Moving Forward
Greyville 6th March: Race two in Natal on Sunday afternoon was a maiden event over 1200m and here we saw a comfortable victory for the Jallad colt EXCUSE MY FRENCH (35). Drawn quite wide, Duncan Howell’s charge raced in midfield during the early part of the race. He quickened well at the top of the short home straight and won well after striking the front 150m out.
Best bet on the card for Sporting Post was MEEZAH (55) in the MR72 Handicap over 1400m and she didn’t let down her supporters. Sent off a strong favourite at 18/10, Mike De Kock’s Charge was soon in touch with the leaders. She moved through to take up the running shortly after passing the 1200m marker and far from fully extended crossing the line, she beat the running on HELLO SAILOR by a half.
A MR89 Handicap over 1400m topped the bill and in what always looked to be a very competitive affair, victory here went to the 3yo LINEAL FACTOR (52). Freely available at 7/1 on the off, Lineal Factor got away well when the gates opened and raced close up in sixth. She cut through the field quickly in the straight and after hitting the front 250m out, she just had enough in hand to hold off the running on RISE AGAIN.
Titbits – SHERE KHAN ran on very well from off the pace in the MR78 Handicap and was only beaten a short head.
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8 From 20
Arlington 7th March: They raced in Port Elizabeth on Monday where the easiest victory in the maiden ranks was recorded by BEIJING GOLD in the 1000m event. Sent off as one of the outsiders of the sixteen horse party, Martin Cohen’s charge was taken straight to the front by Marco Van Rensburg and led throughout. She was always in command and despite the efforts of the running on THOMAS STAR, she went on to win very easily by two and three quarters.
A MR104 Handicap over 1400m topped the bill and here we saw another smart performance from the Yvette Bremner trained CELTIC FIRE. Sent off a well supported favourite at 28/10, the son of Bezrin was soon up handy. The 6yo MALCOLMINO set the pace and when Celtic Fire loomed alongside 200m from home, he duly found extra. Malcolmino fought on doggedly on the run to the line, but try as he might he couldn’t hold off the favourite who got up late to score by a half. Celtic Fire has now won eight of his twenty starts and clearly won’t be stopping here.
The Lizard Island mare AUSTRALIAN JOLLY was heavily supported to win the lucky last, a MR74 Handicap over 1400m, and she didn’t let down her supporters. Soon up handy, Justin Snaith’s charge raced prominent throughout. She was asked to take up the running as they approached the 200m marker and kept on strongly in the closing stages of the race to beat the running on MOONSHINE LAKE by a half.
Titbits – TREE FLAG ran on stoutly in the closing stages of the MR92 affair over 2400m and was gaining rapidly on the winner MISS SCARAMANGA at the finish.
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On The Drift
Vaal 8th March: They raced on the turf on Tuesday where victory in the opening maiden juvenile event over 1000m went to the easy to back STAR DANCE (18). Allowed to drift right out to 10/1 from 5’s at the track as money came for the newcomers SANIT JOHN BOSCO (5/2 into 2/1) and ROMEO’S REWARD (20/1 into 7/1), Paul Matchett’s charge raced in midfield during the early part of the race. Once given rein though, he quickened well and went on to score comfortably after getting the better of the pacemaker ACABAR close home.
Another to win well after taking a walk in the betting market on this card was the 3yo WEST COAST SWING (55) in the MR77 affair over 1400m. Allowed to flirt with 9/2 at one stage after opening up as the 22/10 favourite, the son of Red Ransom was always handy. He was asked to take up the running shortly after passing the 400m marker and after quickly going clear, he kept on strongly late to beat the nibbled at outsider PRESIDENT ELECT (25/1 into 18/10) by a length and a half.
A MR90 Handicap over 1600m was next up and here a major upset was to be had when one of the two 22/1 outsiders of the seven horse party, DE LA PATRIE (54) landed the spoils. Well handicapped on her earlier turf form, Roy Magner’s charge was always in touch with the leaders. The four timer seeking JUSTTHEWAYYOUARE was the first to make a move and struck the front 200m out. The 3yo fought on doggedly on the run to the line and with the rest well beaten, it was only very late that De La Patrie got her head in front.
Titbits – Sent off a strongly fancied favourite to win the MR72 Handicap over 1600m, BERRY BLAZE was baulked for a run at a crucial stage of the race.
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Just Rewards
Greyville 8th March: Race two in Natal on Tuesday evening was a maiden event over 1200m and here it was nice to see the costly to follow SWEET SILVANO (31) put it all together. Sent off a strong favourite despite being drawn very wide at fifteen, Lowan Denysschen’s charge got away well when the gates opened and racing in midfield was always close enough to get in a blow. She quickened in good style at the top of the straight and drew clear easily after striking the front 200m from home. Sweet Silvano went on to win by four with some in hand here and I wouldn’t be surprised if she picked up a second win quicker than she gained her first.
Another to win well after a few frustrating placed runs was ISLE OF DOGS (35) who did the business in the maiden event over 2000m. Soon nicely positioned in seventh, despite being a little slow into stride, Craig Eudey’s charge made her move at the top of the home straight. She hit the front shortly after passing the 300m marker and drew clear easily from there onwards to beat the running on MIDNIGHT DAZZLER by three.
