2yo’s Strike Early
Vaal 16th April: Trainer Michael Azzie saddled the first 2yo to win in open company on Tuesday and he repeated the dose at Thursday’s inside track meeting when LA STRADA did the business in the opening work rider’s maiden plate over 1200m. Allowed to double in price before the off (op 5/10), the daughter of Windrush was soon up handy. She was ridden to lead shortly after passing the 500m pole and kept on strongly in the latter stages of the race to beat the second favourite SEVEN RAINBOWS by two and three quarters.
There were three races run over 1200m in total and the fastest of these was the MR72 Handicap in which the 4yo CALL KELLY registered his second career victory. Another to race handy, St John Gray’s charge took up the running 300m out and went on to score by three quarters easing down. Baulked for a run 300m out, and then having to switch 100m later, the runner up NIGHT EDITOR (also a little slow into stride) ran on stoutly from off the pace in this race to take second position.
There were also three races run over 1000m and quickest home amongst these was CROWN OF ROSES in the bill topping MR90 Handicap. Just six went to post and in what was always a very tightly bunched field Dominic Zaki’s charge raced close up in second. She fought out a thrilling battle with both CAPTAIN’S DIVA and the front running IT’SGOTTOBEME over the final 300m, and it was only by a neck that she got the verdict.
Titbits
The newcomer MADAME DUBOIS won the girl’s division of the maiden juvenile 1000m going away by three.
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Another Three For Justin
Fairview 17th April: This meeting was originally scheduled to take place on the turf. The best bet on the card for many at Friday’s poly track meeting was THE CAT in the opening maiden juvenile plate over 1200m and the son of Bezrin didn’t let down his supporters. Backed into 11/10 from 15/10 during the morning, Mitch Wiese’s charge was soon positioned close to the speed. His stable companion COXSWAIN made the running and having stolen a bit of a march early in the straight, the favourite did very well indeed to collar him close home.
The only other race over 1200m on the afternoon was a pinnacle stakes and in a time over 2 seconds faster, victory here went to the front running AMARILLO STARLIGHT. The first of three winners on the card for trainer Justin Snaith, the daughter of Argonaut raced 2 lengths clear throughout. She was clearly un-phased by the heavy rain which fell throughout and won without any anxious moments by two and a quarter. LIELUMS ran on strongly from the back to take second position in this race.
Four of the afternoon’s eight races were run over 1600m and the fastest amongst these was CHILL FACTOR in the MR72 Handicap. Another to race from the front the Western Winter gelding held a length and a quarter advantage turning for home and kept on strongly to score by three quarters.
Titbits
MOOIMEISIESFONTEIN (hndy; baulked 300m) and JOY OF HOPE (midfield; switched 400m) both ran on strongly when 1st & 5th respectively in the maiden plate over 1600m.
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Progressive Princess
Greyville 17th April: Racing also took place on the poly track on Friday evening where the fastest of the four 1400m events was the MR90 Handicap won by the progressive REAL PRINCESS. Content to race fifth of the six for most of the journey, Dean Kannemeyer’s charge took up the running 250m from home and only having to be pushed out in the closing stages of the race, won comfortably by a length and a quarter.
Another to win with authority on this card was MISSMASALA in the MR73 affair over the same distance. Visibly cruising throughout, the always handy top weight struck the front 150m out and drew clear easily late on to score by three and a quarter.
The stable of Dean Kannemeyer were also on the mark in the faster of the two 1900m races, a MR84 Handicap, when SOLID SPEED registered his third career victory from just seven starts. He got away well when the gates opened and soon up handy raced prominent throughout. He was ridden to lead as they approached the 300m pole and won well by three and a quarter from the 15/10 favourite STORMY ECLIPSE.
Titbits
After a taking a bump at the start SOVEREIGN REIGN made up many lengths from the back when getting up in the very last stride to win the MR70 Handicap over 1400m.
MEREBANK TRIP won the maiden plate over 1900m going away by two and a quarter.
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Time To Shine
Turffontein 18th April: The fastest of the three 1450m events at Saturday’s inner track meeting was the lucky last, a maiden plate, won by the favourite FORT NAVIDAD. Allowed to drift alarming at the track (7/10 out to 2/1) as money came in buckets for the lightly raced HIGH DRAMA (9/2 into 22/10), the son of Fort Beluga was soon very cosily placed in second. He was asked to take up the running 400m from home and after quickly going clear he won with plenty in hand by three. The money horse meanwhile raced in the rear after being slow into stride and stayed on for third beaten three and a quarter.
There were also three races run over 1800m and fastest against the clock here was SUN ON AFRICA in the MR80 Handicap. Freely available at 14/1 on the off (op 8/1), Gavin Van Zyl’s charge also raced handy. He put his head in front going through the 300m and kept on strongly in the latter stages of the race to fend off a determined challenge from MASTER SWITCH by three quarters. Despite being disadvantaged by a slipped saddle, ARCH RIVAL ran on well from the rear to finish third in this race.
Two of the remaining three races were maiden plates over 1000m and quickest against the clock here was RAFA in the boy’s division. Taken straight to the front by Gavin Lerena, the son of Parade Leader led throughout. He was always in command and won without any anxious moments by three.
