Plenty To Talk About
Fairview 21st November
The turf course was running fast in Port Elizabeth on Monday where three of the afternoon’s eight races were staged over 1200m. The fastest of these was the MR84 Handicap in which the top weight SCANDAL registered her fourth career victory. Soon positioned close to the speed, Corne Spies’ charge took up the running at the 200m marker and drew clear easily in the closing stages of the race to score by three.
The only other distance to stage more than one race was 1600m and marginally the quickest of the pair was the MR71 Handicap won by the 5yo GALAO. Positioned in the rear early on, Justin Snaith’s charge ran on best of all in the long home straight and comfortably accounted for DUTCH HARBOUR (led 200m) by a length and a half.
A MR88 Handicap over 1600m topped the bill and in a time just one hundredth of a second slower than that of Galao, the Right Approach gelding ROSSLYN CHAPEL was first past the post. On leaving the stalls it was the gutsy STRATOCRUISER who elected to make the running and he did have the rest well beaten at the wire. Always handy though, Gavin Smith’s charge ran on strongly over the final 400m and got up late to score by three quarters.
Titbits
Running on stoutly from midfield, BEATABOUTTHEBUSH had the rest well beaten when getting the better of AUDREY DO by three quarters of a length in the MR67 Handicap over 1200m.
Winning Return
Vaal 22nd November
Quickest against the clock in the three 1200m races at the Vaal’s outside track on Tuesday was the Mike De Kock trained RAFEEF when winning the graduation plate. Returning from a six month layoff here, the son of Redoute’s Choice raced fifth of the seven early on. He quickened well at the business end of the race and with the rest some three lengths adrift he looked to beat the front running ANGEL’S POWER a tad more-cosily than the official winning margin of 0,3 lengths will reflect.
The faster of the two 1600m races was the MR68 Handicap in which the lightly raced KAHLUA ROSE caused an upset. Freely available at 28/1 on the off, Erico Verdonese’s charge made all. She was always a length and a quarter clear and won without any anxious moments.
They also ran two races over 1000m the faster of which was the MR72 Handicap won by the 6yo DREAM LEADER. Friendless in the betting market (16/1 out to 35/1), Leon Erasmus’ charge was soon up handy. She ran on strongly over the final 300m and after a thrilling tussle with the younger FIELDMARSHAL FENIX, she got the verdict by a half.
Titbits
Having only his second outing following a nine month layoff, the deposed favourite SMARTIFACT (sweating) won the opening maiden plate over 1600m in good style going away. However, after passing the post he suffered severe post-race distress and collapsed.
The 3yo CLEVER GUY won the maiden plate over 1200m going away by five and a half.
Small, But Classy
Kenilworth 23rd November
Although the fields in the main were small in Cape Town on Saturday there were some very nice horses on show. Just five went to post for the fastest of the three 1000m races, a graduation plate, and here we saw a smart performance from the classy ATTENBOROUGH. Backed into favouritism at the track (5/2 into 14/10), Joey Ramsden’s charge was content to sit fourth for most of the journey. He quickened in good style after having to switch out for a run 300m from home, and won going away by a length and a half from the deposed favourite ORION QUEST.
Favourite backers were also on the mark in the quicker of the two 1200m events when the Justin Snaith trained CAPTAIN COURTEOUS did the business. Extending his winning sequence to four here, the son of Captain Al sat second last in a seven horse field. Another of the progeny of Captain Al CAPTAIN’S VERSION was the first to make a move and on striking the front 250m out, he looked to have done everything right. Captain Courteous ran on stoutly in the closing stages of the race though and just as if scripted he got up in the very last stride.
Race four on the card was a MR73 Handicap over 1600m and here the 3yo CRAVEN proved that he could walk the talk. Highly regarded by the Brett Crawford stable, the son of Dynasty also raced second last in a small field. He was ridden to lead as they approached the 200m marker and won going away by two and a half.
Titbits
Having only his third career outing here, the 3yo STOPTHINKINGOFME only had to be pushed out when winning the opening maiden plate for fillies & mares over 1200m.
Highly regarded SOMMERLIED won going away with some in hand when making it two from two in the MR84 Handicap over 1000m.
Interesting Findings
Greyville 25th November
They raced on the poly track on Friday evening where four of the nine races were staged over 1000m. The fastest of these was the bill topping pinnacle stakes won by HIGHWAY EXPLORER. Well supported on course to go off second favourite at 33/10, Tony Rivalland’s charge was always in touch with the leaders. He put his head in front as they approached the 200m pole and comfortably accounted for the running on NIGHT TRIP by three quarters.
