Alan’s Big Five
Fairview 16th October: The Gauteng form of LANDELA clearly made her the one to beat in the opening maiden plate over 1100m on the poly track on Tuesday, and despite looking as if she might need it, she did indeed open her account. Soon in touch with the leaders, the daughter of Smart Missile was ridden to lead as they approached the 200m marker and comfortably accounted for the front running EESHARA by two and a half.
Three of the afternoon’s eight races were staged over 1300m and stopping the clock in the fastest of these was LOVE DOVE in the MR74 Handicap. Positioned second last entering the straight, Alan Greeff’s charge was easily five lengths off the pace. She ran on best of all in the short home straight and under a well-judged ride from Sandile Kathi she got up late to deny the more fancied COWGIRLINTHESAND (led 200m).
They also ran three races over 1600m and quickest home here was BORDER CONTROL in the MR77 Handicap. On leaving the stalls it was ROSSLYN CHAPEL who elected to make the running and the son of Right Approach soon had the field well strung out. Nicely positioned in second though, the former KZN campaigner was always poised to strike. He did so going through the 200m and won going away from the pacemaker by two and a half.
Titbits
Sporting blinkers for the first time, GUADALUPO won with authority by four when getting off the mark in the maiden plate over 1600m.
A Walk In The Park
Turffontein 18th October: This was the meeting originally scheduled to take place on Tuesday 16th October. By far the faster of the two 2600m events on Thursday afternoon was the MR80 Handicap won by the top weight ODD ROB. Sent off second in the betting market at 7/2, Gary Alexander’s veteran travelled well throughout, and perfectly placed in second was always poised to strike. He did so early in the short home straight and kept on strongly in the closing stages of the race to beat MIGHTY AND MAGIC (backed into favouritism) by two and a quarter.
All the rage to win race 2 on the card, a maiden plate for the girls over 1200m, was the Sean Tarry trained newcomer SUMMER AFTERNOON. Eventually sent off at 9/10 after opening up at 3/1, the daughter of Trippi was always in touch with the leaders. She quickened nicely coming off the strip and after striking the front 200m out, she went on to win going away with some in hand.
As is often the case the newly introduced Assessment Plates prove to be benefit races for the better horses. As was the case with VAN HALEN in the fastest of the four 1200m events. Confidently ridden by Craig Zackey, the 3yo Oratorio gelding raced sixth of the eight for most of the journey. He was ridden to lead 150m out, and with Zackey continually looking around thereafter, he went on to win as he liked.
Titbits
After being slow into stride, the newcomer SUMMER HOUSE ran on well from the back when a length and a half fourth in the opening maiden plate over 1200m.
The nibbled at outsider STREET FLYER was signalling a return to form when finishing strongly to take third position in the MR74 Handicap over 1450m. He’s recently dropped 14 points in the handicap in seven starts.
Weighted To Strike
Fairview 19th October: Racing returned to the poly track on Friday where the only distance to stage more than one race was 1200m. The MR86 Handicap was the fastest of these and here the 5yo Kahal gelding AMAZON KING gained his first success since relocating to the province. Racing off a mark some ten points below that of his former best, Amazon King was content to sit at the back of the seven early on. He ran on stoutly in the short home straight and just got the verdict over the faster finishing PACIFIC SPIRIT (raced 6th – only got going late) by a short head.
In terms of prizemoney a MR90 Handicap topped the bill and here it was nice to see the once very highly regarded PROSPECT STRIKE find the winner’s enclosure. Now racing off a mark 33 points lower than his former best, the 6yo son of Toreador was soon up handy. He was ridden to lead as they approached the 300m marker and kept on strongly late to beat the running on STREAK OF SILVER by a length and a quarter.
The highest rated runners on the card contested the conditions plate over 1400m and here victory went to the bottom weight MAVERICK GIRL. Another to race close to the speed, Yvette Bremner’s charge put her head in front coming off the bend and won well by a half from the always handy WESTON.
