Grand West
Fairview 18th September: A MR100 Handicap topped the bill at Friday’s poly track meeting and in what proved to be the fastest of the three 1000m races victory here went to the top weight THE WEST IS WIDE. Sent off a strong favourite at 16/10, Tara Laing’s charge was soon up handy. He was ridden to lead as they approached the 100m marker and won comfortably from NOVEMBER RAIN by a length and a quarter.
The faster of the two 1300m races was the MR92 Handicap in which the nibbled at LAND OF MEADOWS registered his seventh career victory. Eventually sent off at 15/2 after opening up at 12/1, Justin Snaith’s charge made all. He raced a length and a half clear for most of the journey and just held on by a neck from the running on favourite CAPTAIN’S RESERVE. Gaining at the finish the runner up ran on well from midfield.
There were also two races run over 1600m and quickest home here was THE STONES in the novice plate. Freely available at 7/1 on the off, the former Gauteng campaigner was very poorly drawn and as a result he raced towards the rear during the early part of the race. Once in the straight though he quickened best of all and under a well-judged ride from Raymond Danielson he got up late to deny the favourite BRAVE VISION.
Titbits
The Sail From Seattle mare TYPHOON TESS ran on well from midfield when winning the conditions plate over 1200m going away.
Third in the MR75 Handicap over 1300m, JUDD’S JOY was badly baulked en-route from the rear 300m out.
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7 From 20
Greyville 18th September: First up on the poly track on Friday evening was a pinnacle stakes over 1000m and here victory went to the uneasy favourite BARBOSA. Allowed to ease out to 12/10 from 8/10 at the track as both VIVA LA VAR (13/10 2ndfav) and FIRE THE ROCKET were nibbled at, Dennis Drier’s charge raced third for the first half of the race. He quickened well over the final 400m and got up late to deny the sparingly raced second favourite. Barbosa has now won 7 of his 20 starts. Third placed FIRE THE ROCKET ran on well from sixth position in this race and was only beaten three quarters of a length.
Three of the eight races were run over 1600m and quickest home amongst these was the nibbled at TEXICAN in the boy’s maiden plate. In a race where rain fell heavily throughout, the recently gelded son of The Sheik raced in midfield early on. He ran on strongly in the short home straight and with the rest well beaten he got the better of TAKU WIND by a half.
The easiest victory on the card was registered by BOLD INSPIRATION when landing the MR99 Handicap over 1600m. Soon positioned close to the speed, the 22/10 second favourite took up the running at the top of the straight and after quickly going clear, he won easing down by two and three quarters.
Titbits
The 3yo KHONZA quickened well in the latter stages when getting up late to win the girl’s maiden plate over 1400m.
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Smart Profit
Turffontein 19th September: They raced on the inner track on Saturday where the fastest of the three 1800m races, a MR84 Handicap, was won by CASSIE O’MALLEY. Allowed to drift considerably at the track (6/1 out to 12/1), Gavin Van Zyl’s charge was soon positioned close to the speed. She put her head in front going through the 400m and went on to score with authority from KRYSTLE CARRINGTON.
The faster of the afternoon’s two 1600m races was the MR76 Handicap in which the 3yo TRADING PROFIT registered his second career victory. Confidently ridden by Sherman Brown, the son of Toreador sat fifth during the early part of the race. He made his move coming off the strip and won well by two after striking the front 150m from home.
Quickest home over 2600m was the maiden THE GOLDEN BOY (reported lame on the off fore) when winning the MR65 Handicap. Making his 30th racecourse appearance here, Chris Erasmus’ charge raced in the rear for most of the journey. He quickened best of all in the home straight and got the verdict by a neck over GANESH.
Titbits
The always handy PARIS PRINCESSS won the MR67 Handicap over 1800m with some in hand.
