Mafia Take Charge
Fairview 20th November: The Guineas Plate for 3yo’s topped the bill at Friday’s turf meeting and in what proved to be the fastest of the afternoon’s three 1600m races the Lecture gelding MEMPHIS MAFIA completed a hat-trick. Backed into favouritism on course, Dorrie Sham’s charge was always in touch with the leaders. He ran on stoutly down the long home straight and with the rest comfortably beaten he only got the better of a thrilling tussle with FLY LIKE THE WIND by the narrowest of margins.
The faster of the two 1000m races was the novice plate won by the best rated runner in the field BUCKINGHAMPSHIRE. Another to leave the stalls at the top of the boards, the son of Lonhro was always handy. He moved up to dispute matters with the front running ARCSIGN 300m out and after another classic battle he too only got the verdict by a short head.
Not surprisingly the quickest home in the two 2400m events was the veteran CROWN OF GOLD when taking his tally of wins into double figures in the conditions stakes. Clearly the best weighted runner in the field, Tara Laing’s charge raced third of the six for most of the journey. He took up the running as they approached the 400m marker and won well by two and a quarter.
Titbits
The 3yo BLUE DAWN ran on well from midfield when extending her winning sequence to four in the Conditions plate for the girls over 1200m.
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Walks In The Park
Greyville 20th November: They raced on the poly track on Friday evening where the fastest of the three maiden plates over 1400m was the boy’s affair won by WINTER AURALIUS. Backed throughout the day into 4/1 from 10’s, Duncan Howells’ charge raced sixth in what was always a very tightly bunched field. He put his head in front shortly after passing the 300m marker and comfortably accounted for THE DEACON (cramped 100m) by three quarters.
The fastest against the clock in the three 1800m events was CANIGAO in the only maiden plate over the distance. Swiftly guided over from a wide draw by Anthony Delpech, the 4/1 second favourite was soon very nicely positioned in second. He put his head in front 300m out and won well by a length and a quarter.
The two remaining races were both run over 1200m and quickest home here was the mare VICTORY TAKEOVER in the MR64 Handicap. Sent off favourite at 7/2, Robbie Hills’ charge was taken straight to the front by Anton Marcus and led throughout. She was always in command and won without any anxious moments by four and three quarters.
Titbits
At the head of affairs throughout, ROY’S ACADEMY won the maiden plate over 1400m by five and three quarters with a ton in hand.
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A Mixed Bag
Vaal 21st November: Four of the nine races on the inside track on Saturday were run over 1400m and quickest against the clock in these was WET AUTUMN MIST in the MR68 Handicap. Freely available at 40/1 on the off, the Rebel King mare sat in midfield for most of the journey. She ran on strongly from halfway and with the rest some three and a quarter lengths adrift, she got the better of the fancied OFF THE MARK by a half.
The fastest of the three 1200m events was the bill topping MR91 Handicap won by the 4yo CAPTAIN’S DIVA. Close to the front in what was always a very tightly bunched field, the lightly weighted daughter of Announce ran on best of all when the race developed into a 400m sprint, and comfortably accounted for the veteran DENNIS THE MENACE by three quarters.
The biggest winning margin on the nine race program was just the 2,25 lengths recorded by RAMBO in the MR74 Handicap over 1200m. Nibbled at throughout the day into 7/1 from 20’s, the 7yo Victory Moon gelding raced handy throughout. He was ridden to lead as they approached the 300m pole and went on to score with authority.
Titbits
The newcomer OVER IT ran on well from midfield when getting up late to win the opening maiden plate for the girls over 1200m.
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“Hungary” For Success
Kenilworth 21st November: The best bet on the card for many in Cape Town on Saturday was LA FAVOURARI in the maiden plate over 1000m, and Andre Nel’s charge didn’t let down his supporters. In the red at 17/20 on the off, the son of Querari was soon up handy. He only had to be pushed out to take up the running 230m or so from home and won going away by two and a quarter.
