Fly Me To The Moon

Mike Has The Power

Scottsville 16th August: A half of the eight races in Pietermaritzburg on Sunday were run over 1200m and the fastest of these was the bill topping pinnacle stakes won by BRUTAL FORCE. Always handy, Joey Ramsden’s charge was ridden to lead as they approached the 400m marker and after a thrilling tussle with the rallying pacemaker over the final 200m he only got the verdict by a neck over the running on DE KOCK. The runner up had raced in the rear after being a little slow into stride and finished well.
Three of the remaining four races took place over 1400m and quickest home amongst these was EXCALIVAR in the MR70 Handicap. Drawn wide and a little troublesome at the start, the 9/2 second favourite was positioned at the back as the fifteen runners came off the bend. Once in the straight though he ran on best of all and in what proved to be a real thriller he got up in the very last stride to deny the 7/2 favourite FLEETFOX (raced fifth – led 160m).
At the other end of the scale the biggest winning margin was that recorded by the newcomer EXECUTIVE POWER when landing the opening maiden plate for 3yo’s over 1200m in very good fashion. Backed throughout the morning into 7/10 from 7/2, Mike Miller’s charge was soon at the head of affairs. He only had to be pushed out when drawing clear over the final 300m and won in the style of a good horse.
Titbits
The 3yo KILLER WOMAN was backed into 6/10 from 12/10 before winning the girl’s division of the maiden 1400m going away by three quarters.

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Spanish Connection

Flamingo Park 17th August: The fastest of the three 1000m races in the Northern Cape on Monday was the MR60 Handicap won by MATADORAS EL TOROS. Taken straight to the front by Musi Yeni, the Toreador mare led throughout. She had to work hard over the final 400m and with the rest some three lengths adrift she beat CAPE GREY by a half.
Quickest home in the two 1200m races was LUV U BABES in the MR68 Handicap. Soon positioned close to the speed, the daughter of Horse Chestnut struck the front 100m out and won going away from WOLF’S GIRL by a length.
The faster of the two 1800m events was the MR75 Handicap won by the easy to back DUCHESS CATHERINE. Freely available at 8/1 on the off, Dutchess Catherine was always handy. She quickened nicely over the final 400m and won going away by a length and a quarter from OVER ACHIEVER.
Titbits
Positioned second last turning for home, EAGLE’S CALL was gaining at the finish when a length and a quarter runner up in the maiden plate over 1600m.

 

Any Colour

Greyville 18th August: In terms of distance the easiest victory on Tuesday afternoon was recorded by TAKING CHANCES in the only race over 1400m, a novice plate. Backed into 7/2 second favourite from 6/1 at the track, Duncan Howells’ charge was a little slow into stride and as a result she raced in midfield for most of the journey. Once given rein though she quickened best of all and won going away by two and a quarter after striking the front 150m from home.
Four of the afternoon’s eight races were run over 1600m and fastest home amongst these was STORMY ECLIPSE in the bill topping MR95 affair. Sent off a clear favourite at 3/1, the grey son of Dynasty also came from midfield after being slow into stride. He ran on strongly in the short home straight and in a blanket finish he got the verdict by a neck over the pacemaker QATAR SPRINGS.
The remaining three races were all run over 1200m and surprisingly the fastest home in these was KING DJANGO when opening his account in the boy’s division of the maiden plate. Allowed to ease out to 8/1 from 5/1 on course, the son of Go Deputy raced seventh after setting off from a wide draw. He ran on strongly when asked for his effort and in another very tight finish he got the better of the perennial maiden DESTINED FOR DAWN.
Titbits
Drawn wide and then having to switch for a run 700m out to boot, EYE THE COUNTESS ran on well from midfield when winning the maiden plate for the girls over 1600m going away.

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Fools And Horses

Kenilworth 19th August: With a penetrometer reading of 29 the going was once again very soft in Cape Town on Wednesday, but that didn’t stop the heavily supported RODNEY from doing the business in the faster of the two maiden plates over 1200m. Backed throughout the morning into 14/10 from 7/2, Mike Bass’ charge was soon up handy. He was ridden to lead shortly after passing the 300m marker and comfortably accounted for the nibbled at HARD DAY’S NIGHT by a length and a quarter.
Quickest home in the three 1400m events was DOMINA when causing an upset in the MR73 Handicap. Freely available at 20/1 on the off, Vaughan Marshall’s charge led throughout. She was three lengths clear turning for home and only held on by the narrowest of margins from the running on CASEY’S JET. Beaten just a neck in this race, third placed STAR EMPRESS ran on stoutly from midfield and didn’t find the clearest of passages.
Must easier a winner over this trip was Domina’s stable companion SPEEDBALL when opening her account in the girl’s maiden plate. The best bet on the card for many, the heavily supported (11/10 into 13/20) daughter of A P Arrow was soon prominent. She put her head in front soon after the 300m pole and ridden out to the finish won going away by four and a half.
Titbits
Baulked twice over the final 300m en route from the rear, the R2M purchase ICY FIRE  (a newcomer) was flying at the finish when a length and a quarter runner up in the girl’s maiden plate over 1200m.

