Showing Class
Turffontein 4th April: They raced on the old stand side track on Saturday where the fastest of the afternoon’s three 1160m races was the bill topping Gr2 Senor Santa Handicap won by the easy to back DOLLAR DAZZLER. Freely available at 12/1 on the off, Alec Laird’s charge was soon positioned close to the speed. He put his head in front shortly after passing the 200m marker and comfortably accounted for the always handy MOOFEED by a length and three quarters.
There were also three races run over 2000m and fastest against the clock amongst these was the aptly named EPSOM DOWNS when winning the listed Oaks Trial. Allowed to drift as if a win was out of the question at the track (8/1 out to 20/1), Sean Tarry’s charge raced in the rear, and was still easily ten lengths adrift turning for home. Once in the straight though she ran on best of all and in what proved to be a real thriller she got up in the dying strides to deny the gutsy front runner WITHBATEDBREATH.
The stable of Sean Tarry was also on the mark in the listed Derby Trial when LEGAL EAGLE registered his second career victory. Another to run on stoutly from off the pace, the son of Greys Inn struck the front 250m out and with an absolute ton in hand won by two and a quarter. The runner up STONEHENGE also finished well from off the pace in this race.
Titbits
GRADUATION DAY only had to be pushed out when winning the maiden plate over 1160m by a steeplechase margin, eleven and a quarter.
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Progressively Softer
Scottsville 5th April: They raced in Pietermaritzburg on Sunday where because of deteriorating weather conditions they were only able to run four races. A maiden juvenile plate for the boys over 1200m was first up and here victory went to the second favourite HIP HOP DANCER. He got away well when the gates opened and taken straight to the front by Anton Marcus led throughout. The well supported newcomer MASTER SAM challenged strongly over the final 400m and after a thrilling tussle it was only by three quarters that the son of Trippi got the verdict.
Much easier a winner was the newcomer CHESTNUTS N PEARLS in the girl’s division of the maiden juvenile 1200m. Allowed to drift right out to 11/2 from 28/10 on course, Dennis Drier’s charge raced third early on. She was ridden to lead going through the 300m and only asked to do the absolute necessary in the closing stages of the race, she won with a ton in hand by a length and a half.
Marginally the fastest of the four 1200m events was the MR86 Handicap won by the strongly fancied LONDON CALL. Well weighted here on his latest run, the son of Kahal made all. He was always in command and won without any anxious moments by two and three quarters.
Titbits
Reported as taking no interest early on, WILLIAM OF WEMBLEY ran on well from the rear when third in the maiden plate over 1200m.
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Four For Joey
Kenilworth 6th April: Four of the eight races in Cape Town on Easter Monday were run over 1400m and fastest against the clock in these was WHAT A MISSION in the MR86 Handicap. Sent off a very uneasy favourite at 33/10 (op 18/10), Joey Ramsden’s charge raced sixth of the nine for most of the journey. He quickened well when the early effort took its toll on the front running KIRUMBO, and comfortably accounted for the 3yo DO BE SNAPPY by a length.
Race five on the card was a maiden plate over 1400m and here the stable of Joey Ramsden was again on the mark (saddled four winners on the afternoon) when the 3yo TROUBLE MAKER opened his account. Confidently ridden by Bernard Fayd’Herbe, the son of Captain Al sat at the back early on. He quickened well after switching out for a run 250m from home and won going away by two after striking the front 100m later. The runner up CONSONANCE also finished well in this race.
Also worthy of note over 1400m was the performance of CRYSTAL CAVERN in winning the MR74 Handicap. Another to run on stoutly from the rear, the top weight got up late under a well-judged ride from our champion jockey S’manga Khumalo, and won going away by a length and a quarter.
Titbits
The newcomer MACDUFF ran on well from the rear when winning the first division of the maiden juvenile 1200m.
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Sheriff In Command
Fairview 8th April: A maiden plate over 1900m got proceedings underway at Wednesday’s poly track meeting and here victory went to the favourite GALAO. Allowed to flirt with even money at one stage during the morning (op 5/2) before easing back out to 16/10, the former Cape Town campaigner sat fourth for most of the journey. He was ridden to lead as they approached the 200m pole and kept on strongly late to beat THE GREAT GURU by a neck.
