Pillar To Post
Greyville 18th September: This was the meeting originally scheduled to take place on the turf at Scottsville.
Five of the eight races run on the poly track on Sunday were staged over 1400m and comfortably the fastest of these was the MR100 Handicap won by HUMIDOR. Sent off a joint favourite at 33/10, the son of Miesque’s Approval made all. He was a length and a half clear for most of the journey and although that advantage was whittled down to just three quarters, he never looked like being caught.
The faster of the two 2000m races (both originally scheduled for 2400m) was the pinnacle stakes won by FRIKKIE. An eye catching winner over the course and distance last time out, Weiho Marwing’s charge raced at the back of the six early on. He quickened best of all when the race developed into a sprint at the top of the short home straight, and won going away after striking the front 50m from home.
The opening maiden plate over 1000m completed the evening’s fare and here we saw a comfortable victory for the uneasy favourite PHANTOM ROCK. Allowed to ease out to 3/1 from 19/10 at the track, Dennis Drier’s charge was soon at the head of affairs. She kept on strongly in the straight and won without any anxious moments by a length.
Titbits
The 18/10 favourite KALI’S KING had the remainder some seven lengths adrift when comfortably accounting for the second favourite SHINE UP in the maiden plate over 2000m.
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Professional Double
Flamingo Park 19th September: Surprisingly the fastest of the three races over 1000m in the Northern Cape on Monday was the opening maiden plate in which PROMISE BAY opened her account. Placed just twice in nine starts in Gauteng, the daughter of Indigo Magic raced in the middle of what very quickly became a strung out field. She quickened well passing halfway and won going away by two and a half after striking the front 150m from home.
The best bet on the card for most was RED SPECIAL in the MR83 Handicap and in what proved to be the faster of the two 1200m events he didn’t let down his supporters. Soon up handy, Stephanie Miller’s charge assumed command at the halfway mark and kept on strongly at the business end of the race to score by two.
Another favourite confidently expected to do the business was JELLYLORUM in the MR80 Handicap over 1400m, and she too brought home the bacon. Nicely positioned in sixth as the eleven runners turned for home, the Atso mare was always well placed to strike. She did so as they approached the 200m marker and comfortably accounted for the running on OVER ACHIEVER by a length and a quarter. The runner up had raced detached at the rear and did well to get as close as she did.
Titbits
After switching out for a run 400m from home, HARMSTON HERALD ran on very well from the backend of midfield when fourth beaten just over a length in the MR78 Handicap over 1000m.
Although never a threat to the pillar to post winner TERRA INCOGNITA, GIVEUWINGS had the rest some five lengths adrift when running on to fill second position in the maiden plate over 1400m.
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Inside Or Outside
Vaal 20th September: As a test for the upcoming Grand Heritage Day this Saturday they effectively raced on the old wide turf track at the Vaal on Tuesday. Three of the afternoon’s eight races were run over 1200m and the fastest of these was the bill topping MR91 Handicap in which the relatively lightly raced 6yo MORPHEUS registered his fifth career victory. Freely available at 7/1 on the off, the son of Silvano raced sixth of the nine early on. He ran on strongly from halfway and got the better of the 8yo VULCAN by 0,6 of a length.
The faster of the two 1000m races was the MR72 Handicap won by another 6yo in CHIEF SIOUX. At the head of affairs throughout, Roy Magner’s charge kept on strongly at the business end of the race and comfortably accounted for the running MIGHTY MANZI by a length and a half.
They also ran two races over 1400m and the quickest home in these was RED POMEGRANATE when winning the lucky last, a MR64 Handicap. Sent off a rather uneasy favourite at 22/10, the 3yo daughter of Nicconi was soon positioned up with the speed. She ran on strongly at the business end of the race and despite racing on the not so favoured outside of the track, won well by just over two from the easy to back TANGERINE LADY.
Titbits
Now a winner of two from four, the recent maiden winner REFUGE won the MR73 Handicap over 1200m going away.
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Aye Aye Captain
Greyville 21st September: Racing returned to the poly track on Wednesday afternoon where four of the afternoon’s eight races were staged over 1200m. The fastest of these was the MR90 Handicap won by REDCARPET CAPTAIN. Sent off second in the betting market at 4/1, the poorly drawn son of Captain Al raced in midfield for most of the journey. Once in the short home straight though he quickened best of all and in what proved to be a real thriller he got up in the very last stride to deny the front running AL CIBERANO. Fifth placed STOLEN DESTINY didn’t find the clearest of passages when running on from the rear in this race.
Three of the four remaining races were run over 2000m and quickest home in these was PURE VALOUR when registering his third career victory in the MR74 Handicap. Although the fastest of the three races over the distance there was no real pace on early, and in a very tightly bunched field the son of Dynasty raced seventh. He ran on strongly when the race developed into a sprint early in the home straight and comfortably accounted for the running on 6yo EMPEROR NIARCHOS.
Completing the program was a MR62 Handicap over 1000m and finding the winner’s enclosure here was the 7/1 shot ALL TRUE MAN. Swiftly guided over from a wide draw by apprentice Godden, the son of Tiger Ridge made virtually all. He was two lengths clear coming off the bend and although the pack headed by TEXAS COWBOY were closing in quickly late, he still had a neck to spare at the wire.
Titbits
Beaten just a neck, the runner up AGUSTINA was baulked for a run twice en-route from the rear in the maiden plate for the girls over 1200m.
