Kenilworth 18th December
Masterful Performance
The fifth of ten races at Kenilworth on Saturday was a graduation event over 1400m and here we saw a nice performance from the heavily supported favourite COMEBACKANDDANCE (12/10 into 13/20). Confidently ridden by replacement jockey Kevin Shea, Darryl Hodgson’s charge sat in the middle of the nine for most of the journey. The field soon became well strung out and as they turned for home, Comebackanddance was easily nine lengths off the pace. Once in the straight though the field quickly began to concertina and with some in hand, the daughter of Jallad got up nicely late to score by three quarters.
The Gr1 Cape Guineas topped the bill and in what proved to be a real thriller, victory here went to the Cape Classic winner SOLO TRAVELLER. Well supported on course to go off second favourite at 7/2, Solo Traveller raced in midfield during the early part of the race. The very talented KAVANAGH was the first to make a move in the straight and when that one skipped a length clear 250m from home, he looked to have done everything right. The pack began to close in rapidly below the distance though and in a race where less than three quarters of a length separated the first four home, Solo Traveller only got the verdict by a neck from his fast finishing stable companion RUN FOR IT.
The supporting act was the Gr2 Diadem Stakes run over 1200m and here we saw a smart performance from last season’s Selangor Cup winner PAST MASTER. Beaten just a length and three quarters by the legendary POCKET POWER at levels last time out, Past Master was always handy. He ran on very nicely at the business end of the race and easily accounted for his eleven elder rivals by a minimum of three lengths. Past Master won well and has clearly established himself as being up there with the best (not including J J of course) of our current top sprinters.
Borrowdale Park 19th December
Paying Interest
The main event in Zimbabwe on Sunday was a MR80 Handicap over 1200m and here victory went to the former South African campaigner BALANCE OF PAYMENT (38). Already a winner twice from just four starts since crossing the Limpopo, Balance Of Payment raced fourth of the six for most of the journey. He quickened nicely at the business end of the race and under a well judged ride from Ralton Peters, he got up nicely below the distance to beat the improving RICH REWARDS by a length and a quarter.
Another to win well on this card was RICH PLUM (35) who recorded her second career victory from just three starts in the MR64 affair over 1400m. The only 3yo in the race, Karen Wentzel’s charge raced a few lengths off them during the early part of the race. Once given rein though, she quickened best of all and easily accounted for the consistent SAGRAMOR by three and a quarter. Rich Plum won well and is clearly one to keep tabs on.
The final event on the card was a Maiden Plate over 1300m and here we saw a comfortable victory for the Lisa Harris trained CREDIT SQUEEZE (7). Taken straight to the front by Quinton Riddle, the son of Kitalpha led throughout. He was always in command and although SEA BATTLE finished well from off the pace in the latter stages of the race, he still had two and a quarter to spare at the wire.
Arlington 20th December
Topical Lecture
There was a major upset in the opening maiden event over 1000m in Port Elizabeth on Monday when the 33/1 shot MUSICAL MANOR opened his account. Unable to get within six lengths of a winner in each of his four previous starts, Yvette Bremner’s charge raced towards the rear during the early part of the race. This son of Malhub quickened best of all from halfway though and in what proved to be a real thriller, he got up in the very last stride to deny the most experienced runner in the field CARTE BLANCHE.
The first of just two favourites to arrive was CLASSIC LECTURE who did the business in the afternoon’s feature event (race six), a MR90 affair over 1000m. On leaving the stalls it was BERMUDA PRINCE (his stable companion) who elected to set the pace. Classic Lecture meanwhile raced close up in fourth and was perfectly positioned when the race began in earnest. Bermuda Prince kept on determinedly over the final 400m, but try as he might he couldn’t hold off Classic Lecture who got up late to score by a half.
The lucky last was a graduation event over 1800m and here the locals were sent home happy when the favourite LOCKHEED did the business. Although always clear at the top of the boards, Lockheed was allowed to ease right out to 5/2 from 16/10 before the off. He quickened well at the top of the short home straight and although the nibbled at pacemaker MCINTOSH kept on strongly at the business end of the race, he went on to score comfortably by three quarters.
Keniworth 21st December
Progressive Winners
Followers of the money got off to a nice start in Cape Town on Tuesday when the well supported CAPTAIN’S EMBLEM did the business in the opening maiden event over 1200m. Backed into 22/10 from 3/1 at the track, Vaughan Marshall’s charge was taken straight to the front by M J Byleveld and led throughout. She was always in command and without ever having to engage the upper gears, she easily accounted for the friendless IRISH SUITE (5/1 out to 10/1) by five.
At the other end of the scale, the biggest upset on the card was undoubtedly that of PREMIER GRADE in the maiden event over 2500m. Freely available at 50/1 on the off, Glen Puller’s charge raced in midfield for most of the journey. The odds on favourite WING MAN was the first to make a move in the straight and on striking the front 400m out, he looked to be cantering. Premier Grade finished best of all from there onwards through and when he loomed alongside Wing Man 200m out, that one could find no extra. Premier Grade went on to score very comfortably by two and a half and on the evidence of this run he looks likely to pick up a second win much quicker than he registered his first.
