Vaal 30th December
Just Reward
Thursday’s action took place on the turf where victory in the Qualified Maiden Handicap over 1200m went to the 4yo VALUTA (16). Sent off a rather uneasy second favourite at 3/1 (opened 22/10), Gary Alexander’s charge was taken straight to the front by Derek David and led throughout, She kept on strongly at the business end of the race and although MIDNIGHT FEAST finished well from off the pace, she still had three quarters of a length to spare at the wire.
Race four on the card was a MR66 affair over 1600m and here it was nice to see the hard working VICTORY BELT (41) register his fourth career victory. A veteran of some 61 starts, Chris Erasmus’ charge as per usual, came from off the pace. He finished best of all and under a typical ride from the Peruvian Willie Figueroa, he got up late to beat FLINTOFF by three quarters.
The lucky last was a MR62 Handicap over 1400m and here UGLY BETTY (38), the best bet on the card for most, duly arrived. Confidently ridden by Francois Herholdt, the well supported Ugly Betty raced in midfield during the early part of the race. She began to take closer order passing halfway and after striking the front 200m from home, she comfortably accounted for the chasing MASTENDE.
Titbits
SEA PASSAGE, the favourite in the MR66 Handicap over 1600m finished lame on the near fore.
GENTLE STAR was again running on nicely after being slow away in the MR62 Handicap over 1400m.
Fairview 31st December
Count On Oliver
They raced in Port Elizabeth on Friday where victory in the opening maiden juvenile event over 800m went to the second favourite GOLD VANTAGE. Soon up handy, Yvette Bremner’s charge raced prominent throughout. She ran on strongly over the final 300m and went on to score comfortably by a length and a quarter from the running on MOLLY MALONE (8/1 into 9/2).
Race four on the card was a MR66 affair over 1200m and here we saw a nice performance from the lightly raced ZAAFIEL. Sent off a joint favourite despite drifting considerably at the track (22/10 out to 4/1), Zaafiel raced third for most of the journey. She quickened well at the business end of the race and although AUSTRALIA FAIR ran on stoutly from off the pace, she went on to score comfortably by three quarters. Now a winner of two from five, Zaafiel won well here and could complete a hattrick if not thrown in too deep next time.
Also worthy of note on this card was the performance of COUNT OLIVER who completed a hattrick in the MR69 Handicap over 1800m. Rock solid in the betting market at 4/1, Mike Mclachlan’s charge, as per usual, was content to amble along in the rear for most of the trip. Once in the long home straight though, he quickened best of all and in what proved to be a real thriller, he got up in the very last stride. One to look out for next time from this race is HEAVEN who finished fifth. He’s caught the eye running on stoutly when beaten less than a length and a half in each of his last two starts.
Titbits
Newcomer ASIATIC MOON was running on nicely on debut in the maiden event over 1200m.
Turffontein 1st January
Carey’s Stroll
They raced on the old stand side track on New Year’s Day where by far the easiest victory on the card was recorded by CAREY’S QUI (55). Allowed to drift right out to 12/1 from 6/1 at the track, Alec Laird’s charge was soon in touch with the leaders. She was asked to take up the running as they approached the 400m pole and although the well supported favourite PIMPINELLA (33/10 into 17/10) ran on stoutly from off the pace, she coasted home by six and a half. Third in the Gauteng Fillies Mile last time out, Carey’s Qui won very well here and is clearly one to keep tabs on.
Another to win in eyecatching style on this card was ONEHUNDREDACREWOOD (74) who gained a well overdue fourth career victory in the Conditions Plate over 1000m. Detached at the rear during the early stages of the race, Gavin Van Zyl’s charge was looking unlikely to place going through halfway, let alone win. Once given rein though, the daughter of Malhub quickened very nicely and under a well judged ride from Donavon Mansour, she got up late to beat last season’s Gauteng Fillies Nursery winner WAYWEST GODDESS by a length and a quarter.
The Gr3 Lebelo Sprint over 1000m topped the bill and in what proved to be a real thriller, victory here went to the Charles Laird trained BLUE VOYAGER (85). Sent off favourite at 5/2, the son of Muhtafal raced prominent throughout. The lesser fancied of Herman Brown’s two runners JINZO threw down a determined challenge from the 200m marker and inseparable all the way to the wire, it was only by the narrowest of margins that Blue Voyager got the verdict.
Titbits
MAR LODGE won the 2000m maiden event with authority and is clearly one to keep tabs on.
Regular place getter SUPER BOY was caught for early toe in the maiden event over 1000m and should go one better soon when put over further.
Scottsville 2nd January
Coasting Home
This was the meeting originally scheduled to take place at Greyville on 1st January.
