Never In Doubt
Greyville 23rd August: First up at Sunday’s poly track meeting was a maiden plate and in what proved to be the fastest of the three 1000m races victory here went to the heavily supported SWAKOPMUND. Backed throughout the morning into 5/10 from even money, the son of Imperial Stride was very quickly two lengths clear. He was always in command and only having to be pushed out over the final 400m, he won easing down by four and three quarters.
Four of the afternoon’s ten races were run over 1400m and quickest home amongst these was MACKDESI in the MR78 Handicap. Sent off third in the betting market at 4/1 (op 6’s), Colin Scott’s charge was content to sit in the backend of midfield for most of the journey. Once given rein though he quickened well and under a well-judged ride from apprentice Ngcobo he got up late to deny the favourite SALESMAN (handy – led 200m).
The three remaining races were all run over 1600m and stopping the clock in the fastest time amongst these was the 3yo EXIT HERE in the novice plate. Sent off a joint favourite at 18/10 (op even money), Charlie Laird’s charge raced four lengths off the pacemaker in second. He put his head in front as they approached the 300m marker and went on to score without any anxious moments by two and three quarters.
Titbits
The always handy SHINE UP had to switch twice and then didn’t find the clearest of passages when only beaten a neck in the maiden plate over 1400m.
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Four From Eleven
Flamingo Park 24th August: Three of the nine races in the Northern Cape on Monday were run over 1400m and the quickest home amongst these was HEART OF WINTER when registering her fourth career victory in the MR74 Handicap. Sent off a joint second favourite at 4/1, the Rebel King filly was always in touch with the leaders. She put her head in front shortly after passing the 300m pole and with the rest some eight lengths adrift, she comfortably accounted for the 50/1 shot RAINBOW ARROW by a length and a half. Run in a time over a second slower than that of Heart Of Winter was the maiden plate over 1400m in which AUTUMN ENCORE came home lonely. Sent off a well-supported favourite at 13/10, Cliffie Miller’s charge raced second during the early part of the race. He took up the running at the top of the straight and cruised clear over the final 500m to score by ten with some in hand.
The faster of the two 1200m races on the card was the MR72 Handicap in which YESAN STAR registered his fourth career victory since relocating to the province. Soon up handy, Bill Human’s charge raced prominent throughout. He put his head in front going through the 300m and ridden out all the way to the wire he comfortably accounted for the nibbled at MASTER BARRY by two and three quarters.
Titbits
At the head of affairs from start to finish, MISS LECTURE won the opening maiden plate over 1200m going away by five and a quarter.
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I Hear A Symphony
Vaal 25th August: They raced on the outside track on Tuesday where the fastest of the four 1200m races, a MR72 Handicap, was won by the veteran KAPELLMEISTER. Recently turned 8 years old, the Kahal gelding, in a very tightly bunched field, raced a handy ninth. He was ridden to lead as they approached the 200m marker and comfortably accounted for the always handy COSMIC TOM (saddle slipped).
The faster of the two 1000m races was the MR92 Handicap in which the 11/10 favourite SEVENTH SYMPHONY did the business. Just five went to post and under a typically cheeky ride from Piere Strydom the daughter of Seventh Rock made the early running. The 5yo Crown Of Roses was allowed to take it up 400m out, but was then stalked by Seventh Symphony for the next 300m. She regained the lead full of running and won with plenty in hand by three quarters.
There were also two races run over 1400m and there was a major upset in the faster of these, a MR68 Handicap, when the 25/1 shot WOTTAHOTTIE registered his second career victory. Soon up handy, the S’manga Khumalo ridden son of Kahal struck the front going through the 200m and comfortably accounted for the running on TOM FOOL by a length and a quarter.
Titbits
Bad Boy Buddy Boy won the MR90 Handicap over 1000m a little more easily than the official length and a quarter winning margin would suggest.
Racing very green the newcomer SUPERWOMAN came from the rear when getting up late to win the maiden plate for the girls over 1200m.
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Three From Three
Scottsville 26th August: Four of the eight races in Pietermaritzburg on Wednesday were run over 1200m and the fastest of these was the MR89 Handicap won by the hotpot favourite COSMIC LIGHT. Deep in the red at 11/20 on the off, the unbeaten 3yo was soon up handy. She was ridden to lead shortly after passing the 300m marker and kept on strongly in the closing stages of the race to beat the staying on pacemaker PEARL EMBLEM by three quarters.
The faster of the two 1950m races was the MR79 Handicap in which the mare EVA TIBBS registered her fifth career victory. Another to race handy, Sean Tarry’s charge put her head in front 400m out and comfortably accounted for the 7yo INJAAZAAT by two and a quarter.
The remaining two races were both run over 2400m and quickest against the clock here was ECO STORM in the MR74 affair. Taken straight to the front by apprentice Ngwane, the Econium gelding led throughout. He kept on strongly in the straight and won without any anxious moments from the running on YOUR WORSHIP. The runner up had been positioned at the back turning for home and finished well.
Titbits
After racing handy the well-supported BURRA BOY (6/1 into 7/2 2ndfav) took up the running 300m from home in the MR70 Handicap over 1200m and won going away by a length and three quarters.
