Top On The Clock
Greyville 20th January: The going was heavy in Natal on Sunday where the fastest of the four 1200m events, a MR83 Handicap, was won by the lightly weighted TOP OF THE CHOCS. Freely available at 25/1 on the off, the son of Miesque’s Approval was soon up handy. He was ridden to lead as they approached the 400m pole and kept on strongly late to beat the running on EXCUSE MY FRENCH by three quarters.
Given the state of the going it was surprising that the biggest winning margin on the card was just 2,25 lengths. That was recorded by AUTHENTIC ABERT in the maiden 1900m. Sent off a well supported second favourite at 7/2 Authentic Albert raced in seventh during the early part of the race. He quickened well coming off the bend and comfortably accounted for GRECIAN MOON.
Another clearly unphased by the conditions was the friendless LAST ECLIPSE in the maiden 1200m. Drawn eleven of twelve, Greg Anthony’s newcomer (16/1 out to 80/1) raced in midfield for most of the journey. He made his move early in the straight and got up nicely late to beat CULA by three quarters.
Titbits
BREEZE BY ran on from the rear when only beaten 1,35 lengths in the maiden 1400m.
First and third respectively, FIRE CURTAIN and CATALECTRIC both ran on well from off the pace in the MR72 affair over 1200m.
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Smart Local Debut
Flamingo Park 21st January: Five of the nine races in the Northern Cape on Monday were run over 1200m and the fastest of these was the MR66 affair in which the nibbled at outsider RED HILLS made a winning local debut. Sent off at 10/1 after opening up at 20’s, the former Natal campaigner was taken straight to the front by apprentice Akash Ancharuz and led throughout. He kept on strongly in the straight and although the easy to back SHADOWOFTHEWIND tried hard to make a race of it he won comfortably by two and a quarter.
Not surprisingly the slowest of the 1200m races was the opening maiden event in which the most experienced runner in the field GRANDE ALADO opened his account. Making his 23rd racecourse appearance here, Jaap visser’s charge was soon positioned close to the speed. He gave his all over the final 400m and in what proved to be a real thriller he only got the verdict by the narrowest of margins over TIGER’S PLACE.
A MR78 Handicap over 1000m topped the bill and in what proved to be another very tight finish the ultra consistent SURGING SECRET was awarded the race. VARSITY STAR very narrowly passed the post first, but the result was amended after an objection as it was considered that the running on Surging Secret would have gotten up given a clear passage.
Titbits
Fourth placed COUNTESS KATE ran on well from the rear when only beaten three quarters of a length in the MR62 Handicap over 1200m.
NAUTICA ran on well from midfield when runner up in the MR66 Handicap over 1800m.
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Promising Start
Scottsville 22nd January: The highest rated of the eight races in Pietermaritzburg on Tuesday was an Allowance Plate in which BLACK IS BLACK registered her third career victory. The six runners were always closely grouped and going through the 300m the race looked wide open. Alistair Gordon’s charge quickened best of all at that point though and after a thrilling tussle with SAUCY SAVANNAH she only got the verdict by a neck.
The fastest of the three 1600m events on the card was the MR73 affair in which the 5yo son of Kahal GREAT DETAIL landed the spoils. Freely available at 12/1 on the off, Great Detail raced fourth for most of the journey. He was ridden to lead shortly after passing the 300m marker and comfortably accounted for the veteran ASKARI by two and a half.
The easiest victory on the card was recorded by the newcomer MY SANCTUARY in the maiden juvenile plate over 1200m. Soon up handy, the daughter of Antonius Pius was ridden to lead going through the 400m and only having to be pushed out with hands and heels in the closing stages of the race, she cruised in by six.
Titbits
SECRET PLEDGE showed good improvement when winning the girl’s maiden event over 1200m with authority.
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All The Way
Turffontein 22nd January: First up on Tuesday evening was a maiden plate over 1000m and here we saw a smart debut performance from the 3yo daughter of Mogok ALCANINA. Supported throughout the day into 7/2 second favourite from 16/1, Brian Wiid’s charge was soon at the head of affairs. She kept up a healthy gallop throughout and won with authority from another newcomer VAN LOVEREN by three and a half.
A conditions plate over 1000m topped the bill and here we saw another powerful front running performance from VALBERG. Taken straight to the front by Pierre Strydom, the son of Var enjoyed a length and three quarters advantage for most of the journey. The 9/10 favourite SHARP DESIGN tried his best to make a race of it over the final 400m, but although he did manage to make some headway, the pushed out Valberg still had a length to spare at the wire.
The lucky last was a MR80 Handicap over 2450m and here the locals were sent home happy when the well supported favourite CANTERBURY TALE did the business. Backed into 9/10 from 2/1 at the track, Mike De Kock’s charge also made all. Two lengths clear at the top of the home straight, Canterbury Tale kept on strongly at the business end of the race and won by three and a half without any anxious moments.
