Let The Music Play
Fairview 3rd June: Six of the eight races at Friday’s turf meeting in Port Elizabeth were run over 1000m and the fastest of the these was the bill topping Milkwood Stakes (L) won by the Alan Greeff trained BELLA SPUMANTE. Freely available at 9/1 on the off, the daughter of Dynasty was always handy. She ran on strongly over the final 400m and in a race where just over half a length separated the first six home, she got the verdict over the friendless LA REBEL (14/1 out to 33’s).
The faster of the two juvenile plates over 1000m that had opened up proceedings was the boy’s affair won by the rapidly improving ROCK DEEJAY. Now a winner of two from three, Dorrie Sham’s charge raced in the rear early on. She made her way to the front quickly though in what was a closely grouped field, and only had to be pushed out to win with some in hand.
Catching the eye in the girl’s division of the juvenile plate over 1200m was the newcomer CANDY CRUSH. Always available in double figures, Yvette Bremner’s charge raced a handy sixth. She was baulked for a run 200m out and at that point it looked as if her chance had gone. Once seeing daylight though, she flew up in good style and won going away by a length and a quarter.
The faster of the two 1400m races on the card was the MR64 Handicap won by ACE ANTONIUS. Another to leave the stalls in double figures, the 5yo was soon positioned close to the speed. He took up the running as they approached the 400m marker and won very comfortably from the running on TEMPLE ROCK by a length and a half.
Titbits
JUST TOO EARLY showed a nice turn of foot when running on from the back to win the MR60 Handicap over 1000m.
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Stargazing
Scottsville 4th June: The first of the four Gr1 Sprinting events to be run in Pietermaritzburg on Saturday was the Allan Robertson for 2yo fillies. The Vaughan Marshall trained THE SECRET IS OUT was sent off a strong favourite and she didn’t let down her supporters. Hampered 600m out in a race that looked wide open for most of the journey, the daughter of Captain Al ran on stoutly at the business end of the race, and got the verdict over the lesser fancied of Mike De Kock’s two runners FURSA.
Run in a faster time was the boy’s Gr1 event for juveniles over 1200m the Gold Medallion and here ALWAYS IN CHARGE (also trained by Vaughan Marshall) put up a smart performance. Soon up handy the son of Captain Al was always poised to strike. He did so shortly after passing the 400m marker and won going away by three from the ultra-consistent pacemaker SEATTLE SINGER.
There were six races run over 1200m in total and stopping the clock in the fastest time was TALKTOTHESTARS winner of the Gr1 Tsogo Sun Sprint. Nibbled at on course into 13/2 from 8/1, the top weight was always in touch with the leaders. He ran on strongly from halfway and comfortably accounted for the 16/1 shot AFRICAN RULER by two and a quarter.
The faster of the two 1600m events on the ten race program was the MR84 Handicap in which the former Eastern Cape campaigner CRACKPOT registered her fifth career victory. On leaving the stalls it was the fancied SECRET SEVEN who elected to make the running whilst the daughter of Judpot was content to sit in midfield. She made her move at the top of the home straight and under a well-judged ride from Musi Yeni she got up late to beat SKIP A BEAT by a length.
Titbits
Running on from midfield after being a little slow into stride, REAL PRINCESS won the Gr1 Fillies Sprint going away by a length and a quarter.
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Progressing Nicely
Kenilworth 4th June: Two maiden juvenile plates over 1000m for the girls were first up in Cape Town on Saturday and the faster of these was the first division won by WHOSE THAT GIRL. Sent off second in the betting market at 2/1, Mike Bass’ charge raced in the backend of midfield during the early part of the race. She began to take closer order going through halfway and in what proved to be a real thriller she got up close home to deny the always handy WHISPERING LIGHT.
There were three races run over 1000m in total and comfortably the fastest of these was the MR85 Handicap won by CAPTAIN BAGG. Always handy, Eric Sands’ charge quickened well after having to switch out for a run and got up 50m from home to beat BUCKINGHAMPSHIRE going away.
They also ran three races over 1200m and quickest against the clock here was MAKE IT RAINE in the MR72 Handicap. Sent off a strong favourite at 11/10, Brett Crawford’s charge raced in midfield early on. She was ridden to lead as they approached the 200m marker and with the rest well beaten she comfortably accounted for the staying on pacemaker GALLA PLACIDA by a length and a quarter.
Titbits
Not given a hard ride, the newcomer SUMMER SKY ran on well from the rear when third in the maiden plate over 1200m.
Lightly raced TABLE BAY made it two from three when winning the juvenile plate over 1400m going away.
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Top speedratings for this weekend include:-
Flamingo Park (mon)
Race 1: (6) Wind Trader 8
Race 2: (7) Dragonstone 59
Race 3: (1) Morrie 8
Race 4: (1) Tzitzikama Fire 9
Race 5: (5) Jupiterandmars 42
Race 6: (2) Autumn Encore 31
Race 7: (9) Royal Master 52
Race 8: (10) Thrill Factor 62
Race 9: (16) Noble Virtue 52
Vaal (tues)
Race 1: (2) Island Bliss 2 (nb)
Race 2: (1) Time To Be Great 20
Race 3: (1) Fangia 7
Race 4: (9) Persian Approval 21
Race 5: (9) Rafeef 77
Race 6: (7) Wild Brier 51
Race 7: (3) Night Editor 38 (NAP*)
Race 8: (12) Respectable Ruler 43
Greyville (wed)
Race 1: (6) Rand Hedge 7
Race 2: (12) White Rose 2
Race 3: (1) Trinity Hall 18
Race 4: (10) Executive Power 83
Race 5: (7) Roy Royale 63
Race 6: (5) Kiss Me Hardy 70
Race 7: (1) Rain In Africa 16
Race 8: (6) For Ever 14
Turffontein (thur)
Race 1: (4) Safe Harbour 12
Race 2: (2) Unagi 46
Race 3: (1) Seal My Fate 10
Race 4: (8) Rain Shadow 51
Race 5: (4) Seventh Symphony 73
Race 6: (1) Trip Tease 94 (NAP**)
Race 7: (9) Gold Status 51
Race 8: (3) Newyorkstateofmind 18
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Top rated winners last week included
Apple Crumble won 20/1
Roy’s Winter Patch won 12/1
Luca Delago won 11/2
Whose That Girl won 2/1
Alpha Girl won 14/10
Juan Two Three won 14/10
The Secret Is Out won 14/10
Navasha won 9/20
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Notebook:-
Always In Charge (V Marshall, KZN)
Candy Crush (Y Bremner, E-Cape)
Table Bay (J Ramsden, 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
Fairview (turf) 3rd June
Penetrometer 22 – Going Good
1000m (6) Bella Spumante 58,46
1400m (2) Ace Antonius 86,29
Scottsville (inside) 4th June
Penetrometer 21 – Going Good
1200m (6) Talktothestars 67,41
1400m (2) Roy’s Winter Patch 82,36
1600m (2) Crackpot 95,86
Kenilworth (old) 4th June
Penetrometer 21 – Going Good
1000m (3) Captain Bagg 59,62
1200m (3) Make It Raine 73,24
1400m (1) Table Bay 88,35
1600m (1) St Elmo’s Fire 101,15