At the other end of the scale the easiest victory on the card was undoubtedly that of Gogetthesheriff in the fastest of the three 1300m races, a MR92 Handicap. Confidently ridden by Gavin Lerena the 4yo son of Go Deputy raced in midfield early on. He quickened well at the top of the straight and won with a ton in hand by three and a half after striking the front 200m out.
Another to win well over 1300m was REBEL HOUSE in the MR75 Handicap. Swiftly guided over from a wide draw by apprentice Ntokozo Gumede, the 12/1 shot was soon at the head of affairs. He had the field well strung out coming off the bend and went on to score very comfortably by two.
Titbits
DANCING INTHE SNOW won the maiden plate over 1200m with some in hand.
The 50/s shot VIVARANI ran on well from the backend of midfield when fourth in the MR68 Handicap over 1000m.
Despite being burdened with 63,5kg, TAARISH ran on very well from off the pace to fill third position in the MR80 Handicap over 2200m.
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Top speedratings for this weekend include:-
Flamingo Park (mon)
Race 1: (2) Paulus 8
Race 2: (6) Harry’s Horse 26
Race 3: (6) Liquification 15 (EW)
Race 4: (4) Creative Stripe 31
Race 5: (1) Due And Payable 55
Race 6: (4) Bluebaygirl 30
Race 7: (1) All The Bids 62 (NAP*)
Race 8: (4) Atso Time 47
Race 9: (4) Rhumba Beat 31
Vaal (tues)
Race 1: (1) Icy Avalanche 17
Race 2: (5) Sundari 52
Race 3: (3) Fiesta De Espana 18
Race 4: (2) See You 7
Race 5: (15) Sleuth 45
Race 6: (2) Stay Amazed 43 (EW)
Race 7: (10) Sidecar 49
Race 8: (16) French Approval 40
Scottsville (wed)
Race 1: (7) Manyou 8
Race 2: (11) Variable Pitch 9
Race 3: (3) Flying Luxmi 24
Race 4: (2) Barbosa 83
Race 5: (12) Glinka 54
Race 6: (7) Your Worship 28
Race 7: (2) Tipo Tinto 68
Race 8: (7) Patchit Up Baby 59 (nb)
Race 9: (11) Trendy Guy 57
Race 10: (4) Masked Girl 11 (NAP*)
Vaal (thur)
Race 1: (1) Cascadia 10
Race 2: (4) Ima Perdy Lady 8
Race 3: (10) Richiethelionheart 1
Race 4: (1) Golden Man 22
Race 5: (8) Carlito Brigante 47
Race 6: (3) Ntombe 60
Race 7: (13) River Run 36
Race 8: (7) Golden Myth 24
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Top rated winners last week included
Cotswold won 12/1
Captain Swarovski won 9/2
Door Of Deception won 4/1
Antonius Charm won 33/10
London Call won 11/20
Amarillo Rose won 5/10
Graduation Day won 5/10
Street Flyer won 9/20
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Notebook:
Chestnuts N Pearls (D Drier, KZN)
Legal Eagle (S Tarry, Gauteng)
Macduff (J Ramsden, 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
Turffontein (old) 4th April
Penetrometer 22 – Going Good
1160m (3) Dollar Dazzler 66,83
1400m (2) Street Flyer 87,05
1600m (2) Alice Springs 97,88
2000m (3) Epsom Downs 122,62
Scottsville (inside) 5th April
Penetrometer 27 – Going Soft
1200m (4) London Call 71,11
Kenilworth (new) 6th April
Penetrometer 20 – Going Good
1000m (1) Petala 59,51
1200m (2) The Stone Thrower 72,88
1400m (4) What A Mission 85,35
2000m (1) Forte De Ouro 125,79
Fairview (poly) 7th April
Going Standard
1000m (1) Credibility 57,53
1200m (2) Dancing Inthe Snow 70,68
1300m (3) Gogetthesheriff 74,48
1900m (1) Galao 118,30
2200m (1) King Of Indians 135,30