There were a number of very easy victories in Natal on Sunday, but none more so than that of FIRST SOVEREIGN (34) who got off the mark in the opening maiden event over 1200m. Sent off a strong favourite at 13/10, Glen Kotzen’s charge was taken straight to the front by Stuart Randolph and led throughout. She was always in command and drew clear easily in the closing stages of the race to beat NEWS HUB by five and a half.
The best bet on the card for many was KEY WORD (41) in the maiden event over 1600m and he didn’t let down his supporters. Confidently ridden by Keegan Latham, Key Word sat towards the back end of midfield during the early part of the race. Once in the straight though, he quickened well and after striking the front 250 from home, he cruised clear to win by five. Keep an eye on Key Word. He has a fair turn of foot and looks sure to win more races.
The Gr3 Flamboyant Stakes over 1600m topped the bill and here victory went to one of the two Gauteng raiders PRECEDENT (90). A little troublesome at the start, Paul Matchett’s charge raced in midfield for most of the journey. She quickened nicely when given rein early in the straight and after striking the front 250m from home, she found extra late to keep the running on LADY MAGPIE at bay. Keep an eye on the runner up Lady Magpie. She’s caught the eye running on best of all on several occasions and is clearly better than her current record would suggest.
Titbits
NOT LIABLE won well in the graduation plate over 2000m and is clearly very useful.
ALLE BREVE came from the back to win the MR70 Handicap over 1200m and on earlier form will still be very nicely handicapped next time.
Top speedratings for this weekend include:-
Flamingo Park
Race 1: (16) Island Fragrance 14
Race 2: No Qualifiers
Race 3: (6) Ishara 2
Race 4: (8) Bracing Air 33
Race 5: (9) Hot Potootie 55
Race 6: (10) Staying Alive 53
Race 7: (10) Opening Night 95
Race 8: (16) King Joshua 40
Race 9: (10) Lady In Pink 22
Vaal (Tues)
Race 1: (3) Giaconda 15
Race 2: (4) Mojarad 22
Race 3: (7) King’s Destiny 51
Race 4: (8) Leprecorns Gift 65
Race 5: (2) Mannequin 84
Race 6: (9) Mighty Assassin 78
Race 7: (2) Cruso 86
Race 8: (1) Winning Wild 28
Kenilworth
Race 1: No Qualifiers
Race 2: (9) Spartan Emblem 8
Race 3: (3) Touche 21
Race 4: (2) Fort Lodge 50
Race 5: (1) Moonlight Gambler 65 (NAP*)
Race 6: (8) Facing Federer 85
Race 7: (8) La Beau Jolais 57
Race 8: (1) Hot Summer Night 3
Vaal (Thur)
Race 1: No Qualifiers
Race 2: (1) Hollywoodboulevard 90 (NAP*)
Race 3: (1) Winning Wild 28
Race 4: (1) Soul Sister 17
Race 5: (5) House Of Wax 68
Race 6: (9) Eastern Cobbler 86
Race 7: (6) Boy Oh Boy 77
Race 8: (3) Prismatic Fire 44
Race 9: (1) Azalai 12
Greyville
Race 1: (8) Sarafan 14
Race 2: (1) Snappy 26
Race 3: (1) French Reef 16
Race 4: (6) My Best Pal 31 (NAP*)
Race 5: (9) Omega Warrior 82
Race 6: (14) Please To Progress 62
Race 7: (4) Eliza Maria76 (EW)
Race 8: (4) Watch The Sunset 70
Race 9: (16) Greet The Day 50
Top rated winners last week included:-
Big Yellow Taxi won 9/2
Ubizo won 75/20
Son Of The Burg won 2/1
Kayhaladin won 17/10
Ugly Betty won 15/10
Delightful Diva won 14/10
Polo Won 9/10
Uncle Tommy won 17/20
Notebook:-
Carey’s Qui (A Laird, Gauteng)
Lady Magpie (A Gordon, Natal)
Mar Lodge (R Sage, Gauteng)
Onehundredacrewood (G Van Zyl, Gauteng)
FASTEST TIMES
(Shown in brackets is the number of races run in each category)
Vaal 30th December
Fastest Sprint 1000-1300 (4) Let The River Run
Fastest Middle 1400-1800 (5) Richinstyle
Fastest Long 1900-3600 (0) No Qualifiers
Fairview 31st December
Fastest Sprint 1000-1300 (5) Golden Luci
Fastest Middle 1400-1800 (2) Preach Connection
Fastest Long 1900-3600 (1) October Club
Turffontein 1st January
Fastest Sprint 1000-1300 (6) Blue Voyager
Fastest Middle 1400-1800 (1) All Afire
Fastest Long 1900-3600 (2) Foreign Reserve
Scottsville 2nd January
Fastest Sprint 1000-1300 (4) Alle Breve
Fastest Middle 1400-1800 (3) Precedent
Fastest Long 1900-3600 (1) Not Liable
