Sheriff Was Faster
Fairview 26th February: They raced on the turf track on Friday where three of the eight races were run over 1000m. The fastest of these was the conditions plate won by the visiting HARRY LIME. Sent off a strong favourite at 11/10, the son of Var was soon up handy. He was ridden to lead going through the 400m and with the rest well beaten he kept on to beat the second favourite NORMANZ by three quarters.
As expected the faster of the two 1400m events was the MR100 Handicap won by GOGETTHESHERIFF. On leaving the stalls it was DISTINGUISHED who elected to make the running whilst the top weight raced closer to the pace than usual in fifth. He put his head in front 100m out and won well by a half from OCHONCAR.
The listed Lady’s Pendant over 1200m topped the bill and here it was nice to see the talented daughter of Judpot DOUBLE WHAMMY find her form. Freely available at 10/1 on the off, Glen Kotzen’s charge raced in midfield during the early part of the race. She quickened well from halfway, and in a blanket finish she got up late to beat another Cape raider NIGHT IN TAHITI.
Titbits
The visiting JET EXPLORER came from the rear and only had to be pushed out when winning the pinnacle stakes over 1800m.
The 3yo SUB ZERO came from the rear when winning the maiden plate over 1600m with some in hand.
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Just The Two
Greyville 26th February: This meeting was abandoned after race 2 because of ongoing torrential rain. With Anton Marcus jumping aboard, and sporting blinkers for the first time, the form horse REACTIVE was sent off deep in the red to win the opening maiden plate over 1200m. He got away well when the gates opened and looked to have done everything right at the top of the straight. Showing considerable improvement on his debut performance when beaten 7 lengths by Reactive though, SHOGUN, running on best of all, in turn struck the front 250m out, and went on to score comfortably by a length and three quarters from the perennial maiden DESTINED FOR DAWN.
Run in a faster time was the girls’ division of the maiden 1200m won by the favourite HOSANNA. Allowed to ease out to 11/10 from 17/20 at the track, Weiho Marwing’s charge led throughout. She was always in command and won without any anxious moments by two.
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All About Abashiri
Turffontein 27th February: Saturday’s action took place on the old stand side track where the fastest of the three 1600m events was the Gr2 Gauteng Guineas won by ABASHIRI. Backed throughout the afternoon into 2/1 favourite from 4’s, Michael Azzie’s charge raced sixth for most of the journey. He quickened nicely in the long home straight and comfortably accounted for the running on CHAMPAGNE HAZE after striking the front 300m from home.
There was a bit of an upset in the Gr2 Fillies Guineas when the even money favourite NEGROAMARA got rolled. Always close to the speed, Negroamara moved up to challenge the front running HEAPS OF FUN 200m out, but despite having the remainder comfortably beaten, she was held by just under a length at the wire.
Marginally the faster of the two maiden juvenile plates was the girls’ affair won by ARISSA. Soon at the head of affairs, the 28/10 favourite raced a length and a half clear. She asserted her authority going through the 200m and ran out a very easy winner by five.
Titbits
Backed into favouritism WITCHCRAFT (9/2 into 5/1) won the MR74 Handicap by two and a half with a ton in hand.
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Two By Two
Durbanville 27th February: The faster of the two 1000m races at the country course on Saturday was the MR78 Handicap won by OVAR. Always top of the boards, Andre Nel’s charge raced fourth during the early part of the race. He was ridden to lead as they approached the 100m marker and comfortably accounted for the running on NORTHER CORNER (came from the rear and didn’t find the clearest of passages) by three quarters.
Quickest home in the two 1300m events was CHASING DREAMS in the not so lucky last, a MR66 Handicap. Easy to back at 8/1 on the off, the Rebel King mare sat in midfield early on. She ran on well in the straight and won comfortably from the running on FAIRY MAKER by a length.
In a time some 4,78 seconds faster than that of the bill topping MR90 Handicap, the MR72 Handicap over 2000m was won by ROMAN DISCENT. On leaving the stalls it was the rank outsider of the party LAVITA NOIR (125/1) who elected to make the running whilst Greg Ennion’s charge raced close up in second. He assumed command going through the 300m and went on to win with authority by three.
Titbits
The 3yo Doctorow came from the rear when getting off the mark in the maiden plate over 1600m.
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Top speedratings for this weekend include:-
Flamingo Park (mon)
Race 1: (3) Eagle’s Call 8
Race 2: (8) Attract The Call 8
Race 3: (1) Nutbush 20 (NAP*)
Race 4: (1) Sarve 79
Race 5: (5) Slip Stream Queen 23
Race 6: (11) First Sea Lord 50
Race 7: (6) Mustang Sonny 36
Race 8: (2) Over Budget 7
Race 9: (2) Sonny Bill 30
Race 10: (12) Patrina 39
Turffontein (tues)
Race 1: (2) Yours And Mine 4
Race 2: (5) London 80
Race 3: (3) William Nicol 18
Race 4: (3) Lindy Lu 9
Race 5: (1) Duzi Moon 18
Race 6: (6) Silver Peg 50
Race 7: (9) Intandokazi 37
Race 8: (1) Isosha 52
Race 9: (13) Blazing Brave 57`
Scottsville (wed)
Race 1: (6) Gingerbread Man 8
Race 2: (1) Blaze Of Mystery 8
Race 3: (10) Queens Diamond 17 (NAP*)
Race 4: (8) Saber’s Beads 19
Race 5: (1) Executive Power 65
Race 6: (4) Tipo Tinto 51
Race 7: (5) Piano Man 82
Race 8: (1) Aldric 49
Vaal (thur)
Race 1: (11) Goodytwoshoes 13 (NAP**)
Race 2: (10) American Tiger 73
Race 3: (1) Caracal 10
Race 4: (2) Sao Paulo 15
Race 5: (10) Banking April 38
Race 6: (16) Catwalk Tease 36
Race 7: (4) By Jove 39
Race 8: (1) Viking Hero 74
Race 9: (6) Mombela 50
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Top rated winners last week included
Leroy won 8/1
Molly’s Chambers won 8/1
All Magic won 7/1
Secret Plan won 7/2
Sunshine Lady won 28/10
Doctorow won 5/2
Aussie Austin won 11/10
Hosanna won 11/10
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Notebook:-
Abashiri (M Azzie, Gauteng)
Witchcraft (S Tarry, Gauteng)
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FASTEST TIMES
The number of races run over each distance is shown in brackets
*Denotes – Times taken by Clockwatcher
Fairview (turf) 26th February
Penetrometer 21 – Going Good
1000m (3) Harry Lime 57,78
1200m (1) Double Whammy 70,83
1400m (2) Gogetthesheriff 86,91*
1600m (1) Sub Zero 102,22
1800m (1) Jet Explorer 113,39
Greyville (poly) 26th February
Going Standard
1200m (2) Hosanna 71,51
Turffontein (old) 27th February
Penetrometer 25 – Going G/Soft
1000m (2) Arissa 57,48
1400m (2) Chepardo 85,69
1600m (3) Abashiri 97,95
1800m (1) Trading Profit 111,34
2000m (1) Witchcraft 126,03
2450m (1) Cool Chardonnay 157,79
Durbanville 27th February
Penetrometer 22 – Going Good
1000m (2) Ovar 59,81
1300m (2) Chasing Dreams 78,72
1400m (1) Sunshine Lady 87,08
1600m (1) Doctorow 98,80
2000m (2) Roman Discent 123,78
