Arlington 17th January
7 For 78
Favourite backers got off to a nice start in Port Elizabeth on Friday when the well supported FOREST FASHION did the business in the opening maiden event over 1000m. In the red at 17/20 on the off, Alan Greeff’s charge was soon up handy. She ran on stoutly at the business end of the race and did well to fend off a determined challenge from the friendless DUVET.
Race six on the card was a MR73 Handicap over 1400m and here we saw a gutsy performance from the Justin Snaith trained ROSALINDA’S EYES. Freely available at 20/1 on the off, the lesser fancied of Justin’s three runners led throughout. She found extra when the pack headed by ENCHANTED made their move 400m out and went on to win fair and square by a length and a quarter.
A MR90 Handicap over 2000m topped the bill and here it was nice to see the veteran EL RICHE post his seventh career victory. As per usual positioned towards the rear for most of the journey, the 8yo son of Jallad was still some six lengths adrift as the eleven horse party turned for home. Running on with all his usual zest though, El Riche steadily began to work his way through the field and under a well judged ride from Musi Yeni, he got up late to score by a half.
Titbits
Recent maiden winner MISS LOPEZ ran on strongly from off the pace when taking second in the novice 1600m.
SPECTRE BOY ran on very strongly after being baulked for a run in the MR90 Handicap over 2000m.
Scottsville 18th January
Smart Fighter
In terms of distance, the easiest victory in Natal on Tuesday was recorded by the newcomer STELLAR SEASON (33) in the not so lucky last, a maiden event over 1200m. Freely available at 20/1 on the off, Duncan Howells’ charge was always handy. She was ridden to lead shortly after passing the 400m marker and drew clear easily in the closing stages of the race to beat the running on LITTLE SWAN by four. Stellar Season won well and clearly has more to come.
Another to win very well in the maiden ranks on this card was the heavily supported PHANTOM FIGHTER (43) who opened his account in the boys division of the maiden 1200m. Backed throughout the day into 7/10 from 15/10, Dennis Drier’s charge was taken straight to the front by Stuart Randolph and led throughout. He was always in command and went on to score much more easily than the official winning margin of two lengths would suggest.
The best bet on the card for most was ROMANTIC MOON (74) in the Conditions Stakes over 1200m and she didn’t let down her supporters. Always deep in the red despite being allowed to ease a little on course, the daughter of Silvano raced prominent throughout. She was asked to take up the running as they approached the 200m marker and went on to score very comfortably by a length and a half.
At the other end of the scale, the closest finish of the afternoon occurred in the MR74 Handicap over 2400m. HELIGAN got the verdict in a three way photo, but it was the third placed runner BOLSHEVIK who finished best of all.
Titbits
Drawn very wide and then baulked for a run to boot, RUSSIAN KITE caught the eye running on strongly late in the MR86 affair over 1400m.
Second in the maiden event over 1200m, Little Swan has been running on nicely in all four starts and should go one better soon.
Turffontein 18th January
Mixed Fortunes
A Maiden Juvenile Plate over 1000m got proceedings underway in the soft going at Turffontein’s stand side track on Tuesday evening and here we saw a smart performance from the newcomer CARLITO BRIGANTE (26). Backed into 33/10 joint second favourite from 5/1 at the track, Paul Peter’s charge was a little troublesome at the start, but despite that he was soon at the head of affairs. He kept up a healthy gallop throughout and although the other two principals in the betting market FORT WILLIAM and CAPTAIN HADDOCK chased hard, he went on to score very comfortably by two and a half.
A Conditions Plate for 3yo’s over 1160m was next up and here the bookies were again forced to reach into their satchels when the heavily supported CAPTAIN’S KEY (70) did the business. In the red at 8/10 (op 13/10) on the off, the son of Captain Al raced prominent throughout. He was ridden to lead shortly after passing halfway and kept on strongly over the final 400m to fend off a determined challenge from his only serious rival in the betting market COUNT EXPRESS by a length.
The listed Swallow Stakes over 1160m topped the bill and here we saw a comfortable victory for the Charles Laird trained STING OPERATION (57). Freely available at 8/1 having broken a bloodvessel when winning her only previous start, the daughter of Captain Al was always handy. She was asked to take up the running as they approached the 200m marker and won comfortably by two and a half. Sting Operation has now won well in both starts and one would normally expect her to have a very bright future ahead of her. Having broken that bloodvessel in her first start though, and being reported as lame on the near fore here, she clearly has her problems.
Titbits
Talented sprinter MOROCCAN won well on his return to racing after a seven month layoff.
DANCEWITHTHEDEVIL ran on very well in the latter stages of the MR94 Handicap over 1160m.
Kenilworth 19th January
Music To The Ears
The best bet on the card for most in Cape Town on Wednesday was SWEET ARIA in the maiden event over 1000m and she didn’t let down her supporters. Pitched in against what has to be said was a very moderate bunch, the 1/5 favourite was soon at the head of affairs. She went on to score by a length and a half, but it was by no means as easy as the betting might have suggested.
Race four on the card was a novice event over 1600m and here victory went to the recently gelded ENGLISH GARDEN. Allowed to ease a little in the betting market (7/10 out to 11/10) as money came for both SIX BLUE NOTES (7/1 into 7/2) and ABINGTON (10/1 into 5/1), English Garden was always well positioned to strike. He moved through to dispute matters 200m out and although Abington threw down a determined challenge below the distance, he went on to score a tad more easily than the official winning margin of half a length will reflect.
