Round Of Applause
Greyville 9th December: They raced on the turf on Sunday where the false rail was out 6m. A maiden plate over 1400m got proceedings underway and in a time 0,38 seconds faster than the only other race over the distance, a MR80 Handicap, the Doug Campbell trained KING’S STORY got off the mark. Positioned eighth of the ten coming off the bend, the King Of Kings gelding ran on best of all in the straight and won going away from the always handy THE JAZZ SINGER by two and three quarters.
The pinnacle stakes was the faster of the two 2200m events and here we saw another smart performance from the progressive OVATION AWARD. Now a winner of three from seven, Gareth Van Zyl’s charge wasn’t the quickest into stride, but despite that was soon up handy. He put his head in front early in the short home straight, and went on to score with authority from the running on DIVINE ODYSSEY.
The only other distance to stage more than one race was 1600m where LADY LI LAY winner of the MR78 Handicap was the quickest home. Nicely positioned in sixth in what was a tightly bunched field turning for home, the top weighted Silvano mare quickened well at the top of the straight. She was ridden to lead 100m out and kept on strongly late to beat the running on EAST LYNNE by just over a length.
Titbit
Positioned at the back of the field as the ten runners past the 300m pole, MR GREENLIGHT did very well indeed to get up to score in the very last stride in the maiden plate for 3yo’s over 1600m.
Four For Gav
Turffontein 11th December: Favourite backers got off to a nice start on the old stand side track on Tuesday afternoon when the well supported VIDA ES BELLA did the business. In what was the only sprinting event to take place on the nine race program, Sean Tarry’s charge raced in midfield during the early part of the race. She was ridden to lead as they approached the 200m marker and with the rest well beaten she comfortably accounted for the front running newcomer VISTULA by a length and three quarters. Back in fourth was the newcomer MISS SABINA. A half-sister to Master Sabina, Miss Sabina raced at the back and ran on nicely in the closing stages.
A MR86 Handicap topped the bill and in what proved to be the faster of the two 2000m events, the top weight COLD CASH registered her fourth career victory. Always handy in a field of just five, Gary Alexander’s charge took up the running 150m out and beat the odds on favourite SUNSHINE SILK (led 600m) fair and square.
The MR66 Handicap was surprisingly the faster of the two 1600m races and here the 3yo MASTER MAGIC showed good improvement. Not the quickest into stride when the gates opened, the 3yo son of Mogok raced at the back early on. Once in the long home straight though he ran on best of all, and under a well-judged ride from Gavin Lerena (4 winners on the afternoon) he won going away.
Titbits
Although held by the hotpot favourite OWLINTHETREE, the 3yo FLAPJACK (sporting blinkers for the first time) ran on well from midfield and did have the rest well beaten.
Yes Ma’am
Greyville 12th December: This was the meeting originally scheduled to take place at Scottsville. The only distance to stage more than one race on this card was 1000m where the fastest of the three was the bill topping MR92 Handicap won by the well weighted ON THAT BOULEVARD. Racing off a mark some eleven points below that of his earlier best, the 4yo Trippi gelding was always handy. He put his head in front going through the 200m and won well by a length and a quarter from the always handy FILLIPPO. The favourite in this race SOCRATES (finished fourth) raced towards the rear, and making up many lengths in the straight, was flying at the finish.
A maiden juvenile plate opened up proceedings and here victory went to the only runner with previous experience in the race, ENTERTHEDEBUTANTE. Sent off a strong favourite at even money, the What A Winter filly was taken straight to the front by Anton Marcus and led throughout. She kept on strongly over the final 400m and won by just over a half from the low flying MR MINISTER. The runner up had raced in the rear and despite hanging and racing green, was gaining quickly at the finish.
In terms of distance the easiest victory on the card was recorded by MYSTICAL SUMMER when getting off the mark in the maiden plate for the girls over 1400m. Unable to get within six lengths of a winner in any of her previous seven racecourse appearances, Wendy Whitehead’s charge was a little slow into stride, and as a result she was positioned at the back when the nine runners swung for home. Once in the short home straight though she fairly flew, and cruised clear over the final 180m to score by five and a quarter.
Titbits
In a time just 0,7 seconds slower than that of Enterthedebutante, the 2yo HER ROYAL MAJESTY was never really asked to race when comfortably accounting for her four rivals in the Barrier Trial over 800m.
Running Fast
Vaal 13th December: Five of the ten races on Thursday were staged over 1400m and stopping the clock in the fastest of these was PALE LILAC in the MR80 affair. The course was running fast and soon up handy the daughter of Alado took up the running 600m out. She kept on strongly at the business end of the race and comfortably accounted for the always handy ZULU DAWN by two and a quarter.
Four of the other five races took place over 1600m and quickest home amongst these was SAVANNAH KING in the MR74 affair. Adopting very similar tactics to those used by Pale Lilac, Stuart Pettigrew’s very lightly weighted runner struck the front in a very tightly bunched field 500m out. She quickly went clear and won with authority from the running on MANITOBA.
A MR71 Handicap over 1000m made up the afternoon’s fare and here victory went to the well supported favourite SEVENTH SON. Another to race handy, Clinton Binda’s charge moved up to dispute matters 150m out and in a thrilling three way finish he got the verdict by just under a half.
