Commanding Respect
Turffontein 12th June: The only distance to stage more than one race on the old stand side track on Sunday was 1400m where the faster of the two events was the pinnacle stakes won by the very well weighted TROPHY WIFE. Sent off at the rather generous odds of 18/10, Sean Tarry’s charge, as per usual, could be sighted in the rear early on. Once in the long home straight though she quickly began to make headway, and under a well-judged ride from S’manga Khumalo she got up 100m from home.
The Gr3 Jubilee Handicap over 1800m topped the bill and here the stable of Sean Tarry were again on the mark when the 3yo LIEGE registered his fourth career victory. Freely available at 13/2 on the off, the son of Dynasty was always handy. He was ridden to lead going through the 300m and comfortably accounted for the more fancied RAINY DAY BLUES by a length.
Race 4 on the card was a maiden plate for the girls over 1400m and here we saw a smart performance from the newcomer TYCOON CHIEF. Well supported on course into 9/2 from 10/1, Michael Azzie’s charge wasn’t the quickest into stride, and as a result she raced towards the rear early on. Once given rein though she ran on best of all, and won well from the dead-heaters for second LEGEND SEEKER and LADY NEGRA.
Titbits
The newcomer ANNA PAVLOVA made up many lengths when running on from midfield to finish third in the maiden juvenile plate over 1000m.
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Interesting Movement
Vaal 14th June: Originally scheduled to take place on the new classic track, this meeting was moved to the inside track with two of the three races over 1450m changed to 1400m. By far the faster of those two races over 1400m was the MR94 Handicap won by FINCHATTON. Sent off a well-supported favourite at 18/10, Sean Tarry’s charge was soon positioned close to the speed. He took up the running as they approached the 300m marker and went on to score with authority from his front running stable companion DONNY G.
The faster of the two 1000m events on the eight race program was the MR68 Handicap won by DASPOORT. The A P Arrow gelding got away well when the gates opened and taken straight to the front by Andrew Fortune led throughout. He soon had the field well strung out and showing good improvement won easing down by two and three quarters.
Quickest home in the two races over 2000m was FRAPPACHINO when causing an upset in the not so lucky last, a MR66 Handicap. Freely available at 20/1 on the off, Roy Magner’s charge was always handy. He put his head in front shortly after passing the 400m marker and just held on by a neck from the running on STREAK. The runner up had been baulked for a run 200m out and was gaining quickly at the finish.
Titbits
The aptly named newcomer EFFORTLESS REWARD (5/1 into even money) was always clear when winning the maiden plate over 1000m very easily by seven.
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Full Speed Ahead
Greyville 15th June: They raced on the poly track on Wednesday where the faster of the two maiden juvenile plates that got proceedings underway was the girl’s affair won by COSTA DA SOL. Runner up to the useful DAWN CALLING in her only previous outing, the daughter of Mogok raced in midfield during the early part of the race. She quickened well at the top of the short home straight and comfortably accounted for the well-supported favourite WHITE ROSE (led 250m) by a length and a quarter.
There were five races run over 1400m in total and over a second quicker than anything else was SAIL SOUTH in the bill topping MR98 Handicap. Freely available at 12/1 on the off, the top weighted Sail From Seattle gelding sat in midfield early on. He ran on best of all in the straight and with the rest well beaten, he comfortably accounted for the 22/10 favourite EXECUTIVE POWER by two.
Race six on the card was a MR86 Handicap over 1200m and here it was nice to see the Jet Master gelding MASTER’S SPIRIT back in the winner’s enclosure. Having his third run after a layoff here, Mike De Kock’s charge was a little slow into stride and as a result he raced in the rear during the early part of the race. Once given rein though he ran on best of all and won well by a length after striking the front 150m from home. Fourth placed HIGHWAY EXPLORER also ran on well from the rear in this race.
Titbits
After losing four lengths at the start, the newcomer ZODIAC RULER ran on well from the rear when winning the opening maiden juvenile plate over 1400m. The runner up MR O’NEILL (carried wide at the top of the straight) ran on well from the backend of midfield in this race.
BIZJET was baulked for a run 300m out en-route from the rear when fourth beaten 1,75 in the MR81 Handicap over 1400m.
The always handy 7/10 favourite RAIN IN AFRICA won the maiden plate over 1000m very easily by five.
