Rich Girl 4 From 7
Greyville 19th October: A conditions plate topped the bill at Sunday afternoon’s poly track meeting and in what proved to be the fastest of the three 1200m events victory went to the Charles Laird trained RICH GIRL. Sent off joint third in the betting market at 4/1, last season’s Gr1 Allan Robertson runner up raced second, just a length or so behind her more fancied stable companion BELOVED COUNTRY (the favourite). She quickened well in the straight and in a race where only a length and three quarters separated the first five home, she got the verdict by three quarters.
The faster of the two 1600m maiden events was the boy’s affair in which we saw a smart performance from Rich Girl’s stable companion THIRTYTWO SQUADRON. Nibbled at on course into 3/1 from 4’s, the lightly raced son of A P Arrow (sweating) was soon at the head of affairs. He led by just a length coming off the bend and quickened well to extend his advantage to four and a quarter.
There were also two races run over 1400m and the fastest of these was the MR82 Handicap won by GEMINI GOLD. On leaving the stalls it was ALBERT who elected to make the running whilst the hat-trick seeking son of Overlord raced close up in second. He put his head in front shortly after passing the 300m marker and went on to score comfortably by two and a quarter.
Titbits
Third placed KEPT SECRET didn’t find the clearest of passages when running on from midfield to take third in the MR70 Handicap over 1000m.
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Key Of Life
Fairview 20th October: Monday’s action in Port Elizabeth took place on the poly track where the faster of the two 1300m events on the card was the bill topping MR87 Handicap won by the 18/10 favourite SIR DUKE. On leaving the stalls it was the rank outsider of the eight horse party VAROMA who elected to make the running whilst Tara Laing’s charge raced some six lengths away in fourth. He was ridden to lead going through the 300m and kept on strongly late to beat the gaining SO YOU THINK (ran on well from second last) by a half.
Surprisingly the faster of the two 1900m races was the MR61 Handicap won by PURE ELEGANCE. Allowed to ease right out to 12/1 from 7’s at the track, the always handy daughter of Seul Amour also took up the running 300m out, and won well from the well-supported second favourite LADY SILVIA by a length and a quarter.
There was also two races run over 1600m (both maiden plates) and fastest against the clock here was TIME FORE CHANGE in the boy’s affair. The only winner on the card for champion jockey S’manga Khumalo, Time Fore Change was soon up handy. He ran on stoutly over the final 400m and in what proved to be a real thriller he got up on the nod to deny the front running GRAND LODGE.
Titbits
BRIDE’S DOWRY came from the rear when registering her third career victory in the MR79 Handicap over 1900m.
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Four For Gav
Vaal 21st October: They raced on the sand on Tuesday where four of the eight races were run over 1450m. The fastest of these was the MR88 Handicap won by the 6yo VULCAN. Registering his seventh career victory here, Scot Kenny’s charge led throughout. He was a length and a quarter clear for most of the journey, but only held on by the narrowest of margins from the fast finishing 4yo SOLAR TRIPTYCH.
At the other end of the scale the biggest winning margin was recorded by HA LUCY when winning the MR76 Handicap over 1000m. Making her debut in handicap company here, Lucky Houdalakis’ charge was always at the head of affairs, and won without any anxious moments by five.
The lucky last was a MR68 Handicap and in what proved to be the faster of the two 1200m events, the favourite GREEN ROCK did the business. The fourth winner on the card for Gavin Lerena, Green Rock also made all. EXCALIVAR ran on stoutly from the backend of midfield to take second position, but it was all too late to trouble Green Rock who won comfortably by a length and three quarters.
Titbits
JADE VINE was literally cantering over the final 200m when winning the MR64 Handicap very easily by four and three quarters.
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Well Balanced
Durbanville 22nd October: All the rage to win the novice 1600m at the country course on Wednesday was the highly regarded BALANCE SHEET, and he didn’t let down his supporters. Confidently ridden by Karl Neisius the lightly raced son of Silvano sat at the back of the six for most of the journey. He didn’t find the clearest of passages when asked for his effort, but once seeing daylight 200m out he fairly flew and won going away in eye catching fashion by a length and a quarter. One to follow.
There were four races run over 1600m in total and the fastest of these was the MR85 Handicap in which the Jam Alley mare ABBEY CREEK completed a hat-trick. Swiftly guided over from her wide draw by Christopher Puller, Abbey Creek was soon in her favourite position at the head of affairs. She was three and a half lengths clear coming off the bend and just held on from the chasing pack headed by PETTY OFFICER by a neck.
In terms of distance the easiest victory on the card was recorded by GOLDANDSILVER in the maiden plate over 1200m. Nicely positioned in second rounding the turn, the well-supported 16/10 favourite took up the running 450m out and won well by four and a quarter.
Titbits
TRIPLE BLUFF looked to have plenty of scope for improvement when running on well from midfield to win the maiden 1000m.
Lightly raced DE SOL A SOL won the MR66 Handicap going away by three and a quarter.
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Workrider’s Day
Vaal 23rd October: Racing returned to the sand on Thursday where all of the eight races were for workriders.