Three of the afternoon’s nine races were run over 1400m and comfortably the quickest of these was the Ready To Run Stakes for 3yo’s and here we saw an impressive performance from the front running BUDAPEST. Just a length clear for most of the trip, Gavin Van Zyl’s charge quickened well at the business end of the race and came home lonely by four and a quarter.
Racing for a winner’s purse of R1M less than that of Budapest were those contesting the Gr2 Selangor Cup over 1600m and first past the post here was the Joey Ramsden trained HARD DAY’S NIGHT. Another to lead from pillar to post, the son of Warm White Night enjoyed a length and a half lead for most of the journey. He kept on determinedly over the final 400m and held off a wall of horses headed by the 12/1 shot VICTORIOUS JAY by a neck.
Titbits
The 3yo UNION JACK won the maiden plate over 1400m going away by four and a half.
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Top speedratings for this weekend include:-
Fairview (mon)
Race 1: (1) Dreamforest 6
Race 2: (9) Air Belle 22
Race 3: (3) Joy Of Hope 17
Race 4: (3) Tiger Tim 18
Race 5: (6) Captain Blackwater 63 (EW)
Race 6: (12) Divine Invitation 38
Race 7: (5) Pikastar 37
Race 8: (14) Levonca 34
Vaal (tues)
Race 1: (1) First Officer Al 21
Race 2: (10) Our Miracle 19
Race 3: (11) Road To Indy 26
Race 4: (5) Angel Of Mercy 17
Race 5: (1) Forest Fox 75
Race 6: (3) Viking Hero 65
Race 7: (10) Max The Man 57
Race 8: (17) Starry Soiree 36
Kenilworth (wed)
Race 1: (11) Midnight Spy 16
Race 2: (3) Chevauchee 52
Race 3: (1) Florrick 16
Race 4: (2) Nutbush 20
Race 5: (7) Baksteen 42
Race 6: (6) Fifty Cents 59
Race 7: (9) Caprice Des Dieux 46
Race 8: (9) Lucky Tuesday 67
Race 9: (10) Playboy Buddy 18
Turffontein (thur)
Race 1: (1) Silver Standard 23
Race 2: (3) Indzaba 24
Race 3: (12) Nikki 49
Race 4: (1) Bubba’s Doll 10
Race 5: (11) Lisnoble 51
Race 6: (3) Woza Madoda 42
Race 7: (3) A Million Dreams 51
Race 8: (9) La Dique 55
Race 9: (4) Neptune’s Jewel 24
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Top rated winners last week included
Hunting Owl won 7/1
Victory Takeover won 7/2
Fraternize won 2/1
Crown Of Gold won 12/10
Work Ethic won 9/10
La Favourari won 17/20
Master Sam won 7/10
Beloved Country won 9/20
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Notebook:-
Budapest (G Van Zyl, W-Cape)
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FASTEST TIMES
The number of races run over each distance is shown in brackets
*Denotes – Times taken by Clockwatcher
Fairview (turf) 20th November
Penetrometer 22 – Going Good
1000m (2) Buckinghampshire 58,60
1200m (1) Blue Dawn 70,90
1600m (3) Memphis Mafia 98,84
2400m (2) Crown Of Gold 152,10
Greyville (poly) 20th November
Going Standard
1200m (2) Victory Takeover 69,41
1400m (3) Winter Auralius 83,39
1800m (3) Canigao 110,21
Vaal (inside) 21st November
Penetrometer 22 – Going Good
1000m (1) Rebel’s Girl 57,31
1200m (3) Captain’s Diva 69,31
1400m (4) Wet Autumn Mist 82,20
2000m (1) My Favourite Brown 124,24
Kenilworth (old) 21st November
Penetrometer 23 – Going Good
1000m (1) La Favourari 60,50
1200m (2) Money Surger 73,67
1400m (3) Budapest 85,68
1600m (2) Captain America 97,65
3200m (1) Gothic 208,40
