Generously Priced
Fairview 21st October
They raced on the poly track on Friday where victory in the faster of the two 1600m events went to RAZED IN BLACK. Allowed to ease out to 5/1 from 7/2 jtfav at the track, the heavily burdened top weight raced at the back during the early part of the race. He quickened well at the top of the straight and looked to have the race sewn up on striking the front 200m out. The always handy favourite KISS ME HARDY ran on stoutly below the distance though, and it was only on the nod that he lost out.
The faster of the two 1000m events was the MR72 Handicap in which Sporting Post’s generously priced roving banker ROGUE RUNNER did the business. Freely available at 8/1 on the off, the son of Noordhoek Flyer was soon up handy. The well supported favourite FIRE HORSE made the running and it was only close home that Alan Greeff’s charge got the better of him.
They also ran two races over 1900m and quickest against the clock here was the easy to back NETHERBY HALL in the novice plate. Freely available at 13/1 on the off, Dorrie Sham’s charge was soon positioned close to the speed. He put his head in front going through the 200m and comfortably accounted for CAPTAIN’S VISTA by two and a quarter.
Titbits
The 14/10 favourite SCENT only had to be pushed out when winning the MR71 Handicap over 1600m.
Four Pearls
Greyville 21st October
Racing also took place on the poly on Friday evening. Four of the eight races were staged over 1400m and the fastest of these was the MR80 Handicap in which PEARL EMBLEM extended her winning sequence to four. Sent off second in the betting market at 4/1, the National Emblem mare was soon at the head of affairs. She kept on determinedly in the straight and with the rest comfortably beaten she held on by a neck from the running on AL HAWRAA. Having her first start of the season, the runner up came from the rear and finished well.
The only other distance to stage more than one race was 1900m where the quicker of the two was the MR76 Handicap won by PLAYBOY BUDDY. Racing on the surface for the first time, Dean Kannemeyer’s charge raced in midfield early on. Once in the straight though she ran on best of all and in what proved to be a real thriller she got up in the very last stride to deny VELVET WIND.
In terms of distance the easiest victory on the card was that of HEARTS ‘R PUMPING in the opening maiden plate over 1400m. Sent off a well-supported favourite at 22/10, the More Than Ready gelding wasn’t the quickest into stride and as a result he raced in midfield during the early part of the race. He began to take closer order coming off the bend and drew clear to score by four and a half after striking the front 200m from home.
Titbits
The 4yo AGUSTINA gained a well overdue first career victory when getting off the mark in the maiden plate over 1400m.
Boats Sunk
Turffontein 22nd October
Saturday’s action took place on the inner track where the fastest of the three 1450m races was the MR100 Handicap won by MASTER ‘N COMMANDER. The second of two winners on the card for trainer Geoff Woodruff, this 5yo Captain Al gelding was always handy. He was ridden to lead as they approached the 200m marker and comfortably accounted for the running on MOOFEED by a length and three quarters.
The quicker of the two 1600m events was the conditions plate which was thought by most to be a boat race between QUERARI FALCON and NEGROAMARO. The field was always tightly bunched and going through the 400m just three and a half lengths covered all. The 35/1 shot TAHINI found the best finish when the race developed into a sprint and won well by a half from the 12/10 favourite Querari Falcon (led 400m).
The faster of the two 1200m races was the MR86 Handicap won by the progressive CAPTAINOFMYHEART. Always top of the boards, Geoff Woodruff’s charge led throughout. He was always a length and a quarter to the good and despite the efforts of the veteran KAPELLMEISTER he went on to score by that margin without any anxious moments.
Titbits
Now a winner of two from two, AL FAHAD won the MR96 Handicap over 1450m with authority by a length and a half.
Speedy Bond
Kenilworth 22nd October
They were still racing on the old course on Saturday where victory in the fastest of the three 1400m races went to AFRICAN NIGHT SKY in the MR75 Handicap. A fluent winner of his only previous start, Justin Snaith’s charge raced in midfield during the early part of the race. Once in the straight though, he quickened well and won going away by a length and three quarters after striking the front 60m or so from home.
Stopping the clock in the fastest time over 1000m was JO’S BOND when registering her sixth career victory from just fourteen starts in the conditions plate. Taken straight to the front by apprentice Bantam, the daughter of Captain Al held just a slender lead for most of the journey. She began to assert her authority going through the 400m and went on to win well by three and a half.
