Powerful Frontrunners
Fairview 1st April: Three of the nine races on Monday’s poly track card took place over 1900m. The MR66 Handicap was by far the fastest of the three and here victory went to the 4yo Sail From Seattle filly SEATTLE SOUND. Nibbled at on course into 8/1 from 12’s, Sharon Kotzen’s charge was soon up handy. She took command early in the short home straight and won comfortably by a length and a quarter.
The only other distance to stage more than one race was 1600m and in the faster of these, the MR87 Handicap, SILVER BLADE registered his fifth career victory. Taken straight to the front by Lyle Hewitson, the son of Jay Peg led throughout. He ran on strongly at the business end of the race and although his more fancied stable companion MANGROVE chased hard, he did have that one held by three quarters at the wire.
A pinnacle stakes over 1400m topped the bill and here we saw another powerful front running performance from MAVERICK GIRL. Completing a hat-trick here, the Rebel King mare increased her one length advantage to two entering the home straight, and although the strongly fancied DELIA’S DELIGHT ran on stoutly over the final 400m, she couldn’t get nearer than a length and a half.
Titbits
IN A PERFECT WORLD ran on well from midfield when registering his second career victory in the MR70 Handicap over 1600m.
That’s The Way
Turffontein 2nd April: A maiden juvenile plate for the girls over 1450m got proceedings underway on the inner track on Tuesday and here we saw a very easy victory for the favourite WAY OF THE WORLD. Making only her second racecourse appearance here, the daughter of Var raced a length clear for most of the journey. She began to assert her authority at the top of the short home straight and won going away by four and a half.
There were four races over 1450m in total and in a time 1,9 seconds faster than that of Way Of The World the quickest home amongst these was O LUCKY MAN in the MR74 Handicap. Always handy, Sean Tarry’s charge put his head in front 150m out and kept on strongly late to beat the rallying pacemaker RAMBO by a half.
The boy’s division was the faster of the two maiden plates over 1600m and here victory went to the 5/1 shot FEITAS FLYER. Another to race handy, Erico Verdonese’s charge ran on strongly over the final 200m, and after a thrilling tussle with the more fancied LASAIR, he got the verdict by 0,3 lengths.
Titbits
Returning from a 33 week layoff here, LA BELLA MIA only had to be pushed out when winning the assessment plate over 1200m very easily by two and three quarters.
Outfoxed Again
Kenilworth 3rd April: After a long spell at Durbanville racing returned to Kenilworth on Wednesday. A MR95 Handicap for 3yo’s over 1400m topped the bill and here we saw another smart performance from the up and coming VARDY. Now a winner of three from five, Adam Marcus’ charge raced in the rear for most of the trip. He ran on best of all in the long new course straight and under a well-judged ride from Craig Zackey he got up late to deny RUSSET AIR.
The MR83 Handicap over the same distance was run in a faster time surprisingly and here victory went to the Andre Nel trained CHATUCHAK. Soon positioned close to the speed, the son of Tiger Ridge ran on strongly over the final 400m and in a thrilling three way finish he got the verdict by a neck over the ultra-consistent veteran WAITING FOR RAIN.
The MR91 affair was not surprisingly the faster of the two handicaps over 1200m and here we saw another impressive performance from the unbeaten RUN FOX RUN. Nicely positioned in second for the first part of the race, the daughter of Foxwedge put her head in front 300m out and after quickly going clear she was eased right down to win by just three quarters. She looks top class.
Titbits
The best bet on the card for many, BOOMPS A DAISY opened her account with authority when winning the maiden plate for the girls over 1000m going away by three and a quarter.
All 9 Races – Sprints
Vaal 4th April: Very unusually all nine races at the Vaal on Thursday were sprinting events and amazingly, seven of these were staged over 1200m. The not so lucky last was very marginally the fastest of these and here the column’s top rated runner IN THE GAME gained his third career victory. Freely available at 16/1 on the off the son of Windrush raced in midfield during the early part of the race. He ran on best of all over the final 400m and got up late to win going away.
The two remaining races were both staged over 1000m and in the quicker of these the 3yo WINTER STORM completed a hat-trick. Now a winner of four from twelve, Paul Peter’s charge was soon positioned close to the speed. He put his head in front as they approached the 300m marker and kept on strongly in the closing stages of the race to fend off a determined challenge from the always handy SCOOP.
In terms of prize money, the MR84 Handicap over 1200m topped the bill and here the combination of Paul Peter and Warren Kennedy were again on the mark when CHE BELLA completed a hat-trick. Shouldering top weight, the well-supported favourite also raced handy. She took the helm 300m out and won well by a half from the running on TWELVE OAKS.
Titbits
Taken straight to the front by apprentice Matsunyane, PHOENIX SUN kept up a strong gallop throughout when showing improvement to win the MR66 Handicap over 1200m.
