Six In A Row
Greyville 2nd October: Races 7 & 8 at this meeting were originally scheduled to take place on the turf, but were moved to the poly.
Three of the eight races on the poly track on Sunday afternoon were run over 1200m and the fastest of these was the pinnacle stakes won by ISOBAR. Nibbled at on course to go off favourite at 3/1, Weiho Marwing’s charge wasn’t the quickest into stride and raced sixth of the eight early on. The field was always tightly bunched though and after a thrilling tussle with one of the deposed joint favourites KINGSTON BOY, he got the verdict by a half.
There were also three races run over 1400m and fastest against the clock here was SAMHAAN when winning the MR78 Handicap over 1400m. Allowed to ease out to 8/1 from 5’s on this his seasonal debut, the 5yo son of Encosta De Lago also came from off the pace. He struck the front going through the 100m and comfortably accounted for the nibbled at AWARE (raced handy – led 400m) by three quarters. Fourth placed TUSCAN was baulked for a run twice en-route from the rear in this race.
A maiden plate for the girls over 1200m had gotten proceedings underway and here a major upset was to be had when the lightly raced reserve runner PAREE opened her account. Drawn wide and a little slow into stride to boot, Mike De Kock’s 25/1 shot raced in midfield during the early part of the race. Once into stride though she quickened well and under a well-judged ride from Warren Kennedy she got up late to deny the supported MISS PIUS (10/1 into 13/2).
The lucky last was a MR80 Handicap over 2000m and here the locals were sent home happy when the 18/10 favourite ROYAL COLOURS extended his winning sequence to six. Confidently ridden by his regular partner Sean Cormack, the son of Bezrin was always in touch with the leaders. He only put his head in front close home, but he did look to win with a tad in hand.
Titbits
After being a little slow into stride the well exposed WATCH THE WINNER ran on strongly from off the pace when runner up, beaten just a neck in the maiden plate over 1400m.
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Stable On Fire
Vaal 4th October: They raced on the inside track on Tuesday where victory in the opening work rider’s maiden event over 2000m went to the easy to back THE CENTENARY. Freely available at 14/1 on the off, the lesser fancied of Mike De Kock’s two runners was always handy. She took up the running shortly after passing the 200m marker and comfortably accounted for the 75/1 shot DREAM LOGIC by a length. Third placed Foretoken was cramped 200m out when running on from the rear in this race.
Race four on the card was a maiden plate for the girls over 1400m and here we saw an impressive debut performance from the Geoff Woodruff trained ZRINSKI. Sent off second favourite at 33/10, the 3yo daughter of Dynasty lost two lengths at the start and as a result came from off them. She put her head in front going through the 300m and cruised clear in the closing stages of the race to score by eight and a quarter.
There were five races run over 1400m in total and the fastest of these was the MR72 Handicap won by GLORIOUS VICTORY. The second of three winners on the card for the in-form stable of Sean Tarry, the Victory Moon gelding was always handy. He didn’t find a clear passage when asked for his effort, but once seeing daylight he quickened well, and only had to be pushed out late to hold off the running on UNPARALLELED by a neck.
The faster of the two 1200m races was the bill topping MR84 Handicap won by the Tarry trained FOR THE LADS. Racing off a mark some 26 points below that of her best here, the daughter of Trippi was always in touch with the leaders. She was asked to take up the running as they approached the 200m pole and won without any anxious moments by a length and a quarter. Running on for second position was WHATALADY. Stanley Ferreira’s charge lost two lengths at the start and was then baulked for a run 300m out.
Titbits
THE GOLDEN BOY was baulked for a run between the 400m-200m poles when a two and three quarter length fourth in the maiden plate for professional jockeys over 2000m.
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Alexis 2 From 3
Kenilworth 5th October: A maiden plate for the girls over 1200m got proceedings underway in Cape Town on Saturday and here we saw a comfortable victory for the heavily supported LADY MING. Backed throughout the morning into 28/10 favourite from 7/1, the 3yo daughter of Dynasty led throughout. She was always in command and won without any anxious moments by a length and a half.
Lady Ming had been beaten by ALEXIS on her previous racecourse appearance and interestingly, that one won the fastest of the three 1200m events on this card. Backed into 16/10 from 5/2 to win the MR79 Handicap, Alexis was always handy. She was ridden to lead 150m out and won going away by two and a quarter. Alexis has now won two from three.
There were also three races run over 1400m and fastest against the clock in these was SOUTH KENSINGTON when registering his sixth career victory from just eighteen starts in the bill topping MR94 Handicap. As per usual positioned close to the speed, Vaughan Marshall’s charge ran on stoutly down the short old course straight and in a race where just 0,6 lengths covered the first four home, he narrowly got the verdict over the running on TRUE MASTER.
Also worthy of note on this card was the performance of LIQUID MERCURY in winning the maiden plate over 1400m. Deposed at the top of the boards as money came in buckets for CAPTAIN BLACKWATER (3/1 into 15/10), the grey Trippi gelding (28/10 out to 7/2) raced seventh of the eleven early on. He quickened well when given rein in the straight and looked to win a lot more easily than the official margin of three quarters of a length would suggest.