There were a number of very easy victories on the eight race program, but none more so than that of DIVA DANNY in the maiden 1800m. Freely available at 8/1 on the off, the daughter of Manhattan Rain lost two lengths at the start, but despite that was soon at the head of affairs. She led by just a length and a quarter until given rein 450m out, and then bolted clear to score by thirteen and a quarter.
Surprisingly the faster of the two maiden plates over 1000m was the girl’s affair won by the well exposed LATINO ICE. Backed into 33/10 from 5/1 in this her 27th attempt to break out of the maidens, Romeo Francis’ charge was always handy. She was ridden to lead 150m from home and comfortably accounted for GRACEFILLY by a length and a half.
The best bet on the card for Sporting Post was ORCHESTRATED in the maiden plate over 1600m and he didn’t let down his supporters. Allowed to drift alarmingly at the track (3/10 out to even money), the son of Jay Peg made all. He was always in command and with the remainder some nine lengths adrift, he comfortably accounted for the nibbled at outsider SUZIE’S ARROW by two.
Titbits
LIMBO came from the rear when winning the boys’ division of the maiden plate over 1200m going away by five and a half.
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Top speedratings for this weekend include:-
Fairview (fri)
Race 1: (8) Blast 22
Race 2: (4) Silvan Spirit 60
Race 3: (1) Spiaggia 27
Race 4: (1) Excitement Seeker 16
Race 5: (11) Grey’s Anatomy 48
Race 6: (11) Vital Match 61
Race 7: (6) Money Doesnt Count 68
Race 8: (11) Manonthecatwalk 46
Race 9: (13) Bashir 42
Greyville (fri)
Race 1: (1) Caligari Carnival 4
Race 2: (4) Military Leader 26
Race 3: (4) Se Agabor 25 (EW)
Race 4: (7) Vavasour 41
Race 5: (2) Olma 34 (NAP*)
Race 6: (3) Malted And Bolted 48
Race 7: (1) Cool Anne 46
Race 8: (4) Tapaway 19
Turffontein (sat)
Race 1: (14) Tamarind 33
Race 2: (8) Bulleting Home 21
Race 3: (1) La Digue 20
Race 4: (1) Irish Grace 17
Race 5: (1) Athina 70
Race 6: (10) Rich Girl 82
Race 7: (15) Sovereign Mint 98
Race 8: (7) Pennington Sands 75
Race 9: (3) Belong To Me 82
Race 10: (6) Viva La Var 100 (NAP**)
Race 11: (11) Red Rain 67
Race 12: (11) Castle Keep 46
Kenilworth (sat)
Race 1: (11) It’s My Party 14
Race 2: (7) Zingzilla 76
Race 3: (15) Vivarani 14
Race 4: (2) Dance In The Woods 10
Race 5: (8) The Jet 36
Race 6: (6) Society Rock 58
Race 7: (10) Fancy Yellow 50
Race 8: (9) Dynastic 33 (NAP**)
Greyville (sun)
Race 1: (1) Nights On Broadway 12
Race 2: (3) Mike’s Choice 79
Race 3: (2) King Jay 25
Race 4: (1) Tenderwood 15
Race 5: (3) Turbo Torch 5
Race 6: (1) Tuscan 53
Race 7: (6) Double Clutch 46
Race 8: (3) Royal Colours 51
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Top rated winners last week included
Asgard won 10/1
Bride’s Dowry won 11/2
Wild Thing won 5/1
Flying Galileo won 5/2
Taiwan Treasure won 5/2
Sir Duke won 18/10
Orchestrated won 1/1
African Goshawk 17/20
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Notebook:-
Balance Sheet (D Kannemeyer, W-Cape)
Rich Girl (C Laird, KZN)
So You Think (A Greeff, E-Cape)
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FASTEST TIMES
The number of races run over each distance is shown in brackets
*Denotes – Times taken by Clockwatcher
Greyville (poly) 19th October
Going Standard
1000m (2) Tarzan Man 57,97
1200m (3) Rich Girl 70,10
1400m (2) Gemini Gold 82,10
1600m (2) Thirtytwo Squadron 96,37
Fairview (poly) 20th October
Going Standard
1000m (1) Pegged For Glory 57,43
1200m (1) Flying Galileo 70,42
1300m (2) Sir Duke 74,78
1600m (2) Time Fore Change 97,50
1900m (2) Pure Elegance 117,08
Vaal (sand) 21st October
Going Standard
1000m (1) Ha Lucy 58,63
1200m (2) Green Rock 74,01
1450m (4) Vulcan 90,97
1800m (1) Sibyl 116,17
Durbanville 22nd October
Penetrometer 24 – Going Good
1000m (2) Red Guard 59,27
1200m (1) Goldandsilver 72,39
1400m (1) Catkin 84,16
1600m (4) Abbey Creek 97,48`
Vaal (sand) 23rd October
Going Standard
1000m (2) Latino Ice 60,31
1200m (2) Limbo 74,60
1400m (1) Taiwan Treasure 93,65
1600m (1) Orchestrated 102,56
1800m (2) Diva Danny 115,30
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