Lovely Mover
Vaal 17th October: They raced on the sand on Thursday where victory in the opening maiden event over 1000m went to the newcomer PARK RIDGE. Pitched in against what has to be said was a very moderate field, Lucky Houdalakis’ charge raced sixth early on. She quickened well from halfway and after striking the front 120m from home she cruised clear to score by three and three quarters.
There were three races over 1000m in total and the fastest of these was the bill topping MR98 Handicap over 1000m won by NICE STRIDE. Seventh in the prestigious Gr2 Emerald Cup last time out, the Imperial Stride gelding was always handy. He ran on strongly over the final 400m and in what proved to be a real thriller he got up in the very last stride to collar the friendless ESCAPE CLAUSE.
The faster of the two 1450m events on the card was the MR66 Handicap won by LEVANTO. Soon up with the speed the son of Windrush took up the running at the halfway mark. He ran on strongly over the final 700m and with the rest well beaten he comfortably accounted for CHEDWIN PARK by three.
Titbits
SILENT FORCE cruised in by eight and a half after making all in the maiden 1600m.
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All The Way
Arlington 18th October: A maiden plate over 1400m got proceedings underway in Port Elizabeth on Friday and in what proved to be the slowest of the three races over the distance STAGE GIRL scored a comfortable victory. Backed into favouritism at the track, Alan Greeff’s charge was soon up handy. She was ridden to lead as they approached the 200m marker and won well from the fancied TEEPEE by two.
The faster of the two 1200m races was the MR74 Handicap won by SUIT OF LIGHTS. Freely available at 9/1 on the off, Mike Bass’ charge broke well from his pole position draw and was soon nicely positioned in fourth. He quickened well in the short home straight and won comfortably by a length after striking the front 100m from home.
The afternoon’s feature event was a MR90 Handicap over 1800m and here victory went to the 6yo ZEZINHO CAMPEAO. Taken straight to the front by Musi Yeni the son of Hard Buck led throughout. He kept on strongly over the final 400m and although the lightly weighted PEREGRINE POWER chased hard, he won well by a length and a quarter.
Titbits
Runner up SYLVIIDAE ran on very well from the backend of midfield in the MR72 Handicap over 1800m.
Sylviidae’s stable companion LAURIE’S DANCER (also finished second) was easily twelve lengths off the pace rounding the turn in the MR70 Handicap over 1400m and did well to get within two and a quarter at the wire.
MARIONETTE came from the rear when third in the MR69 Handicap over 1400m.
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Just The Five
Turffontein 19th October: Saturday’s action took place on the inner track where due to an electric storm and heavy rain the meeting had to be postponed after just five races. The remainder of the meeting was then scheduled to take place on Sunday 20th October, but ended up being abandoned.
The faster of the two 1600m races that did take place was the fillie’s maiden won by the heavily supported SHOUT OUT. Deep in the red at 5/10 on the off (op 14/10), Geoff Woodruff’s charge was soon up handy. She was ridden to lead at the 300m marker and won going away by four and a half.
Another to win very comfortably in the maiden ranks on this card was FLIGHT CHECK in the 2600m event. Run in a time almost three seconds faster than that of the MR74 Handicap over the same distance the daughter of A P Arrow made all. She found extra when challenged 400m out and went on to score comfortably by two and three quarters.
Titbits
After swiftly overcoming a wide draw the Fanie Chambers ridden ARTFUL PRINCE made all, and only having to be pushed out with hands and heels at the business end of the race, won without any anxious moments.
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Flight Specialists
Durbanville 19th October: The easiest victory at the country course on Saturday was undoubtedly that of the lightly raced FLYING COMFORT when landing the novice 1000m. Out of pens in a flash, Paddy Kruyer’s charge very quickly held a three lengths lead. He only had to be pushed out in the straight and won in impressive style.
Another to impress on this card was the aptly named SPEED ROCKET in the novice 1600m. A very comfortable winner on his only previous racecourse appearance the son of Dynasty raced sixth for most of the journey. The field was always closely grouped though and although he didn’t find the clearest of passages he quickly began to make headway. He struck the front as they approached the 100m pole and comfortably accounted for the useful ABERCROMBIE by three quarters.
