One Man Army
Turffontein 24th August: They raced on the inner track on Saturday where four of the afternoon’s nine races were run over 1600m. Not surprisingly the fastest of these was the bill topping MR94 Handicap won by RAMBO. Backed into favouritism at the track (5/1 into 3/1), the lightly weighted son of Victory Moon led throughout. He was always in command and ran out a comfortable winner by a length and a half.
The easiest victory on the card was recorded by MIESQUE’S MANOR when opening her account in the workrider’s maiden plate over 1800m. Making her twenty sixth racecourse appearance here, the Miesque’s Approval mare sat sixth during the early part of the race. She was ridden to lead early in the short home straight and belying her earlier form she drew clear easily over the final 400m to win by seven and a quarter.
There were three races run over 1800m in total and the fastest of these was the MR72 Handicap won by SOUL SINGER. The 7yo son of Jet Master broke well from his pole position draw and nicely positioned in second was always poised to strike. He did so approaching the 200m pole and won well from the much younger NERO.
Race four on the card was a maiden plate for 3yo’s over 1800m and here we saw a smart performance from the Gavin Van Zyl trained BODYBUILDER. On leaving the stalls it was the deposed favourite DREAM HUNTER who elected to make the running whilst Bodybuilder raced some five lengths behind the runner up (DIE KAT) in the rear. He quickened in good style down the straight and with the rest well beaten he got up late to score by three quarters.
Titbits
LADY OF THE LORDS ran on well from midfield when winning the maiden 1450m going away.
With a ton in hand and easing down is how ONE UP won the MR77 Handicap over 1600m.
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Jamie Jets In
Kenilworth 24th August: A maiden plate over 1000m got proceedings underway in the heavy going in Cape Town on Saturday and here we saw a very easy victory for the well supported favourite TIGER MASTER. Eventually sent off at 3/1 after opening up at 5’s, the son of Tiger Dance led from pillar to post. He was always clear and won unchallenged by four and a half.
Four of the afternoon’s nine races were run over 1200m and the fastest of these was the bill topping Pinnacle Stakes won by JAMIE LEE JET. He broke well when the gates opened and was soon prominently positioned. He took up the running going through the 400m and kept on strongly late to beat the mud loving veteran COPA DE LA REY (now an 11yo) by a length and a half.
The faster of the two 1000m events was the MR80 affair won by QUEENS MUSIC. Positioned in midfield at the halfway mark, the daughter of Fort Wood ran on best of all and in what proved to be a real thriller she got up late to beat POUNCE and RUN LIKE HELL.
Another to win well from off the pace on this card was SOFT SNOW in the maiden 1600m. Tenth of the sixteen turning for home, Soft Snow ran on strongly over the final 400m and under a well judged ride from replacement rider Fareed Anthony, she got up late to beat the regular place getter SYLVIE by a length.
Titbits
After running on from midfield SANDY LANE won the maiden 1800m going away with some in hand.
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Smart Princess
Clairwood 25th August: A maiden plate over 1200m was first up at the garden course on Sunday and here it was nice to see the former champion jockey Anton Marcus (riding THE CIVILIAN) return to the saddle on a winning note. Sent off a rather uneasy favourite at 27/20 (op 9/10), The Civilian led throughout. She was always in command and comfortably accounted for another newcomer in CHASING DREAMS by two and a quarter.
A conditions plate topped the bill and in what proved to be the fastest of the four 1200m events on the card, the 3yo PRINCESS JULIETTA registered her second career victory. Solidly supported into 18/10 from 4’s, the lightly weighted daughter of King Of Kings was soon prominent. She ran on stoutly at the business end of the race and with the rest well beaten she comfortably accounted for LADY TATTY by a length.
The faster of the two 1600m races was the maiden event won by MIGHTY MAT. The second winner on the card for trainer Colin Scott (he only saddled three runners), the 4yo son of Greys Inn was soon up handy. He was ridden to lead as they approached the 100m marker and kept on strongly late to beat the nibbled at BRASS VERDICT by a half.
Titbits
After racing detached at the rear, DUCHESS OF YORK ran on strongly in the MR82 Handicap over 2000m and after thrilling tussle with DAME VICTORIA below the distance she got the verdict by the narrowest of margins.
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Top speedratings for this weekend include:-
Flamingo Park Race 1: (1) Billy’s Legacy 3 Race 2: (3) Memghar 48 Race 3: (8) Dolomite 32 Race 4: (9) Platoon 24 Race 5: (9) Fort William 24 Race 6: (10) Hlamba 36 Race 7: (1) Space Girl 33 Race 8: (1) Woza Friday 28 Race 9: (1) Runway Jet 16 Scottsville Race 1: (6) Sheik’s Braashee 27 Race 2: (3) Party Doll 24 Race 3: (3) Cayenne 25 Race 4: (1) Roy Royale 31 Race 5: (14) Erotic Pulse 40 Race 6: (7) Sparkling Wood 49 Race 7: (5) Chipnputt 33 Race 8: (5) Secret Pledge 42 Kenilworth Race 1: (10) Headstrong Harry 25 (NAP*) Race 2: (4) Nightside 20 Race 3: (16) Zacharias 28 Race 4: (17) Flying Ally 17 Race 5: (6) Dark Journey 76 Race 6: (10) Just Harry 44 Race 7: (6) Shishangeni 57 Race 8: (11) Rose Bay Moon 47 Race 9: (8) Titus 24 (EW) Vaal Race 1: (3) Club Lane 15 Race 2: (6) Magic Smoke 100 Race 3: (8) Translator 25 Race 4: (3) Noble Wind 18 Race 5: (2) Jumbo 42 Race 6: (7) Savannah Montana 32 Race 7: (12) Chedwin Park 24 Race 8: (10) The Angelus 29 .
Top rated winners last week included
Minister Of Magic won 7/1 Miesque’s Manor won 6/1 Rodeo Sioux won 6/1 Turkestan won 4/1 Cadillac Palace won 7/2 Tiger Mater won 3/1 Breeders Cup won 23/10 Divine Grace won 16/10 .
Notebook:-
Bodybuilder (G Van Zyl, Gauteng)
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FASTEST TIMES
The number of races run over each distance is shown in brackets *Denotes – Times taken by ClockwatcherTurffontein (inner) 24th August Penetrometer 21 – Going Good 1450m (1) Lady Of The Lords 90,09 1600m (4) Rambo 98,41 1800m (3) Soul Singer 113,40 2600m (1) Rodeo Sioux 168,19 .
Kenilworth (old) 24th August Penetrometer 32 – Going Heavy 1000m (2) Queens Music 63,13 1200m (4) Jamie Lee Jet 76,88 1600m (1) Soft Snow 104,01* 1800m (1) Sandy Lane 118,49 2400m (1) Tobe’s First 158,66 .
Clairwood 25th August Penetrometer 20 – Going Good 1000m (1) Burrwood 58,00 1200m (4) Princess Julietta 69,06 1450m (1) Skitt Skizzle 85,85 1600m (2) Mighty Mat 96,98 2000m (1) Duchess Of York 123,05
