Fairview 12th November
Four For Justin
A maiden event over 1400m got proceedings underway at Fairview on Friday and here victory went to the easy to back SWING BABY (5/2 out to 11/2). The first of four winners on the card for trainer Justin Snaith, Swing Baby raced in midfield during the early part of the race. She quickened best of all in the long home straight and after striking the front 200m from home, she comfortably accounted for the nibbled at MISS DELISH (12/1 into 8/1) by a length and a half. Keep an eye on Swing Baby. She won well and clearly has more to come at this centre.
The afternoons’ feature event was a Pinnacle Stakes over 1000m and here we saw a very comfortable victory for the 7yo THUNDER KEY. Soon up handy, this former winner of the Diadem Stakes raced prominent throughout. He was ridden to lead at the 200m marker and although the pacemaker BANDOL kept on determinedly once headed, he drew clear easily in the closing stages of the race to score by three and a quarter.
The fillies Guineas Plate over 1400m was next up and here a bit of an upset was to be had when the lesser fancied of Gavin Smith’s three runners KASLEE landed the spoils. Freely available at 10/1 on the off, the daughter of Requiem was content to amble along towards the rear for most of the journey. Once given rein though, she quickened well and in what proved to be a real thriller, she got up in the dying strides to deny the rank outsider of the party MOONSHINE LAKE (66/1).
Turffontein 12th November
Amazing Race
Friday evening’s action took place on the old stand side track where we saw a very easy victory in the opening maiden event over 1600m for the well supported BEAUTIFUL YOU (43). Backed into 28/10 second favourite from 5/1, Sean Tarry’s charge raced in midfield early on. She began to take closer order early in the straight and was already at the front going through the 400m. She drew clear easily from there onwards and with some in hand she coasted in by five.
The listed Gardenia Handicap run over 1000m was the first of the evenings’ two feature events to take place and here we saw a very impressive performance from the Natal Fillies Guineas winner GIBRALTAR BLUE (95). Freely available at 2/1 on the off, the daughter of Rock Of Gibraltar was taken straight to the front by Anton Marcus and led throughout. She began to assert her authority going through the 400m and in what proved to be a fast time, she easily accounted for ADORABLE by four and a quarter. The flexible Gibraltar Blue has now won four of her five starts in South Africa and clearly has a very bright future ahead of her.
The Gr2 Victory Moon Stakes over 1800m topped the bill and here we saw an amazing performance from Gibraltar Blue’s stable companion PERANA (76). Supported throughout the day into 75/20 favourite from 7/1, Perana was at the helm as the sixteen runners turned for home. She looked to be going well as they approached the 400m pole, but then for whatever reason, she ducked sharply and looked to be trying to pull herself up. Just as suddenly as she ducked though, she straightened herself up and quickly went back up the gears. Her very talented stable companion MOTHER RUSSIA struck the front whilst these antics were taking place and now finding herself in sixth, Perana had a bit to do. Undeterred though, Anthony Delpech steadily worked her back into contention and in what proved to be a real thriller, she amazingly regained the lead close home.
Greyville 13th November
Blossoming Kingdom
The easiest victory in the maiden ranks at Greyville on Saturday afternoon was undoubtedly that of NATIONAL SECURITY (21) who came home smoking in the 1400m event. Deep in the red at 5/10 on the off, Deon Visser’s charge raced sixth for most of the journey. He was visibly cruising as Kevin Shea moved him into contention 400m out and after striking the front 100m later, he went on to score by a length and a half with some in hand.
A novice event for the girls over 1400m was next up and here we saw an impressive performance from the 3yo ENCHANTED KINGDOM (44). Sent off a strong favourite at 18/10, the daughter of Kahal raced in midfield during the early part of the race. Enchanted Kingdom quickened well early in the straight and struck the front 250m out. She quickly went clear and although BOURBON ROSE finished well from off the pace, she won very cosily by three. Enchanted Kingdom has now won both of her career starts in good fashion and is clearly useful. Bourbon Rose is also one to keep tabs on.
A MR96 Handicap over 1600m topped the bill and here we saw a nice performance from the rejuvenated 7yo JET MAN (70). On leaving the stalls it was the easy to back MAKZOOS who elected to make the running whilst Jet Man raced some five lengths away in sixth. He ran on nicely when asked for his effort early in the straight and after striking the front 250m out, he kept on strongly in the closing stages of the race to beat the running on DUNTROON by a length and a quarter.
