Always In Command
Turffontein 29th July: They raced on the old stand side track on Sunday where by far the fastest of the three 1600m events was the MR81 Handicap won by FRAGRANT MISS. Nicely positioned in fifth during the early part of the race, the daughter of Captain Al was always poised to strike. She did so going through the 200m and comfortably accounted for the well-supported 15/10 favourite INVINCIBLE LADY by two.
The only other distance to stage more than one race was 1160m where the MR77 Handicap won by CELESTINA was the quicker. She got away well when the gates opened and led throughout. She was always in command and won without any anxious moments by two and a half.
Another to win very well from the front on this card was the aptly named CLEVER GUY in the pinnacle stakes. Soon 3 lengths clear, the son of Argonaut kept up a healthy gallop throughout and extended his advantage to three and three quarters late on.
Titbits
A length and a quarter clear going through the 400m, the odds on favourite CHITENGO asserted her authority at the business end of the opening juvenile plate over 1600m and cruised in by four and three quarters.
Not Playing Ball
Greyville 30th July: The locals got off to a rough start in the opening maiden plate at the poly track on Monday evening when the friendless newcomer LETS PLAY BALL opened his account. Freely available at 44/1 on the off, Dennis Drier’s charge wasn’t the quickest into stride and raced in the rear early on. Once realising what was expected of him though he quickened best of all, and got up late to deny his front running stable companion MASTAGAMBIT (the 16/10 favourite).
Races 3,4 & 5 were all run over 1400m and stopping the clock in the fastest time amongst these was ZEB in the bill topping MR80 Handicap. Usually one to run on stoutly from off the pace, Vaughan Marshall’s charge broke well here and led throughout. He kept on strongly over the final 400m and held on by a neck from the steadily gaining DELIRIOUS NOMAD.
They also ran three races over 1600m. The MR72 Handicap was by far the fastest of these and here the veteran EMPEROR NIARCHOS registered his seventh career victory. Once rated 23 points higher than his current mark in the handicap, the 7yo was always in touch with the leaders. He ran on strongly in the short home straight and got the better of a wall of horses by a half.
Titbits
At the back of the twelve going through the 300m, ZINZARA did very well indeed to land the MR68 Handicap over 1400m.
Positioned in the backend of midfield turning for home, THE SULTANS BAZAAR ran on best of all when getting up in the very last stride to open his account in the maiden plate over 1600m.
Nice And Easy Does It
Fairview 31st July: The action on the last day of the season took place on the poly track. The form horse EMERITO was sent off a strong favourite to win the opening maiden juvenile plate over 1300m and he didn’t let down his supporters. Taken straight to the front by replacement rider Aldo Domeyer, the son of Horse Chestnut led throughout. He was always in command and won with authority by two and a quarter.
There were a number of very easy victories on the afternoon and none more so than that of AMERICAN CAPTAIN when getting off the mark in the maiden plate over 1900m. Sent off second favourite in this his first outing since relocating to the province, Grant Paddock’s charge was soon up handy. He was ridden to lead at the top of the short home straight and cruised clear in the closing stages of the race to score by five and three quarters.
Another to win like a good thing on her first outing in the province was STUDIO BLUES in the girl’s maiden plate over 1200m. Racing over a trip well short of that to which she had become accustomed, the Twice Over filly raced in the rear for most of the journey. She quickened well at the top of the straight and drew clear easily to score by three and three quarters after striking the front 150m from home.
Titbits
At the head of affairs throughout, the favourite ALDO was always in command when winning the MR72 Handicap very easily by four and a half.
Promising Run
Durbanville 1st August: With no irrigation added to the meagre 4mm of rain that fell in the previous seven days, and a tail wind to boot, the country course was running fast on Wednesday. Three of the afternoon’s eight races were staged over 1250m and quickest home amongst these, albeit by just 1/100th of a second was the ultra-consistent maiden PHOTOCOPY. He put his head in front of a strung out field early in the straight and with the benefit of first run he held on by a half from the newcomer RUN TO DENMARK. Racing very green, the runner up made up many lengths from the rear and is sure to come on stacks next time.
They also ran three races over 1600m and here it was nice to see another consistent maiden BLUE ROLLER get off the mark. Pitched in against good sorts in all four of his previous racecourse appearances, the Blue Tiger gelding was soon positioned close to the speed. He was ridden to lead as they approached the 400m marker and with plenty in hand won going away by two.
WINE FESTIVAL was backed into favouritism to win the MR72 Handicap over 1400m and the daughter of Stagelight very nearly pulled it off. Running on from sixth position, Joey Ramsden’s charge looked to have done everything right on striking the front 200m out. The deposed favourite OMEGA FORCE challenged strongly below the distance though and in what proved to be a real thriller, she got the verdict on the nod. Interestingly though, it was the third placed runner HEMERO who finished best of all in this race. Returning from a 16 week layoff here, Hemero came from the back and was only beaten by a short head.
