An important scientific complimentary tool of the trade for punters and racing enthusiasts, sectional timing data can enhance both the form study and horseracing viewing experience on both KwaZulu-Natal and Western Cape race meetings.
In Time Is Money this week, we look at some of the past weekend’s highlights, and commence with Sunday’s Hollywoodbets Kenilworth Summer Season curtain call racemeeting.
After the storm! Grant van Niekerk and All Out For Six bank the big bucks (Pic – Chase Liebenberg)
Hollywoodbets Kenilworth 16 March
Track Condition
Going: Good
Penetrometer: 23
Rain: Last 7 days Nil
Irrigation: Last 24hrs 7,5mm – Last 7 days 37,5mm
False Rail: 2m out from 1700m with 2m spur at 600m mark.
Wind: 7-21km/h North Westerly tail wind
Course Variant: 2,61s fast straight – 1.15s fast bend
CRS NBT Cape Slipper 1200m
The first of the two big money features to be run was the R1,5M Cape Slipper for juveniles over 1200m. Dreamworld and Black Cheetah dominated the betting market, but it was the nibbled at MILITARY COMMAND (10/1 into 7/1) who landed the spoils. An easy winner when setting the pace over 1000m last time out, Peter Muscutt’s charge again raced from the front. Without making a big effort he gained a soft length and quarter lead early on and quickly doubled that when turning up the heat. He set honest fractions throughout and went on to score unchallenged by two.
HSH Princess Charlene NBT Big Cap 1400m
By far the fastest of the three 1400m races on the card, this R5M showpiece was run at a good pace throughout. The 4yo The Grey King made the running and raced two lengths clear for most of the journey. The King’s Plate winner One Stripe was sent off a strong favourite, and fifth, just four lengths off the leader turning for home, he was perfectly placed. The son of One World went for a rail’s run in the straight whilst at the same time one of his two stable companions ALL OUT FOR SIX, (raced fourth three lengths off the pace), moved up to tackle The Grey King on his outside.
Allowed to drift in the betting market as if a win was out of the question, All Out For Six (10/1 out to 25/1) put his head in front 250m from home, but then shortly after passing the 200m marker he shifted in a little and brushed the pacemaker. The Grey King in turn rolled inwards and then becoming cramped in the middle he became very unsettled. As a result of these actions the favourite was badly hampered and fell out of contention. All Out For Six quickened well thereafter and went on to score very comfortably by a length and three quarters. After taking everything into account, the stipendary stewards decided to take no action. No doubt there will be plenty who disagree with their findings. La Pulga ran on well to finish second and recorded the fastest 400m-finish time in the race.
Cape Racing Supports sisters.org.za C Stakes 1000m
Three of the afternoon’s ten races were staged over 1000m and stopping the clock in the fastest of these was PEACE OF MIND in the C Stakes. Another front runner to take advantage of the tail wind, the daughter of Var set a good pace and soon had the field well strung out. She kept on strongly at the business end of the race and although the 2/1 favourite Rattlesnake ran on strongly to take second, she still had a length and three quarters to spare at the wire. Rattlesnake had been five lengths off the pace going through halfway and recording the fastest 400-finish time in the race, did well to get as close as he did.
Monaco Sport Of Kings Listed Kenilworth Cup 2400m
Sent off a co-favourite at 33/10 after opening up at 18/10, HOLDING THUMBS got to the front quickly in this distance event and was allowed to dictate matters throughout. The pace on the whole was steady and at different stages, the field were both quite strung out, and tightly bunched. The sectional times clearly show that the son of Vercingetorix accelerated in the 600m-400m segment and quickly turned his one and a half length advantage, into four. The rank outsider of the seven horse party Blackberry Malt ran on strongly to take second position over the final 400m, but the early move made by Sean Veale proved to be decisive.
Quickies
FIRST MASTERPIECE recorded the fastest 400m-finish time of the afternoon when third in the Middle Stakes over 1000m.
Races 4,5,6,7 & 9 were all false paced affairs.
Fastest Times:
1000m (3) Peace Of Mind 56,94
1400m (3) All Out For Six 85,38
400-finish First Masterpiece 22,53
Turffontein 15 March
Track Condition
Going: Good to Soft
Penetrometer: 25
Rain: Last 24hrs 7mm – Last seven days 47mm
Irrigation: Last 7 days Nil
False Rail: 3m back straight to 8m on bend: 8m spur at 700m mark
Wind: 9-28km/h South Westerly cross/head wind
Course Variant: 0,41s slow straight – 1,18s slow bend
Maiden Juvenile Plates 1100m
The two 1100m races on the card were both maiden juvenile plates. Both winners were trained by Sean Tarry, and interestingly, both came out of the same form line.
The first division (open to both males and females) was the faster of the two and here we saw a smart performance from the What A Winter filly ONE FINE WINTER. A neck behind Charming Cheetah in the listed Storm Bird Stakes on debut, One Fine Winter took up the running 400m out. She only had to be pushed out from there onwards and won going away by four and a quarter.
Tina Lovelace (5th beaten 1,85 length in the listed Storm Bird stakes) was not quite as impressive in the fillies division, but nonetheless won with authority by a length and a tail.
Three 1400m Races
Three of the nine races on the card were staged over 1400m. They were all run at a fair pace and the fastest of these was the Book For Champions Day 29 March Pinnacle Stakes. The best bet on the card for many, the winner POMODORO’S JET was always handy. The friendless Gimmeanotherchance (7/2 out to 10/1) got first run and on striking the front 300m out was looking like the winner. The 4/10 favourite steadily worked his way through the gears though, and without being given a punishing ride, he got up 50m from home and won going away.
4Racing Gr3 Sycamore Sprint 1160m
Run at a good pace throughout, the Gr3 Sycamore Sprint was won by the 4yo Vercingetorix filly MIA MOO. The third winner on the card for trainer Sean Tarry, Mia Moo raced prominent throughout. She was ridden to lead shortly after passing the 200m marker and kept on strongly late to beat the rallying pacemaker Komati River by a half.
Fastest Times:
1100m (2) One Fine Winter 64,69
1400m (3) Pomodoro’s Jet 85,54
1600m (2) Apache Chief 101,79
