Pillar to Post
Fairview 14th November: They raced on the turf on Friday where after the running of the first race the going was changed from soft to good.
A pinnacle stakes topped the bill and in what proved to be the faster of the two 1000m events victory here went to the uneasy favourite YOSHIE. Allowed to ease out to 33/10 from 5/2 at the track, Alan Greeff’s charge was soon at the head of affairs. She kept on strongly over the final 300m and won well from the well supported second favourite YOU BEAUTY by a half.
There were also two races run over 1600m and fastest against the clock here was the 6yo INDIAN RIVER. Gaining his fourth win from 30 starts here, the son of Greys Inn as per usual, came from off them. He ran on best of all over the final 400m and under a well-judged ride from Jean Paul V’D Merwe he got up late to score by a half.
The easiest victory on the nine race program was recorded by the in under sufferance CURRENT EVENT in the conditions stakes over 2400m. Racing off a mark some ten points below that of his former best, Justin Snaith’s charge appeared to be a lot worse off at the weights than what he really was. He was always handy and cruised clear to score by four and a quarter after striking the front 200m out.
Titbits
Running on stoutly from midfield the lightly raced RED SUN showed big improvement when only beaten a short head in the maiden 1400m.
DESTINY DRIVEN had the remainder well beaten when running on from midfield to fill second position in the maiden 1000m.
Both BRIDE’S DOWRY (MR80 Handicap over 1800m) and LEMON FIZZ (MR66 Handicap over 1200m) also ran on strongly from off the pace to finish in the frame.
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Good Varbrations
Greyville 14th November: Four of the nine races at the poly track on Friday evening were run over 1200m and not surprisingly the fastest of these was the opening graduation plate won by VARBRATION. The best bet on the card for many, the 1/3 favourite led throughout. He was always in command and ran out a very cosy winner by two.
Three of the other five races were run over 1900m and fastest against the clock here was the lightly weighted WARCRAFT in the MR90 Handicap. He got away well when the gates opened and soon up handy raced prominent throughout. He was ridden to lead going through the 500m and comfortably accounted for the running on grey KENTUCKY GUEST by two and three quarters.
Also worthy of note on this card was the performance of FANTASY ART in winning the maiden plate over 1200m. Backed into favouritism at the track, Tony Rivalland’s charge was always handy. He quickened nicely at the top of the short home straight and won going away by two and a half after striking the front 120m or so from home. Having only his second career outing here, the runner up SLEWSGATE (raced sixth) also finished well in this race.
Titbits
BEAUTIFUL JET was hampered 200m out when running on from midfield to finish second in the MR70 Handicap over 1400m.
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Smart Double
Turffontein 15th November: With the weather deteriorating throughout the afternoon the times on the old stand side track on Saturday were not surprisingly a little topsy turvy. Despite the conditions though, we did nonetheless see some smart performances.
A MR92 Handicap over 1400m got proceedings underway and here victory went to the hat-trick seeking BROWN SUGAR. Freely available at 9/1 on the off, Gavin Van Zyl’s charge was soon up handy. She took up the running shortly after passing the 400m marker and kept on strongly late to beat the running on MISSMASALA by a half.
The easiest victory on the eleven race program was recorded by FRONT RANK in the MR96 Handicap over 1600m. Positioned fifth of the eight for most of the journey, Tyrone Zackey’s charge quickened in good style in the straight and won going away with some in hand after striking the front 220m out.
The Gr2 Victory Moon Stakes over 1800m topped the bill and here the stable of Tyrone Zackey were again on the mark when the 4yo JUDICIAL completed a hat-trick. Freely available at 16/1 on the off, the son of Miesque’s Approval was content to sit in the backend of midfield early on. Once given rein though he soon began to make headway and won well from the running on EARL OF DERBY after putting his head in front at the 200m marker.
Titbits
The veteran SNOWDON ran on well from the rear when third in the pinnacle stakes over 1160m.
Heavily burdened HAWAIIAN SUN (63kg) ran on strongly after having to switch out for a run when only beaten three quarters of a length in the MR67 Handicap over 1400m.
Despite losing two lengths at the start, the progressive 3yo HA LUCY was soon three lengths clear and won the listed Gardenia Handicap over 1000m without any anxious moments by three and a half.
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Four From Nine
Greyville 15th November: This meeting was originally scheduled to take place on Sunday 16th November.
