Soft Upsets
Arlington 22nd June: The going was soft in Port Elizabeth on Friday and as a result there were some pretty unsavoury results. Indeed, the opener was won by the 33/1 shot ZULU KING (20).
Comfortably beaten in each of his six previous starts, Gavin Smith’s charge was always handy. He was ridden to lead going through the 300m and kept on strongly late to thwart a determined challenge from the even money favourite COMMODORE PETE.
The only favourite on the eight race program to oblige was FLY EMIRATES (54) in the MR76 affair over 2200m. Confidently ridden by apprentice Naidoo, the daughter of Jet Master sat in midfield for most of the journey. She quickened best of all when given rein and won going away after striking the front close home.
A MR90 Handicap over 1600m was next up and in what proved to be a real thriller victory here went to the easy to back LEMON FIZZ (50). In under sufferance, the 13/1 shot made the running and was a length and a half clear turning for home. The friendless CATVIEW ran on best of all in the home straight and did briefly get his nostrils in front. Lemon Fizz found extra below the distance though and got the verdict on the nod.
A pinnacle event over 1300m topped the bill and here we saw a much improved performance from the 33/1 shot ON GOLDEN POND (51). Usually one to race up with the speed, On Golden Pond didn’t have the best of the draw here and as a result raced towards the back end of midfield. Clearly relishing the soft underfoot conditions though, the daughter of Fort Wood ran on strongly over the final 400m and under a well judged ride from apprentice Gould he got up late to deny the ultra consistent BOB ‘N WEAVE.
Titbits
TRIBAL PARTY was baulked for a run at a crucial stage when fourth in the maiden juvenile event over 1200m.
Third placed FLEURISTE was finishing best of all in the girl’s maiden event over 1800m.
.
Ready For Battle
Greyville 22nd June: The Mike De Kock trained newcomer DUBAI DIZZY (21) was backed as if unbeatable to win the opening maiden juvenile event at Greyville on Friday evening and he didn’t let down his supporters. Backed throughout the day into 5/10 from 5/2, the son of Dubawi wasn’t the quickest into stride, but despite that he was soon up handy. He was ridden to lead as they approached the 200m marker and although the deposed favourite STORM DANCER (14/10 out to 9/2) tried his best to make a race of it, he went on to win comfortably by three quarters.
The easiest victory in the maiden ranks was recorded by LEGEND DANCER in the 1300m event. Nicely drawn in barrier six, Michael Roberts’ charge got away well when the gates opened and raced prominent throughout. He took up the running going through the 300m and went on to win well from the uneasy favourite SERVICE OF SILENCE.
A MR89 Handicap over 1400m topped the bill and here we saw a nice performance from the 4yo ARTISTICALLY DONE (40). On leaving the stalls it was the favourite JETER who somewhat predictably set the pace whilst the lightly weighted Artistically Done raced some five lengths away in sixth. She quickened best of all as the field began to concertina early in the straight and won going away by a length and a quarter after striking the front 100m from home.
Titbits
Easy to back DRUMADOON (4/1 out to 15/2) ran on strongly from the back end of midfield when getting up in the dying strides to win the MR73 Handicap over 1400m.
After losing two lengths at the start VERTICAL DRIFT couldn’t find a clear passage at the business end of the MR72 Handicap over 2000m, but despite that he was only beaten two and a half lengths.
.
Flexible Countess
Turffontein 23rd June: Saturday’s action took place on the inner track where victory in the opening workrider’s maiden event over 1600m went to the uneasy favourite COLOUR QUEST (21). Allowed to ease out to 13/10 from 8/10 in this his first outing since December, Weiho Marwing’s charge was always handy. He quickened nicely in the strip and after striking the front 400m from home he just held on from QUEEN OF THE WILD who finished well from the rear.
The afternoon’s feature event was a MR83 Handicap over 1000m and in what proved to be a real thriller victory here went to the 3yo KINEMATIC COUNTESS (63). Nibbled at into 5/1 from 6’s at the track, the daughter of Count Dubois got away well when the gates opened and soon up handy raced prominent throughout. She ran on strongly over the final 400m and after a classic battle with both OH DRISCOLL and LEGAL ACTION, she only got the verdict by a neck.
The easiest victory on the card was recorded by CAPITOLINE (47) in the lucky last, a MR73 Handicap over 1000m. Sent off favourite at 5/2 (op 3/1), Capitoline, as per usual, was soon positioned close to the speed. He was asked to take up the running as they approached the 300m marker and drew clear easily in the closing stages of the race to beat the fancied SKINNY JEANS by three and a half.
