Outgunned
Arlington 28th June: The easiest victory in the heavy going in Port Elizabeth on Friday was undoubtedly that of the former Gauteng campaigner TWO GUN KID in the fastest of the four 1600m races, a MR78 Handicap. Making his first appearance in the province, the son of Toreador was always handy. He was ridden to lead going through the 300m and cruised clear in the closing stages of the race to score by four and a quarter.
Another to win with lengths to spare was POWER BEAUTY when opening her account in the maiden 1600m. Nibbled at on course into 25/2 from 18/1, Gavin Smith’s charge sat fifth for most of the journey. She made her move coming off the bend and won well by three and three quarters after striking the front 400m out.
Perhaps the most impressive performance in the maiden ranks on the day though was that of JEWEL OF THE MOON in the girl’s 1200m event. In the rear as the thirteen runners swung for home, Dorrie Sham’s charge ran on best of all down the short home straight and in a thrilling three way finish she got up very late to deny the much more fancied duo of COLOURFUL JET and LADY EMMALEEN.
The faster of the two 1800m races on the card was the MR69 affair won by the 4yo VAIL. Initially priced up as the 3/1 favourite (sent off 7/2 2nd fav), Vail took full advantage of her pole position draw and was soon prominent. She took up the running at the top of the straight and kept on strongly over the final 450m to beat the running on ASTRO BOY by a length and three quarters.
Titbits
LA SALLE came from the back end of midfield when getting up very late to win the MR74 Handicap over 1600m.
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Glorious Gift
Kenilworth 29th June: The going was once again soft in Cape Town where victory in the opening workrider’s maiden event over 1200m went to the very uneasy favourite TRIPPISSA. Allowed to ease right out to 16/10 from 7/10 at the track, Justin Snaith’s charge was soon up handy. She was ridden to lead as they approached the 400m pole and easily accounted for HAILI by three and a half.
Five of the afternoon’s ten races were run over 1200m and interestingly the fastest of these was the Juvenile Plate won by the aptly named STRONGMAN. Backed into favouritism at 16/10 before the off (op 7/2), Glen Puller’s charge broke well and was soon positioned close to the speed. He took up the running shortly after passing the 300m marker and although the well supported second favourite HEADSTRONG HARRY chased hard, he went on to win well by a length and three quarters.
Race seven on the card was the listed Winter Oaks run over 2200m and in what proved to be a real thriller victory here went to the rapidly improving SCHISM. Freely available at 9/1 on the off, the daughter of Count Dubois raced in fifth during the early part of race. MAXIMUM JET led them into the home straight and when second placed SHOWDOWN put her head in front 100m out she looked to have done everything right. Running on best of all below the distance though, Schism steadily reeled her in and in a classic finish she got up in the very last stride.
The Gr3 Winter Derby over 2400m topped the bill and here a bit of an upset was to be had when the lesser fancied of Mike Bass’ four runners GIFTED FOR GLORY landed the spoils. Nibbled at on course into 10/1 from 25/2, the Silvano gelding was content to sit towards the rear for most of the journey. In a race where four of the first five came from off the pace though, Gifted For Glory finished well and got up late to score by three quarters.
Titbits
Running on from the backend of midfield, JET INTOMBI finished best of all when runner up in the maiden 1400m.
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Running On Strongly
Clairwood 30th June: This was the meeting originally scheduled to take place at Greyville. A maiden juvenile plate over 1450m got proceedings underway and here we saw a smart performance from the well supported second favourite ATHINA. Drawn widest in gate thirteen, the Gauteng raider very quickly found herself positioned in the rear. She quickened best of all once in the long home straight though, and won going away from SAKANIA after striking the front 100m out. The third placed newcomer RESOLUTION also finished very well from the rear in this race.
The boys’ maiden juvenile 1450m was next up and here we saw a very easy victory for the Vaughan Marshall trained MANIEVIC. Another second favourite to find support, the son of Var was soon positioned close up in second. He took up the running early in the straight and drew clear easily in the closing stages of the race to score by four and a quarter.
