Four From Four
Turffontein 17th January: They raced on the old stand side track on Saturday where the best bet on the card for most LAZER STAR ran out a very easy winner. Backed as if unbeatable to win the bill topping Swallow Stakes over 1160m the unbeaten daughter of Toreador adopted a change of tactics here (has won her three previous starts from the front) and ran on from sixth. She struck the front 200m from home and only having to be pushed out in the closing stages of the race, won going away by three and a half. This was the fastest of the afternoon’s three 1160m races.
Another to win with authority on this card was DOLLAR DAZZLER in the MR88 Handicap over 1000m. Nicely positioned in fourth in what proved to be the faster of the two events over the distance, the son of Var was always travelling well. He struck the front shortly after passing the 300m marker and with a ton in hand won going away by four.
There was also two races run over 1800m and fastest against the clock here was EVA TIBBS in the second division of the MR68 Handicap. Nibbled at on course into 11/1 from 16’s, the Casey Tibbs mare was always handy. She took up the running as they approached the 400m pole and kept on strongly late to beat the much more fancied NIGHT FALL by two and a quarter.
Titbits
The 3yo CHENNAI BABE ran on well from off the pace when getting up late to win the maiden plate over 1000m.
MATSURI ran on strongly from midfield when also getting up late to win the maiden plate over 2000m.
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Another Cool Performance
Kenilworth 17th January: The Gr2 Sceptre Stakes topped the bill on Saturday and in what, not surprisingly, proved to be the faster of the two 1200m events victory here went to the progressive 3yo COLD AS ICE. Out of the pens in a flash, the daughter of Western Winter was very quickly in command of a one length advantage. She kept up a healthy gallop throughout and went on to win without any anxious moments from the ultra-consistent DOUBLE WHAMMY.
The listed Sun Classique Handicap over 2400m was next up and in what proved to be a real thriller victory here went to SAINT SOPHIA. After racing handy Mike Bass’ charge took up the running 300m out. GALLICA ROSE meanwhile had been running on stoutly from the rear and after drawing level with the winner 150m from home, she only went down by a neck.
Three of the afternoon’s ten races were run over 1400m and fastest home (on my clock) amongst these was ZE KAISER when winning the MR92 Handicap. The six runners were always closely grouped and although the Silvano gelding was positioned at the back turning for home he was always close enough to strike. He ran on best of all down the new course straight and won going away after striking the front close home.
Titbits
The newcomer PRINCESS ROYAL ran on well from midfield when winning the opening maiden juvenile plate over 1100m with some in hand.
NEW FORT showed a nice turn of foot in the latter stages when running on from the backend of midfield to win the maiden 1600m.
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When You’re Smiling
Turffontein 20th January: Favourite backers got off to a good start on the inner track on Tuesday afternoon when COUNT DU ARMAGNAC did the business in the opening maiden plate over 1200m. Taken straight to the front by Derreck David the Count Dubois gelding led throughout. He was a length and a half clear coming off the strip, but only held on by the narrowest of margins from the running on second favourite GOLDEN MAN.
Three of the eight races were run over 1600m and the fastest of these was the MR92 Handicap won by SHADOW OFHIS SMILE. Sent off a strong favourite at 12/10, Geoff Woodruff’s charge was content to sit in the rear for most of the journey. He cut through the field like a knife at the top of the short home straight and cruised clear to score by five after striking the front 230m or so from home.
The faster of the two 1450m events was the graduation plate in which the 4yo son of Silvano MORPHEUS registered his third career victory. He got away well when the gates opened and soon had the field well strung out. The easy to back TROPHY WIFE ran on stoutly from midfield over the final 400m and was gaining at the finish. Morpheus had raced a couple clear throughout though and still had three quarters of a length to spare at the wire.
By far the faster of the two 2200m races was the MR78 Handicap won by the 3yo HAWKER HURRICANE. Freely available at 16/1 on the off the recent maiden winner was soon up handy. She was ridden to lead at the top of the home straight and kept on strongly in the closing stages of the race to beat the running on WILD ASH by two.
