Mixed Emotions
Greyville 13th November: The scheduled turf races at this meeting were switched to the poly track. The 3yo Rebel King colt Y’RETHEONE was backed into favouritism to win the opening maiden plate over 1200m on Friday evening and he didn’t let down his supporters. Soon up handy, Charles Laird’s charge took up the running going through the 300m and comfortably accounted for the luckless ASTROMAN (clipped heels and was hampered in running) by two and three quarters. Sadly for connections Y’retheone broke a bloodvessel and is now suspended for 60 days.
There were three races run over 1200m in total and the fastest of these was the MR86 Handicap in which PETER PIPER registered his third career victory. Freely available at 10/1 on the off, the Jet Master gelding was soon positioned close to the speed. He put his head in front shortly after passing the 400m marker and just had enough in hand to beat the low flying FORTISSIMO by the narrowest of margins.
Four of the evening’s eight races took place over 1600m and quickest home amongst these was Dark Liability in the MR80 affair. Another to leave the stalls at rewarding odds (8/1), Weiho Marwing’s charge made all. He quickened well at the top of the short home straight and comfortably accounted for the running on CAT IN COMMAND by a length and three quarters.
The one remaining race was staged over 1900m and in the lucky last the well-supported favourite PRINCESS VARUNYA duly obliged. Nicely positioned in third turning for home, Kom Naidoo’s charge struck the front going through the 400m and won well by a length from the running on SILVER INSPIRATION.
Titbits
The hat-trick seeking WAY OUT FRONT made up many lengths from the rear when a length and three quarter runner up in the MR70 Handicap over 1600m.
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From Out Of The Mist
Vaal 17th November: They raced on the inside track on Tuesday where three of the eight races were run over 1200m. The fastest of these was the graduation plate for fillies and mares won by SHE’S A DRAGON. Content to race at the back of the six in what was a very false paced affair, the daughter of Jay Peg quickened best of all at the business end of the race and won well by two and a quarter.
Just six runners also went to post in the graduation plate over 1600m and here a major upset was to be had when RUBY RUBY past the post first. Some 13kg out at the weights with the 11/20 favourite MELLIFLORA, Ruby Ruby was always handy. She moved up to tackle the market leader 250m out and much to the amazement of most, she ran on stoutly in the closing stages of the race to win fair and square by three quarters.
A MR96 Handicap over 1000m topped the bill and here it was nice to see the Sail From Seattle colt CAPTURED WIND find the winner’s enclosure on his first outing for nine months. Freely available at 8/1 on the off, Corne Spies’ charge dwelt at the start, but despite that was soon up with the pace. The uneasy favourite BAD BOY BUDDY BOY raced with him throughout and in what proved to be a real thriller he only got the verdict by the narrowest of margins. Despite being continually baulked for a run over the final 400m, fourth placed TIGER TERRITORY was only beaten a length and a quarter in this race.
REEF OF FORTUNE in the maiden plate over 1400m was the best bet on the card for many and he didn’t let down his supporters. In touch with the leaders throughout, the 17/10 favourite struck the front 200m out and won very comfortably by two.
Titbits
After being a little slow into stride the newcomer JUNGLE MIST ran on strongly from the rear and won the maiden plate over 1200m going away by three and a half.
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Cape Speed
Kenilworth 18th November: As per usual a maiden plate got proceedings underway in Cape Town on Wednesday and in what proved to be the fastest of the three 1200m races the favourite PSYCHO SID ran out an easy winner. At helm from pillar to post, the son of Rebel King won without any anxious moments by two and a half. Although always handy, the runner up SEARCH PARTY (a well-supported newcomer) didn’t find the clearest of passages when the race began in earnest and ran on well in the latter stages.
Quickest home in the three 1600m events was ORANGE TRACTOR when opening his account at the fourth time of asking. Positioned in the backend of midfield turning for home, the son of Tiger Ridge finished best of all and won going away by two and a quarter after striking the front 100m out.
The faster of the two 1400m handicaps was the MR72 affair won by COSMIC CODE. On leaving the stalls it was the more fancied BEYOND LIMITS who elected to make the running whilst Brett Crawford’s charge raced close up in fourth. He put his head in front shortly after passing the 200m marker and kept on strongly in the latter stages to beat the running on MAN FROM MILAN by a length.
The one remaining race was a MR78 Handicap over 1800m and here we saw a smart performance from CAPE SPEED. Backed into favouritism at the track (4/1 into 28/10), Dean Kannemeyer’s charge raced in the rear early on. He ran on strongly after being cramped when attempting to start his run and won going away by a length and a quarter.
Titbits
The newcomer TENDER TRIP made up many lengths from the backend of midfield when third beaten less than a length in the maiden plate for the girls over 1200m.