The fastest of the three KZN Breeders’ events over 1600m was won by GITIANO. Swiftly guided over from a very wide draw by Stuart Randolph, the son of Mullins Bay raced handy in fourth. He was asked to take up the running shortly after passing the 200m pole and just had enough in hand to hold off the running on CORREDOR. As well as having to switch out for a run late on, the runner up was also baulked for a run 300m out.
There were also two KZN Breeder’s races over 1900m and the fastest of these was won by the 5yo SELBORNE SUPREMACY. Confidently ridden by Anthony Delpech, Sean Tarry’s charge sat in midfield during the early part of the race. The favourite JOSHUAS CROWN was the first to make a move and he did have the rest beaten after taking up the running at the top of the straight. Selborne Supremacy quickened well at that point though, and went on to win comfortably by a length and three quarters after taking it up 150m out. Poorly drawn KING JACE ran on well from the rear to take fourth place in this race.
Titbits
Finishing strongly after losing two lengths at the start of the KZN Breeder’s Juvenile Plate, fourth placed BUFFALO BILL was baulked for a run 400m out and then took a bump 200m later.
Third placed KINGSTON BOY battled to find a clear passage late on when third to Panama Man in the KZN Breeder’s 1200m.
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Top speedratings for this weekend include:-
Fairview Race 1: (7) One Track Mind 20 Race 2: (1) Ivanka 14 Race 3: No Qualifiers Race 4: (1) Money For Love 51 Race 5: (18) Sacred Call 55 Race 6: (18) Strike A Light 68 Race 7: (17) Waging War 64 Race 8: (20) Come Home Smokin 61 Kenilworth Race 1: (6) Hammie’s Wildcat 17 Race 2: (11) Rajistan 11 Race 3: (2) Lianshulu 17 Race 4: (5) Sylvie 15 Race 5: (1) Sage Of Sivana 51 Race 6: (11) Master Barry 68 Race 7: (7) Night Trip 87 Race 8: (1) Red Squared 11 Scottsville Race 1: (1) Bermudabreeze 15 Race 2: (2) Party Doll 27 Race 3: (7) Kono 20 Race 4: (1) Ramp Diva 26 Race 5: (5) Nitro Nori 58 Race 6: (5) Cotswold 49 Race 7: (6) Misty Morn 56 (EW) Race 8: (6) Sounds Positive 55 Race 9: (11) Exelero 33 (NAP**) Vaal Race 1: (1) Royal Denise 3 Race 2: (12) Manzai 17 Race 3: (3) Tell My Star 26 Race 4: (9) Tayba 83 Race 5: (14) Chedwin Park 51 Race 6: (6) D G’s Boy 78 Race 7: (1) War Front 42 Race 8: (8) Power Jet 64 .
Top rated winners last week included
Pegwell Bay won 25/2 Schism won 9/1 Friend Of Freedom won 6/1 King’s Bay won 3/1 S’il Vous Plait won 22/10 Shiver ‘n Shake won 18/10 Viva La Vie won 15/10 Master Of My Fate won 4/10 .
Notebook:-
Corredor (Garth Puller, KZN Strongman (Glen Puller, W-Cape) .
FASTEST TIMES
The number of races run over each distance is shown in brackets *Denotes – Times taken by Clockwatcher .Arlington 28th June Penetrometer 32 – Going Heavy 1000m (1) Testing The Wind 57,97 1200m (1) Jewel Of The Moon 76,43 1300m (1) Laurie’s Dancer 80,52 1600m (4) Two Gun Kid 98,72 1800m (2) Vail 113,51 .
Kenilworth (old) 29th June Penetrometer 30 – Going Soft 1200m (5) Strongman 75,35 1400m (1) Seven Suns 90,25 1600m (2) Jet Lady 101,54 2200m (1) Schism 144,11 2400m (1) Gifted For Glory 156,29 .
Clairwood 30th June Penetrometer 23 – Going Soft 1200m (3) Panama Man 71,36 1450m (2) Athina 89,93 1600m (3) Gitiano 97,75 1900m (2) Selborne Supremacy 117,67
