Progressive 3yo’s
Greyville 13th May: Sunday’s action took place on the poly track where five of the afternoon’s nine races were staged over 1000m. The MR82 Handicap was the fastest of these and here we saw a smart performance from the progressive son of Horse Chestnut SOCRATES. Positioned in the backend of midfield rounding the turn, Shane Humby’s charge didn’t find the clearest of passages in the short home straight. Once seeing daylight though, Socrates quickened in good style and won going away by a length and a half.
The only other distance on this card to stage more than one race was 1400m where the faster of the two handicaps was the MR82 affair won by another progressive 3yo in ANTONY HOTSPUR. Taken straight to the front by Callan Murray, the lightly raced son of Antonius Pius led throughout. He kept on strongly over the final 400m and barely relinquished an inch of his advantage.
A maiden juvenile plate over 1000m had opened up proceedings and here we saw another promising 3yo in JARDIN open his account. Backed into the red at the track, Vaughan Marshall’s charge also made all. He led by just a half for most of the journey before asserting his authority over the final 150m.
Titbits
Running on stoutly below the distance, PANTSULA would surely have won the maiden plate over 1000m in another stride.
Flying Lightweight
Kenilworth 15th May: MONTEGO BAY found good support to win the opening maiden plate over 1000m in Cape Town on Tuesday and the son of Var didn’t let down his followers. Always handy, Joey Ramsden’s charge took up the running 200m out and kept on strongly in the latter stages to beat the running on favourite SEVENTH SEA by a length.
Three of the afternoon’s eight races were run over 2000m and stopping the clock in the fastest time amongst these was CAVALLERIA in the MR76 Handicap. Nibbled at into 15/1 from 22’s before the off, the lightly weighted daughter of Silvano lost ground at the start, and raced at the back. Once in the long new course straight though, she quickened best of all and flew past the leaders 150m out to win going away by three and a half.
By far the faster of the two 1400m races was the MR76 Handicap in which victory went to the Trippi gelding RIVER CAM. Always handy in what quickly became a very strung out field Candice Bass-Robinson’s charge was always poised to strike. She did so going through the 200m and kept on strongly late to beat the marginally more fancied SPECTRA FORCE by three quarters.
Titbits
Sent off a well-supported favourite, MAGNIFICENT SEVEN came from the rear when winning the maiden plate over 2000m with some in hand by three and a half.
Moving Forward
Scottsville 16th May: As is often the case at the Pietermaritzburg circuit, the lion’s share of the events was run over 1200m. There were four races over the distance in total, the quickest being the MR82 Handicap won by MAJESTIC GLORY. Now a winner of three from six, Paul Lafferty’s charge was encountering soft going for the first time here. Not the quickest into stride when the gates opened, the son of Equiano raced in midfield during the early part of the race. He ran on best of all in the home straight and under a well-judged ride from Lyle Hewitson he got up late to score by three quarters.
The only other distance to stage more than one race was 1950m where by far the faster of the two handicaps was the MR72 affair won by SILVER ROSE. Having only his second outing following a five month layoff, Andre Nel’s charge was always handy. He put his head in front approaching the 400m pole and drew clear easily from there onwards to score by four.
Another to win with authority on this card was ARCHILLES in the MR80 affair over 1600m. The focus of good support, Louis Goosen’s charge raced in midfield during the early part of the race. He was ridden to lead going through the 200m and won going away by two.
Titbits
RAES’ DYNA JET and PUMPKIN QUEEN both ran on well from the rear when 1st & 2nd respectively in the MR68 Handicap over 1750m.
Blazing A Trail
Vaal 17th May: A MR96 Handicap over 1000m topped the bill on the classic track on Thursday and here a major upset was to be had when KISSABLE landed the spoils. Very highly regarded in her earlier days as a juvenile last season, Paul Matchett’s charge flew out of the pens and was very quickly three lengths clear. She kept up a very healthy gallop throughout, and in a time of 55,69 seconds she won well by a length and a half.
Quickest home in the three 1200m events was VIRGINIA MOON when winning the MR64 Handicap. Sent off second in the betting market at 9/2, Paul Peter’s charge was soon positioned close to the speed. She was ridden to lead shortly after passing the 400m marker and comfortably accounted for the running on AEROBATIC by two and a quarter.
The faster of the two 1450m maiden plates was the boy’s division won by MR TINSEL. At the head of affairs throughout, the well exposed Just As Well gelding was challenged strongly by the ultra-consistent TOMMY THE BUILDER over the final 400m, and with the rest well beaten only a short head separated them both at the wire.
Titbits
Always deep in the red, BARAHIN won the opening maiden juvenile plate going away by two.