The non black type Fever Tree Handicap over 1400m topped the bill and here we saw another gutsy frontrunning performance from the improving THUNDER CREEK (81). Allowed to drift right out to 9/1 from 11/2 at the track, Glen Kotzen’s charge was soon in his favourite position at the head of affairs. He fought on courageously in the straight and just held on from a wall of horses.
Titbits – LE CORSAIRE ran on very well in the closing stages of the MR74 Handicap over 1900m and would have been a real threat to the winner Paradise Island had that one not been allowed to steal a march. TAMARILLO ran on very well from off the pace when fourth in the MR92 Handicap over 1900m.
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All Alone
Durbanville 9th March: A Juvenile Plate over 1200m got proceedings underway at the country course on Wednesday and victory here went to the newcomer DEPARDIEU. Nibbled at on course to go off second favourite at 4/1, Dean Kannemeyer’s charge raced towards the rear during the early part of the race. The field began to concertina once in the straight though and Depardieu was quickly thrust into contention. He hit the front 100m from home and went on to score very comfortably from the friendless DUPONT CIRCLE (10/1 out to 25/1) by a length and three quarters.
The afternoon’s feature event was a MR94 Handicap over 1600m and here we saw a nice performance from the 5yo son of Fanatic Dane, CAYMAN ISLAND. Freely available at 12/1 on the off, Yogis Govender’s charge sat in midfield during the first half of the race. Another easy to back runner ASAAL’S MAGIC (14/1 into 12/1) was the first to make a move in the straight and struck the front 270m or so from home. Cayman Island finished by far the best at the business end of the race though and after he in turn hit the front at the distance, he easily drew clear.
A MR72 Handicap over 1600m was next up and here we saw a very comfortable victory for the 11/1 shot URBANE KNIGHT. Taken straight to the front by Morne Winnaar, Paddy Kruyer’s charge led throughout. He was easily three and a half lengths clear at the top of the home straight and although KING LEONIDAS ran on stoutly over the final 600m, he still had some two and three quarter lengths to spare at the wire.
Titbits – Sent off a well supported favourite in the maiden event over 2000m, CATAPULT ran on well from off the pace and was only beaten a neck after challenging strongly.
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Top speedratings for this weekend
Fairview Race 1: No Qualifiers Race 2: (4) Rochelle 16 Race 3: (3) Cut And Thrust 15 Race 4: (2) Maureen De Lago 49 Race 5: No Qualifiers Race 6: (1) In Like Flynn 66 (NAP*) Race 7: (2) Tanzania 60 Race 8: (9) Windy Whistle 39 .Turffontein Race 1: (3) Soulja Gal 7 Race 2: (1) Strike A Light 12 Race 3: (10) Dagana 67 (NAP*) Race 4: (11) Grenade 22 Race 5: (8) Swordsmith 95 Race 6: (7) Two Wood 58 Race 7: (16) Speedy Amanda 45 Race 8: (1) Mr Hurricane 60 Race 9: (7) Dubai Rainbow 58 .
Kenilworth Race 1: (2) Kalation 2 Race 2: (1) Dark Journey 16 Race 3: (1) Soweto Slew 38 Race 4: (2) Moonlight Gambler 72 Race 5: (2) Mastery 46 Race 6: (4) Keyra 65 Race 7: (4) Boundless Blue 82 Race 8: (8) Castle Rock 47 Race 9: (12) Xerves 4 .
Clairwood Race 1: (8) Rave Melody 19 Race 2: (2) Day Of The Duke 15 Race 3: (8) French Miss 19 Race 4: (6) Chablis 61 .
Top rated winners last week included:-
De La Patrie won 22/1 Urbane Knight won 11/1 Golden Pharoah won 9/2 Fly Emirates won 4/1 Castlethorpe won 5/2 Polina won 22/10 Sweet Silvano won 16/10 Imperial Image won 1/1 .Notebook:-
Isle Of Dogs (C Eudey, Natal) Le Corsaire (J Ramsden, Natal) .FASTEST TIMES
(Shown in brackets is the number of races run in each category) .Greyville 6th March Fastest Sprint 1000-1300 (2) Copperloochee Fastest Middle 1400-1800 (5) Lineal Factor Fastest Long 1900-3600 (1) What’s Going On .
Arlington 7th March Fastest Sprint 1000-1300 (1) Beijing Gold Fastest Middle 1400-1800 (3) Celtic Fire Fastest Long 1900-3600 (4) Reign ‘n Rule .
Vaal 8th March Fastest Sprint 1000-1300 (2) Market Drift Fastest Middle 1400-1800 (7) West Coast Swing Fastest Long 1900-3600 (0) No Qualifiers .
Greyville 8th March Fastest Sprint 1000-1300 (2) Sweet Silvano Fastest Middle 1400-1800 (2) Thunder Creek Fastest Long 1900-3600 (4) Mr. Premier .
Durbanville 9th March Fastest Sprint 1000-1300 (2) Fast ‘n Famous Fastest Middle 1400-1800 (4) Caymen Island Fastest Long 1900-3600 (2) Fly Emirates