They also ran four races over 1600m and stopping the clock in the fastest time here was RUN RHINO RUN when registering his third career victory in the MR86 Handicap. On leaving the stalls it was MUMSY’S JET (reported as taking no interest) who elected to set the pace whilst the 5yo son of Silvano sat in midfield. He ran on best of all in the straight and in what proved to be a real thriller he only got the verdict by the narrowest of margins over LAST TIGER.
A MR62 Handicap over 1400m completed the evening’s fare and here the Silvano mare SILVER INSPIRATION registered her fifth career success. Easy to back at 11/1 on the off Chris Erasmus’ charge raced fifth during the early part of the race. She ran on strongly in the short home straight and with the rest comfortably beaten she got the better of the free striding SOUL OF SPAIN close home.
Titbits
Having only his second career outing here, WARFARER won the boy’s division of the maiden 1600m going away by three.
The well supported favourite KILMOKEA never had to engage the upper gears when getting off the mark in the girl’s division of the maiden 1600m.
Top speedratings for this weekend include:-
Fairview (fri)
Race 1: No Selections
Race 2: (1) Noordhoek’s Speed 12 (nb)
Race 3: (14) Cutey Me 20
Race 4: (2) Shady World 13
Race 5: (6) I Will Be 42
Race 6: (6) Villa Del Largo 83 (NAP*)
Race 7: (13) Patty Cake 44
Race 8: (13) Dance In The Woods 56
Greyville (fri)
Race 1: (3) Momo 18
Race 2: (3) Archilles 24 (NAP*)
Race 3: (6) Quena 12
Race 4: (2) Night At The Proms
Race 5: (15) San Julian Bay 52
Race 6: (7) Velvet Wind 73
Race 7: (1) Royal Armour 65
Race 8: (9) Fashion Fusion 33
Race 9: (13) Academy Princess 38
Turffontein (sat)
Race 1: No Qualifiers
Race 2: (16) Cyber Magic 26
Race 3: (2) Vogue’s Wood 12
Race 4: (1) Together Forever 18
Race 5: (7) Let It Rain 61
Race 6: (6) Dawn Flight 50
Race 7: (14) Wasp 38
Race 8: (6) Act Of Loyalty 61
Race 9: (8) Mogok Master 82
Race 10: (2) Evening Breeze 59
Race 11: (4) Secret Vision 16
Kenilworth (sat)
Race 1: No Qualifiers
Race 2: (4) Put The Berries 18
Race 3: (2) Sun At Midnight 38 (EW)
Race 4: (2) Fire Master 66
Race 5: (6) Mulher De Branco 59
Race 6: (1) Legal Eagle 101
Race 7: (1) Querari Falcon 66
Race 8: (4) Captain Alfredo 105
Race 9: (7) Cuduiari 58
Scottsville (sun)
Race 1: (3) Florrick 25
Race 2: (2) Secret Service 17
Race 3: (1) Olma 78
Race 4: (4) Captain At Sea 18
Race 5: (3) Kingston Boy 87
Race 6: (4) Shezaleader 68
Race 7: (5) Piano Man 80
Race 8: (1) Panza 54
Top rated winners last week included
Kahlua Rose won 28/1
Miss Minver won 4/1
Captain Courteous won 22/10
Prince Myshkin won 2/1
Drum Fire won 18/10
Oh Behave won 15/10
Attenborough won 14/10
Kilmokea won 1/1
Notebook:-
Attenborough (J Ramsden, W-Cape)
Craven (B Crawford, W-Cape)
Somerlied (D Drier, W-Cape)
FASTEST TIMES
The number of races run over each distance is shown in brackets
*Denotes – Times taken by Clockwatcher
Fairview (turf) 21st November
Penetrometer 21,5 – Going Good
Course Variant: 1,39s fast
1000m (1) Fontenoy 55,89
1200m (3) Scandal 68,01
1400m (1) Chit Chat 85,44
1600m (2) Galao 96,57
1900m (1) La Myst 118,08
Vaal (outside) 22nd November
Penetrometer 23 – Going Good
Course Variant: 0,82 fast
1000m (2) Dream Leader 56,18
1200m (3) Rafeef 68,55
1400m (1) Cherokee Grey 80.80
1600m (2) Kahlua Rose 95,23
Kenilworth (old) 23rd November
Penetrometer 21 Good
Course Variant: 1,25s fast
1000m (3) Attenborough 57,16
1200m (2) Captain Courteous 71,27
1400m (1) Oh Behave 87,29
1600m (1) Craven 98,60
2000m (1) Rock On Wood 127,26
Greyville (poly) 25th November
Going Standard
Course Variant: 0,3s slow
1000m (4) Highway Explorer 57,57
1400m (1) Silver Inspiration 84,31
1600m (4) Run Rhino Run 95,44
