Fastest, But Demoted
Clairwood 6th October: A pinnacle stakes topped the bill at the garden course on Sunday and in what proved to be the fastest of the afternoon’s three 1600m events first past the post was the 28/10 favourite ONE COOL DUDE. Always handy, Duncan Howells’ charge took up the running 200m out. Jockey Shea dropped the rein 100m later and although he quickly regained it One Cool Dude shifted out which resulted in GOLD ONYX (running on stoutly from the rear) having to be steadied and then carried outwards. An objection was lodged and the placing’s were reversed.
A winner fair and square over 1600m was ROY ROYAL ROY in the maiden ranks. Allowed to ease right out to 28/10 from 16/10 at the track, as money in the main came for PERFECT CIRCLE (19/10 into 19/20), the son of Fastnet Rock was swiftly guided over from a wide draw by Sean Cormack and raced close up in second. He was ridden to lead shortly after passing the 400m marker and with some in hand he easily accounted for the friendless CHERISHED (17/4 out to 25/2) by two and a half.
The fastest of the three 1000m races on the card was the MR92 Handicap won by the lightly raced KITCO. An impressive winner in the maiden ranks last time out, Dennis Drier’s charge also raced very close to the speed. She put her head in front going through the 300m and kept on strongly from there onwards to beat the running on GARIBONDY by a length and a quarter. Garibondy finished well and as with Kitco looks sure to win more races.
Titbits
EMERALD CROWN won the maiden 1000m under just hands and heels. After losing two lengths at the start, the runner up in this race STORMY CAT ran on well from the rear.
AL ROMANOV and WESTERN DANE both ran on well from off the pace when 2nd & 4th respectively in the MR74 Handicap over 1450m.
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With Authority
Flamingo Park 7th October: There were some very easy victories in the Northern Cape on Monday and none more so than that of AFRICAN GLADIATOR in the pinnacle stakes over 2200m. Very well weighted with most, the 7yo son of Modern Day was soon in his favourite position at the head of affairs. He was 3,5 lengths clear entering the home straight and despite the efforts of DOLOMITE (raced second throughout), he extended his advantage to eight and a quarter over the final 400m.
Another to win with authority on this card was WAY WITH WORDS when opening her account in the maiden 1000m. Having only her second outing since relocating from Natal, Vernon Rugg’s charge was soon up handy. She was ridden to lead as they approached the 200m pole and drew clear easily in the closing stages of the race to score by four and a half.
Three of the afternoon’s nine races were run over 1600m and the fastest of these was the pinnacle stakes won by EYE OF THE WORLD. Recording his fifteenth career win here, the 7yo son of Windrush was detached at the rear early on. Running on with all his usual zest in the straight though, the veteran steadily picked them off and under a well judged ride from S’manga Khumalo he got up late to win by a length and a quarter.
Titbits
Racing for the first time since relocating from Natal, REGAL BREEZE won the maiden 1600m easing down by three and three quarters.
Now a winner of two from four since relocating from Gauteng, LADY COZZENE won the MR68 Handicap over 1600m by a length and a half going away.
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Blazing A Trail
Vaal 8th October: They raced on the outside track at the Vaal on Tuesday where we saw a very easy victory in the opening workrider’s maiden event over 1200m for the 5/4 favourite SARASOTA. Ridden by one of the better riders Tom Lukhele, the daughter of Kahal made all. She led by just a length for the first 800m and with plenty in hand she cruised clear over the final 400m to score by six and three quarters.
Three races were run over 1200m in total and the fastest of these was the MR71 Handicap won by the top weight SUMMER ADIEU. Allowed to drift right out to 7/1 from 17/4 at the track, Lucky Houdalakis’ charge was always handy. She ran on stoutly at the business end of the race and after a thrilling tussle with another drifter CYBER SPACE, she only got the verdict by a neck.
The faster of the two 1000m events was the MR80 Handicap won by the improving BLAZING SUNSET. Up with the pace throughout, Clinton Binda’s charge began to assert his authority going though the 300m and comfortably accounted for the horse of ambiguous sex TUESDAYS CHILD by three and three quarters.
Titbits
After being slow away the recent maiden winner JENNY GREEN ran on well from the rear when runner up in the afternoon’s feature event a MR88 Handicap over 1200m.
Continually intimidated over the final 100m, the heavily supported 13/20 favourite GAMBOL did very well indeed to get up late in the maiden 1000m.
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Circle Of Life
Clairwood 9th October: Racing returned to Clairwood on Wednesday where we saw a smart performance in the maiden 1450m from the Sean Tarry trained CIRCLE OF SPEED. Positioned at the back as the thirteen runners turned for home, the heavily supported 6/10 favourite had plenty to do. Once in the long straight though she soon began to make headway and under a well judged ride from S’manga Khumalo she got up late to win going away.
The afternoon’s feature event was a MR94 Handicap over 1900m and here we saw a comfortable victory for the 5yo AIR PATROL. Confidently ridden by apprentice Mandla Ntuli, the 5yo son of Jet Master came from the rear. He struck the front 100m out and drew clear easily in the latter stages of the race to score by two and three quarters.
