Fairview 26th November
7 From 18
Somebody got the money in the opening maiden event over 1000m in Port Elizabeth on Friday when the well supported outsider SHAKE ME WAKE ME (33/1 into 14’s) opened his account. Unable to get within four lengths of a winner in six previous starts, Mitch Wiese’s charge broke well when the gates opened and was soon up handy. He ran on stoutly at the business end of the race and just managed to get the better of the pacemaker DRUMMIE close home.
Race five on the card was a MR104 Handicap over 2000m and here victory went to the confirmed frontrunner DAY OF THE PIPER. Winning for the seventh time in just eighteen starts since relocating to the Eastern Cape, Alan Greeff’s charge as per usual, was soon three lengths to the good. The 7yo kept on as determinedly as ever over the final 400m and although the Kimberley raider WATER JET did manage to make some headway in the latter stages, he went on to score very comfortably by a length and a half.
The non black type November Stakes over 1400m topped the bill and here we saw another smart performance from the Yvette Bremner trained CELTIC FIRE. On leaving the stalls it was CANNONBALL who elected to set the pace, whilst the son of Bezrin raced close up in third. He was asked to take up the running shortly after passing the 400m marker and despite the efforts of the chasing ECOLE MILITAIRE and VANGELIS, he went on to win very cosily by two and a half.
Greyville 26th November
Three From Three
The easiest victory in the maiden ranks on Friday evening was recorded by the Mike De Kock trained UROOJ (17) in the 1900m event. Adopting a change of tactics here, Urooj was taken straight to the front by Anthony Delpech and led throughout. She was always in command and although FABIOLA chased hard in the closing stages of the race, she went on to score very easily by three.
Another to win very well on this card was the 4yo PARAQUAYITO (54) who gained his third career victory from just nine starts in the graduation event over 1400m. Sent off a joint second favourite at 75/20, Tony Rivalland’s charge broke well and was soon in his favourite position at the head of affairs. He raced 2,5 lengths clear throughout and didn’t surrender an inch of his advantage on the run to the line. Paraquayito is now unbeaten in three starts over this course and distance.
The final event on the card was a MR78 affair over 1000m and here victory went to the easy to back TURBO FRIDAY (47). Allowed to ease out to 11/1 from 7/1 at the track, Paul Lafferty’s charge broke well and was soon in touch with the leaders. She was ridden to lead at the 200m marker and kept on strongly at the business end of the race to beat the running on favourite LUNE DE MIELE (lost two lengths at the start) by three quarters.
Turffontein 27th November
On The Warpath
KNOCK ON WOOD (5) had bumped two very good sorts when a runner up on debut and so it was no surprise to see him sent off a short priced favourite to win the opening maiden event over 1160m here. Soon up handy, Knock On Wood raced prominent throughout. Second favourite PERO VALIENTE raced with him and as the pair struck the front 500m out it looked as if a thrilling tussle would ensue. Knock On Wood quickened very nicely as they approached the 200m marker though, and drew clear easily in the closing stages of the race to score by four and a quarter.
The Gr1 Summer Cup topped the bill and in what proved to be a real thriller, victory here went to one of Mike De Kock’s lesser fancied runners FLIRTATION (87). One of six runners from the stable of the champion trainer, Flirtation had been drawn wide and as a result, she raced towards the rear during the early part of the race. Once in the long home straight though, the daughter of Silvano quickened best of all and under a well judged ride from Randal Simons, she got up nicely late to deny her well supported stable mate MOTHER RUSSIA (5/1 into 33/10).
The Gr2 Dingaans was next up and here we saw an impressive performance from the Gavin Van Zyl trained THE APACHE (82). Freely available at 40/1 on the off, The Apache was drawn wide and as a result he soon found himself positioned towards the rear. The favourite KAVANAGH meanwhile had raced in midfield and when that one struck the front 300m out, he looked to have done everything right. The Apache fairly flew at the business end of the race though and as he went past both Kavanagh and GALILEO’S DESTINY below the distance, he looked to be in a different league. The Apache won well and is clearly one to follow.
Scottsville 28th November
Lovely Evening
The best bet in Natal for most on Sunday was the Dennis Drier trained WATCH THE SUNSET (31) in the opening maiden event over 1200m and he didn’t let down his supporters. Backed into 17/20 from 12/10 at the track, the son of Spectrum was taken straight to the front by Alec Forbes and led throughout. Both D’ANGELO and AMPERE chased hard over the final 400m, but despite having the remainder some six lengths in arrears, neither could get within three quarters of a length of the favourite on crossing the line.