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Landing The Odds
Turffontein 19th November: The newcomer TOMMY WATERDEVIL was all the rage to win the maiden plate over 1200m on the inner track on Thursday and he did indeed get off the mark. Backed throughout the morning into 14/10 from 12/1, Erico Verdonese’s charge was soon prominent. He was ridden to lead as they approached the 200m marker and although he wasn’t impressive in beating the well exposed duo of CRY OFTHE TOREADOR and FIRST SIGN, he got the job done.
Three of the afternoon’s nine races were run over 1450m and the fastest of these was the graduation plate in which CAPTAIN ALDO registered his third career victory. Sent off a well-supported second favourite at 22/10, the Captain Al gelding was always handy. He looked beaten when ROMANY PRINCE went a length up 400m out, but fought on gamely from there onwards, and in what proved to be a real thriller he got the verdict on the nod.
The faster of the two 1600m races was the MR70 Handicap in which the drifter ROCKETBALL made all. Allowed to drift right out to 6/1 from 7/2 at the track, the recent recruit from KZN was always clear. He ran on strongly over the final 400m and won without any moments of anxiety by two and a half.
Titbits
Front running REDAIRE rallied gamely after being headed 200m out and with the rest comfortably beaten she got back up late to score by a neck.
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Top speedratings for this weekend include:-
Fairview (fri)
Race 1: (1) Captain King 20
Race 2: (3) Summer Cruise 41
Race 3: (2) Al-Amadi 11
Race 4: (12) Conquering Queen 40
Race 5: (2) Storming Home 37
Race 6: (3) Chestnut’s Rocket 81
Race 7: (9) Bertle Turtle 52
Race 8: (1) Kumiko 50
Greyville (fri)
Race 1: (1) Red China 23
Race 2: (3) Swan Dance 11
Race 3: (3) Al Ciberano 73 (nb)
Race 4: (1) Willoughton 17
Race 5: (15) Archetype 48
Race 6: (4) Triptronic 54
Race 7: (7) Prof Tiger 49 (NAP**)
Race 8: (9) Chill 46
Turffontein (sat)
Race 1: (9) Nirvana 16
Race 2: (5) Alexa 25 (NAP*)
Race 3: (7) Lumya 84
Race 4: (3) Brutal Force 99
Race 5: (1) Madame Dubois 57
Race 6: (2) Lineker 63 (nb)
Race 7: (15) Diesel Jet 104
Race 8: (2) Bichette 89
Race 9: (10) Golden High 83
Race10: (11) American Storm 84
Race 11: (1) Thrust 54
Race 12: (11) Tom Fool 58
Kenilworth (sat)
Race 1: (4) Magic Ice 19
Race 2: (2) Malachite Sunbird 16
Race 3: (3) Exclusive Knight 13
Race 4: (2) Waiting For Rain 58 (EW)
Race 5: (10) Preoccupation 55
Race 6: (8) Mambo Mime 83
Race 7: (15) Diesel Jet 104
Race 8: (9) Magical Bet 49
Race 9: (9) Boomtown Belter 45
Race 10: (10) Little Mo 46
Greyville (sun)
Race 1: (5) Swakopmund 45
Race 2: (12) Tom Ivors 45
Race 3: (5) Son Of Silver 24
Race 4: (6) Brigtnumberfive 13
Race 5: (4) Purple Splash 14
Race 6: (1) Ice Machine 95 (NAP*)
Race 7: (11) Red Red Ruby 60
Race 8: (3) Sabaha 84
Race 9: (1) Scots Party 24
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Top rated winners last week included
Cape Speed won 28/10
Fraternize won 2/1
Reef Of Fortune won 17/10
Y’retheone won 18/10
La Gitano won 15/10
Peggy Jay won 13/10
Crown Of Gold won 12/10
Psycho Sid won 8/10
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Notebook:-
Cape Speed (D Kannemeyer, W-Cape)
Jungle Mist (M Azzie, Gauteng)
Search Party (B Crawford, W-Cape)
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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) 13th November
Going Standard
1200m (3) Peter Piper 69,57
1600m (4) Dark Liability 95,06
1900m (1) Princess Varunya 116,40
Vaal (inside) 17th November
Penetrometer 20 – Going Good
1000m (1) Captured Wind 57,18
1200m (3) She’s A Dragon 69,31
1400m (1) Reef Of Fortune 84,40
1600m (1) Ruby Ruby 98,31
1700m (1) La Vida Banco 106,49
2200m (1) Peggy Jay 140,04
Kenilworth (old) 18th November
Penetrometer 23 – Going Good
1200m (3) Psycho Sid 72,66
1400m (2) Cosmic Code 88,88
1600m (3) Orange Tractor 100,64
1800m (1) Cape Speed 111,07
Turffontein (inner) 19th November
Penetrometer 25 – Going G/Soft
1200m (1) Tommy Waterdevil 75,20
1450m (3) Captain Aldo 88,16
1600m (2) Rocketball 99,47
1800m (2) Lava Flow 113,22
2600m (1) Fortune Fella 167,96