The best bet on the card for most, ICED UP won the maiden plate for the girls over 2000m going away by six.
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Proving A Point
Vaal 22nd September: They raced on the new classic track on Thursday where quickest home in the two races over 1200m was HOLLIE POINT in the graduation plate. Always handy, Alec Laird’s charge took up the running 200m out and now 2kg better off at the weights, she comfortably accounted for MYFUNNYVALENTINE who had beaten her last time out. Beaten just a length into third in this race, COMME-CI-COMME-CA ran on nicely over the final 400m.
The faster of the two 1450m events was the MR72 Handicap in which the 3yo A GREATER POWER made it two from six. Easy to back at 8/1 on the off, Sean Tarry’s charge was always in touch with the leaders. He put his head in front shortly after passing the 300m marker and kept on strongly below the distance to fend off a determined challenge from the more fancied CHEROKEE GREY.
They also ran two races over 2000m and stopping the clock in the fastest time in these was FRAPPACHINO. The third winner on the card for Gavin Lerena, Roy Magner’s charge raced a handy seventh for most of the journey. He quickened well over the final 400m and comfortably accounted for the front running ORIENTAL BLUE by just over a length after striking the front close home. Third placed STUNNED ran on well from the rear in this race
Titbits
QUERARI VIKING gained just compensation when getting off the mark in the maiden plate for 3yo’s over 1450m.
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Top speedratings for this weekend include:-
Fairview (fri)
Race 1: (2) Noordhoek’s Speed 7
Race 2: (1) Space Launch 66
Race 3: (9) Bonus Point 13
Race 4: (1) Western Force 55 (NAP*)
Race 5: (1) Green Lantern 49
Race 6: (2) Jet Explorer 80
Race 7: (9) Just Lucky 62
Race 8: (13) Rock Of Victory 45
Greyville (fri)
Race 1: (12) Je Suis Silver 12
Race 2: (10) Summer In The City 20
Race 3: (10) Ice Emperor 18
Race 4: (6) Liberty Market 16
Race 5: (11) Blunderbuss 57
Race 6: (3) Stolen Destiny 88 (NAP*)
Race 7: (13) National Chimes 61
Race 8: (1) Elephant Matriarch 43
Vaal (sat)
Race 1: (13) Hard Ball 20
Race 2: (2) Bank The Bill 9
Race 3: (10) Doosra 32 (NAP*)
Race 4: (1) Trip Tease 95
Race 5: (6) Golden Mirabilis 67
Race 6: (5) Master’s Spirit 77
Race 7: (30) Nephrite 90
Race 8: (8) Nephrite 86
Race 9: (16) Green Pepper 77
Race 10: (6) Levi Lady 14
Durbanville (sat)
Race 1: (3) Miss Malbec 19 (NAP*)
Race 2: (4) Red Light Girl 46
Race 3: (8) Soaring Past 19
Race 4: (3) Evoke Emotion 51
Race 5: (3) Harakiri 41
Race 6: (11) To Life 53
Race 7: (7) Le Harve 62
Race 8: (2) Birds Eye View 16
Scottsville (sun)
Race 1: (8) Kimberley Club 19
Race 2: (16) Simona 17 (NAP*)
Race 3: (1) Palace Mystery 20
Race 4: (6) Mark My Card 70
Race 5: (12) Sky Arrow 50
Race 6: (3) Panza 55
Race 7: (13) Roy’s Power 45
Race 8: (2) Seatops 25
Race 9: (10) Ethlene 27
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Top rated winners last week included
Newyorkstateofmind won 9/2
Queen’s Crest won 4/1
Humidor won 33/10
Kali’s King won 18/10
Promise Bay won 16/10
Iced Up won 6/10
Querari Viking won 11/20
My Friend Lee won 4/10
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Notebook:-
Comme-Ci-Comme-Ca (R Magner, Gauteng)
Promise Bay (C Spies, N-Cape)
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FASTEST TIMES
The number of races run over each distance is shown in brackets
*Denotes – Times taken by Clockwatcher
Greyville (poly) 18th September
Going 1,2 Standard/3-8 Rain Affected
Course Variant: 1,95 slow
1000m (1) Phantom Rock 59,35
1400m (5) Humidor 83,78
2000m (2) Frikkie 125,77
Flamingo Park 19th September
Going Standard
Course Variant 0,1 fast
1000m (3) Promise Bay 57,46
1200m (1) Red Special 72,91
1400m (2) Consider The Cat 100,75*
1600m (1) Jellylorum 86,56
1800m (1) Bois Cheri 113,70*
2200m (1) Ginger Sioux 151,53
Vaal (old track) 20th September
Penetrometer 22 – Good
Course Variant: 0,94 slow
1000m (2) Chief Sioux 57,85
1200m (3) Morpheous 69,71
1400m (2) Red Pomegranate 83,58
1600m (1) Skynight 98,69
Greyville (poly) 21st September
Going Standard
Course Variant: 0,56 slow
1000m (1) All True Man 58,15
1200m (4) Recarpet Captain 69,54
2000m (3) Pure Valour 123,53
Vaal (classic) 22nd September
Penetrometer 21 – Going Good
Course Variant 0,07 fast
1000m (1) Celtic Lady 56,87
1200m (2) Hollie Point 69,96
1450m (2) A Greater Power 86,88
1600m (1) Light House Lady 100,99
2000m (2) Frappachino 123,52