Titbits
The form horse MARGRETHE won the girls’ division of the maiden 1250m going away by four and a half.
Cutting It Fine
Vaal 2nd August: TORRE DEL ORO was the best bet for Sporting post on the inside track on Thursday and although he cut it fine, he did nonetheless do the business. At the back when the race began in earnest, Sean Tarry’s charge only got his whiskers in front in the very last stride.
Four of the afternoon’s ten races were staged over 1400m and stopping the clock in the fastest of these was AFRICAN RULER in the MR84 Handicap. Racing beyond sprint distances for the first time, Paul Peter’s charge raced up with the pace throughout. He kept on strongly over the final 400m and held on from a wall of horses by a neck.
The not so lucky last was a MR66 Handicap over 1200m and in what proved to be the fastest of the three races over the distance, the 6yo MINNESOTA caused a major upset. Dropped 13 points in just four outings by the official handicapper, the 44/1 shot was very quickly two lengths clear. He kept up the gallop throughout and extended his advantage by another three quarters of a length over the final 400m.
Titbits
The recent maiden winner OPERETTA won her first start in handicap company very easily by three and a quarter.
Top speedratings for this weekend include:-
Fairview (fri)
Race 1: (6) Pomaceous 17
Race 2: (4) Seattle Empress5
Race 3: (2) Easy Street 62
Race 4: (5) Pacific Spirit 59
Race 5: (2) What A Player 50
Race 6: (3) I Will Be 33
Race 7: (10) Captain’s Vista 52
Race 8: (6) Wahi 3
Turffontein (sat)
Race 1: (6) Inexhaustible 3
Race 2: (6) Odd Rob 75
Race 3: (1) Dewali 37
Race 4: (10) Rock A Roll Dancer 7
Race 5: (6) La Bella Mia 84
Race 6: (2) Huddle 2
Race 7: (2) Vartanium 7
Race 8: (1) Abelie 9
Race 9: (2) Stars And Bars 8
Kenilworth (sat)
Race 1: (1) All The Sevens 3
Race 2: (12) Vomandla 17
Race 3: (3) All In Line 4
Race 4: (1) Prince Oracy 43
Race 5: (1) Tevez 79
Race 6: (8) Shangri La 36
Race 7: (7) Angel Of Athens 54
Race 8: (8) Para Handy 31
Scottsville (sun)
Race 1: (5) Buckleberry 28
Race 2: (8) Riptide 12
Race 3: (1) Prince Charming 21
Race 4: (6) Bling Swing 47
Race 5: (1) Miss Varlicious 54 (NAP*)
Race 6: (3) Eddie Sweat 32
Race 7: (2) Elusive Wolf 46 (EW)
Race 8: (10) Suzie’s Soldier 38
Top rated winners last week included
Photocopy won 57/20
Torre Del Oro won 10/3
Soul Of Wit won 26/10
Aldo won 47/20
Margrethe won 18/10
Emerito won 14/10
Ikebana won 13/10
Chitengo won 8/11
Notebook:-
Hemero (M Robinson, W-Cape)
Run To Denmark (A Nel, W-Cape)
FASTEST TIMES
The number of races run over each distance is shown in brackets
*Denotes – Times taken by Clockwatcher
Turffontein 29th July
Penetrometer 20 – Going Good
1000m (1) Clever Guy 56,76
1160m (2) Celestina 68,41
1400m (1) Infamous Fox 85,83
1600m (3) Fragrant Miss 99,03
2850m (1) Tapenzee 90,48
Greyville (poly) 30th July
Going Standard
Course Variant: 0,28s slow
1200m (2) Lets Play Ball 70,04
1400m (3) Zeb 82,03
1600m (3) Emperor Niarchos 94,75
Fairview (poly) 31st July
Going Standard
1000m (1) Aldo 56,79
1200m (3) Quick Glimpse 70,03
1300m (1) Emerito 75,80
1600m (1) Angioletta 98,12
1900m (2) Mangrove 115,25
Durbanville 1st August
Penetrometer 20 – Going Good
Course Variant: 0,81s fast
1000m (1) Ikebana 57,28
1250m (3) Photocopy 73,53
1400m (1) Omega Force 83,93
1600m (3) Blue Roller 96,10
Vaal (inside) 2nd August
Penetrometer 22 – Going Good
1000m (2) Torre Del Oro 58,60
1200m (3) Minnesota 70,35
1400m (4) African Ruler 83,41
2000m (1) Zeal And Zest 127,35