Titbits
Positioned eighth of the ten turning for home, HORSE HAIZI was gaining quickly at the finish when only beaten a short head in the MR76 Handicap over 1000m.
Despite not finding the clearest of passages in running, LATERAL’S FLASH finished best of all when getting off the mark in the maiden plate over 1900m.
Making Progress
Greyville 19th October: There was a tail wind of around 35km/h on Friday evening hence the track was running a little fast. The MR88 Handicap over 1200m was comparatively the quickest race on the card and here ROYAL ARMOUR caused a bit of an upset. Usually seen out over further, the Jay Peg gelding adopted a change of tactics here and raced from the front. He kept on determinedly at the business end of the race to keep the 15/10 favourite MONTE CHRISTO at bay.
The MR76 Handicap was the faster of the two 1600m races on the card and here we saw a smart performance from the progressive STELVIO. Now a winner of three from seven, Dennis Drier’s charge was always in touch with the leaders. She put her head in front as they approached the 200m pole and drew clear easily in the closing stages of the race to score by two and a half.
Another to win with authority on this card was MAMBO LYRIC in the girl’s maiden plate over 1400m. Soon at the head of affairs, the generously priced Sporting Post best handicapped (22/1 – paid R36,80 on the tote) led throughout. She began to assert her authority at the top of the short home straight and won well by three.
Titbits
Sent off 2/1 favourite to win the MR80 Handicap, ROBBERG EXPRESS (a fluent winner of his only previous racecourse appearance) was squeezed at the start and raced detached at the rear. He made up many lengths in the straight and although he only finished sixth of the eight, he was only beaten 1,55 lengths.
Thrilling Stuff
Turffontein 20th October: Surprisingly the fastest of the three Grand Series races over 1475m at the inner track on Saturday was the consolation event won by the second favourite BIG MISTAKE. The son of Querari got away well when the gates opened and soon up handy raced prominent throughout. He ran on stoutly at the business end of the race and after a thrilling tussle with FLYING WINGER (led 300m), he got the verdict on the nod.
On the other side of a short head verdict was ZOAVES in leg 2 of the Grand Series. Always handy, Geoff Woodruff’s charge finished best of all and would surely have gotten the better of the winner TSITSIKAMMA DANCE (raced handy – led 230m) in another stride.
Leg 1 was won by the strongly fancied SOLDIER ON. Usually one to run on strongly from off the pace, the Brave Tin Soldier gelding adopted a change of tactics here and raced handy. He quickened well when the race began in earnest and in another classic finish he only got the better of DAN THE LAD (raced 2nd – led 400m) in the last stride.
Titbits
PERFECT TIGRESS and MAR DEL SUR both made up many lengths in the short home straight when 1st & 3rd respectively in the MR84 Handicap over 1450m.
The poorly drawn newcomer I’M A LOOKER made up many lengths from the rear when a 3,2 lengths fourth in the maiden plate over 1200m.