Titbits
The improving 3yo PRINCE OF ORANGE won the MR74 Handicap with authority by four and three quarters.
The well supported SENSIBLE LOVER (22/10 into 16/10) comfortably accounted for her ten rivals in the maiden plate over 1450m.
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Top speedratings for this weekend include:-
Flamingo Park (mon)
Race 1: (1) He Rocks 16
Race 2: (2) Black Pepper 44 (NAP*)
Race 3: (5) Stone Pine 40
Race 4: (2) Chadderton 14
Race 5: (2) Bluebaygirl 34
Race 6: (1) Philanthropic 34
Race 7: (7) Dynamic Star 20
Race 8: (1) Deckie Boy 45
Race 9: (4) Amaan 31
Scottsville (tues)
Race 1: (2) Garne’s Garnet 17
Race 2: (5) Roy’s Goddess 7
Race 3: (1) Many A Summer 17
Race 4: (15) Tapaway 22 (NAP*)
Race 5: (1) Fragrant Beauty 16
Race 6: (3) Salander 22
Race 7: (2) Royal Zulu Warrior 80
Race 8: (9) Rocky Bay 69
Race 9: (6) Arctic King 45
Turffontein (tues)
Race 1: (6) Just As I Said 3
Race 2: (1) Strictlycumdancin 7
Race 3: (6) Mistaken Identity 54
Race 4: (12) Spring Steel 31
Race 5: (8) Bravo Maya 95
Race 6: (13) Time Signal 53
Race 7: (2) Sovereign Mint 77
Race 8: (4) Kapitan 64
Fairview (wed)
Race 1: (3) In Accordance 5
Race 2: (2) Champagne Showers 7
Race 3: (5) Shake And Bake 37
Race 4: (2) Sun Flash 8
Race 5: (7) Western Wonder 56
Race 6: (9) Impresa 75
Race 7: (5) Lady Seymour 22
Race 8: (11) Little One 33
Race 9: (9) Lemon Fizz 46
Vaal (thur)
Race 1: (1) Heavenly Express 15
Race 2: (3) Ntombe 61 (NAP*)
Race 3: (1) Like A Boss 27
Race 4: (4) Icy Avalanche 25
Race 5: (7) Savage Wind 78
Race 6: (2) Divano 45
Race 7: (13) Olympic Goal 45
Race 8: (14) Rocky Stallone 71
Race 9: (13) Wall ‘n All 49
Race 10: (3) Bad Dream 15
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Top rated winners last week included
Captain’s Diva won 6/1
Playing The Enemy won 9/2
Saint Sophia won 9/2
Cool Fantasy won 5/2
Belong To Me won 13/10
Soul Sacrifice won 13/10
Count Du Armagnac won 15/20
Lazer Star won 1/3
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Notebook:-
Cold As Ice (J Ramsden, W-Cape)
Lazer Star (O Ferraris, Gauteng)
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FASTEST TIMES
The number of races run over each distance is shown in brackets
*Denotes – Times taken by Clockwatcher
Turffontein (old) 17th January
Penetrometer 25 – Going G/Soft
1000m (2) Dollar Dazzler 57,11
1160m (3) Lazer Star 66,94
1400m (1) Cockade 87,21
1800m (2) Eva Tibbs 113,74
2000m (1) Matsuri 128,83
2450m (1) Flight Warning 157,45
Kenilworth (new) 17th January
Penetrometer 24 – Going Good
1100m (1) Princess Royal 66,16
1200m (2) Cool As Ice 70,51
1400m (3) Ze Kaiser 87,23*
1600m (1) New Fort 102,23
1700m (1) Gathering Fame 108,15
1800m (1) Independence 112,46
2400m (1) Saint Sophia 152,95
Turffontein (inner) 20th January
Penetrometer 21 – Going Good
1200m (1) Count Du Armagnac 74,57
1450m (2) Morpheus 87,03
1600m (3) Shadow Ofhis Smile 96,56
2200m (2) Hawker Hurricane 137,97