The fastest of the three 1400m events on Saturday afternoon was the bill topping MR96 Handicap won by the four timer seeking GEMINI GOLD. Just seven went to post and in what was always a very tightly bunched field the 4yo son of Overlord led throughout. He kept on strongly late and clearly benefiting from the runner up ZESTFUL being baulked for a run 100m out, he kept on to score by a half. Gemini Gold has now won four of his nine career starts.
The faster of the two 1200m events was the MR90 Handicap won by the nibbled at LADY CARTER. Eventually sent off at 15/2 after opening up at 12’s, Wendy Whitehead’s charge was a little slow into stride and raced at the back of the six early on. The field was always very tightly bunched though and once given rein she quickly began to make headway. She struck the front 100m out and won well by three quarters from the veteran COTSWOLD.
The easiest victory on the card was undoubtedly the five lengths recorded by SOARING JET in the maiden event over 1600m. Soon positioned close to the speed the 11/10 favourite cruised clear after taking up the running 300m out.
Titbits
Although always handy, the newcomer SPRING FLIGHT raced green and did well to land the second division of the girls’ maiden event over 1600m in the very last stride.
CHERRY TRIPPER was always clear of her six rivals when winning the MR86 Handicap over 1000m.
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Top speedratings for this weekend include:-
Flamingo Park (mon)
Race 1: (8) Bazinga 17
Race 2: (1) Code Red 55 (NAP*)
Race 3: (1) Supreme Leader 26
Race 4: (1) Albertville 17
Race 5: (2) Goldiva 25
Race 6: (1) Protest Song 51
Race 7: (1) Stone Pine 40
Race 8: (3) San Vicenzo 31
Race 9: (12) Just Harry 35
Vaal (tues)
Race 1: (16) Seventh Symphony 21 (nb)
Race 2: (1) Shirla 8
Race 3: (1) Jet Jamboree 82 (NAP*)
Race 4: (5) Battle Of Alma 13
Race 5: (5) Olympic Bolt 43
Race 6: (8) Rolling Ruby 26
Race 7: (1) She’s A Looker 38
Race 8: (5) Dawn Day 31
Race 9: (1) Shepherd’s Song 36
Kenilworth (wed)
Race 1: (4) Captain Blackwater 20
Race 2: (3) Caseys Raine 17
Race 3: (6) Night Of Stars 43
Race 4: (1) Sail South 62
Race 5: (10) A Time To Kill 60
Race 6: (9) Belcourt Castle 31
Race 7: (5) Hurricane Wind 38
Race 8: (8) London Theatre 59
Race 9: (1) Toughnuttocrack 20
Vaal (thur)
Race 1: (4) By Jove 27
Race 2: (11) See You 7 (NAP*)
Race 3: (5) Lexicon 16
Race 4: (6) Like A Boss 27
Race 5: (4) Anyday Anytime 78
Race 6: (12) Start Your Engines 65
Race 7: (4) Semra 65
Race 8: (5) Viking Hero 46
Race 9: (1) Fortitude 47
Race 10: (6) Down Under 36
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Top rated winners last week included
Discourse won 12/1
Ming Warrior won 12/1
Kirkby Ninja won 9/1
Jet Belle won 5/1
Easy Lover won 9/2
Interface Ace won 3/1
Warcraft won 2/1
Varbration won 1/3
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Notebook:-
Front Rank (T Zackey, Gauteng)
Varbration (D Bosch, KZN)
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FASTEST TIMES
The number of races run over each distance is shown in brackets
*Denotes – Times taken by Clockwatcher
Fairview 14th November
Penetrometer 27 Going Soft/Good
1000m (2) Yoshie 55,87
1200m (2) Sudden Surprise 68,73
1400m (1) Play Boy 85,54
1600m (2) Indian River 97,04
1800m (1) Golden Dynasty 113,26
2400m (1) Current Event 150,38*
Greyville (poly) 14th November
Going Standard
1200m (4) Varbration 71,70
1400m (1) Alina 84,44
1600m (1) Petite Master 96,57
1900m (3) Warcraft 115,32
Turffontein (old) 15th November
Penetrometer 27 Going Soft
1000m (1) Ha Lucy 57,25
1160m (1) Jet Belle 69,11
1400m (3) Antonius Charm 86,50
1600m (2) Front Rank 99,92
1800m (2) Enchanted Silk 112,53
2000m (1) Luala 127,40
2450m (1) Shimmering Gem 164,62
Greyville (poly) 15th November
Going Standard
1000m (1) Cherry Tripper 56,76
1200m (2) Lady Carter 69,59
1400m (3) Gemini Gold 82,72
1600m (2) Soaring Jet 97,34
