Favourable Afternoon
Turffontein 24th July: They raced on the inner track on Sunday where victory in the opening maiden juvenile plate over 1450m went to Sporting Post’s best bet BLAZING WINTER. Sent off a well-supported favourite at even money, the son of Western Winter was a little slow into stride when the gates opened, but despite that was soon up handy. He fairly flew after having to switch out for a run 250m from home and got up late to score by a half.
Run in a faster time than that of Blazing Winter was the maiden Plate over 1450m won by another well-supported favourite in SAO PAULO. In the red at 7/10 on the off, Mike De Kock’s charge was soon up handy. She was ridden to lead as they approached the 200m marker and drew clear easily in the closing stages of the race to win by three.
The faster of the two 2600m races on the card was the MR62 Handicap won by Commodore Al. Registering his seventh career victory here, the 7yo was always well positioned to strike. He did so going through the 100m and won fair and square from the more fancied DAYTONA CHARGER by just under a length.
Titbits
Well-supported AMERICAN TIGER came from the back when getting up late to win the MR72 Handicap over 1800m.
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A Race That Never Was
Flamingo Park 25th July: Rain fell heavily throughout the afternoon in Kimberley on Monday and as a result the meeting was abandoned after the running of race five.
The faster of the two 1000m races that opened up proceedings was the MR66 Handicap won by DUKE FLIES. Easy to back at 12/1 on the off, the King’s Apostle gelding raced close up in fourth during the early part of the race. He ran on strongly from halfway, and in a race where just a length separated the first four home, he got the verdict by a neck over the nibbled at SONGOFFIREANDICE.
Race three on the card was a maiden plate for the girls over 1200m. The false start siren was activated after the gates opened, but with all but two of the runners racing as normal, the race was run. As a result of this though, the race was declared null and void. The well-supported MATHS MAJOR won the race that never was then. Always handy, Tienie Prinsloo’s charge took up the running 200m out and cruised clear in the closing stages.
The only other two races to be run were both staged over 1600m, and the faster of these was the maiden plate in which TZITZIKAMA FIRE got off the mark. Yet another to race from a handy position, the 3yo son of Toreador took up the running approaching the 200m pole, and challenged strongly all the way to the wire, he did well to fend off the determined JAMROCK.
Titbits
The 4yo GREEN BOEGATTI won the opening maiden plate over 1000m very comfortably by a length and three quarters.
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Just The One
Durbanville 26th July: The going was initially posted as good off a penetrometer reading of 23 at the country course on Wednesday, but with rain steadily falling throughout the morning it was changed to Good to Soft before the meeting began. However, with the rain progressively getting heavier and much more forecast, the meeting was abandoned after the first race due to poor visibility and unsafe underfoot conditions.
The one race that was run was a Maiden Juvenile Plate over 1000m and here we saw a smart performance from the lesser fancied of Glen Kotzen’s two runners ANNELINE (20/1). Making her debut here, the daughter of Black Minnaloushe was always in touch with the leaders. Her stable companion MISS MALBEC (7/2 2ndfav) was the first to make a move and quickly going clear after striking the front 400m out, she looked to have the race in the bag. Anneline quickened in good style after switching out for a run 300m from home though and with the rest well beaten she flew past Miss Malbec 70m from home to win going away by a length and three quarters.
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Less Than One
Greyville 27th July: This was the meeting originally scheduled to take place at Scottsville. It was switched to the poly track at Greyville, but with more heavy rain falling overnight the meeting had to be abandoned because of a waterlogged track.
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Plenty To Think About
Vaal 28th July: They raced on the outside track on Thursday where the fastest of the three 1200m races was the MR100 Handicap won by the 5/1 shot DONNY G. He got away well when the gates opened and was soon positioned up with the speed. He began to assert his authority going through the 200m and drew clear easily in the closing stages of the race to score by three.
The faster of the two 1000m maiden juvenile plates that opened up proceedings was the boy’s affair won by the newcomer THE THINKER. In the rear going through halfway, the son of Visionaire showed a nice turn of foot late on and with plenty in hand won going away by a length and a half.
They also ran two races over 1400m and quickest home here was ALLEGORICAL in the MR80 Handicap. Another to run on stoutly from the rear, Lucky Houdalakis’ charge cut through the field like a knife when the race developed into a sprint 400m out and got up late to deny the 5/2 favourite FUTURE FANTASTIC.
Titbits
Priced up as one of the rank outsiders of the nine horse party at 25/1, FRONT RANK won the MR85 Handicap with authority by three.
Having her first outing for over a year, SANSHIA’S ROCK got off the mark in the maiden plate over 1200m.
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Top speedratings for this weekend include:-
Fairview (fri)
Race 1: (2) Winter Streak 4
Race 2: (10) Notting Hill 77
Race 3: (1) One Love 12 (nb)
Race 4: (7) Laws Of Succession 52
Race 5: (1) Tevez 90 (NAP*)
Race 6: (13) Fire Horse 51
Race 7: (6) Pirangi 79 (EW)
Race 8: (13) Diamond Dynasty 48
Greyville (sat)
Race 1: (14) Rebel Rose 7
Race 2: (1) Newyorkstateofmind 18
Race 3: (9) Sister Cosmos 60
Race 4: (11) Captured In Amber 44
Race 5: (9) Winter Is Coming 28 (NAP*)
Race 6: (8) Open Heir 52
Race 7: (13) Ethylene 51
Race 8: (10) Highland Fling 50
Race 9: (6) Silver Inspiration 35
Race 10: (13) Caroline’s Call 38
Flamingo Park (sat)
Race 1: (2) Sharp Peg 10
Race 2: (4) Shoshone 19
Race 3: (1) Devious Tiger 26
Race 4: (6) Consider The Cat 41
Race 5: (5) Jay Boy 51
Race 6: (7) Cumberland 68
Race 7: (11) Harmston Herald 70
Race 8: (13) Thrill Factor 62
Race 9: (5) Red Special 35
Turffontein (sun)
Race 1: (1) Fort Infinity 15
Race 2: (1) Lily Love 11
Race 3: (1) Doubly Attractive 16
Race 4: (10) Wensleydale 29
Race 5: (5) Lucky Luciano 52
Race 6: (3) Lumya 67
Race 7: (8) Jay River 37
Race 8: (8) Nugget Counter 52
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Top rated winners last week included
Allegorical won 12/1
Lisnoble won 7/1
Duke Nukem won 33/10
Gina Ballerina won 15/10
Blazing Winter won 1/1
Just A Gigolo won 13/20
Sao Paulo won 7/10
Crowd Pleaser won 11/20
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Notebook:-
Anneline (G Ktzen, 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 (inner) 24th July
Penetrometer 21 – Going Good
1200m (1) Duke Nukem 73,45
1450m (2) Sao Paulo 88,20
1600m (2) Hyperthermic 99,61
1800m (1) American Tiger 111,46
2600m (2) Commodore Al 167,38
Flaming Park 25th July
Going Standard
1000m (2) Duke Flies 57,70
1200m (1) Maths Major 74,73*
1600m (2) Tzitzikama Fire 102,95
Durbanville 26th July
Penetrometer 23 – Going G/Soft
1000m (1) Anneline 61,5
Vaal (outside) 28th July
Penetrometer 21 – Going Good
Course Variant: 0,25 seconds slow
1000m (2) The Thinker 57,76
1200m (3) Donny G 69,29
1400m (2) Allegorical 83,01
1600m (1) Front Rank 94,64