Race five on the card was a graduation event over 1200m and here we saw a smart performance from the Duncan Howells trained ROMANTIC MOON (57). Another to make virtually all, Romantic Moon led by just a length for most of the journey. She quickened well going through the 400m and after quickly seeing off the handily placed runners, she went on to score very comfortably from the running on LEGAL ACCOUNT by three and a quarter.
A MR103 Handicap over 1200m topped the bill and here victory went to the 3/1 second favourite JINZO (82). Confidently ridden by Ian Sturgeon, Jinzo sat towards the rear during the early part of the race. He began to take closer order from halfway and struck the front 250m out. Both GOOD THING and CALLIOPE caught the eye running on stoutly over the final 200m, but with neither having gotten the clearest of runs when the race began in earnest, Jinzo won comfortably by a length and a quarter.
Top speedratings for this weekend include:-
Flamingo Park
Race 1: (16) Leadership Lady 4
Race 2: (1) Milvago 5
Race 3: (5) Tucana 8
Race 4: (14) Pro Power 35
Race 5: (15) Battle Axe 39
Race 6: (14) Bomtempo 55
Race 7: (8) Expert Magic 33
Race 8: (13) Lapland Palace 32
Race 9: (9) Cape Tan Man 32
Kenilworth
Race 1: (3) Just Tiger 25 (nb)
Race 2: (6) Nor’wesrer 20
Race 3: (9) Vicky Violet 69
Race 4: (7) Magnolia Musk 59
Race 5: (1) Bush Pirate 79
Race 6: (1) Kayhaladin 70 (NAP*)
Race 7: (1) Croc Valley 61
Race 8: (9) Wing Man 21
Turffontein
Race 1: No Qualifiers
Race 2: (1) Captive Action 19
Race 3: (4) Sunny Disposition 9 (NAP*)
Race 4: (5) National Executive 17
Race 5: (10) Subtle Beauty 48
Race 6: (8) Gracie Jones 74
Race 7: (18) Smanyo 42
Race 8: (6) Armatrading 12
Clairwood
Race 1: (1) Time To Time 2
Race 2: No Qualifiers
Race 3: (10) Fernando Torres 15
Race 4: (1) Famous Words 15
Race 5: (1) Sweet Talk 41
Race 6: (8) Askari 82 (EW)
Race 7: (13) Carina Coleman 60
Race 8: (6) Bouquet-Garni 87
Race 9: (8) Fancy Some French 25
Race 10: (6) French Reef 11
Vaal
Race 1: (1) Sublime 26
Race 2: (15) Yadaki 5
Race 3: (4) Aquatic Club 16
Race 4: (1) Special Landing 17
Race 5: (1) Jamberoo 26
Race 6: (13) Wood Be 49
Race 7: (10) Sky Link 77 (NAP*)
Race 8: (6) Parade Prince 63
Race 9: (2) Flybyme 76
Race 10: (15) Oil Sheik 48
Top rated winners last week included:-
Lindenburg won 10/1
In Like Flynn won 7/2
Mary Hinge won 2/1
What A Winter won 18/10
Polar Bound won 16/10
Dynastic Rule won 15/10
Knock On Wood won 8/10
Al Caruso won 11/20
Notebook:-
Flirtation (M De Kock, Gauteng)
Romantic Moon (D Howells, Natal)
The Apache (G Van Zyl, Gauteng)
FASTEST TIMES
(Shown in brackets is the number of races run in each category)
Fairview 26th November
Fastest Sprint 1000-1300 (4) Bob ‘n Weave
Fastest Middle 1400-1800 (3) Celtic Fire
Fastest Long 1900-3600 (1) Day Of The Piper
Greyville 26th November
Fastest Sprint 1000-1300 (2) Turbo Friday
Fastest Middle 1400-1800 (3) Paraquayito
Fastest Long 1900-3600 (3) Dolomite
Turffontein 27th November
Fastest Sprint 1000-1300 (2) Arabian Mist
Fastest Middle 1400-1800 (5) The Apache
Fastest Long 1900-3600 (3) Flirtation
Scottsville 28th November
Fastest Sprint 1000-1300 (6) Royal Samba
Fastest Middle 1400-1800 (3) Oil Tycoon
Fastest Long 1900-3600 (1) Irresistible
