Handicap over 1400m was comparatively the fastest of the four races around the turn and here victory went to the Dennis Drier trained FOREHAND. Another to race handy, albeit five lengths off the pace set by STAR EVOLUTION, the Western Winter Filly ran on strongly in the short home straight, and with the rest well beaten, she got up late to beat the front runner by three quarters.
Race 3 on the card was a maiden plate for 3yo’s over 1600m and here we saw a gutsy performance from the lightly raced DUKE OF SPIN. Having only his second career outing here, Duncan Howells’ charge led throughout. He answered every call early in the home straight and won going away by three and three quarters.
Titbits
The 5yo FRENCH LEGEND came from the rear when getting up late to win the MR72 Handicap over 1200m.
Awkward Assessment
Vaal 21st August: They raced on the inside track on Tuesday where five of the afternoon’s nine races were staged over 1200m. The MR81 Handicap was the fastest of these on my clock and here we saw a gutsy victory from the easy to back LA BASTIDE. Freely available at 13/1 on the off, the lesser fancied of Sean Tarry’s two runners set the pace. She found extra when challenged 300m out and did have the runner up KIRKCONNEL LASS well held at the wire.
The only other distance to stage more than one race on the day was 1400m where the faster of the two MR68 Handicaps (on my clock) was the first division won by LUTE SOCIETY. In what proved to be a real thriller the lightly weighted New Approach gelding came from the rear, and got up in the very last stride.
Race two on the card was an assessment plate over 1200m and here we saw a smart performance from the lightly raced 3yo FREE AND EASY. On offer at 18/1 when the gates opened, the daughter of Main Aim sat fifth of the six for most of the journey. She ran on best of all from halfway and after striking the front 300m out, won going away by a length and three quarters. Looking forward to see what the official handicapper makes of this race!
Titbits
LAST GIRL STANDING was flying at the finish when only failing by the narrowest of margins to land the MR72 Handicap over 1200m.
Smart Hat-trick
Scottsville 22nd August: Racing returned to Pietermaritzburg on Wednesday where the only distance to stage more than one race was 1000m. There were three races over the trip in total and by far the fastest of these was the bill topping MR88 Handicap won by the 18/10 favourite PATA PATA. Not the quickest into stride when the gates opened, Brett Crawford’s charge raced at the back for most of the journey. Once given rein though the 4yo son of Var quickened best of all and under a well-judged ride from Anton Marcus, he got up late to deny the front running NEALA.
Jockey Anton Marcus rode three winners on the afternoon, the first of which was the odds on favourite CELEBRATION ROCK in the opening maiden plate for 3yo’s over 1000m. Soon at the head of affairs, Paul Lafferty’s charge led throughout. He kept on strongly at the business end of the race and won by a length from the easy to back BLACKBURN ROC.
In terms of distance, the easiest victory on the card was registered by GENEROUS LADY when getting off the mark in the maiden event over 1400m. Easy to back at 10/1 on the off, the daughter of Philanthropist was swiftly guided over from a wide draw by Craig Zackey and raced handy in third. She put her head in front as they approached the 300m marker and went on to win with authority by two and three quarters.
Titbits
The uneasy favourite HIGH ALTAR ran on well from the rear when getting up late to win the MR64 Handicap over 1600m.
Easy Three Points
Vaal 23rd August: Very unusually there were no sprint races on Thursday’s Vaal classic card. Indeed, the shortest two races took place over 1600m. The assessment plate was the faster of these and here the exceptionally well weighted WINTER’S FORGE was far from impressive in landing the spoils. Trying the distance for the first time, the daughter of Western Winter made all. Challenged strongly by PEARL OF BAHRAIN over the final 300m, Winter’s Forge had to work hard in order to score by three quarters.
They also ran two races over 1800m and surprisingly the quicker of these was the opening maiden plate won by DROP KICK. Always top of the boards, the son of Judpot raced second to last for most of the journey. He ran on best of all when the race began in earnest and after taking up the running 350m out won very comfortably by two and a quarter.
The MR74 Handicap was by far the quickest of the three 2400m events and here we saw a smart performance from the 5yo HIGHLANDER. Sent off second in the betting market at 4/1, St John Gray’s charge also came from second last. He was ridden to lead at the 100m marker and with some in hand won going away by three.
Titbits
Easy to back at 15/1 at the off, the column’s top rated JENNY MCGEE came from the rear when getting up late to open her account in the maiden plate over 1600m.
