Taking The Helm
Turffontein 5th July: They raced on the inner track on Sunday where four of the afternoon’s eight races were maiden events over 1200m. Fastest against the clock in these races was GREAT BROTHER in the opening maiden juvenile plate. Quick into stride, Brian Wiid’s charge led throughout. He led by two and a half coming off the strip and tripled that advantage in the short home straight.
Another to win well on this card, albeit by a much lesser margin, was PIVOTAL PURSUIT in the MR72 Handicap over 1600m. Sent off a warm favourite at 2/1, Gary Alexander’s charge raced fifth for most of the journey. He was ridden to lead shortly after passing the 300m pole and went on to score by a length and a quarter with a ton in hand.
The lucky last was a MR68 Handicap over 1000m and although the favourite CATALUGA was allowed to drift at the track (12/10 out to 22/10), she did nonetheless do the business. She got away well when the gates opened and taken straight to the front by Craig Zackey she made all. She was always clear and won without any anxious moments by two.
Titbits
BAJAN FANTASY was baulked for a run 100m out when finishing strongly from the rear to fill third position in the girl’s maiden juvenile plate over 1200m.
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Weighted To Win
Fairview 6th July: Monday’s action took place on the poly track where the fastest of the three 1200m races was the MR71 Handicap won by HAPPY LION. Sent off second in the betting market at 9/2, Dorrie Sham’s charge was soon up handy. He was ridden to lead as they approached the 200m marker and drew clear easily in the closing stages of the race to beat the 3yo FREDERICK FOX by five and a half.
Another to win well on this card was KALAMAIN in the only 1900m event, a MR80 Handicap. Sent off a strong favourite at 18/10, Alan Greeff’s charge was content to amble along in the backend of midfield for most of the journey. He put his head in front going through the 200m and with some in hand he comfortably accounted for DE LA DANZA by a length.
Also worthy of note on this card was the performance of ARROW HEART in winning the faster of the two 1300m events, a MR68 Handicap. Rated 81 by the official handicapper prior to a long layoff, the daughter of Albert Hall was racing off a mark of 66 here. She fairly flew from midfield in the short home straight and in what proved to be a real thriller she got up late to deny SISTER SYBIL.
Titbits
The 3yo WESTERN FORCE found extra late when getting the better of Tour De Var in the MR80 Handicap over 1000m.
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Captain In Command
Vaal 7th July: The fastest of the three 1200m races at the Vaal’s sand track on Tuesday was the opening juvenile plate won by the newcomer CAPTAIN’S CAUSEWAY. Allowed to drift right out to 4/1 after opening up at 16/10, Sean Tarry’s charge was always handy. He took up the running as they approached the 400m pole and although both TEARAWAY and another newcomer SEVEN SINGLE (11/10 fav) chased hard, he went on to score with authority by four and a half.
Another to come home smoking was WALKING ON AIR in the faster of the two 1450m events, a MR84 Handicap. Taken straight to the front by apprentice Callan Murray, the 4yo daughter of A P Arrow led throughout. She was just a length clear for most of the journey, before asserting her authority from the 400m pole to score by six and a half.
Race three on the card was a maiden plate over 1000m, and here followers of the money were on the mark when the Stuart Pettigrew trained WINTRY NIGHT did the business. Backed throughout the morning into 2/1 from 5’s, Wintry Night was soon positioned close to the speed. She took up the running shortly after passing the 400m marker and cruised clear in the closing stages of the race to score by three and three quarters.
Titbits
Well supported YAWAYLA ALAYLA (8/1 into 4/1) made all when comfortably accounting for
her nine rivals in the maiden plate over 1600m.
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On The Attack
Scottsville 8th July: The best bet on the card for many in Pietermaritzburg on Wednesday was RAP ATTACK in the maiden juvenile plate over 1400m and the son of Go Deputy didn’t let down his supporters. Always top of the boards in what proved to be the fastest of the three 1400m races, Glen Kotzen’s charge was always handy. He put his head in front going through the 300m and went on to win with authority by three.
Quickest home in the two 1600m races was FASHION WEAR in the MR74 Handicap. Swiftly guided over from a wide draw by apprentice Nicholas Patel, Tony Rivalland’s charge led throughout. She was three lengths clear coming off the bend and despite being disadvantaged by a slipped saddle she kept on strongly in the latter stages to score by two and a quarter.
A maiden plate over 1000m had gotten proceedings underway and here we saw an improved performance from the Rebel King gelding BIKINI BILLY. Freely available at 8/1 on the off, Pat Lunn’s charge led from pillar to post. He kept on strongly over the final 400m and comfortably accounted for the 17/10 favourite VARIABLE PITCH by two and a quarter.
Titbits
The poorly drawn 25/1 shot QUEEN’S ADVANCE ran on strongly from the rear when winning the MR73 Handicap over 1600m going away by two and a half.