Another to win well on this card was DELAWARE BAY in the faster of the two 1600m events, a MR78 Handicap. Taken straight to the front by Anton Marcus, the 3yo son of Mogok led throughout. He was always in command and ran out a very comfortable winner by three and a quarter.
Titbits
VICTORY EMBLEM ran on well from the backend of midfield when beaten less than half a length into third in the MR77 Handicap over 1900m.
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Simply Dashing
Durbanville 9th October: They also raced at the country course on Wednesday where the easiest victory on the card was registered by KUKAMA in the slower of the two 1000m events, a MR75 Handicap. In the rear coming off the bend, Piet Steyn’s charge quickened best of all in the straight and drew clear easily after striking the front 100m from home.
Three of the afternoon’s eight races were run over 1500m and the fastest of these was the maiden plate won by ALL ABOUT THE DASH. Swiftly guided over from a wide draw by Karl Neisius, the son of Eyeofthetiger was always handy. He took up the running going through the 300m and comfortably accounted for the staying on pacemaker CAPTAIN HIGH by two.
A MR80 Handicap over the same distance topped the bill and in a time 0,81 seconds slower than that of All About The Dash, the lightly raced MANIEVIC registered his second career victory. Taken straight to the front by M J Byleveld the son of Var led throughout. He kept on strongly in the home straight and although MASTER BARRY ran on strongly, he won without any anxious moments by a length and a half.
Titbits
Despite racing very green, DINESEN ran on strongly from off the pace when third beaten less than a length in the maiden 1200m.
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Top speedratings for this weekend include:-
Arlington Race 1: (9) Diamond Tiger 20 (EW) Race 2: (4) Arctic Desert 33 Race 3: (2) Katie Em 43 Race 4: (6) Kantaka 53 Race 5: (7) White House 75 Race 6: (4) Ming Warrior 55 Race 7: (13) Tibisi 52 Race 8: (9) National Executive 49 Turffontein Race 1: (1) Jungle Rapids 18 Race 2: (5) Lightning Eye 21 Race 3: (12) Mogok’s Express 18 (EW) Race 4: (2) Die Kat 33 Race 5: (9) Jet For Joy 55 Race 6: (6) Jumbo 46 Race 7: (11) Conne Mara Black 31 Race 8: (9) Nuggets 43 Race 9: (10) Izaanazama 44 Durbanville Race 1: (3) Rio Branco 24 Race 2: (3) Gypsy Tinker 23 Race 3: (5) Flying Comfort 37 Race 4: (1) Speed Merchant 27 Race 5: (9) Countess Of Rhynie 66 Race 6: (1) Cosmic Flower 40 Race 7: (1) Abercrombie 77 Race 8: (9) Capel Top 24 Clairwood Race 1: (4) Obligation 28 Race 2: (1) Rainier 19 Race 3: (3) Honorine 68 Race 4: (9) Touching Base 13 Race 5: (7) Chill 70 Race 6: (9) Final Score 60 Race 7: (2) Roc ‘n Rose 40 Race 8: (9) Barcelona Boy 41 Race 9: (6) Perfect Circle (EW) .
Top rated winners last week included
Last Eclipse won 9/1 Restraint Of Trade won 5/1 Emerald Crown won 4/1 My Precious won 4/1 Lady Cozzene won 19/10 Pure Power won 19/10 Manievic won 16/10 Regal Breeze won 15/10 .
Notebook:-
Garibondy (P Lafferty, KZN) Kitco (D Drier, KZN) .
FASTEST TIMES
The number of races run over each distance is shown in brackets *Denotes – Times taken by ClockwatcherClairwood 6th October Penetrometer 20 – Going Good 1000m (3) Kitco 58,59 1200m (1) Last Eclipse 72,16 1450m (1) Go Again 88,11 1600m (4) One Cool Dude 95,45 .
Flamingo Park 7th October Going Standard 1000m (2) Way With Words 57,72 1200m (1) Wind At Your Back 73,70 1400m (1) Restraint Of Trade 87,09 1600m (3) Eye Of The World 99,21 1800m (1) King Fernando 114,34 2200m (1) African Gladiator 148,63 .
Vaal (outside) 8th October Penetrometer 20 – Going Good 1000m (2) Blazing Sunset 57,71 1200m (3) Summer Adieu 71,85 1400m (3) Rails Run 83,52 1600m (1) Rosie Hills 98,90 .
Clairwood 9th October Penetrometer 20 – Going Good 1000m (1) Peter Culture 57,09 1200m (2) Fort Bellini 69,87 1450m (1) Circle Of Speed 86,30 1600m (2) Delaware Bay 94,09 1900m (2) Air Patrol 112,82 2000m (1) Blaze The Trail 122,27 .
Durbanville 9th October Penetrometer 20 – Going Good 1000m (2) Savannah Song 60,76 1200m (2) Midas Magic 74,90 1300m (1) Pure Power 80,96 1500m (3) All About The Dash 93,30
