September Rain
Arlington 20th September: A maiden plate over 1600m got proceedings underway in the Eastern Cape on Friday where victory went to the easy to back MALIBU DREAM. Freely available at 31/1 on the off, Grant Paddock’s charge wasn’t the quickest into stride and as a result she raced in the rear early on. Once into gear though she quickened well and under a well judged ride from Teaque Gould she got up late to beat another unfancied runner in ETRELLA.
There were three races run over a mile in total and by far the fastest of these was the MR70 Handicap won by MARRY ME MULLINS. Nicely drawn in gate three, the daughter of Mullins Bay was soon up handy. She took up the running 150m out and comfortably accounted for the pacemaker LEMON FIZZ by a length and a quarter.
There were also three races run over 1400m and the fastest on the clock here was BLUSHING PETER in the graduation plate. Well weighted on his best form, Gavin Smith’s charge went straight to the front and led throughout. He was always a couple of lengths clear and won without any anxious moments. Best in at the weights in this race was AUGUSTA NATIONAL. He was flying at the finish, but having raced many lengths adrift of the winner in the rear, he couldn’t get closer than two and a quarter at the wire.
Another to win well from the front was NOVEMBER RAIN in the afternoon’s feature event, a MR104 Handicap over 1000m. He too held a healthy lead for most of the journey and finding extra close home he held on to score by a neck from the running on FOREIGN SOVEREIGN.
Titbits
RUSHING ELF came from the back end of midfield when getting up in the very last stride to win the MR66 Handicap over 1400m.
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Consistency Rewards
Turffontein 21st September: They raced on the inner track on Saturday where the easiest victory on the card was recorded by KRYSTLE CARRINGTON in the fillie’s maiden plate over 1450m. The best bet on the card for many, the daughter of Dynasty was soon positioned close to the speed. She took up the running early in the short home straight and drew clear easily in the closing stages of the race to score by three and three quarters.
Another to win with authority was WILD ASH in the maiden 1800m. Clearly appreciating the extra, Geoff Woodruff’s charge struck the front 400m out and easily accounted for the second favourite FLIGHT CHECK by three and a half.
The fastest of the three races run over 1800m was the MR68 Handicap won by OLYMPIA BEIJING. Allowed to ease right out to 10/1 from 6’s at the track, the Silvano mare had been drawn widest of the fourteen and as a result she raced in the rear for most of the journey. Once given rein though she quickened best of all and won going away by two and a quarter after striking the front 100m from home.
Also worthy of note on this card was the performance of BALSE in the bill topping pinnacle event over 2200m. The veteran MIRAGE DRIVE was the first to make a move and struck the front 800m out. He kept on strongly at the business end of the race and did have the rest well beaten. Balse quickened nicely as they came off the strip though and after he in turn struck the front 150m from home he drew clear with ease below the distance to win by three.
Titbits
Poorly drawn UPDIKE ran on well from midfield when winning the maiden 1800m by two and a quarter going away.
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Completing The Hat-trick
Scottsville 22nd September: Favourite backers got off to a good start in Pietermaritzburg on Sunday when CATALINA BLUES did the business in the opening maiden event over 1200m. Backed into 6/10 from 27/20 at the track, Mark Dixon’s charge led from pillar to post. She was always in command and won comfortably by two and a quarter from the lightly raced DISKI.
Four of the afternoon’s eight races were run over 1600m and the fastest of these was the MR90 Handicap won by DANSEUSE. Completing a hat-trick here, Dennis Drier’s charge was always in touch with the leaders. She made her move early in the straight and with the rest well beaten she comfortably accounted for the 6yo ARTISTICALLY DONE by three quarters.
In terms of distance the easiest victory on the card was the 2,75 lengths recorded by THRONE in the girls’ maiden 1600m. Sent off second favourite at 3/1, the daughter of King Of Kings was soon up handy. She was ridden to lead as they approached the 400m marker and won well from the running on WIMOWEH.
Titbits
The Mike De Kock trained newcomer RAAEES was gaining quickly at the finish when running on strongly from the rear to take second position (beaten half a length) in the maiden 1400m.
DANCING ARROW quickened very nicely late when coming from the rear to win the MR73 Handicap over 1600m.
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Top speedratings for this weekend include:-
Flamingo Park Race 1: (13) Ilisbetta 21 (EW) Race 2: (12) Poor Man’s Pride 17 Race 3: (4) Billy’s Legacy 27 Race 4: (5) Defender Of Peace 35 Race 5: (4) Memghar 41 Race 6: (2) Gypsy Fair 29 Race 7: (5) Restraint Of Trade 43 Race 8: (2) Woza Friday 38 Race 9: (5) Fleche D’or 30 Turffontein Race 1: (1) Glitter Alley 14 Race 2: (12) Tiger Sight 25 Race 3: (8) Cloud Cuckoo Land 20 Race 4: (4) Barefoot Lady 6 Race 5: (1) Tell My Star 39 Race 6: (4) Bodybuilder 38 Race 7: (10) Miss Stingray 59 (EW) Race 8: (5) Summer Time 23 Durbanville Race 1: (3) Hammie’s Wildcat 15 Race 2: (2) Cat’s Paw 66 Race 3: (3) African Fish Eagle 18 Race 4: (12) Tapdance 18 Race 5: (5) Domani 40 Race 6: (4) Latin Magic 45 Race 7: (1) Dark Journey 62 Race 8: (1) Skabenga 14 Vaal Race 1: (1) Dangerous Liaison 30 (NAP*) Race 2: (2) Hang Fire 47 Race 3: (10) Judge The Stride 14 Race 4: (6) Defender Of Peace 35 Race 5: (10) Jolly Good Sir 33 Race 6: (4) Celtic King 32 Race 7: (5) Passion Pleaser 37 Race 8: (3) Go Indigo 59 .
Top rated winners last week included
Burrwood won 3/1 Campbell Black won 18/10 Davyana won 18/10 Updike won 16/10 Lanner Falcon 23/20 Zambezi Torrent won 9/10 Wild Ash won 7/10 Catalina Blues won 6/10 .
Notebook:-
Raaees (M De Kock, KZN) .
FASTEST TIMES
The number of races run over each distance is shown in brackets *Denotes – Times taken by ClockwatcherArlington 20th September Penetrometer 21 – Good 1000m (2) Swift Wonder 60,26 1400m (3) Blushing Peter 86,92 1600m (3) Marry Me Mullins 98,77 2000m (1) Drumminor 123,92 .
Turffontein 21st September Penetrometer 21 – Good 1200m (1) Hallowed 71,65 1450m (2) Bold Inspiration 88,88 1600m (2) Undercover Cat 98,49 1800m (3) Olympia Beijing 112,16 2200m (1) Balse 137,17 .
Scottsville 22nd September Penetrometer 21 – Good 1000m (1) Burrwood 57,99 1200m (1) Catalina Blues 71,29 1400m (1) Millenimesta 86,09 1600m (4) Danseuse 97,62 2400m (1) Fairway Wood 153,33