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Change Of tactics
Turffontein 27th August: A maiden plate for the girls over 1000m got proceedings underway at the inner track on Thursday and here we saw a smart performance from the 15/10 favourite CUTE LADY. Soon into stride, Louis Goosen’s charge was four lengths clear coming off the strip. She ran on stoutly in the short home straight and extended her advantage to six and a quarter before crossing the line.
Three of the afternoon’s eight races were run over 1450m and the fastest of these was the MR83 Handicap won by the nibbled at BOUNTIFUL HARVEST. Eventually sent off at 5/1 after opening up 8’s, the daughter of Kahal was always handy. She was ridden to lead shortly after passing the 200m pole and won comfortably by a length from the running on WALKING ON AIR. The runner up had raced at the back and not finding the clearest of passages in the straight, did well to get as close as she did.
The only other distance to stage more than one race on this card was 1800m and quickest home in these two was the top weight THE CENTENARY in the MR82 affair. Usually one to race up with or close to the speed, Mike De Kock’s charge was noted running on strongly from the rear last time out and she did so again here. She was at the back coming off the strip and won well by a length after striking the front 250m from home.
Titbits
REGAL FORCE came from the back when getting up in the dying strides to shed his maiden tag over 1400m.
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Top speedratings for this weekend include:-
Fairview (fri)
Race 1: (1) Pataudi 23
Race 2: (1) Rouge Berry 20
Race 3: (14) Goddess Faustina 22
Race 4: (7) Leodocus 35
Race 5: (5) Witchery 65
Race 6: (13) Seventh Mission 41
Race 7: (7) Silent Partner 75
Race 8: (10) Parade Council 53
Greyville (fri)
Race 1: (6) Paix Embleme 13
Race 2: (9) Wow Holiday 11
Race 3: (6) Roy’s Gul Gul Ha 21
Race 4: (1) Classy Chic 12
Race 5: (7) Royal Colours 52
Race 6: (7) Dance On Air 43
Race 7: (3) Red Rover 51
Race 8: (6) Sutherfeni 49
Turffontein (sat)
Race 1: (1) Danza 8 (NAP*)
Race 2: (1) Trip To Heaven 83
Race 3: (10) Samarra 15
Race 4: (6) Hawker Hurricane 61
Race 5: (3) Kalahari Queen 34
Race 6: (6) Perigrine 55
Race 7: (9) Rainbow Star 41
Race 8: (5) Rough Justice 54
Race 9: (11) Matilda’s Daughter 26
Kenilworth (sat)
Race 1: (4) Princess Jane 15
Race 2: (17) Persian Silk 13
Race 3: (3) League Of Legends 24
Race 4: (7) Adorada 10
Race 5: (10) Olim Dives 44
Race 6: (1) Muscatt 74
Race 7: (3) Bella Spumante 45
Race 8: (4) Line Break 75 (EW)
Scottsville (sun)
Race 1: (11) Protea Power 20
Race 2: (1) Ravishing Lilly 13
Race 3: (3) Same Jurisdiction 100 (NAP*)
Race 4: (1) Mr Whatever 72 (nb)
Race 5: (9) Grey’s A Rockin 48
Race 6: (1) Ravishing Romance 11
Race 7: (7) Flying Fellow 66
Race 8: (9) French Mark 48
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Top rated winners last week included
Mirage Drive won 14/1
Eco Storm won 13/2
Nishac won 5/2
New Spring won 22/10
Top Shot won 22/10
Barcelona Babe won 15/10
Seventh Symphony won 11/10
Seek The Summit won 9/10
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Notebook:-
Seventh Symphony (L Goosen, Gauteng)
Shine Up (D Campbell, KZN)
Superwoman (G Van Zyl, Gauteng)
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FASTEST TIMES
The number of races run over each distance is shown in brackets
*Denotes – Times taken by Clockwatcher
Greyville (poly) 23rd August
Going Standard
1000m (3) Swakopmund 58,54
1400m (4) Mackdesi 83,89
1600m (3) Exit Here 95,62
Flamingo Park 24th August
Going Standard
1000m (1) New Spring 57,48
1200m (2) Yesan Star 72,60
1400m (3) Heart Of Winter 86,28
1600m (1) Jack Friday 100,42
1800m (2) Pontedera 113,23
Vaal (outside) 25th August
Penetrometer 20 Going Good
1000m (2) Seventh Symphony 57,35
1200m (4) Kapellmeister 70,27
1400m (2) Wottahottie 83,53
1600m (1) Lundy’s Star 97,00
Scottsville (inside) 26th August
Penetrometer 23 – Going Good
1200m (4) Cosmic Light 69,91
1950m (2) Eva Tibbs 123,99
2400m (2) Eco Storm 153,80
Turffontein (inner) 27th August
Penetrometer
1000m (1) Cute Lady 58,73
1450m (3) Bountiful Harvest 87,77
1600m (1) Facebook 99,93
1800m (2) The Centenary 113,52
3000m (1) Taegan’s Jet 194,96
