Day Of The Burglar
Fairview 11th February; The easiest victory in the maiden ranks in Port Elizabeth on Friday was undoubtedly KWAAIHOEK who did the business for the column in the 1000m event. Soon up handy, Alan Greeff’s charge raced prominent throughout. He was ridden to lead as they approached the 300m marker and drew clear easily in the closing stages of the race to beat the friendless DYNAMITE PARK (12/1 out to 33/1) by three and a quarter.
The first of the two non-black type feature events to be run was the Sophomore Plate over 1400m and in what proved to be a real thriller, victory here went to the Gavin Smith trained CATVIEW. On leaving the stalls it was the rank outsider of the party DANCINGINTHEDESERT who elected to make the running whilst Catview was content to race towards the back of the eight in sixth. The well supported favourite PEMBERLEY (11/10 into 17/20) was the first to make a move in the straight and with Catview still a good two lengths behind him when that one struck the front 150m from home, he looked to have done everything right. Catview produced a nice turn of foot below the distance though and just got up in the dying strides.
Having gained all seven of his previous victories in the Eastern Cape at this circuit, the veteran DAY OF THE PIPER was always going to be a serious threat if given a soft lead in the Fairview Mile, and so it proved to be. At his best when allowed to dictate in front, Alan Greeff’s charge was soon clear. He was easily eight lengths clear of the well supported favourite CELTIC FIRE going through the 400m, and not one to be found wanting at the business end of the race, he already looked to have the race in the bag. Amazingly though, Celtic Fire fairly flew in the closing stages of the race and it was only by the narrowest of margins that the son of Joshua Dancer held on.
Titbits
BO JALLY was running on nicely from midfield before being baulked for a run late in the Juvenile Plate over 1100m and can only improve next time.
Workrider’s Day
Vaal 12th February: All of the horses at this meeting were ridden by workriders. The first of three favourites to arrive was TIME ROLLS ON (11) who did the business in the maiden event over 1000m. Soon at the head of affairs, the 3yo daughter of Solskjaer led throughout. She kept on strongly at the business end of the race and in what proved to be a real thriller, she just held on by the narrowest of margins from TORMAN.
The 3yo SEAL (47) racing in the MR74 affair over 2400m was the best bet on the card for many and he didn’t let down his supporters. Confidently ridden by workrider Ntsielo, The son of Silvano raced in midfield for most of the journey. He quickened well when given rein early in the home straight and after striking the front 100m from home, he easily drew clear.
The lucky last was a MR72 Handicap over 1800m and here the locals were sent home happy when the Ormond Ferraris trained FUSELAGE (52) did the business. Easily three lengths clear of Fuselage, it was the rank outsider of the fourteen horse party MISS UMA who led them through the 400m. Miss Uma kept on determinedly on the run to line and it was only in the very last stride that Fuselage got up.
Titbits
CUT THE RIBBON still managed to finish third in the MR72 Handicap over 1800m despite being baulked for a run 300m out, and then having to switch 200m later.
On The Upgrade
Kenilworth 12th February: The locals got off to a rough start in Cape Town on Saturday when the Silvano filly GALAXY OF DIAMONDS got off the mark in the opening maiden event over 1400m. Freely available at 40/1 on the off, Glen Puller’s charge was content to guard the rear for most of the journey. The favourite FAST ‘N FAMOUS was the first to make a move in the straight and when that one struck the front 200m out, she looked to have done everything right. Galaxy Of Diamonds ran on stoutly at the business end of the race though and in what proved to be a real thriller, she got up in the very last stride.
Race seven on the card was a Novice Plate over 1200m and here we saw a nice performance from the Eric Sands trained CAPTAIN HARRY. Sent off a strong favourite at 14/10, the son of Captain Al was soon up handy. He was ridden to lead shortly after passing the 300m marker and went on to score very comfortably by two and a quarter from the running on DEAD CERT. Captain Harry has now won both starts in good fashion since running on late to take third on debut and is clearly useful.
Another to win well on this card was LAKE ARTHUR who did the business for favourite backers in the MR72 Handicap over 1400m. Confidently ridden by Andrew Fortune, the 3yo son of Jet Master raced in midfield during the early part of the race. He was clearly cruising as he moved through to take up the running 200m out and with some in hand, he easily accounted for TERRY LISTER by two and a half.
Titbits
Newcomer VARIETY CLUB only had to be pushed out to win the Juvenile Plate over 1200m and could be very useful.
Positioned at the back of what was a small (five runners), but very strung out field in the MR74 Handicap over 2500m, JACK BAUER might well have mounted a serious challenge had he been closer to the pace turning for home.
