Kenilworth 27th November
Winter Returns
Victory in the opening maiden event over 1200m in Cape Town on Saturday went to the newcomer WINDS OF WAR (35). Priced up at 25/1 at one stage in the ante post betting market, Joey Ramsden’s charge (sent off at 7/1) was always handy. He was ridden to lead as they approached the 300m marker and kept on strongly in the closing stages of the race to beat the R2,4M purchase UNCLE TOMMY by a length and three quarters.
Race seven on the card was a MR80 Handicap over 1600m and here we saw a nice performance from the Brett Crawford trained FREQUENT FLYER (37). Not the quickest into stride, the daughter of Silvano found herself positioned in the rear during the early part of the race. Once in the straight though, she quickened very nicely and under a well judged ride from apprentice Garth Wright, she got up close home to beat a fair sort in STREET RUNNER by a half.
The Gr2 Selangor Cup run over the same distance topped the bill and in a time slower than that of Frequent Flyer, the talented WHAT A WINTER (82) put the record books straight. Sent off a rather uneasy favourite at 18/10, What A Winter sat seventh during the early part of the race, just five lengths off the pace set by KING FAHIEM. He quickened best of all in the straight and steering clear of trouble down the middle of the course, he cruised past the Winter Juvenile Stakes winner TOP SELLER close home to win going away. Just as he did when winning the Sophomore in September, What A Winter won with some in hand here and clearly has a bright future ahead of him.
Borrowdale Park 28th November
Easy Wins
Race three in Zimbabwe on Sunday was the Stayers Challenge over 2200m and in what proved to be a very false run race, victory here went to the top weight CHILL OUT (67). Nicely positioned in second in what was a ridiculously strung out field for most of the journey, the second favourite Chill Out was asked to take up the running 300m out. He quickly went clear and won very easily by seven and a half from the running on MOON HORSE.
Another to win very easily on this card was the former South African campaigner BALANCE OF PAYMENT (38) who registered his second victory since crossing the Limpopo in the MR80 affair over 1300m.On leaving the stalls it was the rank outsider of the party MR LINCOLN who elected to set the pace whilst Balance Of Payment raced some four lengths away in fourth. Balance Of Payment quickened nicely from halfway and after taking up the running 200m from home, he drew clear easily in the closing stages of the race to beat another easy to back runner RICH REWARDS by four and a quarter.
The final event on the card was a Maiden Plate over 1100m and here we saw a very easy victory for the Kirk Swanson trained newcomer LI’L ABNER (11). Allowed to ease out to 5/2 from 15/10 at the track as money came in buckets for another newcomer STORMY RIVER (10/1 into 5/2), Li’l Abner was taken straight to the front by Quinton Riddle and led throughout. He was always in command and drew clear easily when given rein 400m out to beat EVERY PROMISE by seven.
Fairview 29th November
Worth The Trip
A maiden event over 1200m got proceedings underway in Port Elizabeth on Monday where victory went to the easy to back ROMERO (22).The first of three winners on the card for trainer Yvette Bremner, Romero raced in midfield during the early part of the race. He was asked to take up the running as they approached the 400m marker and went on to score very comfortably from the running on newcomer GAJA by three.
A little unlucky not to land the spoils in the 1200m novice event was the Alan Greeff trained ETON MESS. Sent off a rather uneasy favourite at 18/10, the son of Jallad wasn’t the quickest into stride and as a result he raced towards the rear during the early part of the race. He quickened nicely on reaching halfway, but when the easy to back EASTERN PARADE (44) struck the front 400m from home, he was still some three lengths adrift. Eastern Parade kept on determinedly at the business end of the race and with the rest well beaten, he just held on by the narrowest of margins.
The afternoon’s feature event was a MR90 Handicap over 1200m and here victory went to the Northern Cape raider ROSETTE (80). Sent off second favourite at 5/2, Peter Miller’s charge raced up with the speed throughout. She ran on stoutly over the final 400m and after a thrilling tussle with the locally trained odds on favourite TANZANIA, she asserted her authority late to score by a half.
