Vaal 9th December
Reach For The Sky
They raced on the turf on Thursday where the easiest victory in the maiden ranks was scored by LIFE IN LIGHT (7) in the 1000m event. Taken straight to the front by Derek David, Life In Light led throughout. She was always in command and although the heavily supported favourite FLAMING WATERS chased hard over the final 400m, she went on to win very easily by three and a half.
Race seven on the card was a MR90 Handicap over 1600m and here we saw a nice performance from the 3yo SKY LINK (66). Sent off a rather uneasy favourite at 28/10, Mike De Kock’s charge was always in touch with the leaders. He was visibly cruising as he moved through to take up the running 200m from home and went on to score very cosily by two and a quarter from the running on CANUTE THE GREAT (8/1 into 13/2).
Another to win well on this card was CHALLENGER QUAY (73) who registered his fifth career victory from just thirteen starts in the MR90 affair over 1200m. Freely available at 22/1 on the off, Diane Stenger’s charge was soon at the head of affairs. He was two lengths clear going through the 400m and although both REGAL RUNNER and OFFICER CLASS chased hard at the business end of the race, he went on to score very comfortably by two and a quarter.
Fairview 10th December
Highly Rated
A maiden juvenile event over 800m got proceedings underway in the Eastern Cape on Friday and here we saw a smart performance from the well supported second favourite GULF KING. Backed into 5/2 from 5/1 at the track, Grant Paddock’s charge was soon up handy. He was ridden to lead shortly after passing the 200m marker and although the favourite FOREST BLADE (evens out to 2/1) kept on determinedly once headed, he went on to score very comfortably by a length and a half. Gulf King won well and his trainer spoke very highly of him after the race.
Race three on the card was a maiden event over 1600m and here it was nice to see the grey PERE JOSEPH finally break out of the maiden ranks. Making his twenty sixth racecourse appearance here, Yvette Bremner’s charge, as per usual, sat in the rear for most of the journey. SPARKLER was the first to make a move in the straight and when that one struck the front 300m out, Pere Joseph was still many lengths adrift. Quickening with all his usual zest though, Pere Joseph cut through the field swiftly from there onwards and under a well judged ride from Karis Teetan, he got up nicely late to score by a length and a quarter. Pere Joseph is undoubtedly better than his current record would suggest and will more than likely pick up a second win much quicker than he gained his first.
The afternoons feature event was a MR90 Handicap over 1200m and here a bit of an upset was to be had when the 7yo BULLDOZER registered his seventh career victory. Confidently ridden by Nadine Rapson, Bulldozer sat in the rear for most of the journey. Once given rein though, he quickened well and in what proved to be a real thriller, he got up late to deny the well supported favourite CLASSIC LECTURE (2/1 into 13/10) in the dying strides.
Kenilworth 11th December
Fair And Square
Eight newcomers went to post for the Juvenile Plate over 800m in Cape Town on Saturday and here we saw a smart performance from the Justin Snaith trained SOWETO SLEW. Always handy, the son of Oratorio quickened nicely after being switched out for a run and went on to score going away. Only time will tell as to the strength of the opposition here, but Soweto Slew did win well.
Race four on the card was an Allowance Plate over 1200m and here we saw a gutsy performance from the Joey Ramsden trained POSSIBLE DREAM. Soon up handy, Possible Dream raced prominent throughout. She was ridden to lead shortly after passing halfway and kept on strongly on the run to the line to beat the running on favourite PLAY NICE by three quarters.
The Gr2 Midmar Premier Trophy topped the bill and here victory went to the rapidly improving 4yo CASK. Nibbled at throughout the afternoon into 7/1 from 12’s, Stephen Page’s charge raced towards the rear during the early part of the race. Taking into account the strength of the opposition, he looked to have plenty to do coming off the bend, but once in the straight he quickened well. Indeed, Cask finished best of all and got up nicely late to beat the lesser fancied of Mike Bass’ two runners SUPER STORM by a half.
Greyville 11th December
Landing The Odds
The 3yo FREEDOM (58) was sent off a well supported favourite to win the novice event over 1600m in Natal on Saturday evening and he didn’t let down his supporters. Backed into 15/20 from 12/10 throughout the day, Mike De Kock’s charge raced prominent throughout. Freedom was ridden to lead shortly after passing the 300m marker, but with the pacemaker MAROPENG rallying gamely after being headed, it was only by the narrowest of margins that he prevailed.