Titbits
Easy to back GO FOXY showed good improvement when running on from the rear to take second position in the maiden 1000m.
LANCEWOOD won the MR80 Handicap over 1600m going away and that after having to switch out for a run at a crucial stage of the race.
.
Tactical Victory
Kenilworth 23rd June: The first of the four feature events to be run in Cape Town on Saturday was the listed Winter Juvenile Stakes over 1600m and as expected victory here went to the favourite KING OF PAIN. Allowed to ease out to 15/20 from 5/10 on course as money in the main came for SILVANO’S JET, King Of Pain was always handy. He was asked to take up the running shortly after passing the 400m marker and although the frontrunning Silvano’s Jet found extra when headed, he went on to score very comfortably by two and a quarter.
The listed Ladies Mile was next up and here a bit of an upset was to be had when the easy to back CASH REGISTER landed the spoils. Freely available at 14/1 on the off, Glen Kotzen’s charge was soon up with the speed. She took command as they approached the 200m marker and comfortably accounted for the regular place getter RIVATORIO by a length and a quarter.
The Gr3 Winter Derby over 2400m topped the bill and here we saw the veteran jockey Felix Coetzee at his very best when PUNTA ARENAS gained his third career victory. Cleverly ridden by the former champion jockey, Punta Arenas made his move rounding the home turn and went on to score easily by three after skipping clear early in the short old course straight.
Titbits
UNTAMED ran on stoutly in the latter stages of the maiden juvenile event over 1000m and only failed to get up by the narrowest of margins.
Recent Stormsvlei Mile (L) winner DANCING DYNASTY ran on well from the back of the twelve horse party when third beaten less than a length and a half in the listed Winter Oaks.
.
Top speedratings for this weekend include:-
Flamingo Park Race 1: No Qualifiers Race 2: No Qualifiers Race 3: (15) Ushkadel 30 Race 4: (3) Mahogany 41 Race 5: (5) Spectre Lady 44 Race 6: (5) Dazzling Moon 50 Race 7: (5) Striking Force 32 Race 8: (6) Goldstream 57 Race 9: No Qualifiers Vaal (Tues) Race 1: (16) Music Affair 22 Race 2: (15) Night Embers 22 Race 3: (5) Hello Polly 14 Race 4: (1) Jet Rendezvous 15 Race 5: (12) Pure Honey 20 Race 6: (5) Ferguson 47 Race 7: (2) Oh Driscoll 56 Race 8: (5) Ikati 51 (NAP*) Race 9: (13) White Whisper 25 Durbanville Race 1: (10) Naval Victory 29 (NAP*) Race 2: (11) Ruby Sunset 19 Race 3: (1) Blarney Bay 15 Race 4: (1) Starlight Beauty 16 Race 5: (11) Raging Bull 44 Race 6: (10) Count My Luck 65 Race 7: (10) Rain Gal 65 Race 8: (14) Fabulocity 50 Vaal (Thur) Race 1: (2) Dalalaat 29 Race 2: (1) Atalaya 13 Race 3: (1) Grey’s Olive 10 Race 4: (9) Hockus 36 Race 5: (1) Mr Tobin 77 Race 6: (6) Legal Account 54 Race 7: (1) Magico 97 Race 8: (13) Eli Vincit 35
.
Top rated winners last week included
The Hangman won 33/10 Daffodil Day won 3/1 Senorita Casey won 28/10 Just B Brave won 19/10 Var Light won 15/10 Colour Quest won 13/10 King Of Pain won 15/20 Choir Maiden won 7/20.
Notebook:-
Dubai Dizzy (M De Kock, KZN) King Of Pain (J Ramsden, W-Cape).
FASTEST TIMES
(Shown in brackets is the number of races run in each category)Arlington 22nd June Fastest Sprint 1000-1300 (2) On Golden Pond Fastest Middle 1400-1800 (4) Lemon Fizz Fastest Long 1900-3600 (2) Sir Isaac
.
Greyville 22nd June Fastest Sprint 1000-1300 (5) Count The Music Fastest Middle 1400-1800 (2) Artistically Done Fastest Long 1900-3600 (1) Take The Hint.
Turffontein 23rd June Fastest Sprint 1000-1300 (3) Capitoline Fastest Middle 1400-1800 (6) Royal Express Fastest Long 1900-3600 (1) Fox River
.
Kenilworth 23rd June Fastest Sprint 1000-1300 (4) Just B Brave Fastest Middle 1400-1800 (3) Fabiani Fastest Long 1900-3600 (2) Punta Arenas
