Time To Get It Right
Fairview 7th August: Three of the eight races at Friday’s turf meeting were run over 1200m and the fastest of these was the MR64 Handicap won by FORT OZARK. Originally priced up 2/1 favourite, the 7/2 second favourite was always handy. He put his head in front 250m out and did have the running on veteran LEMON FIZZ well held by a length and a quarter at the wire.
A winner of three from five coming into the race all eyes were on SHAUNTREL in the MR81 Handicap over 1000m. She broke well when the gates opened and nicely positioned in fourth was only a length and a half off the leader. She ran on stoutly at the business end of the race and comfortably accounted for the 2/1 favourite HOUSE OF LORRAINE after taking up the running 100m from home.
The non-black type Wedgewood Handicap over 2200m (originally scheduled for 2400m) topped the bill and here an upset was to be had when the 20/1 shot NATIONAL FOREST (op 50/1) registered her seventh career victory. Taken straight to the front by JP vd Merwe, the Badger’s Drift mare led throughout. She was three and a half lengths clear entering the long home straight and marginally extended her advantage on the run to the line.
Titbits
Reported as being lame on the off fore, AIR BELLE ran on well from the rear and was gaining at the finish when only beaten a neck in the maiden plate over 1200m.
The 4yo UNBROKEN won the maiden plate over 1600m going away by three and a quarter.
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Rising Above
Flamingo Park 8th August: The non-black type Flamingo Mile topped the bill in Kimberley on Saturday and in what not surprisingly proved to be the faster of the two 1600m events victory here went to the locally trained STONE PINE. Freely available at 10/1 on the off, the 7yo son of Spectrum was soon up handy. He was ridden to lead as they approached the 400m marker and kept on strongly in the closing stages of the race to hold off the gaining LATINO’S JET by a neck.
With five of his eight opponents in under sufferance the top weight PONTEDERA looked to be the right one in the non-black type Diamond Stayers over 2200m and so it proved to be. Ridden by the rejuvenated Andrew Fortune (three winners on the card) the Judpot gelding made all. He was always a couple clear and won without any anxious moments by two and a quarter.
Jockey Fortune was also on the mark in the non-black type World Sports Betting Sprint over 1000m when guiding VARBRATION to victory. Another to make all, the much travelled 4yo ran on strongly at the business end of the race to beat the 30/1 shot BEEZ BROTHER by three quarters.
Titbits
TUDOR STAR ran on strongly from the rear when runner up in the MR76 Handicap over 1200m.
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Rock In The Park
Scottsville 8th August: The best bet on the card for many in Pietermaritzburg on Saturday was ROCK ON BABY in the novice 1000m. Just five went to post and deep in the red at 1/4 on the off, the highly regarded daughter of Seventh Rock made all. She was in total command throughout and only asked to do the necessary at the business end of the race, she cruised in by three.
Another to win with authority on this card was TIMEOUS in the opening maiden plate over 1200m. Backed into odds on at the track (18/10 into 9/10), the favourite was soon up handy. She was ridden to lead as they approached the 100m marker and won going away by two.
There were four races run over 1200m in total and the fastest of these was the MR78 Handicap won by the veteran SON OF ORIMANDES. Freely available at 50/1 on the off, the 7yo was squeezed at the start and as a result he raced in midfield early on. He ran on strongly from halfway and got up late to beat the 4yo NATIONAL KING by a length.
Quickest home amongst the three 1600m events was LERTASHA in the MR82 affair. Sent off second in the betting market at 33/10, Weiho Marwing’s charge was soon positioned close to the speed. She took up the running shortly after passing the 300m pole and won going away by three and a quarter from LEOPARD LILLY.
Also worthy of note over 1600m was the performance of RIO DE LA PLATA in the maiden plate for the boys. Ridden for the first time by Anthony Delpech, the Windrush gelding was always handy. He put his head in front 200m out and finding extra when challenged strongly by GUILTY AS CHARGE below the distance, he won going away by a length and three quarters.
Titbits
Poorly drawn GOLDEN EARINGS ran on well from the rear when third in the girl’s division of the maiden 1600m.
MASTER ARCHER won the bill topping MR86 Handicap over 1400m with authority by a length and a quarter.
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Top speedratings for this weekend include:-
Flamingo Park (mon)
Race 1: (3) Misty Power 9
Race 2: (2) Sartorius 31
Race 3: (3) Birkins Best 35
Race 4: (1) Eagle’s Call 19
Race 5: (5) Gatto Nero 32
Race 6: (3) Matadoras El Toros 30 (NAP*)
Race 7: (1) The Queen 48 (EW)
Race 8: (4) Luv U Babes 36
Race 9: (1) Cape Siskin 50
Greyville (tues)
Race 1: (2) Destined For Dawn 27
Race 2: (6) Chronological 13
Race 3: (8) Grey’s A Rockin 44
Race 4: (1) Queen Of Thrones 17
Race 5: (6) Military Leader 44
Race 6: (3) National Key 76
Race 7: (4) Taking Chances 55
Race 8: (7) Rumbullion 32
Kenilworth (wed)
Race 1: (5) Princess Jane 15
Race 2: (2) Pataudi 27
Race 3: (9) Van Dam’s Force 22
Race 4: (2) Solar Night 12
Race 5: (4) Private Doowaley 60
Race 6: (1) Speedball 4
Race 7: (10) Robertson 45
Race 8: (10) Just Rock ‘n Roll 43
Vaal (thur)
Race 1: (4) River Empress 18
Race 2: (2) Killua Castle 82
Race 3: (8) Sweet On You 20
Race 4: (7) Pearlware 34
Race 5: (1) Roving Jet 19
Race 6: (1) Call Kelly 56
Race 7: (3) Star Empress 27
Race 8: (4) Commodore Al 46
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Top rated winners last week included
Bevelled Edge won 16/1
Shauntrel won 4/1
Mambo Fever won 7/2
Roy’s Angel won 33/10
Unbroken won 33/10
Rio De La Plata won 18/10
Aspara won 12/10
Alpha Pegasi won 1/1
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Notebook:-
Rock On Baby (D Drier, KZN)
Shauntrel (A Greeff, 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 (turf) 7th August
Penetrometer 23 – Going Good
1000m (1) Shauntrel 59,69*
1200m (3) Fort Ozark 73,09*
1400m (1) Turnstone 86,67*
1600m (1) Unbroken 101,93*
1800m (1) Stylish Bay 116,10*
2200m (1) National Forest 142,72*
Flamingo Park 8th August
Going Standard
1000m (2) Varbration 56,46
1200m (3) Cape Siskin 72,70
1400m (1) Atso Time 89,69
1600m (2) Stone Pine 99,28
2200m (1) Pontedera 148,65
Scottsville (inside) 8th August
Penetrometer 23 – Going Good
1000m (1) Rock On Baby 57,50
1200m (4) Son Of Orimandes 69,66
1400m (1) Master Archer 84,47
1600m (3) Lertasha 97,74