Coming Together
Scottsville 13th February: Sunday’s action got underway with a maiden event over 1000m and here it was nice to see ALLOCATION (48) put it all together. Deep in the red at 5/10 on the off, Michael Roberts’ charge was soon at the head of affairs. He kept up a very healthy gallop throughout and despite the efforts of the regular place getter VOLACIOUS, he cruised in by eight with some in hand. Allocation won very well here and is sure to win more races.
Also strongly fancied to open their account on this card was the Count Dubois filly ALMAVIRA (21), and she too did the business. Soon up handy despite being a little slow into stride, Gavin Van Zyl’s charge raced prominent throughout. She was ridden to lead shortly after passing the 300m marker and kept on strongly in the closing stages of the race to beat the easy to back VICTORY LAINE by two and a quarter.
Also worthy of note on this card was the performance of CLARKIES PROMISE (71) in winning the MR85 Handicap over 1950m. Content to race in the rear, of what was always a very strung out field, the top weight looked to have more than enough to do rounding the home turn. Once in the home straight though, she quickened by far the best and under a well judged ride from apprentice Mgudlwa, she got up close home to score by a half. Clarkies Promise won well and clearly has more to come.
Titbits
Lightly raced IBISCUS again caught the eye running on steadily from the rear when fifth in the maiden event over 2400m and gives the impression that there is still plenty of improvement to come.
Top speedratings for this weekend include:-
Flamingo Park
Race 1: No Qualifiers
Race 2: No Qualifiers
Race 3: (10) Royal Line 29
Race 4: (4) Hit The Trixie 35
Race 5: (1) Mr Rawling 52
Race 6: (9) Swarming 59
Race 7: (7) Rebel Moon 43
Race 8: (11) Spice Club 56
Race 9: (13) Chip Of China 29
Vaal (Tues)
Race 1: (13) Tamarack 4
Race 2: (5) Fort William 11
Race 3: (1) Crown Heights 43 (NAP**)
Race 4: (11) Beta 61
Race 5: (9) Corpes Da Elite 51
Race 6: (14) Majestic Circle 54
Race 7: (4) Sayadaw 90
Race 8: (6) Beebeejay 69
Greyville
Race 1: (9) Aurum 16
Race 2: (8) Famous Words 15
Race 3: (1) My Best Pal 27
Race 4: (14) Great Khan 54
Race 5: (7) Beat The Wind 45
Race 6: (5) Wings Over Skye 72
Race 7: (5) Anaboo 66
Race 8: (5) Assign The Assasin 12
Kenilworth
Race 1: (1) Satin Silver 2
Race 2: (1) Wind ‘em Up 12
Race 3: (1) Touche 13 (NAP*)
Race 4: (9) Six Flags 43
Race 5: (10) Stirling Range 43
Race 6: (8) Spitfire Run 74
Race 7: (7) Castle Rock 43
Race 8: (14) Grecian Banner 57
Vaal (Thur)
Race 1: (2) Olimpic Goddess 10
Race 2: (9) Atonement 18
Race 3: (3) Sizzling Guy 27
Race 4: (1) Aussie Diva 28
Race 5: (10) Corpes Da Elite 49
Race 6: (16) Pollyanna 35
Race 7: (9) Wood Be 47
Race 8: (11) Mastende 39
Top rated winners last week included:-
Go Me Gal won 10/1
La Negrita won 15/2
Catview won 4/1
Almavira won 18/10
Strike Master won 17/10
Kwaaihoek won 7/10
Novello won 11/20
Allocation won 5/10
Notebook:-
Allocation (M Roberts, Natal)
Captain Harry (A Sands, W-Cape)
Celtic Fire (Y Bremner, E-Cape)
Variety Club (J Ramsden, W-Cape)
FASTEST TIMES
(Shown in brackets is the number of races run in each category)
Fairview 11th February
Fastest Sprint 1000-1300 (3) Miss Var
Fastest Middle 1400-1800 (5) Day Of The Piper
Fastest Long 1900-3600 (0) No Qualifiers
Vaal 12th February
Fastest Sprint 1000-1300 (2) Snazzy Jazz
Fastest Middle 1400-1800 (5) Sleek Sheik
Fastest Long 1900-3600 (1) Seal
Kenilworth 12th February
Fastest Sprint 1000-1300 (4) Rose Loraine
Fastest Middle 1400-1800 (3) Lake Arthur
Fastest Long 1900-3600 (2) Vengence
Scottsville 13th February
Fastest Sprint 1000-1300 (2) Allocation
Fastest Middle 1400-1800 (4) Knysna Forest
Fastest Long 1900-3600 (3) Clarkies Promise
