Towering Above
Kenilworth 15th December: Three of the eight races in Cape Town on Tuesday were run over 1400m and quickest against the clock in these was BLACKMORE in the bill topping MR99 Handicap. Allowed to drift on course as if a win was out of the question (7/1 out to 14’s), Dean Kannemeyer’s charge raced seventh of the nine for most of the journey. He quickened well at the top of the long new course straight and under a well-judged ride from Grant Behr he got up late to score by a neck.
On an afternoon when most of the races were won by less than a length, by far the biggest winning margin was the five and a quarter lengths recorded by HOIST THE MAST in the opening maiden plate over 1000m. Sent off fourth in the betting market at 5/1, Andre Nel’s charge was soon up handy. She put her head in front going through the 200m and went on to score with plenty in hand.
The only favourite on the card to oblige was TRACKMASTER in the MR70 Handicap over 2000m. On leaving the stalls it was the friendless VINSANTO (7/1 out to 16/1) who elected to make the running whilst Justin Snaith’s charge raced handy in fifth. He didn’t find the clearest of passages when the race began in earnest 400m out, and won well after striking the front 120m or so from home.
Titbits
The 3yo ELUSIVE SILVA ran on well from the rear when third in maiden company over 1800m.
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29 For 7
Turffontein 15th December: They raced on the old stand side track on Tuesday evening and here we saw a very easy victory in the faster of the two maiden plates over 1400m for JIN-GO-LO-BA. Backed into favouritism at the track (7/1 into 3/1), Stuart Pettigrew’s charge sat sixth during the early part of the race. She ran on best of all from halfway and won going away by three and a half after striking the front 200m from home.
The faster of the two 1600m races was the MR72 Handicap won by HIS LEGACY. A fluent winner of his only previous racecourse appearance, the poorly drawn son of Tale Of The Cat raced in midfield early on. He ran on strongly down the long home straight and in a thrilling three way finish he got up late to deny the easy to back EUROZONE.
The MR68 Handicap was the faster of the two 2000m races and here a major upset was to be had when one of the two rank outsiders of the sixteen horse party SUSQUEHANNA (66/1) landed the spoils. Swiftly guided over from a wide draw by Ryan Munger, the lightly weighted daughter of A P Arrow made most. She answered every call over the final 400m and held on to score by a neck from the other 66/1 shot LUALA.
A pinnacle stakes over 1000m topped the bill and in a race where question marks were aplenty ONE MAN’S DREAM registered his seventh career victory. Positioned in midfield when the race began in earnest, Louis Goosen’s charge ran on strongly over the final 400m and won fair and square by a half from MOOFEED who had run on well from a similar position.
Titbits
Runner up for the sixth race in a row here, GOLDEN MAN finished best of all, and only failed to get up by the narrowest of margins.
The 3yo BANKABLE TEDDY won the maiden plate over 2000m with some in hand.
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Captain In Command
Greyville 16th December: Both surfaces were used on Wednesday afternoon where the faster of the opening two maiden plates over 1600m (poly) was the girls’ affair won by the lightly raced MAD PUSHPA. Trying the distance for the first time here, Paul Gadsby’s charge was always handy. She was ridden to lead shortly after passing the 200m marker and won going away by five and a quarter.
Another to win with lengths to spare was KILLER WOMAN in the fastest of the three 1600m races on turf, a MR73 Handicap. Always in touch with the leaders, the well-supported even money favourite struck the front as they approached the 200m pole and won going away by four and three quarters.
REDCARPET CAPTAIN in the MR86 Handicap over 1400m (turf) was the best bet on the card for many and the top weighted 3yo didn’t let down his supporters. Nicely positioned in third as the nine runners turned for home, Gavin Van Zyl’s charge put his head in front 150m out and drew clear easily in the closing stages of the race to score by three and a quarter.
A pinnacle stakes over 2400m topped the bill and here it was nice to see the 6yo GREAT RUMPUS gain just reward for his recent consistency. Sent off a warm favourite at 5/2, the Black Minnaloushe gelding raced in the rear for most of the journey. He made up many lengths in the short home straight and with the rest some four lengths adrift, he got up late to deny another 6yo SERISSA (led 500m).
Titbits
The well-supported second favourite BIKINI BILLY made all when winning the MR66 Handicap without any anxious moments by two and a quarter.