Titbits
Three Nations won the MR91 Handicap over 1160m very comfortably by a length and a half.
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Tiger Tiger
Arlington 23rd January: A half of the races in Port Elizabeth on Wednesday were run over 1400m and the fastest of these was the bill topping MR90 Handicap in which D’ANGELO was successful. Sent off second favourite at 33/10, Grant Paddock’s charge was soon up handy. He was ridden to lead as they approached the 200m marker and comfortably accounted for WESTERN STAR by a length and three quarters.
The easiest victory on the card was recorded by FOLLOW THE TIGER in the opening maiden juvenile plate over 1000m. She got away well when the gates opened and was soon prominent. She hit the front going through the 200m and drew clear easily in the latter stages of the race to score by three and a quarter.
The well supported TYPHOON TASH was the best bet on the card for many and the daughter of Windrush didn’t let down her supporters. Sent off a strong favourite at 16/10 (op 3/1), Dorrie Sham’s charge raced in midfield during the early part of the race. Once given rein though she quickened well and under a well judged ride from Wayne Agrella she got up late to beat the nibbled at ANNE BONNY by a neck.
Titbits
Gaining at the finish, SHE’S A LADY only failed to get up by the narrowest of margins in the MR70 Handicap over 1600m.
The unfancied newcomer BURSARY ran on from midfield when third in the maiden juvenile 1000m won by Follow The Tiger.
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Top speedratings for this weekend include:-
Fairview Race 1: (1) Desert Emblem 8 Race 2: (6) The Special One 4 Race 3: (13) Aspen Tree 25 Race 4: (9) Afloat 51 Race 5: (7) Irish Maid 69 Race 6: (5) Stars And Stripes 48 Race 7: (2) Never Forever 87 (NAP*) Race 8: (12) Field Star 42 Turffontein Race 1: (6) Lucky Gambler 21 Race 2: (1) Tobit 37 Race 3: (4) Adella 26 Race 4: (8) Smart Girl 73 Race 5: (2) Romeos Reward 67 Race 6: (1) Approximate 36 Race 7: (13) Marching Band 56 Race 8: (15) Beach Beauty 100 Race 9: (6) Dark Knight 75 Race 10: (2) Eternity 21 (EW) Kenilworth Race 1: (1) La Tigresse 58 (NAP*) Race 2: (6) Leisure Jet 57 Race 3: (1) In A Rush 82 Race 4: (7) Sea Cat 23 Race 5: (7) Cigar Boy 58 Race 6: (1) Capetown Noir 81 (nb) Race 7: (3) Happy Archer 84 Race 8: (15) Beach Beauty 100 Race 9: (16) The Which Doctor 61 Race 10: (13) Halfway To Heaven 91 Race 11: (13) Discordia 73 Race 12: (3) Ilsanpietro 99 .
Top rated winners last week included
Daring Duchess won 8/1 Lucky Cat won 22/10 Straw Market won 22/10 Burlaine Forest won 2/1 Roy’s Jet won 16/10 What A Winter won 16/10 Wylie Hall won 11/10 Lockheed Jetstar won 1/3 .
Notebook:-
Alcanina (B Wiid, Gauteng) My Sanctuary (D Howells, KZN) .
FASTEST TIMES
The number of races run over each distance is shown in brackets *Denotes – Times taken by ClockwatcherGreyville 20th January Penetrometer 31 – Going Heavy 1000m (2) Green Line 60,49 1200m (4) Top Of The Chocs 73,62 1400m (1) For Freluche 87,98 1900m (2) Authentic Albert 121,18 .
Flamingo Park 21st January Going – Standard 1000m (1) Surging Secret 57,68 1200m (5) Red Hills 72,89 1400m (1) Metro Man 87,63 1800m (2) Poweroftheflower 114,42 .
Scottsville (new) 22nd January Penetrometer 26 – Going G/Soft 1000m (1) Here We Are 58,18 1200m (2) My Sanctuary 70,51 1400m (1) Jamal 86,35 1500m (1) Black Is Black 91,18 1600m (3) Great Detail 97,25 .
Turffontein (old) 22nd January Penetrometer 24 – Going G/Soft 1000m (3) Valberg 56,10 1160m (1) Three Nations 66,86 1400m (1) Burlesque 86,73 1600m (1) Sky Pirate 99,03 1800m (1) Go Gold 111,33 2450m (1) Canterbury Tale 157,33 .
Arlington 23rd January Penetrometer 21 – Going Good 1000m (1) Follow The Tiger 59,36 1200m (1) Desert Kite 72,04 1400m (4) D’angelo 84,38 1600m (1) Lunar Landing 97,19 1800m (1) Pindan Blue 110,88