Heavy Rain Throughout
Greyville 5th April: On a night when rain fell heavily throughout most of the races, the course was running surprisingly fast. A MR82 Handicap over 1000m topped the bill and in a race where the rain was particularly heavy victory went to the 5yo JUST VOGUE. Always handy, Gavin Van Zyl’s charge was ridden to lead 150m out and won going away from the easy to back CELESTINA.
The MR66 Handicap was the faster of the two 1600m events and here a bit of an upset was to be had when GIBRALTAR GREEN landed the spoils. Freely available at 15/1 on the off, the 4yo son of Gimmethegreenlight raced in midfield during the early part of the race. He quickened well at the top of the short home straight and comfortably accounted for his running on stable companion MARK TAPLEY by a length and a quarter.
The only other distance to stage more than one race was 1400m where victory in the MR70 Handicap for the girls went to the favourite WAITING FOR CHANGE. The third of three winners in the pouring rain for Anton Marcus, the daughter of Await The Dawn was always in touch with the leaders. She began to take closer order 400m from home and got up nicely under a well-judged ride to deny MIESQUE SUNRISE close home.
Titbits
Now a winner of two from five, MOON IN JUNE ran on well from midfield when winning the MR71 Handicap over 1800m going away.
Top speedratings for this weekend include:-
Fairview (fri)
Race 1: (1) Cirencester Rose 3
Race 2: (10) Silvari 18
Race 3: (6) The Goon Show 48
Race 4: (9) Captain Marooned 52
Race 5: (8) Pacifista 37
Race 6: (9) Candy Crush 40
Race 7: (7) Sao Paulo 66
Race 8: (12) Keep It Green 44
Race 9: (14) Josie 45
Turffontein (sat)
Race 1: (4) True To Life 24
Race 2: (3) Zillzaal 65
Race 3: (1) Eskimo Kisses 24 (NAP*)
Race 4: (20) Union Castle 22
Race 5: (2) Naafer 69
Race 6: (9) Bid Before Sunset 62
Race 7: (3) Cascapedia 82
Race 8: (9) Flying Fantasy 25
Race 9: (8) Whosethebossnow 41
Race 10: (10) Kings Archer 76
Durbanville (sat)
Race 1: (1) Captain Of Stealth 18
Race 2: (1) Celestial Storm 43 (NAP*)
Race 3: (1) Bella Summer 27
Race 4: (4) Gold Pact 11
Race 5: (1) Gyre 53
Race 6: (5) Strikeitlikeamatch 50
Race 7: (1) Icon Princess 30
Race 8: (5) Power Grid 64
Scottsville (sun)
Race 1: (7) Wishful Girl Linn 13
Race 2: (6) Fiorano 21 (NAP*)
Race 3: (1) Spring Fling 14
Race 4: (10) Mr Fitz 51
Race 5: (3) Twice As Smart 60
Race 6: (9) Constantine 57
Race 7: (11) Arizona Sunset 60
Race 8: (5) Final Attempt 41
Top rated winners last week included
In The Game won 16/1
Seattle Sound won 8/1
Seattle Force won 6/1
La Bella Mia won 17/4
Trojan Winter won 71/20
Hit For Six won 61/20
Rock A Roll Dancer won 19/10
Boomps A Daisy won 6/10
Notebook:-
Boomps A Daisy (B Crawford, W-Cape)
Run Fox Run (B Crawford, W-Cape)
Vardy (A Marcus, W-Cape)
FASTEST TIMES
The number of races run over each distance is shown in brackets
*Denotes – Times taken by Clockwatcher
Fairview (poly) 1st April
Going Standard
Course Variant: 1,50s slow
1200m (1) Exaltation 73,27
1300m (1) Angel Jolee 78,09
1400m (1) Maverick Girl 82,98
1600m (2) Silver Blade 96,57
1900m (3) Seattle Sound 117,36
Turffontein (inner) 2nd April
Penetrometer 22 – Going Good
Course Variant: 1,38s slow
1200m (1) La Bella Mia 71,33*
1450m (4) O Lucky Man 88,55
1600m (2) Feitas Flyer 99,47
2600m (1) Seattle Force 168,04
Kenilworth (new) 3rd April
Penetrometer 23 – Going Good
Course Variant: 0,66s slow
1000m (2) Boomps A Daisy 58,90
1200m (2) Run Fox Run 72,10
1400m (2) Chatuchak 87,90
1600m (1) Madonna 100,62
2000m (1) Transylvania 127,45
Vaal 4th April
Penetrometer 21 – Going Good
Course Variant:
1000m (2) Winter Storm 56,96
1200m (7) In The Game 69,92
Greyville (poly) 5th April
Going Standard
Course Variant: 0,61s fast
1000m (1) Just Vogue 56,79
1200m (1) Putchini 69,81
1400m (2) Waiting For Change 82,92
1600m (2) Gibraltar Green 94,60
1800m (1) Moon In June 109,14
2000m (1) Sea Sponge 120,72