Taking Action
Turffontein 20th May: There were a number of very easy victories on the inner track on Saturday and none more so than that of EVOLVER in the maiden plate over 1800m. Sent off favourite at 100/30, Ashley Fortune’s charge was soon up handy. He put his head in front 500m out and cruised clear in the closing stages of the race to score by eight and three quarters.
It was a similar story in the girl’s division of the maiden 1000m where the ultra-consistent COLOMBINA got off the mark. Nicely positioned in fourth early on, the grey daughter of Crusade put her head in front 200m out and cruised clear to score by five and a half.
Just three runners went to post for the pinnacle stakes over 1600m and here we saw a comfortable victory for the Philanthropist filly SHE’S A GIVER. Allowed to dictate throughout, She’s A Giver kept on strongly at the business end of the race and won well by a length and a quarter.
Titbits
Due to protest action preventing the horses leaving Randjiesfontein, a large number of runners had to be scratched at this meeting, and the bill topping Syringa Handicap was cancelled, and will be run on 28th May.
Top speedratings for this weekend include:-
Fairview (fri)
Race 1: (7) Finley Hill 8
Race 2: (1) San Rochelle 15
Race 3: (1) Supreme Winter 11
Race 4: (5) Mahir 2
Race 5: (9) All The Bids 64
Race 6: (11) Paper Town 76
Race 7: (7) Frikkie 66
Race 8: (4) Captain Marooned 48
Race 9: (1) Killala 35
Scottsville (sat)
Race 1: (3) Caesura 3 (NAP*)
Race 2: (4) Jailhouse Jazz 7
Race 3: (7) Delirious Nomad 64
Race 4: (1) Sergeant Hardy 98
Race 5: (14) Ronnie’s Candy 45
Race 6: (16) William The Silent 55
Race 7: (3) Exquisite Touch 93
Race 8: (8) Rocky Valley 103
Race 9: (18) Suzie’s Soldier 46
Kenilworth (sat)
Race 1: (10) Rock Of Asia 10
Race 2: (12) Potawatomi 26
Race 3: (12) Cream Soda Green 41
Race 4: (1) Sun At Midnight 43
Race 5: (4) Power Grid 79
Race 6: (1) Captain’s Flame 69
Race 7: (1) Rocket Countdown 68
Race 8: (3) Platinum Class 67
Race 9: (16) Guilty Pleasure 37
Turffontein (sun)
Race 1: (5) Mojito Magic 18
Race 2: (7) Firdoas 22 (NAP**)
Race 3: (1) Regal Girl 12
Race 4: (3) Horace 15
Race 5: (1) Champagne Haze 91
Race 6: (8) Dan The Lad 69
Race 7: (5) Mrs O 76
Race 8: (12) Curbstone Shuffle 57
Race 9: (12) Main Roll 34
Top rated winners last week included
Socrates won 8/1
Mr Tinsel won 113/20
Washington Square won 5/1
Pink Cadillac won 26/10
Podcast won 26/10
She’s A Giver won 2/1
Divine Odyssey won 18/10
Barahin won 4/10
Notebook:-
Jardin (V Marshall, KZN)
Kissable (P Matchett, Gauteng)
Socrates (S Humby, KZN)
FASTEST TIMES
The number of races run over each distance is shown in brackets
*Denotes – Times taken by Clockwatcher
Greyville (poly) 13th May
Going Standard
Course Variant: 0,47s fast
1000m (5) Socrates 56,89
1200m (1) Princess Vicky 69,44
1400m (2) Antony Hotspur 81,19
1900m (1) Liverpool Lass 116,50
Kenilworth (new) 15th May
Penetrometer 21 – Going Good
Course Variant: 0,97s slow
1000m (2) Montego Bay 59,12
1400m (2) River Cam 86,75
2000m (3) Cavalleria 126,26
2500m (1) Rock My Soul 163,19
Scottsville (new) 16th March
Penetrometer 27 – Going Soft
Course Variant: 1,86s slow
1000m (1) Legislate 59,49
1200m (4) Majestic Glory 69,70
1600m (1) Archilles 96,52
1750m (1) Raes’ Dyna Jet 107,83
1950m (2) Silver Rose 119,50
Vaal (classic) 17th May
Penetrometer 23 – Going Good
Course Variant: 0,26s fast
1000m (2) Kissable 55,69
1200m (3) Virginia Moon 69,54
1450m (2) Mr Tinsel 86,09
1600m (1) Itsmydarlin 95,56
Turffontein (inside) 20th May
Penetrometer 21 – Going Good
Course Variant: 0,70s slow
1000m (3) Modjadji 58,51
1600m (2) Divine Odyssey 98,23
1800m (1) Evolver 111,88
2600m (1) Fortune Fella 165,64