Three of the afternoon’s eight races were run over 1200m and the fastest of these was the bill topping MR96 Handicap won by THEME SONG. Freely available at 25/2 on the off, the lightly weighted daughter of Black Minnaloushe was positioned in the rear as the nine runners turned for home. Once in the long home straight though she ran on best of all and under a well judged ride from Glen Hatt she won going away by a length.
Titbits
The friendless newcomer (18/1 out to 45/1) KATYA ran on well from the rear and didn’t find the clearest of passages when second of thirteen in the maiden 1400m.
KNYSNA LAGOON was flying at the finish when only failing to land the MR76 affair over 1200m by the narrowest of margins.
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Top speedratings for this weekend include:-
Flamingo Park Race 1: (13) Katanga 9 Race 2: (4) Ilisabetta 12 Race 3: (7) Sarge Tattoo 29 Race 4: (12) New Circle 20 (NAP*) Race 5: (5) Way With Words 33 Race 6: (5) Woza Friday 48 Race 7: (9) Here I Am 71 Race 8: (8) King Fernando 62 Race 9: (9) King Of The Castle 36 Vaal Race 1: (1) Glitz And Glamour 4 Race 2: (7) Woza Madoda 16 Race 3: (1) Uncle Tommy 88 (NAP*) Race 4: (1) Cante Libre 60 Race 5: (2) Rivulet 59 Race 6: (14) Boarding Call 41 Race 7: (8) Dual Alliance 101 Race 8: (3) Tilman 52 Kenilworth Race 1: (3) You Beauty 25 Race 2: (11) Louisville Legend 31 Race 3: (4) Headstrong Harry 25 Race 4: (2) Stride Out 18 Race 5: (6) Kukama 47 Race 6: (2) Captain Harry 66 Race 7: (1) Run Like Hell 50 Race 8: (13) Play Of Light 46 Greyville Race 1: (1) Tanslator 16 Race 2: (9) Maluti 74 Race 3: (6) Egregious 16 Race 4: (6) Falconers Knot 50 Race 5: (3) Big Bird 44 Race 6: (11) Lady Chestnut 48 Race 7: (11) With Her Approval 51 Race 8: (1) Lady Jade 26 Turffontein Race 1: (8) Die Kat 37 Race 2: (2) Dancethemoonaway 38 Race 3: (6) Samba Serenade 34 Race 4: (3) Centimes 47 Race 5: (8) Cohiba 57 Race 6: (1) Patriotic Rebel 68 (NAP**) Race 7: (10) Bezanova 56 (EW) Race 8: (6) Money Grubber 74 Race 9: (6) War Front 48 .
Top rated winners last week included
Dancinginthedesert won 23/2 Rio Branco won 15/2 Breeders Cup won 22/10 Swift Wonder won 19/10 Formation won 18/10 Captain’s Daughter won 23/20 Ajuba won 8/10 Flying Comfort won 5/10 .
Notebook:-
Flying Comfort (P Kruyer, W-Cape) Speed Rocket (D Kannemeyer, W-Cape) Theme Song (A Sands, W-Cape) .
FASTEST TIMES
The number of races run over each distance is shown in brackets *Denotes – Times taken by ClockwatcherVaal (sand) 17th October Going 1000m (3) Nice Stride 58,71 1450m (2) Levanto 90,47 1600m (1) Silent Force 102,36 1800m (2) Beautiful Dawn 117,01 .
Arlington 18th October Penetrometer 1200m (2) Suit Of Lights 73,20 1400m (3) Spirit Of Broadway 85,82 1800m (2) Speck Of Light 112,92 2400m (1) Social Climber 157,34 .
Turffontein (inner) 19th October Penetrometer 22 – Good 1200m (1) Evergreen 74,48 1600m (2) Shout Out 98,66 2600m (2) Flight Check 171,79 .
Durbanville 19th October Penetrometer 21 – Going Good 1000m (1) Flying Comfort 59,59 1200m (3) Theme Song 72,90 1400m (1) Hopeitsaprize 86,88 1600m (2) Speed Rocket 99,12 2000m (1) Scarlet Witch 126,94