Titbits
After making all, the best bet on the card for many, BLOSSOM, won the maiden plate for the girls over 1600m very easily by five and a quarter with a ton in hand.
Good Improvement
Greyville 14th December: They raced on the poly track on Friday evening where comparatively the fastest race on the card was the bill topping MR90 Handicap over 1600m won by the improving HAYLOR. Run in a time over 3 seconds faster than the only other race over the distance, a maiden plate, the 4yo son of Curved Ball was soon positioned close to the speed. He put his head in front coming off the bend and after quickly going clear, he won very easily by three and a half.
Three of the evenings’ eight races were staged over 1200m and quickest home in these was CAPTAIN COBALT in the MR62 Handicap. Positioned towards the rear as the eleven runners swung for home, Lowan Denysschen’s charge ran on best of all in the straight, and got the verdict by three quarters over SENTIDO.
The three remaining races all took place over 1400m and very marginally the fastest of these was the graduation plate won by LICKERIO. He got away well when the gates opened and soon up handy raced prominent throughout. He took up the running early in the short home straight and kept on strongly late to beat the improving EUPHORIC by 0,35 lengths.
Titbits
Running on from the rear, WORDBUSTER was finishing best of all late on when third in the opening maiden plate over 1400m.
Top speedratings for this weekend include:-
Fairview (fri)
Race 1: (1) Rebel Wilson 23
Race 2: (1) Espressivo 38
Race 3: (3) Believethisbeauty 10
Race 4: (3) In The Navy 10
Race 5: (7) Leadman 54
Race 6: (6) Onesie 39
Race 7: (11) Neuf De Pape 45
Race 8: (10) Cowgirlinthesand 63
Race 9: (5) Oracle Kingdom 40
Greyville (fri)
Race 1: (2) Krishnies Jet 18
Race 2: (1) Rocking Ruby 43
Race 3: (1) Waywood 53
Race 4: (7) Rosie Bubbles 35
Race 5: (10) Excellerate 49
Race 6: (1) Forthelastime 1
Race 7: (9) Regal River 29
Race 8: (8) Bold Beauty 38
Turffontein (sat)
Race 1: (1) Hartleyfour 14
Race 2: (10) Street Flyer 52
Race 3: (13) Gold Lightning 17
Race 4: (8) Western Dance 43
Race 5: (1) Nautic Spirit 54
Race 6: (6) Wonderous Climber 67 (NAP*)
Race 7: (1) Glider Pilot 57
Race 8: (6) Volcanic Sunset 45
Race 9: (13) Wings Of Charne 36
Kenilworth (sat)
Race 1: (3) Elusive Victor 16
Race 2: (7) Man About Town 75
Race 3: (3) Count Dubucks 4
Race 4: (2) Merkaba 22
Race 5: (5) Depeche 45
Race 6: (7) Metorite 63
Race 7: (3) Montego Bay 61
Race 8: (6) Jay Rock 53
Race 9: (7) Cedar Man 46
Scottsville (sun)
Race 1: (1) Mela Stregata 15
Race 2: (4) Leanna 9
Race 3: (4) Iron Born 9
Race 4: (4) Supreme Orator 49
Race 5: (3) Lloyd’s Legacy 64
Race 6: (11) Liverpool Lass 21
Race 7: (5) Flaming Desire 27
Race 8: (9) Neria 44
Top rated winners last week included
Chijmes won 11/1
Haylor won 8/1
Donnan won 13/2
Pale Lilac won 26/10
Seventh Son won 17/10
Enterthedebutante won 1/1
Owlinthetree won 8/10
Greener Pastures won 6/10
Notebook:-
Her Royal Majesty (Y Govender, KZN)
Miss Sabina (G Woodruff, Gauteng)
FASTEST TIMES
The number of races run over each distance is shown in brackets
*Denotes – Times taken by Clockwatcher
Greyville (turf) 9th December
Penetrometer 23 – Going Good
Course Variant: 1,14s slow
1200m (1) Cause And Effect 73,14
1400m (2) King’s Story 84,75
1600m (2) Lady Li Lay 98,34
1800m (1) Raes’ Dyna Jet 112,44
2200m (2) Ovation Award 137,15
Turffontein (old) 11th December
Penetrometer 24 – Going G/Soft
Course Variant: 2,47s slow
1160m (1) Vida Es Bella 68,33
1400m (1) Aurora Australis 86,53
1600m (2) Master Magic 99,15
1800m (2) Owlinthetree 114,42
2000m (2) Cold Cash 126,07
2400m (1) Gift For The Gap 162,05
Greyville (turf) 12th December
Penetrometer 23 –Going Good
Course Variant: 0,36s slow
800m (1) Enterthedebutante 49,80
1000m (3) On That Boulevard 58,40
1200m (1) Donnan 73,70
1400m (1) Mystical Summer 86,60
1600m (1) Stand By Me 96,90
1800m (1) Walterthepenniless 112,10
Vaal 13th December
Penetrometer 22 – Going Good
Course Variant: 0,40s fast
1000m (1) Seventh Son 56.57
1400m (5) Pale Lilac 80,82
1600m (4) Savannah King 94,92
Greyville (poly) 14th December
Going Standard
Course Variant: 1,12s slow
1200m (3) Captain Cobalt 71,12
1400m (3) Lickerio 83,83
1600m (2) Haylor 94.99