A MR88 Handicap over the same distance was next up and in a slower time than that of Premier Grade, the rapidly progressing ATAIR completed a very smart hattrick. Soon up handy, Joey Ramsden’s charge raced prominent throughout. She was ridden to lead shortly after passing the 400m marker and kept on strongly from there onwards to beat MISS MADDIE by a length. Atair has now won three of her six career starts to date and clearly won’t be stopping here.
Another to win well on this card was NYSEAN BOLT who gained his second win from just five starts in the Allowance Plate for 3yo’s over 1600m. Confidently ridden by Grant Van Niekerk, Greg Ennion’s charge sat fifth of the six during the early part of the race. He quickened nicely in the long new course straight and after striking the front 200m from home, he went on to beat some useful sorts going away. One for the notebook.
Turffontein 21st December
Fresh As A Daisy
They raced on the old stand side track on Tuesday evening where the easiest victory in the maiden ranks was recorded by HIDDEN BEAUTY (18) in the opening event for 2yo’s over 1000m. In what soon became a very strung out field, the daughter of Victory Moon was always handy. She was ridden to lead shortly after passing the 200m marker and drew clear in very good fashion below the distance to beat the heavily supported favourite LA VOLTA (15/10 into 13/20) by five and a quarter. Keep an eye on Hidden Beauty. She won well and is clearly useful.
Another to win very easily on this card was CAPTAIN’S KEY (66) who did the business for favourite backers in the novice event over 1160m. Taking a big drop back in class here, Michael Azzie’s charge was taken straight to the front by Anton Marcus and led throughout. He held just a slender lead for most of the journey, but once given rein, he easily drew clear.
A Pinnacle Stakes over 1600m topped the bill and here it was nice to see last season’s Champion’s Challenge winner REGAL RANSOM (91) return from a long break as fresh as a daisy. Freely available at 9/1 on the off, the son of Caesour was content to sit in the rear for most of the journey. The field was quite tightly bunched early in the straight though and the lead changed hands several times. Regal Ransom ran on best of all when asked for his effort 500m out and in what proved to be a real thriller, he got up in the dying strides to deny the rejuvenated SMANJEMANJE.
Top speedratings for this weekend include:-
Fairview
Race 1: No Qualifiers
Race 2: (2) Silent Movie 16
Race 3: (1) Cut And Thrust 19
Race 4: (14) Mirror Lake 44
Race 5: (1) Cape Trafalgar 93
Race 6: (1) Thunder Key 84
Race 7: (14) Sultan Of Swing 60
Race 8: (13) Fringe Benefit 62
Turffontein
Race 1: (8) Starspangledbanner 16
Race 2: (4) Galileo’s Destiny 84
Race 3: (3) Super Boy 32 (NAP**)
Race 4: (1) Stratisfaction 59
Race 5: (11) Mr Ronaldo 54
Race 6: (2) Esterel 76
Race 7: (6) Cruso 92
Race 8: (4) Valley Of Rubies 94
Race 9: (3) Living The Dream 21
Greyville
Race 1: (5) News Hub 17
Race 2: (1) Fancy Some French 25
Race 3: (3) Key Word 31 (NAP**)
Race 4: (9) Va Va Voom 60
Race 5: (3) Precedent 90
Race 6: (6) Not Liable 78 (nb)
Race 7: (2) Southern Lights 53
Race 8: (11) Nadal 46
Kenilworth
Race 1: (3) Boobalina 11
Race 2: (3) Katsamba 13
Race 3: (1) Blue On Blue 12
Race 4: (2) Lucky Moon 57
Race 5: (1) Golden Parachute 63
Race 6: (17) Fiery Moon 59
Race 7: (9) Sabatino 90
Race 8: (2) Dance With Al 81
Race 9: (14) Pasadora 59 (EW)
Top rated winners last week included:-
Royal Captive won 33/10
Take Over Target won 19/10
Kayhaladin won 17/10
Karl Spruce won 11/10
Uncle Tommy won 17/20
Colour Supplement won 6/10
Part Des Anges won 6/10
Royal Zulu Warrior won 3/10
Notebook:-
Hidden Beauty (P Matchett, Gauteng)
Nysean Bolt (G Ennion, W-Cape)
Past Master (D Hodgson, W-Cape)
Regal Ransom (S Tarry, Gauteng)
Rich Plum (K Wentzel, Zimbabwe)
Solo Traveller (J Snaith, W-Cape)
FASTEST TIMES
(Shown in brackets is the number of races run in each category)
Kenilworth 18th December
Fastest Sprint 1000-1300 (5) Past Master
Fastest Middle 1400-1800 (5) Solo Traveller
Fastest Long 1900-3600 (0) No Qualifiers
Borrowdale Park 19th December
Fastest Sprint 1000-1300 (3) Balance Of Payment
Fastest Middle 1400-1800 (3) Subscribe
Fastest Long 1900-3600 (1) Tropical Wood
Arliongton 20th December
Fastest Sprint 1000-1300 (3) Classic Lecture
Fastest Middle 1400-1800 (5) Miss Mayhem
Fastest Long 1900-3600 (0) No Qualifiers
Kenilworth 21st December
Fastest Sprint 1000-1300 (1) Captain’s Emblem
Fastest Middle 1400-1800 (5) Bayard
Fastest Long 1900-3600 (2) Premier Grade
Turffontein 21st December
Fastest Sprint 1000-1300 (5) Hidden Beauty
Fastest Middle 1400-1800 (2) Danish
Fastest Long 1900-3600 (1) King’s Destiny
