Weighted To Fly
Kenilworth 12th April: A maiden juvenile plate over 1000m got proceedings underway in Cape Town on Sunday and here we saw a nice performance from the newcomer RUSSIAN SPEED. He got away well when the gates opened and soon up handy raced prominent throughout. The well supported 8/10 favourite BRILLIANT CRIMSON (also a newcomer) was first to make a move and struck the front 250m from home. Eric Sands’ charge was already on his heels at that stage though, and after he in turn put his head in front 70m out, he went on to win going away by a length.
The afternoon’s other 1000m race was a MR76 Handicap and in a time just 0,14 seconds faster than that of Russian Speed victory here went to the 3yo TRIPLE BLUFF. Confidently ridden by Greg Cheyne, the Trippi gelding raced in midfield for most of the journey. He quickened best of all over the final 400m and under a well-judged ride he got up late to score by a half.
Four of the afternoon’s eight races were run over 1200m and fastest against the clock amongst these was FLY BY NIGHT in the Allowance Plate. Clearly best in at the weights, the Jet Master mare was always handy. She was ridden to lead shortly after passing the 200m marker and won with plenty in hand by two and a quarter.
The remaining two races were both run over 1400m and surprisingly the quickest home here was ANNIGONI in the MR72 Handicap. Positioned in midfield in a race run over half a second faster than that of the MR96 Handicap over the same distance, the son of Silvano ran on stoutly below the distance and in what proved to be a real thriller he got up late to deny the nibbled at ELITE JET. OLIM DIVES also finished well from off the pace in this race.
Titbits
Lightly raced ANGLET ran on well from midfield when getting up late to win the fillies’ maiden juvenile plate over 1200m.
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Open Season
Vaal 14th April: They raced on the sand on Tuesday where victory in the opening maiden plate over 1200m went to the lesser fancied of St John Gray’s two runners ALL I WANT (12/1 into 8/1). Making his first racecourse appearance here, the newcomer raced towards the rear early on. He finished best of all over the final 400m and won going away by a length and a quarter.
A MR78 Handicap topped the rather moderate bill and in what proved to be the faster of the two 1800m events victory here went to the 2/1 second favourite SUNDARI (Azzie/Delpech). Always handy, the former Cape Town campaigner struck the front 400m out and at that stage it was looking as if he would go on to score comfortably. One of the rank outsiders of the eight horse party WELLESLEY (50/1) ran on strongly in the latter stages though, and it was only by a neck that Sundari held on.
The combination of Michael Azzie and Anthony Delpech were again on the mark when the first 2yo to win in open company this season GALADRIEL did the business. Sent off favourite in what has to be said was a very weak field, the daughter of Horse Chestnut also raced close to the speed. She quickened nicely when asked for her effort and went on to score with authority by three and a quarter.
Race seven on the card was a MR68 Handicap over 1600m and in what proved to be a real thriller victory here went to the fancied CIAO-CIAO. With the rest left trailing in their wake the son of Jam Alley set about reeling in the front running WARBASH 400m out, and with that one finding extra when challenged, it was only by a neck that Ciao-Ciao got the verdict.
Titbits
The 6yo Kahal mare CONNE MARA BLACK registered her third career victory when winning the MR66 Handicap over 1800m by a steeplechase margin (ten lengths).
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Firing On Most
Scottsville 15th April: The faster of the two opening maiden juvenile plates over 1000m on Wednesday was the boys’ affair won by the easy to back MR ROY. Allowed to ease out to 10/1 from 6’s at the track, the son of Western Winter was always handy. He put his head in front going through the 100m and won well by a length and a quarter from the favourite BELUGA.
The afternoon’s feature event was a MR98 Handicap over 1200m and here victory went to the Captain Al gelding BARBOSA. Returning from a nine month break here, Dennis Drier’s charge was soon positioned up with the speed. He began to assert his authority passing the 300m marker and went on to score comfortably by two and a quarter.
Race seven on the card was a MR94 Handicap over 1400m and here we saw a smart performance from Dean Kannemeyer’s IT IS WRITTEN. Sent off a well-supported second favourite at 5/2 (op 3/1), the son of Dynasty raced seventh of the eight for most of the journey. He quickened in good style at the top of the straight and won going away by four and a quarter after striking the front 160m or so from home. Positioned in sixth turning for home, the highly regarded favourite RUN RHINO RUN found no extra in the straight and stayed on for fifth.
Titbits
After running on from midfield BLACK JADE won the maiden plate over 1200m going away by a length and a half.
AZINCOURT came from the rear when winning the MR80 Handicap over 1200m in good style.
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Top speedratings for this weekend include:-
Flamingo Park (mon)
Race 1: (2) Lady Oracy 8 (NAP*)
Race 2: (7) Manzai 20
Race 3: (7) Sportorio 17
Race 4: (5) Impresa 51
Race 5: (2) Tudor Star 42
Race 6: (5) Romantic Balladeer31
Race 7: (4) Stone Pine 40
Race 8: (4) San Vicenzo 41
Race 9: (6) Up And Running 35
Vaal (tues)
Race 1: (1) Woody Glow 24
Race 2: (2) See You 7
Race 3: (1) Across The Ice 78
Race 4: (1) Sea Knight 15
Race 5: (7) Manx Park 58
Race 6: (2) Uncle Tommy 84 (NAP*)
Race 7: (13) Miss K 77
Race 8: (5) Weekend Special 49
Kenilworth (wed)
Race 1: (3) My Emblem 17
Race 2: (5) Western Storm 10
Race 3: (1) Vogue’s Wood 7
Race 4: (1) Air Chief Marshal 12
Race 5: (4) Pure Power 54
Race 6: (3) Silver Salver 75
Race 7: (4) Music App 38
Race 8: (13) Hopeitsaprize 46
Vaal (thur)
Race 1: (5) Dusk To Dawn 18
Race 2: (4) Tarentum 6
Race 3: (1) Jayyed 55 (NAP**)
Race 4: (2) Bad Dream 11
Race 5: (13) Yourmyeverything 46
Race 6: (12) October Eleventh 76
Race 7: (14) Kostya Zu 50
Race 8: (2) Be Mine Tonight 59
Race 9: (14) Via Della Tigre 50
Race 10: (16) Torrelavega 52
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Top rated winners last week included
Black Jade won 5/1
Barbosa won 15/4
Your Worship won 5/2
Sundari won 2/1
All The Bids won 12/10
Paulus won 1/1
Sea Fan won 7/10
Fly By Night won 9/20
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Notebook:-
It Is Written (D Kannemeyer, KZN)
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FASTEST TIMES
The number of races run over each distance is shown in brackets
*Denotes – Times taken by Clockwatcher
Kenilworth (new) 12th April
Penetrometer 21 – Going Good
1000m (2) Triple Bluff 59,12
1200m (4) Fly By Night 72,01
1400m (2) Annigoni 86,02
Vaal (sand) 14th April
Going Standard
1000m (1) West Ridge 59,96
1200m (2) Son Of Approval 74,25
1450m (2) Wilhelmina 94,47
1600m (1) Ciao-Ciao 103,44
1800m (2) Sundari 115,87
Scottsville (inside) 15th April
Penetrometer 21 – Going Good
1000m (2) Mr Roy 57,99
1200m (3) Barbosa 68,50
1400m (1) It Is Written 81,89
1600m (2) Caribbean Day 95,57
1950m (1) City Of Athens 120,21
2400m (1) Your Worship 153,08