Fleeting Glimpse
Fairview 24th August: The listed Jockey Club Stakes over 2000m topped the bill on Friday’s turf card and in what surprisingly, given the pace, proved to be the fastest of the three races over the distance, KONKOLA caused an upset. There was no pace at all early on and in a very tightly bunched field, Justin Snaith’s charge raced close up in seventh. She ran on strongly when the race developed into a sprint in the straight and won going away by two and three quarters after striking the front 100m out.
By far the quicker of the two 1200m races that opened up proceedings was the MR76 Handicap won by QUICK GLIMPSE. A fluent winner of her only previous outing since relocating to the Eastern Cape, the daughter of Fastnet Rock raced in midfield during the early part of the race. She ran on best of all over the final 400m and won going away by a length and three quarters.
Another to win well on this card was STARFLASH in the non-black type Speedster Stakes over 1000m. Soon positioned close to the speed, the improving Pathfork gelding struck the front 200m out and won well from the running on PACIFIC SPIRIT.
Titbits
The newcomer TWICE A POET ran on well from the rear when only beaten a neck in the opening maiden plate over 1200m.
Top speedratings for this weekend include:-
Fairview (fri)
Race 1: (6) Josie 7
Race 2: (5) Zip Line 60
Race 3: (1) Mogok’s Time 4
Race 4: (6) Silver Spur 35
Race 5: (7) Oasis Queen 39
Race 6: (7) Desert Wisdom 76
Race 7: (2) Oklahoma Sky 40 (EW)
Race 8: (6) Fairyinthemist 24
Turffontein (sat)
Race 1: (5) Frankly 25
Race 2: (3) Silken Prince 22 (NAP*)
Race 3: (4) Dan The Lad 49
Race 4: (9) Being Fabulous 83
Race 5: (5) Mademoiselle 32
Race 6: (2) Rouge Allure 68
Race 7: (1) Talktothestars 91
Race 8: (1) Prince Jordan 31
Race 9: (10) Lee’s Pick 50
Kenilworth (sat)
Race 1: (3) Tintagel 5
Race 2: (1) Secret Path 11
Race 3: (1) Head Of The Pack 8
Race 4: (4) Magnificent Seven 62 (NAP*)
Race 5: (10) Made In Hollywood 74
Race 6: (6) Prince Oracy 51
Race 7: (1) Straat-Kind 42
Race 8: (6) Merkada 22
Race 9: (6) Potawatomi 28
Scottsville (sun)
Race 1: (2) Iknow 8
Race 2: (3) Bourbon Bouquet 9
Race 3: (13) Thanksgiving 15
Race 4: (2) Global Pursuit 16
Race 5: (6) Escape Club 46
Race 6: (9) Prince Of Promise 42
Race 7: (1) Doing It For Dan 86
Race 8: (3) Panza 39 (EW)
Top rated winners last week included
Jenny Mcgee won 15/1
Los Barbados won 15/1
French Legend won 11/1
Generous Lady won 10/1
Tudor Manor won 6/1
Cape Leopard won 113/20
Isphan won 113/20
Rio De La Plata won 41/10
Notebook:-
Twice A Poet (T Laing, E-Cape)
FASTEST TIMES
The number of races run over each distance is shown in brackets
*Denotes – Times taken by Clockwatcher
Scottsville (inside) 19th August
Penetrometer 25 – Going G/Soft
Course Variant: 0,75s slow
1200m (4) Monte Christo 68,59
1400m (1) Forehand 84,00
1600m (1) Duke Of Spin 97,15
1950m (1) Rio De La Plata 123,39
2400m (1) :Los Barbados 150,74
Vaal (inside) 21st August
Penetrometer 22 – Going Good
Course Variant: 2,37s slow
1000m (1) Isphan 59,34
1200m (5) La Bastide 72,56*
1400m (2) Lute Society 84,97*
1700m (1) Skiminac 105,70
Scottsville (inside) 22nd August
Penetrometer 23 – Going Good
Course Variant: 0,24s slow
1000m (3) Pata Pata 56,32
1200m (1) Roy’s Magic 69,58
1400m (1) Generous Lady 83,69
1600m (1) High Altar 96,91
1950m (1) Purple And Gold 120,88
2400m (1) Regal River 153,18
Vaal (classic) 23rd August
Penetrometer 21 – Going Good
Course Variant: 3,29s slow
1600m (2) Winter’s Forge 98,86
1800m (2) Drop Kick 111,56
2000m (1) Braxton 125,75
2400m (3) Highlander 152,68
Fairview (turf) 24th August
Penetrometer 25 – Going G/Soft
Course Variant: 1,63s slow
1000m (1) Starflash 57,12
1200m (2) Quick Glimpse 70,30
1400m (1) Cape Leopard 84,97
1600m (1) Free Agent 98,05
2000m (3) Konkola 125,62
