Arlington 3rd December
34 From 63
They raced in Port Elizabeth on Friday where victory in the maiden event over 1400m went to the uneasy favourite MISS DELISH. Allowed to ease out to 28/10 from 18/10 at the track, Gavin Smith’s charge got away unusually well when the gates opened (slow into stride in each of her five previous outings) and was soon up handy. She was ridden to lead shortly after passing the 300m marker and although the pacemaker TRIUMPHAL ARCH kept on determinedly once headed, she only had to be pushed out in the closing stages of the race in order to score.
Another Gavin Smith inmate to win a little more easily than the official winning margin will reflect on this card was LOVE TORN who gained her third victory from just seven starts since relocating to the province in the MR85 affair over 2400m. Confidently ridden by apprentice Andrews, Love Torn guarded the rear for most of the journey. Other than the pacemaker, the eight horse field was closely grouped turning for home though and once given rein, she quickly cut through the field. She hit the front 200m out and asked to do no more than was necessary on the run to the line, she comfortably accounted for WHAT A BEAUT by a length and three quarters.
The afternoon’s feature event was the non black type Glendore Sprint over 1000m and here it was nice to see the record breaking HEAR THE DRUMS back in the winner’s enclosure. Allowed to ease right out to 7/1 from 4/1 at the track, Hear The Drums was soon up handy. He was ridden to lead 250m from home and kept on strongly in the closing stages of the race to beat the regular place getter KINGS TROOP by a length and a quarter. Hear The Drums has now won 34 of his 63 outings. One to look out for next time from this race is MAINBRACE. Grant Paddock’s charge was only beaten a length and a quarter into third, and that despite being hampered twice.
Also worthy of note on this card was the performance of ICEMBERG in winning the final event on the card, a graduation plate over 1000m. Sent off favourite at 28/10, the former Cape Town campaigner was content to race towards the rear during the early part of the race. He picked them off quickly when asked for his effort though and despite not getting the clearest of runs at the business end of the race, he cruised clear late to win by a length and a quarter. Icemberg won well and is sure to win more races at this centre.
Turffontein 4th December
Flying The Flag
They raced on the old stand side track on Saturday where victory in the MR68 affair over 1400m went to the unbeaten WICOMICO. Sent off favourite at 22/10, Alec Laird’s charge raced in midfield during the early part of the race. She ran on well down the long home straight and under a well judged ride from replacement rider Piere Strydom, she got up nicely late to beat QUI DUEL by a length and a half. Wicomico has now won both of her starts going away and is clearly one to keep tabs on.
The first of the afternoon’s three feature events to be run was the listed Secretariat Stakes over 1400m and here we saw a nice performance from the top weighted SHEA SHEA. On leaving the stalls it was KING’S FANTASY who elected to set the pace, whilst Shea Shea raced some six lengths away in third. King’s Fantasy had set off at a fair clip and when the early effort took its toll on that one 600m out, Geoff Woodruff’s charge quickly took command. Both JET JAMBOREE and TENDER TWILIGHT chased hard over the final 400m, but neither could get within a length and a half at the wire.
The Gr3 Magnolia Handicap over 1160m was next up and here victory went to the Paul Matchett trained FAIR ROSALIND. Freely available at 8/1 on the off, Fair Rosalind was always in touch with the leaders. She quickened well at the business end of the race and did well to fend off a determined challenge from PARAMO.
The Gr2 Ipi Tombe Challenge topped the bill and sent off as if unbeatable here was the Mike De Kock trained GIBRALTAR BLUE. Eventually sent off at the prohibitive odds of 4/10, the daughter of Rock Of Gibraltar was soon at the head of affairs. She was easily three lengths clear for most of the journey and as they passed the 400m marker it looked as if she would score easily. The pack headed by JET TRAIL did begin to make headway late though and in the end it was only by a neck that the favourite prevailed. One to look out for next time from this race is QUEEN MIRA who finished third. Queen Mira was in the rear turning for home and did very well indeed to get within two lengths of the winner at the wire.
Kenilworth 4th December
First Blood
The easiest victory in the maiden ranks in Cape Town on Saturday was recorded by MATEUS (24) in the final event on the card over 1400m. Sent off second favourite at 33/10, Vaughan Marshall’s charge raced in midfield for most of the journey. She quickened well early in the longer new course straight and after striking the front 250m from home, she drew clear easily in the closing stages of the race to beat the rank outsider of the thirteen horse party FAST ‘N FAMOUS by four.