Titbits
Beaten less than a length, GULF STORM didn’t find the clearest of passages when running on from the rear to fill third position in the MR91 Handicap over 1000m.
UPPER ECHELON ran on stoutly late when a 0,4 length runner up in the girls’ maiden plate over 1600m.
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Well Thought Out
Vaal 6th October: Thursday’s action took place on the sand where the easiest victory on the card was recorded by the 6yo CONNE MARA BLACK. Winning for only the second time in 43 starts here, the Kahal mare led throughout. She was always clear and cruised in by eight.
Another to win with many lengths to spare was ORCHESTRATED in the MR79 Handicap over 1600m. He too led from pillar to post, but held just a one length advantage for most of the journey. He quickened nicely going through the 400m and in what proved to be by far the fastest of the three races over this distance, won going away by seven.
There were also three races run over 1000m and the fastest of these was the MR68 Handicap won by ELUSIVE SHADE. Freely available at 20/1 on the off, Leon Erasmus’ 3yo was always handy. He took up the running as they approached the 400m marker and comfortably accounted for the well exposed ROYAL STOCK by a length and a half.
Titbits
Racing off a mark some ten points lower than that of her best on sand CAPTAIN’S DELIGHT ran on strongly late when winning the MR76 Handicap over 1600m going away by a length and a half.
Well supported TURNUPTHEHEAT only got going late when a two and a quarter length third in the maiden plate over 1450m.
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Top speedratings for this weekend include:-
Fairview (fri)
Race 1: (1) Falling Sky 18
Race 2: (1) Destiny Driven 18
Race 3: (1) Russian Mig 75
Race 4: (1) Masai Warrior 62
Race 5: (6) Bride’s Dowry 55
Race 6: (12) Money Never Sleeps 49
Race 7: (7) Money Doesnt Count 73
Race 8: (4) Al Cappuchino 45
Race 9: (2) Family Fortune 23
Greyville (fri)
Race 1: (2) Varbration 58 (NAP*)
Race 2: (2) Elusive Lady 16
Race 3: (9) Fantasy Art 8
Race 4: (3) Ivanovich 14
Race 5: (5) Seventh Virtue 52
Race 6: (13) Sebueng 56
Race 7: (8) Discourse 36
Race 8: (8) Warcraft 67
Race 9: (7) The Bellman 36
Turffontein (sat)
Race 1: (3) Kosava 49 (EW)
Race 2: (6) Unparalleled 65
Race 3: (4) Jet Belle 90
Race 4: (10) Antarctic Call 69
Race 5: (4) Tomorrow’s Miss 36
Race 6: (13) Breath Of Autumn 43
Race 7: (2) Tiger Quest 77
Race 8: (14) Santa Carolina 95
Race 9: (5) Foyle 60
Race 10: (10) Main Sunday 48
Race 11: (13) The Who 65
Kenilworth (sun)
Race 1: (18) Olimpic Airways 28
Race 2: (2) Barega 14
Race 3: (3) Waning Crescent 23
Race 4: (11) Speedy Chestnut 39
Race 5: (10) Blow Me Away 45 (EW)
Race 6: (3) Fly By Night 104
Race 7: (1) Copper Parade 101
Race 8: (7) Lebombo Breeze 35
Race 9: (3) Classy Fighter 54
Greyville (sun)
Race 1: (9) Let’s Go West 27 (NAP*)
Race 2: (7) Henchman 80
Race 3: (1) Consort 3
Race 4: (3) Sweet Serenity 6
Race 5: (9) Charlie Trimble 55
Race 6: (4) Cherry Tripper 60
Race 7: (1) Caviar 67
Race 8: (3) That’s Our Girl 44 (EW)
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Top rated winners last week included
Artistically Done won 7/1
First Favour won 11/2
Yesan Star won 33/10
Jay Jay’s Wild won 14/10
Play Date won 11/10
Assegai won 15/20
Star Of Paris won 15/20
Generalissimo won 4/10
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Notebook:-
Alexis (B Crawford, W-Cape)
Liquid Mercury (J Ramsden, W-Cape)
Zrinski (G Woodruff, Gauteng)
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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) 2nd October
Going Standard
1200m (3) Isobar 70,27
1400m (3) Samhaan 82,52
1800m (1) Assegai 109,65
2400m (1) Royal Colours 122,57
Vaal (inside) 4th October
Penetrometer 23 – Going Good
1200m (2) For The Lads 70,49
1400m (5) Glorious Victory 83,58
1700m (1) Sundays Sister 103,92
2000m (2) Motoman 126,12
Kenilworth (old) 5th October
Penetrometer 23 – Going Good
1000m (1) Olympian 59,00
1200m (3) Alexis 73,33
1400m (3) South Kensington 86,81
1600m (1) Vitoria 102,34*
2000m (1) Cosmonauta 127,69
Vaal (sand) 6th October
Going Standard
1000m (3) Elusive Shade 59,07
1200m (1) Jade Vine 72,93
1450m (1) Parade Prancer 92,72
1600m (3) Orchestrated 100,24
1800m (1) Conne Mara Black 115,28