The afternoon’s feature event was a MR76 affair over 2000m and here it was nice to see the Dynasty gelding STORMY AFFAIR post his second career victory. Sent off a rather uneasy favourite at 3/1, Dean Kannemeyer’s charge raced in midfield during the early part of the race. He quickened well down the long home straight and under a well judged ride from Karl Neisius, he got up late to beat the pacemaker WEST ISLAND by three quarters.
Titbits
Currently very well handicapped, the former Cape Derby runner up BLUEMAMBO did well to get up for fourth after losing six lengths at the start in the MR76 Handicap over 2000m.
The heavily supported 2yo SPLIT THE PROFIT (14/1 into 5/2) was running on very strongly late when third in the Juvenile Plate over 1000m.
Vaal 20th January
Flying Sayadaw
Thursday’s action at the Vaal took place on the sand where victory in the opening maiden event over 1200m went to the favourite DO IT MY WAY (33). Just a length covered the first six going through the 500m and at that stage the race looked wide open. Once given rein though, Alec Laird’s charge quickened best of all and after striking the front shortly after passing the 200m marker, he comfortably drew clear.
A Pinnacle Stakes over 1600m topped the bill and sent off a strong favourite here was the hattrick seeking STORM CROSSING (96). The field was always closely grouped and nicely positioned in fifth Mike De Kock’s charge was always poised to strike. Storm Crossing was closely stalked by the second favourite SAYADAW (96) as he made his move 300m out though and despite having the rest well beaten, he couldn’t match strides with that one when the heat was turned on.
The final event on the card was a MR68 Handicap over 1000m and here victory went to the 3yo BAREBACK (38). Freely available at 8/1 on the off, Wallace Tolmay’s charge was always in touch with the leaders. He was asked to take up the running as they approached the 200m marker and went on to score comfortably from the running on BERMUDA TRIANGLE by a length.
Titbits
The favourite SHAUNIE BOY was reported as being lame on the near fore after being beaten in the MR80 Handicap over 1200m.
Top speedratings for this weekend include:-
Fairview
Race 1: (9) Riverbend 11
Race 2: (9) Eastern Colours 37
Race 3: (1) Tanzania 60
Race 4: (1) Fortworth 43
Race 5: (2) Golden Luci 74
Race 6: (6) Great Heart 106
Race 7: (10) Phalebah 60
Race 8: (2) Air In Motion 11
Turffontein
Race 1: (1) Sublime 27
Race 2: (6) Kim Possible 17
Race 3: (6) Micro Jet 18
Race 4: (14) Silver Rocket 48
Race 5: (7) Smart Girl 72
Race 6: (14) Smanyo 46
Race 7: (7) Past Master 107
Race 8: (8) Sishebo 75
Race 9: (14) Foreign Reserve 74
Race 10: (10) Majestic Circle 52
Kenilworth
Race 1: (6) Chippendale 67
Race 2: (9) Naughty Girl 72
Race 3: (4) Soweto Slew 29
Race 4: (12) Citizen Dante 96
Race 5: (1) Solo Traveller 76
Race 6: (13) Covenant 104
Race 7: (7) Past Master 107
Race 8: (10) Captainoftheguard 68
Race 9: (2) Cocoa Beach 71
Race 10: (18) Tassie Belle 86
Vaal
Race 1: (8) Colca Canyon 24 (NAP*)
Race 2: (4) Phemba 25
Race 3: (1) Polish Lady 23
Race 4: (3) Jamberoo 26
Race 5: (9) Parlotone 87
Race 6: (4) Royal Exit 70 (EW)
Race 7: (5) Radiant Rock 78
Race 8: (16) Tobrusky 68
Race 9: (3) Super Boy 32
Top rated winners last week included:-
Foxtrot Baby won 13/2
Moroccan won 7/2
Sayadaw won 3/1
Do It My Way won 12/10
Waging War won 1/1
National Executive won 17/20
Tigers Eye won 13/20
Trinity House won 6/10
Notebook:-
Dancewiththedevil (St John Gray, Gauteng)
English Garden (M Bass, W-Cape)
Phantom Fighter (D Drier, Natal)
Sayadaw (S Kenny, Gauteng)
FASTEST TIMES
(Shown in brackets is the number of races run in each category)
Arlington 17th January
Fastest Sprint 1000-1300 (2) Forest Fashion
Fastest Middle 1400-1800 (4) Vae Victus
Fastest Long 1900-3600 (2) El Riche
Scottsville 18th January
Fastest Sprint 1000-1300 (7) Western Baby
Fastest Middle 1400-1800 (2) Hot Rocket
Fastest Long 1900-3600 (1) Heligan
Turffontein 18th Januray
Fastest Sprint 1000-1300 (6) Moroccan
Fastest Middle 1400-1800 (1) Burning Embers
Fastest Long 1900-3600 (0) No Qualifiers
Kenilworth 19th Janauray
Fastest Sprint 1000-1300 (2) Sweet Aria
Fastest Middle 1400-1800 (5) English Garden
Fastest Long 1900-3600 (1) Stormy Affair
Vaal 20th January
Fastest Sprint 1000-1300 (4) Bareback
Fastest Middle 1400-1800 (4) Pimp My Ride
Fastest Long 1900-3600 (0) No Qualifiers