Race four on the card was an Allowance Plate over 1400m and here we saw a smart performance from the Joey Ramsden trained IL SAGGIATORE (59). Unbeaten in two starts coming into the race, the son of Galileo was covered up in midfield during the early part of the contest. He was baulked for a run when the race began in earnest 350m out and at that stage it looked as if his chance had gone. Once seeing daylight though, Il Saggiatore fairly flew and got up nicely late to beat the useful ENGLISH GARDEN by a length. Keep an eye on Il Saggiatore. He has a nice turn of foot and has impressed in all three starts.
The first of the afternoon’s two feature events to take place was the Gr2 Southern Cross Stakes over 1000m and here we saw a nice performance from the well supported favourite COVENANT (72). Backed into 15/10 at one stage, Mike Bass’ charge raced up with the speed throughout. She began to assert her authority as they approached the 300m marker and went on to score comfortably from the running on STATE BLUE. Keep an eye open for the runner up State Blue. Justin Snaith’s charge had raced at the rear after being a little slow into stride and did well to get within a length and three quarters at the wire.
The Gr1 Cape Fillies Guineas topped the bill and as expected the first two home were EBONY FLYER (74) and IGUGU. Ebony Flyer held a length and a half advantage over Igugu as they turned for home, but quickening well early in the straight, she had extended her lead to three on reaching the 200m marker. Igugu did find extra at that stage though and looking to be finishing marginally the stronger below the distance, she reduced the deficit to just a length and a quarter.
Top speedratings for this weekend include:-
Flamingo Park
Race 1: (1) Client King 2
Race 2: (1) Angel’s Kiss 12
Race 3: (9) Vasco 2
Race 4: (16) Pericles 32
Race 5: (12) Harry Prince 49
Race 6: (8) Commidy Share 61
Race 7: (3) Rosette 78 (NAP*)
Race 8: (1) Earl Marshall 26)
Race 9: (4) Opening Night 60
Vaal
Race 1: (6) Sizzling Guy 26
Race 2: (2) Danter 11
Race 3: (7) Atonement 14
Race 4: (9) Epworth Belle 69
Race 5: (10) Engagement 75
Race 6: (13) Leprecorns Gift 65
Race 7: (16) Courage 64
Race 8: (9) Dangerfield 71
Kenilworth
Race 1: (2) Eskimo Roll 15 (NAP*)
Race 2: (6) Part Des Anges 11
Race 3: (4) Audrey Rose 15
Race 4: (17) Soda Pop 45
Race 5: (3) Howdoulikemenow 53
Race 6: (2) Los Colmos 77
Race 7: (9) Facing Federer 85
Race 8: (5) Chrysalis 54
Greyville
Race 1: (2) Foxtrot Baby 18
Race 2: (2) Silent Jet 24
Race 3: (13) Molotov 50
Race 4: (3) Ice Diamond 56
Race 5: (11) Rev Counter 45
Race 6: (5) Dance To The Stars 75
Race 7: (1) Intellectual 88
Race 8: (3) Drift Along 17
Turffontein
Race 1: (1) Swift Lady 1
Race 2: (1) Azalai 12
Race 3: (5) Crown Heights 47 (NAP**)
Race 4: (1) Tricia’s Spur 45
Race 5: (9) Zebulon 60
Race 6: (7) National Anthem 56
Race 7: (15) Foreign Reserve 61
Race 8: (4) Captain’s Key 61
Top rated winners last week included:-
Hail The Duke won 4/1
Miss Beluga won 7/2
Santa Caterina won 3/1
Icemberg won 28/10
Miss Delish won 28/10
Cap Alright won 15/10
Cypress Point won 15/10
Super Break won 17/20
Notebook:-
Ebony Flyer (J Snaith, W-Cape)
Il Saggiatore (J Ramsden, W-Cape)
Queen Mira (G Woodruff, Gauteng)
State Blue (J Snaith, W-Cape)
FASTEST TIMES
(Shown in brackets is the number of races run in each category)
Arlington 3rd December
Fastest Sprint 1000-1300 (2) Hear The Drums
Fastest Middle 1400-1800 (4) Desert Kite
Fastest Long 1900-3600 (2) Lovetorn
Turffontein 4th December
Fastest Sprint 1000-1300 (4) Fair Rosalind
Fastest Middle 1400-1800 (5) Gibraltar Blue
Fastest Long 1900-3600 (0) No Qualifiers
Kenilworth 4th December
Fastest Sprint 1000-1300 (5) Wethreekings
Fastest Middle 1400-1800 (4) Il Saggiatore
Fastest Long 1900-3600 (0) No Qualifiers