Much easier a winner was the aptly named PICK OF THE BUNCH (46) who caused a bit of an upset when winning the MR72 affair over 1200m. Allowed to drift right out to 14/1 from 7/1 at the track, Alyson Wright’s charge had been drawn wide and having been a little slow into stride to boot, she very quickly found herself positioned towards the rear. She quickened best of all when the runners fanned out at the top of the straight though and after striking the front 200m from home, she easily accounted for another easy to back runner in TURF QUEEN. Pick Of The Bunch won well and clearly has more to come.
The non black type River Indigo Handicap over 1400m topped the bill and here it was nice to see the Jet Master mare MISS TURBULENCE (76) back in the winner’s enclosure. Taking full advantage of her gate three draw, Weiho Marwing’s charge was soon positioned close to the speed. She was asked to take up the running as they approached the 200m marker and went on to score comfortably from the running on LADY MAGPIE. Keep an eye on the runner up Lady Magpie. Alistair Gordon’s charge ran on very nicely from towards the rear and in only going down by a length and a quarter, she did well to get as close as she did.
Top speedratings for this weekend include:-
Arlington
Race 1: (15) Drummie 18
Race 2: (17) Rochelle 16
Race 3: (15) Distinctive Dame 18
Race 4: (1) Cashmere ‘n Caviar 45
Race 5: (11) Eli’s Boi 57
Race 6: (3) Ballando 78
Race 7: (3) Sporting Rooney 51
Race 8: (5) Silent Warrior 56
Turffontein (Tues)
Race 1: No Qualifiers
Race 2: (3) Tsitsikama Strike 25
Race 3: (4) Legendary Vintage 22
Race 4: (2) Phemba 25 (NAP*)
Race 5: (1) Captain’s Key 61
Race 6: (13) King’s Destiny 43
Race 7: (2) Regal Ransom 87
Race 8: (2) Cinnamon Sugar 60
Kenilworth
Race 1: (1) Captain’s Emblem 13
Race 2: (4) Just Tiger 25
Race 3: (4) Boobalina 11
Race 4: (6) Wing Man 25
Race 5: (4) Jean Jeannie 75
Race 6: (3) Shadow In The Wind 53
Race 7: (5) Flighty’s Last 73
Race 8: (12) Soda Pop 61
Clairwood
Race 1: (12) Personal Question 30
Race 2: (3) She-Var 9
Race 3: (6) D’angelo 22
Race 4: (6) Tarragon 49
Race 5: (3) Bold Alliance 54 (EW)
Race 6: (8) La Negrita 69
Race 7: (11) Chatanooga Chuchu 35
Race 8: (9) Maropeng 63
Race 9: (4) Sacred Saracen 22
Race 10: (3) Diminutive 12
Turffontein (Thur)
Race 1: (1) Colour Supplement 26
Race 2: (2) Westa 30
Race 3: (3) Elegant Model 19
Race 4: (1) Frozen Fire 70 (NAP*)
Race 5: (14) Ubule 72
Race 6: (11) Azanian Giant 74
Race 7: (12) Stamping Ground 55
Race 8: (2) Mr Black Tom 54
Race 9: (13) The Manchild 48
Top rated winners last week included:-
Bull Dozer won 20/1
Sweet Talk won 7/1
Count Oliver won 6/1
Woman Of The Year won 33/10
Fernando Torres won 7/2
Milvago won 7/2
Sky Link won 28/10
Kayhaladin won 5/2
Notebook:-
Cask (S Page, W-Cape)
Gulf King (G Paddock, E-Cape)
Lady Magpie (A Gordon, Natal
Soweto Slew (J Snaith, W-Cape)
FASTEST TIMES
(Shown in brackets is the number of races run in each category)
Vaal 9th December
Fastest Sprint 1000-1300 (4) Azwa
Fastest Middle 1400-1800 (6) Parade Prince
Fastest Long 1900-3600 (0) No Qualifiers
Fairview 10th December
Fastest Sprint 1000-1300 (4) Gulf King
Fastest Middle 1400-1800 (3) Pere Joseph
Fastest Long 1900-3600 (1) Badger’s Bite
Kenilworth 11th December
Fastest Sprint 1000-1300 (4) Yodac
Fastest Middle 1400-1800 (4) Cask
Fastest Long 1900-3600 (1) Sun City
Greyville 11th December
Fastest Sprint 1000-1300 (3) Regal Joy
Fastest Middle 1400-1800 (4) Miss Turbulence
Fastest Long 1900-3600 (1) Flaming King