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Causing A Storm
Turffontein 9th July: Racing returned to Turffontein’s inner track on Thursday where the in-form stable of Gary Alexander were on the mark with MR MULLINER. Sent off favourite at 2/1, the 4yo Mullins Bay gelding made all. His heavily burdened stable companion MEISSA (64,5kg) tracked him throughout, but try as he might at the business end of the race he couldn’t make any impression.
The faster of the two 1600m maiden plates was the boy’s affair in which the Joey Soma trained RAINY DAY BLUES opened his account. Sent off a well-supported second favourite at 16/10 (op 22/10), the son of Western Winter was soon positioned close up in second. He was asked to take up the running as they approached the 300m marker and kept on strongly in the latter stages to beat the favourite HYPOTHERMIC by two and a quarter.
The afternoon’s feature event was a pinnacle stakes over 3000m and here it was nice to see the 5yo son of Jet Master STORM WARNING find his form. Nibbled at throughout the afternoon into 15/2 from 16/1, Dominic Zaki’s charge was content to guard the rear for most of the journey. Once given rein though he quickened best of all and flew past the 11/10 favourite LIONS EMBLEM 250m out to score by five.
Titbits
The Right Approach filly CAPE MARIGOLD was finishing best of all late on when only beaten a neck in the MR76 Handicap over 1450m.
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Top speedratings for this weekend include:-
Fairview (fri)
Race 1: (10 Elegant Gent 8
Race 2: (1) Hidden Dragon 13
Race 3: (1) Gauteng 10
Race 4: (1) Plain Of Wisdom 12
Race 5: (1) Copper Parade 98
Race 6: (2) Shauntrel 59
Race 7: (9) Parade Council 55
Race 8: (5) River Tyne 43
Greyville (sat)
Race 1: (1) Real Princess 75
Race 2: (1) Princess Milo 12
Race 3: (14) Zap The Stars 44
Race 4: (2) Enchanted Silk 62
Race 5: (8) Gun Fighter 60
Race 6: (2) Frosted Honey 38
Race 7: (1) Captain Of All 114
Race 8: (4) Hot August 36
Race 9: (8) Sugar Pie 60 (EW)
Kenilworth (sat)
Race 1: (4) Cavallino 12
Race 2: (7) Moonblanched 9
Race 3: (9) Ledbury 14
Race 4: (1) Villa Del Largo 64 (EW)
Race 5: (5) Exclusive Knight 13
Race 6: (2) Simply Black 40
Race 7: (1) Jet Supreme 75
Race 8: (11) Van Dam’s Force 26
Turffontein (sun)
Race 1: (11) Captain Disko 8
Race 2: (13) Saraaba 8
Race 3: (5) Gentleman Only 11
Race 4: (2) Penstock 14
Race 5: (8) Regal Rose 47
Race 6: (1) Heywot 4
Race 7: (7) Inala 66
Race 8: (9) Lord Windsor 55
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Top rated winners last week included
Celtic Heroine won 8/1
Diamond Dynasty won 6/1
Melliflora won 22/10
Pivotal Pursuit won 2/1
Kahal Legal won 13/10
Great Brother won 12/10
Fortune Fella won 15/20
Silver Mountain won 15/20
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Notebook:
Captain’s Causeway (S Tarry, Gauteng)
Rainy Day Blues (J Soma, Gauteng)
Rap Attack (G Kotzen, KZN)
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FASTEST TIMES
The number of races run over each distance is shown in brackets
*Denotes – Times taken by Clockwatcher
Turffontein (inner) 5th July
Penetrometer 21 – Going Good
1000m (1) Cataluga 58,07
1200m (4) Great Brother 71,30
1600m (1) Pivotal Persuit 97,72
1800m (1) Celtic Heroine 111,72
2600m (1) Fortune Fella 168,95
Fairview (poly) 6th July
Going Standard
1000m (1) Western Force 57,43
1200m (3) Happy Lion 70,62
1300m (2) Arrow Heart 76,84
1600m (2) Jay Radical 97,70
1900m (1) Kalamain 117,43
Vaal (sand) 7th July
Going Standard
1000m (1) Wintry Night 61,27
1200m (3) Captain’s Causeway 73,56
1450m (2) Walking On Air 92,04
1600m (1) Yawayla Alayla 104,09
1800m (1) Commodore Al 116,91
Scottsville (inside) 8th July
Penetrometer 21 – Going Good
1000m (1) Bikini Billy 57,93
1200m (1) Don’t Mention It 70,61
1400m (3) Rap Attack 86,45
1600m (2) Fashion Wear 98,75
2400m (1) Night Tide 154,74
Turffontein (inner) 9th July
Penetrometer 21 – Going Good
1000m (1) Cannes 58,17
1450m (3) Mr Mulliner 87,50
1600m (2) Rainy Day Blues 98,63
2600m (1) Foretoken 171,87
3000m (1) Storm Warning 192,07