Titbits
TENDER MIST came from the rear when opening her account at just the second time of asking in the maiden juvenile plate over 1450m.
MARMALADY always looked to be doing it easily when running on from midfield to win the MR67 Handicap over 1800m.
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Not So Easy
Durbanville 18th April: PRINCE OF THIEVES was the best bet on the card for most at the country course on Saturday and although the son of Rebel King cut it much finer than expected, he did nonetheless do the business. Backed into 11/20 from 8/10 at the track, Joey Ramsden’s charge broke well and attempted to make all. The second favourite SCHACHAR (15/10 out to 2/1) did manage to put his head in front 350m out though and after a thrilling tussle all the way to the wire it was only by 0,4 lengths that the market leader got the verdict.
At the other end of the scale the easiest victory on the eight race program was just the 2,25 lengths recorded by the aptly named WAITING FOR RAIN in the MR73 Handicap over 1600m. In the rear when the nine runners turned for home, Piet Steyn’s charge finished best of all and won going away.
A MR90 Handicap topped the bill and in what proved to be the faster of the afternoon’s two 1600m races victory here went to the hat-trick seeking HENRY OF YORK. Rock solid in the betting market at 7/2, the second favourite adopted a change of tactics here and raced in the rear. He quickened well when the field began to concertina early in the straight and under a well-judged ride from Greg Cheyne he got up late to score by three quarters.
Titbits
MATARI made all when comfortably accounting for her eight rivals in the maiden plate over 1000m.
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Top speedratings for this weekend include:-
Fairview (fri)
Race 1: (5) Rock Of Victory 8
Race 2: (2) Drill Sargeant 67
Race 3: (10) Shiraz Cabernet 5
Race 4: (5) Balado 13
Race 5: (4) Mesmerize 70
Race 6: (1) Kalamain 55 (nb)
Race 7: (1) Eros’s Girl 59 (NAP**)
Race 8: (2) November Rain 76
Race 9: (2) Seventh Circle 16
Greyville (fri)
Race 1: (3) Apostle Advancing 8
Race 2: (8) Killarney House 20
Race 3: (11) Spring Flight 39
Race 4: (10) Emblem Royale 49
Race 5: (8) Classy Fighter 74
Race 6: (2) Dream Bay 40
Race 7: (10) Here We Are 37
Race 8: (2) Burrwood 49 (EW)
Turffontein (sat)
Race 1: (8) Exelero 95
Race 2: (9) Speedy Suzy 42
Race 3: (11) Tamaanee 72 (nb)
Race 4: (13) Redcarpet Captain 47
Race 5: (1) Captain Of All 114
Race 6: (1) Siren’s Call 81 (NAP**)
Race 7: (11) Majmu 105
Race 8: (1) French Navy 89
Race 9: (8) Lazer Star 87
Race 10: (6) Coby 80 (EW)
Kenilworth (sat)
Race 1: (4) Fifty Cents 26
Race 2: (2) Brilliant Crimson 3
Race 3: (3) Last Tiger 21 (EW)
Race 4: (1) Fairy Maker 46
Race 5: (1) Gauteng 12
Race 6: (6) Lady Kelpie 67
Race 7: (11) Royal Foundation 46
Race 8: (9) A Time To Kill 66
Scottsville (sun)
Race 1: (1) Captain King 21
Race 2: (8) Minnie The Minx 9
Race 3: (8) Gulf Storm 85
Race 4: (2) Royal Pleasure 30
Race 5: (6) Seventh Plain 27
Race 6: (1) Jet Belle 88 (NAP*)
Race 7: (13) Gathering Fame 71
Race 8: (10) Akii Bua 80
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Top rated winners last week included
Barbosa won 15/4
Merebank Trip won 28/10
Your Worship won 5/2
Just Africa won 2/1
Libertine won 16/10
Lady Oracy won 14/10
The Cat won 11/10
Prince Of Thieves won 11/20
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Notebook:-
Real Princess (D Kannemeyer, W-Cape)
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FASTEST TIMES
The number of races run over each distance is shown in brackets
*Denotes – Times taken by Clockwatcher
Vaal (inside) 16th April
Penetrometer 20 – Going Good
1000m (3) Crown Of Roses 57,11
1200m (3) Call Kelly 69,27
1700m (1) Bright Bronte 103,08
2000m (1) Jezero 125,10
Fairview (poly) 17th April
Going Standard
1200m (2) Amarillo Starlight 70,49
1600m (4) Chill Factor 97,68
1800m (1) Astro News 110,21
2200m (1) Forlan 140,73
Greyville (poly) 17th April
Going Standard
1000m (1) Libertine 57,57
1200m (1) Delicious Damowin 70,72
1400m (4) Real Princess 81,95
1900m (2) Solid Speed 116,23
Turffontein (inner) 18th April
Penetrometer
1000m (2) Rafa 58,43
1450m (3) Fort Navidad 89,66
1600m (1) Nero 97,62
1800m (3) Sun On Africa 111,48
Durbanville 18th April
Penetrometer
1000m (2) Matari 59,86
1400m (2) Prince Of Thieves 85,85
1600m (2) Henry Of York 97,16
1800m (2) Elusive Wave 123,63