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Just Teasing
Turffontein 16th June: Thursday’s action took place on the old stand side track where the best bet on the card for many TRIP TEASE duly obliged in the pinnacle stakes over 1000m. Always deep in the red in what not surprisingly proved to be the faster of the two 1000m events, the exceptionally well weighted son of Trippi was soon positioned close to the speed. He assumed command shortly after passing the 200m pole and drew clear easily in the closing stages of the race to score by three and a quarter. Trip Tease has now won 15 of his 25 starts.
On my clock the faster of the two juvenile plates over 1400m that kicked off the meeting was the boy’s affair won by the unbeaten JIFFY. Making his third racecourse appearance here, the A P Arrow gelding was content to sit sixth of the nine early on. Once given the go ahead by Raymond Danielson though, he quickened best of all and won going away by a length and three quarters with some in hand.
Another lightly raced runner to win well on this card was EVENING BREEZE when making it two from three in the MR92 Handicap. Freely available at 12/1 on the off, Clinton Binda’s charge broke well and was always handy. He quickened well from halfway and with the rest well beaten he comfortably accounted for the rejuvenated CROWN OF ROSES by a length and a quarter.
Titbits
Improving SANTIBURI ran on well from midfield when getting up late to win the girl’s division of the juvenile plate over 1400m.
After being squeezed at the start the aptly named newcomer LOTUS ELAN ran on well from the rear when getting up late to win the maiden plate over 1160m.
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Top speedratings for this weekend include:-
Fairview (fri)
Race 1: (1) Rock Deejay 36 (NAP*)
Race 2: (7) Seattle Sunrise 33
Race 3: (1) Seattle Light 21
Race 4: (1) Limpopo River 9
Race 5: (4) Dreamforest 47
Race 6: (13) Roman Ridge 35
Race 7: (14) Special Effects 39
Race 8: (6) Just Lucky 36 (nb)
Turffontein (sat)
Race 1: (6) Dromedaris 10
Race 2: (7) Might As Well 1
Race 3: (1) Isolde 16 (NAP*)
Race 4: (1) King Of Thrones 4
Race 5: (2) Pennington Sands 3
Race 6: (5) The Captain’s Tune 82
Race 7: (3) Mr Mulliner 54
Race 8: (5) Angelic Appeal 53
Race 9: (4) Indzaba 31
Kenilworth (sat)
Race 1: (7) Cautiontothewind 20
Race 2: (13) Whispering Light 15
Race 3: (10) Daring Miss 15
Race 4: (3) Felicity Flyer 41
Race 5: (2) Table Bay 47
Race 6: (13) Crystal Cavern 73
Race 7: (2) Goodtime Gal 58
Race 8: (4) Whisky Baron 65
Race 9: (5) Krambambuli 83
Greyville (sun)
Race 1: (2) Portelinha Waltz 28
Race 2: (2) Yankeedoodledandy 17
Race 3: (6) Faberge Style 58
Race 4: (4) Al Ciberano 83
Race 5: (3) Secret Warning 80
Race 6: (3) Overlap 64
Race 7: (7) Malak El Moolook 96 (EW)
Race 8: (5) Run For Revelry 86
Race 9: (6) Angelic Appeal 81
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Top rated winners last week included
Amazing Var won 10/1
Winning Sister won 9/2
Legend won 4/1
Fangia won 15/10
Rain In Africa won 7/10
Oceans Trip won 6/10
Trip Tease won 11/20
Rivarine won 9/20
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Notebook:-
Anna Pavlova (R Magner, Gauteng)
Jiffy (E Verdonese, Gauteng)
Zodiac Ruler (J Snaith, 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
Turffontein (old) 12th June
Penetrometer 22 – Going Good
1000m (1) Rebel’s Diamond 57,47
1160m (1) Caribbean Queen 68,20
1400m (2) Trophy Wife 85,48
1600m (1) Johnnie For Pops 100,23
1800m (1) Liege 109,39
2000m (1) Laurel Cherry 124,38
2450m (1) Arch Rival 155,91
Vaal (inside) 14th June
Penetrometer 22 – Going Good
1000m (2) Daspoort 57,45
1400m (2) Finchatton 81,62
1450m (1) Roaring Tiger 86,93
1800m (1) Fangia 111,12
2000m (2) Frappachino 124,82
Greyville (poly) 15th June
Going Standard
1000m (1) Rain In Africa 58,59
1200m (1) Master’s Spirit 69,97
1400m (5) Sail South 81,89
2000m (1) Smart World 124,05
Turffontein (old) 16th June
Penetrometer 23 – Going Good
1000m (2) Trip Tease 57,08
1160m (2) Hililyhililyhilo 68,12
1400m (2) Jiffy 88,29*
1600m (2) Dakiwe 100,50