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Ruling The Roost
Vaal 17th December: Thursday’s action took place on the outside track where the fastest of the three 1400m races was the bill topping MR92 Handicap won by the ultra-consistent CAPTAIN ALDO. In the red at 9/10 on the off, St John Gray’s charge was soon up handy. He was ridden to lead going through the 300m and went on to score comfortably by a length and a quarter from the 7yo PRINCE JAZEEM.
The faster of the two 1200m races was the graduation plate in which AFRICAN RULER gained his third career victory from just six starts. On leaving the stalls it was the well-supported BUCKLAND who elected to make the running whilst Paul Peter’s charge, after being a little slow into stride, raced close up in third. Along with the speedy JO MALONE, the two principals in the betting market fought out a thrilling finish and it was only by a half that the all-out son of Trippi got the verdict.
The two remaining races were both maiden plates over 1600m and quickest home in these was O’BRIEN THE LION in the boy’s affair. Soon at the head of affairs, Dominic Zaki’s charge attempted to make all. He was headed by the favourite KANONKOP 350m out, but fought back gamely in the closing stages of the race, and won going away by a length and a quarter.
Titbits
The 3yo FLYING SILVER won the girl’s maiden plate over 1600m going away.
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Top speedratings for this weekend include:-
Turffontein (sat)
Race 1: (1) El Bombero 16 (NAP**)
Race 2: (11) Mrs Bader 14
Race 3: (6) Cherokee Grey 30
Race 4: (8) Machismo 55
Race 5: (7) Romany Prince 71
Race 6: (8) Eau De Creole 37
Race 7: (2) Kissimmee 57
Race 8: (3) Maria Theresa 60
Race 9: (4) Save The Day 36
Greyville (sat)
Race 1: (2) Bank It 25
Race 2: (8) Caroline’s Call 5
Race 3: (3) Fire The Rocket 65
Race 4: (5) Beautiful Jet 31 (EW)
Race 5: (1) Feel The Volcano 18
Race 6: (15) Silver Spring 90
Race 7: (12) Queen Of Credit 46
Race 8: (6) Blaze The Trail 40 (EW)
Race 9: (8) Saarikh 26
Race 10: (1) Caligari Carnival 12
Kenilworth (sun)
Race 1: (4) Mount Keith 8
Race 2: (2) Captain Bagg 55 (NAP*)
Race 3: (6) Colour Magic 64
Race 4: (7) Sunrise In Africa 39
Race 5: (2) Stratocruiser 51
Race 6: (2) Real Princess 75
Race 7: (3) Gulf Storm 95
Race 8: (1) Rockingonthemoon 11
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Top rated winners last week included
Blackmore won 14/1
Bella Spumante won 7/1
O’brien The Lion won 7/1
Flying Silver won 33/10
Red Heart won 5/2
Matron Prilli won 9/10
Roman Silvanus won 6/10
Winter’s Heir won 2/13
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Notebook:-
Redcarpet Captain (G Van Zyl, KZN)
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FASTEST TIMES
The number of races run over each distance is shown in brackets
*Denotes – Times taken by Clockwatcher
Kenilworth (new) 15th December
Penetrometer 22 – Going Good
1000m (1) Hoist The Mast 59,13
1400m (3) Blackmore 86,12
1600m (1) Three Blue Cranes 103,00
1800m (1) Whitley Willows 114,05
2000m (1) Trackmaster 127,89
2500m (1) Dunham 159,82
Turffontein (old) 15th December
Penetrometer 22 – Going Good
1000m (1) One Man’s Dream 56,39
1160m (1) Wet Autumn Mist 67,53
1400m (2) Jin-Go-Lo-Ba 85,94
1600m (2) His Legacy 97,93
2000m (2) Susquehanna 125,50
Greyville (mixed) 16th December
1000m (1) Bikini Billy 56,97P
1400m (1) Redcarpet Captain 83,03T
1600m (3) Killer Woman 95,92T
1600m (2) Mad Pushpa 96,46P
2400m (1) Great Rumpus 150,23T
Vaal (outside) 17th December
Penetrometer 20 – Going Good
1200m (2) African Ruler 69,51
1400m (3) Captain Aldo 81,64
1600m (2) O’brien The Lion 96,66
