New Course Record
Fairview 2nd September: The faster of the two 1600m races on Friday’s poly track card was not surprisingly the non-black type Founders Trophy in which JET EXPLORER registered his eighth career victory. What was surprising though, was that he won in a time 0,63 seconds faster than that of the existing course record held by RAZED IN BLACK. Positioned in midfield for most of the journey, Justin Snaith’s charge clearly enjoyed the brisk pace, and won with authority by a length and three quarters.
Quickest home in the three 1300m races was SHINE LIKE A STAR when winning the not so lucky last, a MR64 Handicap. Nibbled at on course into 13/2, Gavin Smith’s charge raced in midfield for most of the journey. He ran on best of all in the short home straight and just as he did when winning in his penultimate start, he beat THE STONES quite comfortably.
The stable of Justin Snaith were also on the mark in the faster of the two 1900m events, a MR88 Handicap, when the aptly named MASTERLY recorded a very easy victory. Sent off a well-supported favourite at 13/10, the top weighted son of Jet Master also came from off the pace. He drew clear in eye catching style after striking the front 250m out, and won easing down by three and a quarter.
Titbits
The 5yo FIRE HORSE ran on well from off the pace, and was gaining at the finish when a three quarter length runner up in the MR62 Handicap over 1000m.
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Springing Into Action
Turffontein 3rd September: The Gr3 Spring Spree Stakes topped the bill on the inner track on Saturday and in what proved to be the faster of the two 1200m races on the card we saw another very smart performance from the Querari gelding KANGAROO JACK. Backed into even money from 17/10 before the off, Gary Alexander’s charge was soon up handy. He was ridden to lead as they approached the 200m marker and despite shouldering the heavy weight burden of 61kg he went on to score with a ton in hand by a length and three quarters.
Another to catch the eye on this card was UNAGI when showing considerable improvement to win the faster of the two 1600m races, a graduation plate. Another to race close to the speed, the 3yo son of Admire Main commenced battle with the clear best weighted runner in the field SAMURAI BLADE 300m out, and with the remainder over nine lengths adrift at the wire, he won a thrilling tussle by a neck.
The only other distance to stage more than one race was 1450m and the faster of the two maiden plates here was the boy’s affair in which QUERARI VIKING was first past the post. Soon up handy, Ormond Ferraris’ charge took up the running 400m out and won comfortably by just over a length from the well-supported newcomer NORDIC STORM. The original runner up switched out for a run 300m from home and it was adjudged by the stewards (wrongly in my book) that on the day Nordic Storm would have beaten Quearari Viking.
In terms of distance the easiest victory on the card was recorded by MISS TURBO when getting off the mark in the girl’s division of the maiden 1450m. She got away well when the gates opened and soon up handy raced prominent throughout. She put her head in front early in the short home straight and drew clear easily from there onwards to win with authority by four and a quarter.
Titbits
The 3yo MYFUNNYVALENTINE looked to have a touch in hand when winning the non-black type For The Ladies Stakes over 1200m.
The always handy DASPOORT made it three wins from his last four outings when comfortably accounting for his ten rivals in the MR77 Handicap over 1000m.
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Once Upon A Tuesday
Kenilworth 3rd September: The going was good to soft in Cape Town on Saturday, and with a 20k headwind to deal with to boot, the times were not surprisingly a little slow. A half of the eight races were staged over 1400m and quickest home in these was STAR CHESTNUT in the allowance plate. Sent off a strong favourite at 28/10, the son of Horse Chestnut was soon positioned close to the speed. She put her head in front going through the 300m and kept on strongly in the closing stages of the race to beat the running on KRAMBAMBULI by three quarters. The runner up finished well.
Two of the four remaining races were run over 1600m and quickest home here was GOODTIMEGAL in the MR91 affair. Allowed to ease out to 9/2 from 7/2 at the track, the top weight also raced handy. She ran on strongly when the race developed into a sprint 400m out and got the verdict by a neck over the easy to back CAN COPE.
In terms of distance the easiest victory on the card was recorded by the very well weighted LUCKY TUESDAY in the MR74 Handicap. Racing off a mark some 27 points lower than that of her former best here, the Authorized mare could be sighted guarding the rear as the eight runners turned for home. She cut through the field like a knife in the straight and won going away by three and a quarter after striking the front 200m from home.
Titbits
Although the winning margin was less than half a length, the best bet on the card for most ONE DIRECTION won the slowly run maiden plate over 1400m with plenty in hand.
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Top speedratings for this weekend include:-
Flamingo Park (mon)
Race 1: (1) Justash 15
Race 2: (6) Music App 46
Race 3: (9) Elusive Seven 63
Race 4: (1) Black Flower 17
Race 5: (1) Emblem Honour 33
Race 6: (11) Super Club 33
Race 7: (10) Master Archer 48
Race 8: (5) Tell The Tale 40
Race 9: (11) Airtime 43
Vaal (tues)
Race 1: (5) Persian Approval 24
Race 2: (7) Sweet Lady Jade 22
Race 3: (10) Mexican Sun 17
Race 4: (1) Gold Status 40
Race 5: (2) Spring Wonder 57
Race 6: (3) Isca 76
Race 7: (4) Shivering Sea 50
Race 8: (9) Streetwear 55
Durbanville (wed)
Race 1: (4) Rhustar Dhow 22
Race 2: (1) Silver Laurel 17
Race 3: (12) Mamselle Al 19
Race 4: (2) Captain Sam 74
Race 5: (14) Words Of Wisdom 44
Race 6: (6) Belle Of Croom 51
Race 7: (1) Carbon Offset 12
Vaal (thur)
Race 1: (4) Mind Shade 13
Race 2: (3) Rivarine 52
Race 3: (1) Duke Of Edinburgh 20
Race 4: (9) Anna Pavlova 27
Race 5: (13) Chalcedony 31
Race 6: (6) Lucky Luciano 68
Race 7: (2) Caitlin’s Answer 3
Race 8: (12) Hamley 36
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Top rated winners last week included
Shine Like A Star won 13/2
Lucky Tuesday won 9/2
Anton Ruskin won 4/1
Dreamforest won 15/4
Daspoort won 33/10
Elusive Path won 22/10
Kangaroo Jack won 1/1
One Direction won 3/10
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Notebook:-
Kangaroo Jack (G Alexander, Gautent)
Masterly (J Snaith, E-Cape)
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FASTEST TIMES
The number of races run over each distance is shown in brackets
*Denotes – Times taken by Clockwatcher
Fairview (poly) 2nd September
Going Standard
Course Variant: 0,38 slow
1000m (1) Pont Du Gard 57,67
1200m (1) Anton Ruskin 70,34
1300m (3) Shine Like A Star 75,37
1600m (2) Jet Explorer 93,96
1900m (2) Masterly 114,75
2200m (1) Velvet Orchid 136,13
Turffontein (inner) 3rd September
Penetrometer 22 – Going Good
Course Variant: 0,03 fast
1000m (1) Daspoort 57,44
1200m (2) Kangaroo Jack 70,98
1450m (3) Querari Viking 88,56
1600m (2) Unagi 97,88
2000m (1) Frappachino 125,03
Kenilworth (old) 3rd September
Penetrometer 25 – Going G/Soft
Course Variant: 2,46 slow
1000m (1) Bombshell Girl 63,67
1200m (1) Captain Courteous 75,30
1400m (4) Star Chestnut 89,36
1600m (2) Goodtime Gal 101,66