Vaal 30th November
Smart Double
Tuesday’s action took place on the sand where victory in the Conditions Plate over 1450m went to the well supported favourite HEADSTRONG (86). Backed into 9/10 at one stage from 14/10, Headstrong got away well when the gates opened and was soon up handy. The recent maiden winner SWAN NECK made the running and despite taking a huge step up in class, she showed no signs of weakening when push came to shove. Indeed, Swan Neck kept on determinedly all the way to the wire and it was only very close home that Headstrong got her head in front. One to look out for next time from this race is BELLA JET who finished second. Racing detached at the rear after being slow into stride, Bella Jet ran on stoutly down the long home straight and in what proved to be a thrilling three way finish, she only failed to get up by a neck.
A MR82 Handicap over 1800m was next up and here a bit of an upset was to be had when the former Eastern Cape campaigner FANTASIA ISLAND (68) registered trainer Scot Kenny’s first winner since taking out his licence. Prominent throughout, Fantasia Island gave his all over the final 400m and in another close finish he got up late to deny the well supported favourite MASAI WARRIOR by three quarters.
Race seven on the card was a Pinnacle Stakes over 1450m and in a time marginally quicker than that of Headstrong, victory here went to her stable companion STORM CROSSING (87). Clearly at his best on sand, the 17/10 favourite raced in midfield during the early part of the race. Once in the straight though, he quickened well and after striking the front shortly after passing the 300m marker, he drew clear easily in the closing stages to beat the former Emerald Cup winner ALIMONY by seven.
Kenilworth 1st December
Another Day
They raced in Cape Town on Wednesday where as expected victory in the graduation event over 1200m went to the Brett Crawford trained AZAPEL (58). Sent off a strong favourite at 2/1, the son of Doowaley was soon up handy. He quickened well at the business end of the race and comfortably accounted for VIRTUOSO and LEGION OF HONOUR who had both held every chance.
Race six on the card was a MR81 Handicap over 1600m and here victory went to the Joey Ramsden trained SHADOW IN THE WIND (47). Allowed to drift right out to 8/1 from 7/2 on course, the son of Al Mufti was taken straight to the front by Karis Teetan and led throughout. He kept on determinedly over the final 400m and in a race where just a length separated the first five home, he just held on by a neck from the low flying BASTILLE DAY. Keep an eye open for the runner up Bastille Day next time. He cut through the field like a knife after being baulked for a run and would surely have gotten up given a few more metres to travel.
The easiest victory on the card was undoubtedly that of SANTA CATERINA (28) who came home smoking in the maiden event over 1600m. Sent off favourite at 3/1, Paddy Kruyer’s charge was nicely positioned in fourth as the twelve runners turned for home. She took up the running early in the straight and went on to win very easily from the running on RIGHT AND READY by three and a quarter.
Vaal 2nd December
50% Favs
They raced on the turf on Thursday where all of the races were workriders’ events. The races in the main did go to form though, with the first of four winning favourites being SUPER BREAK (32) in the opening maiden event over 1600m. Running on stoutly from midfield, Super Break struck the front 200m out and went on to score very easily from the easy to back PIMP MY RIDE by three and a quarter.
The easiest victory on the card was recorded by LOUVRE (28) when winning the maiden event over 1800m. The best bet on the card for many, Weiho Marwing’s charge was soon up handy. She was ridden to lead as they approached the 400m pole and despite the efforts of the chasing JUSTYOUANDME, she went on to win very easily by four and a half.
The lucky last was a maiden event over 1200m and here the locals were sent home happy when MOUNTBATTEN (39) did the business. Backed into 16/10 from 2/1 at the track, Mountbatten was content to sit in midfield for most of the journey. He moved up to dispute matters as they approached the 200m marker and after a thrilling tussle with the costly to follow SUPER BOY, he only got the verdict by a half.