Two maiden plates for 3yo’s over 1200m had opened up proceedings and in the faster of these GLORIOUS GOODWOOD got off the mark. Racing for the first time since being gelded, Justin Snaith’s charge was always in touch with the leaders. He was ridden to lead shortly after passing the 300m pole and easily accounted for the fancied SCRIPTWRITER by three and a quarter.
Titbits
Having only his second career outing here, MTOROSHANGA ran on well from the rear when third in the second division of the maiden plate for 3yo’s over 1200m.
Top speedratings for this weekend include:-
Flamingo Park (mon)
Race 1: (4) Queen Chloe 10
Race 2: (2) Speedy Suzie 47
Race 3: (6) Delicious Damowin 43 (NAP*)
Race 4: (14) Fly Rebecca Fly 2
Race 5: (1) Western Force 54
Race 6: (8) Roman Calamity 61
Race 7: (11) Dr Finlay 38
Race 8: (3) Sky Full Of Stars 39
Race 9: (7) L’Attitude 31
Kenilworth (tues)
Race 1: (5) Miss Stake 14
Race 2: (1) Cape Laddie 51
Race 3: (11) Mtoroshanga 5
Race 4: (12) Prancing 13 (NAP*)
Race 5: (5) Mulher De Branco 61
Race 6: (7) Indigo Storm 44
Race 7: (2) Always In Charge 65
Race 8: (16) Kwando 47
Turffontein (tues)
Race 1: (1) Pajama Party 23
Race 2: (4) Sha-Boom Sha-Boom 25
Race 3: (1) Mr Rambo 22
Race 4: (1) Shivering Sea 40
Race 5: (3) Tahini 80
Race 6: (9) Wild Brier 63
Race 7: (13) Zillionaire 40
Race 8: (4) Royal Honour 51
Greyville (wed)
Race 1: (2) Ichkeria 13
Race 2: (10) Make My Own Luck 37
Race 3: (13) Roman Society 51
Race 4: (7) Reigning Wave 57
Race 5: (4) Class Mondiale 54
Race 6: (8) Son Of Silver 60
Race 7: (10) Thirtytwo Squadron 76
Race 8: (1) Arctic Teon 14
Vaal (thur)
Race 1: (4) Osculation 2
Race 2: (3) Seattle Singer 43
Race 3: (1) Fort Infinity 8
Race 4: (2) Red Rebel 11
Race 5: (8) Persian Approval 20
Race 6: (6) Beautiful Shay 46
Race 7: (7) Lord Windsor 52
Race 8: (9) De Lujo 52
Race 9: (6) Being Fabulous 25
Top rated winners last week included
Boomtown Belter won 28/1
Netherby Hall won 13/1
Consequentially won 8/1
Swift Sarah won 7/1
La Di Var won 4/1
Glorious Goodwood won 2/1
Secret Success won 2/1
Royal Ginger won 1/1
Notebook:-
Al Fahad (M De Kock, Gauteng)
Al Hawraa (M De Kock, KZN)
FASTEST TIMES
The number of races run over each distance is shown in brackets
*Denotes – Times taken by Clockwatcher
Fairview (poly) 21st October
Going Standard
Course Variant: 0,12s fast
1000m (2) Rogue Runner 57,26
1200m (1) Sudden Surprise 70,56
1300m (1) Maverick Girl 75,77
1600m (2) Razed In Black 94,99
1900m (2) Netherby Hall 115,21
Greyville (poly) 21st October
Going Standard
Course Variant: 0,08s slow
1000m (1) La Di Var 57,70
1400m (4) Pearl Emblem 82,27
1600m (1) Greatfiveeight 97,01
1900m (2) Playboy Buddy 116,74
Turffontein (inner) 22nd October
Penetrometer 24 – Going G/Soft
Course Variant: 1,04s slow
1000m (1) Wrecking Ball 58,72
1200m (2) Captainofmyheart 73,14
1450m (3) Master ‘n Commander 88,43
1600m (2) Tahini 98,83
2000m (2) Consequentially 125,84
Kenilworth (old) 22nd October
Penetrometer 23 – Going Good
Course Variant: 0,54s slow
1000m (2) Jo’s Bond 59,16
1200m (2) Glorious Goodwood 73,93
1400m (3) African Night Sky 86,20
2000m (1) Royal Ginger 126,28
2400m (1) Ovidio 151,24
