Magical Gelding
Kenilworth 28th January
By far the fastest of the eight races around the bend on Saturday was the bill topping Gr1 Sun Met in which the progressive WHISKY BARON extended his winning sequence. Now a winner of five in a row since being gelded, Brett Crawford’s charge raced in midfield for most of the journey. He quickened well early in the new course straight and won going away by a length and a half after striking the front 200m from home.
Quickest home in the three 1600m races, albeit not a fast run race, was NIGHTINGALE when landing the Gr1 Majorca Stakes. As per usual in the rear early on, the daughter of Silvano ran on best of all over the final 600m, and after a thrilling tussle with STAR EXPRESS, She got the verdict by a half.
They also ran three races over 1200m and stopping the clock in the fastest time here was LIVE LIFE in the non-black type CTS Sprint. Freely available at 8/1 on the off, the rapidly improving daughter of Trippi was positioned in the backend of midfield during the early part of the race. She ran on nicely from halfway and with the rest comfortably beaten, she got the better of ALWAYS IN CHARGE (also came from midfield) by a half.
Titbits
The 3yo WILLIAM LONGSWORD quickened nicely early in the straight when gaining his sixth win from just eight starts in the non-black type CTS Mile.
Slow into stride, baulked for a run 250m out, and not finding the clearest of passages thereafter to boot, TRIP TO HEAVEN can be considered an unlucky loser when only failing to reel in his stable companion CARRY ON ALICE by 0,3 of a length in the Gr1 Cape Flying Championship.
A Real Beauty
Turffontein 28th January
They raced on the old stand side track on Saturday where four of the afternoon’s nine races were run over 1600m. The MR84 Handicap was the quickest of these and here we saw a comfortable victory for the friendless BELLE ROSE. Allowed to drift as if a win was out of the question (33/10 out to 11/1), the grey daughter of Golden Sword raced sixth of the eight for most of the journey. Just two and three quarter lengths covered all going through the 400m though, and finishing best of all from there onwards, she won going away by a length and a quarter.
The only other distance to stage more than one race was 1400m where very marginally the quicker home was POOL PARTY in the graduation event for 3yo fillies. Also content to sit sixth of eight in a very tightly bunched field, Roy Magner’s charge ran on strongly at the business end of the race, and got up 50m from home to beat ELUSIVE STRIKE by a length.
A maiden plate over 1600m had opened up the meeting and here we saw a smart performance from the well supported WHOSETHEBOSSNOW. Backed into favouritism at the track (7/2 into 11/10), Geoff Woodruff’s charge raced sixth in a strung field at the top of the home straight. He made up many lengths over the final 400m and in what proved to be a real thriller, he got up in the very last stride to deny REBEL BARON.
Titbits
Trying the distance for the first time, the grey son of Visionaire won the maiden plate over 2450m going away
Silent Progression
Scottsville 29th January
The sparingly raced 6yo LONDON CALL has been silently progressing very nicely and when winning the fastest of the three 1200m races here, the non-black type Marula Sprint, he took his tally of wins to seven from just twelve outings. Sent off a well-supported favourite at 15/10, Mark Dixon’s charge was soon positioned close to the speed. He put his head in front going through the 400m and after fending off a determined challenge from his fellow top weight BARBOSA, he went on to score comfortably by a length. London Call has now won five from eight over this course and distance.
They also ran three races over 1600m and here victory went to another progressive sort in MR O’NEILL. Sent off a rather uneasy favourite at 22/10, Sporting Post’s Top Bet raced in midfield for most of the journey. He ran on best of all over the final 400m, and with some in hand he comfortably accounted for the running on second favourite HIS LEGACY.
Two of the three remaining races were run over 1400m and stopping the clock in the fastest time here was ARIES in the girl’s maiden plate. She got away well when the gates opened and taken straight to the front, led throughout. She was always in command and won without any anxious moments by three and a quarter.
Titbits
At the back of the fifteen coming off the bend, SILVER INSPIRATION ran on stoutly in the straight when a half-length runner up in the MR66 Handicap over 1400m.
Top speedratings for midweek include:-
Flamingo Park (mon)
Race 1: (4) Beyond Limits 56
Race 2: (3) Colonia 2
Race 3: (2) Shimmering Brook 40
Race 4: (7) Doubly Attractive 31
Race 5: (4) Roy’s Dispren 32
Race 6: (3) News Flash 28
Race 7: (5) Timedtoperfection 37
Race 8: (11) Latera 40
Race 9: (6) First Sign 10
Fairview (tues)
Race 1: (9) Aunty Carol 25
Race 2: (6) Pont Du Gard 52 (EW)
Race 3: (2) Aspen Fire 10
Race 4: (1) Crown Of Gold 77
Race 5: (8) Van Dam’s Force 35
Race 6: (9) Netherby Hall 47
Race 7: (3) Seventh Symphony 57
Race 8: (2) Trouble Maker 41
Turffontein (tues)
Race 1: (2) Alex The Great 17
Race 2: (2) Charter Jet 17
Race 3: (2) Joan Ranger 77
Race 4: (3) Rebel Baron 7
Race 5: (4) New Predator 112
Race 6: (8) Vulcan 64
Race 7: (9) Odd Rob 78
Race 8: (15) Vogue Wood 49
Greyville (wed)
Race 1: (4) Chicago Beat 17
Race 2: (1) Mermaid Siren 9
Race 3: (1) Lil Gambler 1
Race 4: (9) Mythical Magic 47
Race 5: (1) Al Ciberano 54
Race 6: (3) Sister Cosmos 52
Race 7: (9) Napoli 56
Race 8: (3) Mark My Card 58
Race 9: (2) Kudra 2
Vaal (thur)
Race 1: (2) Miraflores 4
Race 2: (3) Outlander 14
Race 3: (9) Shankly Gates 33
Race 4: (1) Royal Utopia 11
Race 5: (13) Mystify Me 28
Race 6: (7) Captain Chips 60
Race 7: (7) Embrasiatic 48
Race 8: (12) Quattro 38
Race 9: (2) Spring Steel 44
Top rated winners last week included
Belle Rose won 11/1
Chili Con Carne won 6/1
Fantasy View won 3/1
Together Forever won 3/1
Constantine won 5/2
Snow In Seattle won 18/10
Time Tripper won 18/10
Sea Bean won 6/10
Notebook:-
Trip To Heaven (S Tarry, Gauteng)
Whisky Baron (B Crawford, W-Cape)
FASTEST TIMES
The number of races run over each distance is shown in brackets
*Denotes – Times taken by Clockwatcher
Kenilworth (new) 28th January
Penetrometer 22 – Going Good
Course Variant: 0,22s fast
1000m (2) Carry On Alice 58,22
1200m (3) Live Life 70,87
1400m (1) Gimme Six 87,16
1600m (3) Nightingale 99,01
2000m (3) Whiskey Baron 122,71
2800m (1) Krambambuli 183,72
Tuffontein (stand side) 28th January
Penetrometer 22 – Going Good
Course Variant: 1,02s slow
1000m (1) Bonnie Dawn 57,84
1400m (2) Pool Party 87,15
1600m (4) Belle Rose 98,99
2000m (1) Cidada 126,91
2450m (1) Fantasy View 161,22
Scottsville (inside) 29th January
Penetrometer 22 – Going Good
Course Variant: 0,57s fast
1000m (1) Black Biscuit 57,51
1200m (3) London Call 67,68
1400m (2) Aries 84,41
1600m (3) Mr O’neill 95,30