Top speedratings for this weekend include:-
Fairview
Race 1: No Qualifiers
Race 2: (2) Silent Movie 16
Race 3: (15) Majestic Lady 22 (EW)
Race 4: (12) Slumdog Oscar 78
Race 5: (10) Spectre Boy 88
Race 6: (12) Count Oliver 63
Race 7: (3) Bulldozer 81
Race 8: (14) Tara’s Kingdom 57
Kenilworth
Race 1: (1) Tuned In 12
Race 2: No Qualifiers
Race 3: (1) Captain’s Emblem 13
Race 4: (5) Play Nice 81
Race 5: (5) Macchiato 61
Race 6: (7) Grafton Street 96
Race 7: (7) We Have Lift Off 65
Race 8: (1) Lancelin 62
Race 9: (6) Bad Winter 16 (NAP*)
Greyville
Race 1: (9) Pageant Queen 14
Race 2: (6) Key Word 31
Race 3: (4) Freedom 42 (NAP*)
Race 4: (16) Epursimuove 44
Race 5: (5) Turbo Friday 47
Race 6: (12) Cool Your Jets 65
Race 7: (12) Eliza Maria 86
Race 8: (2) Marsh Gas 19
Borrowdale Park
Race 1: (11) Keen To Cruise 8
Race 2: (4) Misty Flier 31
Race 3: (8) What A Boy 28
Race 4: (5) Just Ice 76
Race 5: No Qualifiers
Race 6: (10) Carlton Hill 40
Race 7: (6) Sonic Barrier 74
Race 8: (9) Ezulwini 24
Turffontein
Race 1: (5) Burj Dubai 19
Race 2: (2) Victory Serenade 24
Race 3: (6) Big City Angel 38
Race 4: (1) Westa 30
Race 5: (4) Te Mooi 53
Race 6: (6) Strike A Deal 64
Race 7: (1) Earl Of Surrey 97 (NAP*)
Race 8: (10) De La Patrie 68
Race 9: (15) Woman Of The Year 54
Top rated winners last week included:-
Santa Caterina won 3/1
Miss Delish won 28/10
Cap Alright won 15/10
Super Break won 17/20
Louvre won 15/20
Notebook:-
Bastille Day (G Puller, W-Cape)
Eton Mess (A Greeff, E-Cape)
What A Winter (M Bass, W-Cape)
FASTEST TIMES
(Shown in brackets is the number of races run in each category)
Kenilworth 27th November
Fastest Sprint 1000-1300 (2) Winds Of War
Fastest Middle 1400-1800 (5) Frequent Flyer
Fastest Long 1900-3600 (1) Mary Hinge
Borrowdale Park 28th November
Fastest Sprint 1000-1300 (3) Balance Of Payment
Fastest Middle 1400-1800 (3) Covert
Fastest Long 1900-3600 (1) Chill Out
Fairview 29th November
Fastest Sprint 1000-1300 (3) Rosette
Fastest Middle 1400-1800 (5) Bobgan Sistem
Fastest Long 1900-3600 (0) No Qualifiers
Vaal 30th November
Fastest Sprint 1000-1300 (3) General Assembly
Fastest Middle 1400-1800 (5) Storm Crossing
Fastest Long 1900-3600 (0) No Qualifiers
Kenilworth 1st December
Fastest Sprint 1000-1300 (3) Dream River
Fastest Middle 1400-1800 (5) Tassie Belle
Fastest Long 1900-3600 (0) No Qualifiers
Vaal 2nd December
Fastest Sprint 1000-1300 (2) Skinny Jeans
Fastest Middle 1400-1800 (4) Ace Of Hearts
Fastest Long 1900-3600 (2) Sun Emperor
Pics:-
Azapel won comfortably in graduation company at Kenilworth last week.