Top speedratings for this weekend include:-
Fairview (fri)
Race 1: (6) Beautiful Beat 9
Race 2: (2) The Suit 2 (NAP*)
Race 3: (9) Love Dove 71
Race 4: (10) Sweet Treat 47
Race 5: (8) Supreme Winter 46
Race 6: (1) Exelero 76
Race 7: (9) Just Chaos 43
Race 8: (2) Le Grand Rouge 51
Greyville (fri)
Race 1: (5) Lady Wisteria 9
Race 2: (5) Combat Captain 22
Race 3: (1) Elusive Diva 16
Race 4: (7) Aldo’s Chase 39
Race 5: (6) Eccellerate 39
Race 6: (2) Chantyman 60
Race 7: (1) Subtropical 58
Race 8: (8) Royal Kaitrina 31
Turffontein (sat)
Race 1: (1) Master And Man 17
Race 2: (1) Andiamo 6
Race 3: (9) Zeal And Zest 58
Race 4: (4) Sabbatical 68
Race 5: (9) Iditarod Trail 45 (NAP**)
Race 6: (1) Image Award 50
Race 7: (8) Sporting Monarch 55
Race 8: (4) Copper Jay 62
Race 9: (4) Dewali 41
Kenilworth (sat)
Race 1: (1) November Storm 5
Race 2: (6) Metorite 65
Race 3: (6) Hall Of Fame 40
Race 4: (2) Search Party 94
Race 5: (2) Johnny Black 45
Race 6: (2) Canukeepitsecret 56
Race 7: (2) Cirillo 53
Race 8: (5) Amarosa 44
Race 9: (2) Yaamen 6
Fairview (sun)
Race 1: (2) Tundra 13
Race 2: (1) Lunar Rush 72
Race 3: (3) The Barrister 5
Race 4: (7) Doubled Over 13
Race 5: (6) Hotel Cipriani 75
Race 6: (11) Late Autumn 47
Race 7: (9) Cape Rebel 78
Race 8: (10) Rocksette 56
Race 9: (6) Jungle Fairy 38
Greyville (sun)
Race 1: (2) Palace Rose 16
Race 2: (8) Lotsa Silver 40
Race 3: (11) Bridal Veil 51
Race 4: (8) The Poet 52
Race 5: (10) Prince Of Promise 43
Race 6: (8) Silvan Saint 40
Race 7: (11) Flaming Desire 37
Race 8: (1) Walterthepenniless 16
Top rated winners last week included
Fort Ember won 8/1
Royal Armour won 8/1
Prospect Strike won 31/4
Oriental Tiger won 5/1
Warrior’s Rest won 5/1
Oklahoma Sky won 47/10
The Rising Legend won 2/1
Van Halen won 17/10
Notebook:-
I’m A Looker (G Alexander, Gauteng)
Robberg Express (JAJ v Vuuren, KZN)
Summer Afternoon (S Tarry, Gauteng)
Zouaves (G Woodruff, Gauteng)
FASTEST TIMES
The number of races run over each distance is shown in brackets
*Denotes – Times taken by Clockwatcher
Fairview (poly) 16th October
Going Standard
Course Variant: 0,60s slow
1100m (2) Oriental Tiger 63,79
1300m (3) Love Dove 76,21
1600m (3) Border Control 95,87
Turffontein (inner) 18th October
Penetrometer 23 – Going Good
Course Variant: 1,03s slow
1000m (1) Green Plains 57,59
1200m (4) Van Halen 71,45
1450m (1) Lazarus Tree 87,88
1600m (1) The Rising Legend 97,58
2000m (1) Noceur 127,20
2600m (2) Odd Rob 167,27
Fairview (poly) 19th October
Going Standard
Course Variant: 0,50s slow
1000m (1) Oklahoma Sky 58,23
1200m (2) Amazon King 69,85
1300m (1) Nicoletta 78,16
1400m (1) Maverick Girl 82,02
1600m (1) Prospect Strike 95,25
1800m (1) Jungle Fairy 111,46
1900m (1) Lateral’s Flash 119,32
Greyville (poly) 19th October
Going Standard
Course Variant: 0,04s fast
1000m (1) Ronnie Rocket 57,45
1200m (2) Royal Armour 69,27
1400m (1) Mambo Lyric 83,87
1600m (2) Stelvio 94,61
1900m (1) Playlist 115,90
2000m (1) Lucius Fox 124,37
Turffontein (inner) 20th October
Penetrometer 21 – Going Good
Course Variant: 1,79s slow
1000m (1) Pius Oil 57,49
1200m (2) Tricia 71,75
1450m (1) Perfect Tigress 87,78
1475m (3) Big Mistake 88,27
1600m (1) Warrior’s Rest 97,40
1800m (1) Fort Ember 111,16
2000m (2) Senor Lizard 124,98
2600m (1) American Indian 167,65