Fairview 15th November
Winning The Battle
First up in Port Elizabeth on Monday was a maiden event over 1200m and here victory went to the Des Mclachlan trained WESTERN STAR. Sent off second favourite in this only his second racecourse appearance, Western Star was taken straight to the front by Brandon Morgenrood and led throughout. He kept on strongly at the business end of the race and comfortably accounted for the running on PERE JOSEPH by three quarters.
Race four on the card was a graduation event over 1400m and here favourite backers were on the mark when Waging War did the business. Racing in midfield some five lengths off the pace, his jockey Warren Kennedy lost an iron 400m from home and was inconvenienced for the rest of the journey. Despite that though, he still managed to take the useful Waging War through the gears and in what proved to be a real thriller, they got up late to deny the gutsy frontrunner PORT CURTIS.
The closest finish of the afternoon came in the MR89 affair over 1000m where the Cape Town raider RIBBONS FOR THEE narrowly landed the spoils. On leaving the stalls it was MISS VAR who not surprisingly elected to set the pace and she soon had many under pressure. Ribbons For Thee meanwhile raced a length and a half away in second. Miss Var kept on determinedly at the business end of the race and going through the 100m, it looked as if she would make all. Ribbons For Thee quickened nicely below the distance though and just as if scripted she got up in the very last stride. One to look out for next time from this race is the third horse IRIS AND RUBY. Not for the first time in recent starts, Mitch Wiese’s charge ran on very nicely from off the pace.
Top speedratings for this weekend include:-
Flamingo Park
Race 1: No Qualifiers
Race 2: (7) Gleaming Light 18
Race 3: (14) Tequila Dreams 12
Race 4: (10) Dangerfield 61 (EW)
Race 5: (12) Pro Power 75
Race 6: (1) Crown Of Power 72
Race 7: (7) Commodity Share 71
Race 8: (1) Final Contract 38
Race 9: (15) Tara’s Flight 30
Vaal (Tues)
Race 1: (1) Soul Sister 21
Race 2: (2) National Fleet 18
Race 3: (5) Vacherin 82
Race 4: (9) Rebecca Sharp 80
Race 5: (10) Mighty Assassin 86
Race 6: (9) Gold Medalion 64
Race 7: (11) South Star 67
Race 8: (11) Leprecorns Gift 65 (EW)
Kenilworth
Race 1: No Qualifiers
Race 2: (6) Cause To Believe 18
Race 3: (3) Polar Bound 17
Race 4: (4) Sealed Orders 60
Race 5: (3) State Crown 83
Race 6: (11) Hasseldon 64
Race 7: (7) Golden Parachute 85
Race 8: (5) Palifico 53 (EW)
Vaal (Thur)
Race 1: (5) Aquatic Club 20
Race 2: (5) Paintyourface 28
Race 3: (4) Desert Warrior 20
Race 4: (1) Balenciaga 22
Race 5: (4) Lago Lida 64
Race 6: (14) Psychic Secret 76
Race 7: (10) Chekeche 52
Race 8: (7) Lady Beatrix 52 (EW)
Race 9: (1) Super Boy 27
Top rated winners last week included:-
Ozymandias won 4/1
Special Club won 7/2
Crystal Wolf won 33/10
Grey Starling won 33/10
Meringue won 16/10
National Security won 5/10
Grey Rose won 9/20
M’lords Throat won 4/10
Notebook:-
Bourbon Rose (D Howells, Natal)
Enchanted Kingdom (P Peter, Natal)
Gibraltar Blue (M De Kock, Gauteng)
Kaslee (G Smith, E-Cape
Perana (M De Kock, Gauteng)
FASTEST TIMES
(Shown in brackets is the number of races run in each category)
Fairview 12th November
Fastest Sprint 1000-1300 (1) Thunder Key
Fastest Middle 1400-1800 (3) Viewofthepark
Fastest Long 1900-3600 (4) Club Montreal
Turffontein 12th November
Fastest Sprint 1000-1300 (3) Gibraltar Blue
Fastest Middle 1400-1800 (6) Perana
Fastest Long 1900-3600 (0) No Qualifiers
Greyville 13th November
Fastest Sprint 1000-1300 (2) Flaming Al
Fastest Middle 1400-1800 (5) Jet Man
Fastest Long 1900-3600 (2) Frosty Song
Fairview 15th November
Fastest Sprint 1000-1300 (6) Ribbons For Thee
Fastest Middle 1400-1800 (2) Hurricane Katrina
Fastest Long 1900-3600 (0) No Qualifiers