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A Class Above
Durbanville 19th September: In terms of distance the easiest victory at the country course on Saturday was the two and a quarter lengths registered by JETS-A-BLAZING when getting off the mark at just the second time of asking in the opening maiden plate for 3yo’s. Taken straight to the front in what proved to be the fastest of the three 1300m events, the daughter of Captain Al led throughout. She was always in command and won without any anxious moments.
The faster of the two 1400m races was the MR70 Handicap won by VICTORIOUS JAY. Always handy, Vaughan Marshall’s charge took up the running going through the 200m and went on to score easing down by a length and a quarter.
The afternoon’s feature event was an allowance plate over 1400m, and here the well weighted Trippi filly INARA showed her class. Always in the red, Mike Bass’ charge was soon positioned close to the speed. She put her head in front as they approached the 300m pole and with some in hand won going away by two.
Titbits
Many lengths adrift of the leaders at the back turning for home, AROUND NOT ACROSS fairly flew over the final 150m when getting up close home to win the MR78 Handicap over 1000m.
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Top speedratings for this weekend include:-
Flamingo Park (mon)
Race 1: (1) Waterways 17 (NAP*)
Race 2: (2) Indian River 65
Race 3: (1) Stunning Angel 8
Race 4: (3) Pawan 18
Race 5: (1) Among Saints 10
Race 6: (2) It’s Magic 36
Race 7: (4) Wild Thing 46
Race 8: (1) One Cool Cat 42
Race 9: (4) Boarding Call 44
Vaal (tues)
Race 1: (11) Suyoof 37 (NAP*)
Race 2: (1) Angel Of Mercy 11
Race 3: (11) Neptune’s Jewel 32
Race 4: (5) Lemonade River 60
Race 5: (4) Burg 72
Race 6: (9) Regal Force 53
Race 7: (4) Lady Al 63
Race 8: (4) It’sgottobeme 41 EW)
Durbanville (wed)
Race 1: (3) Persian Silk 17
Race 2: (1) Supercilious 19 (NAP**)
Race 3: (7) Giveusagrand 12
Race 4: (5) Eastern Charm 33
Race 5: (10) First Of May 62
Race 6: (4) Mistico Lady 41
Race 7: (2) Buffalo Trip 48
Race 8: (15) Fascinate 33
Vaal (thur)
Race 1: (12) Love Tryst 11
Race 2: (1) Dravidian 43
Race 3: (2) Buddy’s Falcon 7
Race 4: (12) Seven Kingdoms 42
Race 5: (4) Where’s My Chop 55 (EW)
Race 6: (1) Midnite Spirit 35
Race 7: (7) Kidmambo 43
Race 8: (6) Celtic King 48
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Top rated winners last week included
Around Not Across won 12/1
Land Of Meadows won 15/2
Formal Request won 6/1
Counterstroke won 4/1
Barbosa won 12/10
Preoccupation won 8/10
Thrust won 8/10
Inara won 6/10
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Notebook:-
Judd’s Joy (G Paddock, E-Cape)
Inara (M Bass, 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
Fairview (poly) 18th September
Going Standard
1000m (3) The West Is Wide 57,31
1200m (1) Typhoon Tess 69,97
1300m (2) Land Of Meadows 75,76
1600m (2) The Stones 98,18
Greyville (poly) 18th September
Going Standard
1000m (1) Barbosa 56,57
1200m (1) Harrison 70,21
1400m (3) Texican 83,98
1600m (2) Bold Inspiration 94,88
2000m (1) Red Savage 123,44
Turffontein (inner) 19th September
Penetrometer 21 – Going Good
1000m (1) Thrust 57,55
1200m (1) Kangaroo Jack 73,62
1600m (2) Trading Profit 97,59
1800m (3) Cassie O’Malley 111,65
2600m (2) The Golden Boy 167,61
Durbanville 19th September
Penetrometer 22 – Going Good
1000m (1) Around Not Across 59,64
1300m (3) Jets-A-Blazing 79,05
1400m (2) Victorious Jay 84,95
1600m (1) Preoccupation 100,29
2000m (1) Bono Vox 122,37