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Classic Finish

Vaal 20th August: A maiden plate for the girls over 1200m got proceedings underway on the doomed sand track on Thursday and here we saw a very easy victory for the Lucky Houdalakis trained HOWDYULIKEIT. Freely available at 14/1 on the off, the Royal Air Force filly led throughout. She was two lengths clear going through the 400m and extended that advantage to five on the run to the line.
Three of the afternoon’s eight races were run over 1600m and stopping the clock in the fastest time amongst these was POLAR SECRET (7/1 into 4/1 cofav of three) when registering her third career victory in the MR68 Handicap. On leaving the stalls it was the original favourite EMBRASIATIC (15/10 out to 4/1) who elected to make the running and she soon had the field well strung out. Indeed, the third horse home in this race was beaten over eleven lengths. Well positioned in second though, Polar Secret picked her off nicely at the 300m marker and went on to score with authority by three.
The faster of the two 1000m events was the MR80 Handicap and in what proved to be a real thriller victory here went to the 33/10 joint favourite WISHFUL HEART. The nibbled at BRIGTNUMBERFOUR made the first move and running on strongly after striking the front 280m out she looked to have done enough to score. Despite looking held 50m from home though, Piere Strydom managed to coax an increased effort out of Wishful Heart, and they got up in the very last stride.
Titbits
Freely available at 40/1 on the off, MASNOON made up many lengths from the rear when getting up late to win the pinnacle stakes over 1600m.

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Top speedratings for this weekend include:-

Fairview (fri)
Race 1: (7) Al-Amadi 12
Race 2: (1) Tiger Tim 22
Race 3: (1) Memphis Mafia 12
Race 4: (4) Symbolik 72 (EW)
Race 5: (1) Cat And The Moon (NAP**)
Race 6: (4) Al Don Cumarco (nb)
Race 7: (8) Arrow Heart 64
Race 8: (10) Netsuke 39
Kenilworth (sat)
Race 1: (1) Brilliant Idea 15
Race 2: (7) Jay Jay’s Wild 65
Race 3: (8) Hard Day’s Night 20 (NAP*)
Race 4: (4) Around Not Across 45
Race 5: (10) More Than Grand 48
Race 6: (9) Waiting For Rain 76
Race 7: (5) Evoke Emotion 65
Race 8: (10) La Rochelle 31
Vaal (sat)
Race 1: (7) Magic 13
Race 2: (1) Ginger Sioux 5
Race 3: (11) Spanish Kiss 26
Race 4: (9) Sweet Painted Lady 31
Race 5: (2) Shine Tiger 41
Race 6: (3) Flame Cat 74
Race 7: (3) Across The Ice 85
Race 8: (7) River Run 42
Race 9: (6) Formal Request 47
Scottsville (sun)
Race 1: (1) Whatawondafulworld 14
Race 2: (10) Master Of Mischief 25 (NAP*)
Race 3: (2) Thanda 18
Race 4: (10) Grey’s A Rockin 48
Race 5: (8) Savethelastdance 77
Race 6: (4) Miss Argentina 72
Race 7: (5) Kadeze 36
Race 8: (18) Listen And Learn 54

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Top rated winners last week included

Taking Chances won 7/2
Luv U Babes won 33/10
Brutal Force won 3/1
The Queen won 28/10
Matadoras El Toros won 5/2
Solar Night won 2/1
Speedball won 13/20
Killer Woman won 6/10

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Notebook:-

Executive Power (M Miller, KZN)
Icy Fire (J Ramsden, W-Cape)

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FASTEST TIMES

The number of races run over each distance is shown in brackets
*Denotes – Times taken by Clockwatcher

Scottsville (inside) 16th August
Penetrometer 22 – Going Good
1000m (1) Tonto           57,78
1200m (4) Brutal Force 68,96
1400m (3) Excalivar      86,14

Flamingo Park 17th August
Going Standard
1000m (3) Matadoras El Toros 57,72
1200m (2) Luv U Babes           72,61
1600m (2) Country Gent         100,20
1800m (2) Duchess Catherine 113,26

Greyville (poly) 18th August
Going Standard
1200m (3) King Django       71,50
1400m (1) Taking Chances 83,85
1600m (4) Stormy Eclipse   96,23

Kenilworth (old) 19th August
Penetrometer 29 – Going Soft
1200m (2) Rodney              77,22
1400m (3) Domina              88,69
1600m (1) Solar Night        102,47
2000m (1) Ilium                  130,71
2400m (1) Parachute Man 153,45

Vaal (sand) 20th August
Going Standard
1000m (2) Wishful Heart     60,70
1200m (1) Howdyulikeit      75,53
1450m (1) Blue Blazer        94,35
1600m (3) Polar Secret     102,99
1800m (1) Windy Express 116,45