Powerful Stuff
Fairview 22nd July: They raced on the turf on Friday where quickest home in the three 1000m races was VILLA DEL LARGO when registering his eighth career victory in the pinnacle stakes. On leaving the stalls it was NORMANZ who elected to make the running whilst Justin Snaith’s charge raced close up in fourth. He was ridden to lead as they approached the 100m marker and won going away by two.
The listed East Cape Paddock Stakes over 1600m topped the bill and here we saw a nice performance from the Encosta De Lago filly PURELY ATOMIC. Nibbled at on course into 8/1 from 10’s, Alan Greeff’s charge raced in midfield for most of the journey. The well supported Western Cape raider HARVARD CRIMSON was the first to make a move and on striking the front 250m from home she looked to have done everything right. Purely Atomic ran on stoutly at the business end of the race though, and when she loomed alongside below the distance, the favourite could find no extra.
There were four races run over 1600m in total and the fastest of these was the MR80 Handicap won by the 3yo RAHVAR. Sent off a clear favourite at 16/10, the Var gelding was soon up handy. He put his head in front shortly after passing the 300m pole and went on to score with authority by two and a half.
Another to win with authority on this card was WONDER WORKER when getting off the mark in the maiden plate over 2000m. Sent off a joint second favourite at 5/1, the daughter of Western Winter was always handy. She moved up to dispute matters 300m out and comfortably accounted for the other joint second favourite BLACK RAKE.
Titbits
The 6/1 shot IMPERIAL VELVET didn’t find the clearest of passages when running on from the rear to finish second (beaten just a neck) in the MR80 Handicap won by LAWS OF SUCCESSION.
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Not So Cosy
Scottsville 23rd July: The best bet on the card for most in Pietermaritzburg on Saturday was WARM NIGHT ALICE in the maiden plate over 1200m, and although it was by no means as easy as the betting market had suggested, she did nonetheless do the business. Deep in the red at 11/20 on the off, Geoff Woodruff’s charge was soon positioned close to the speed. She put her head in front as they approached the 200m marker and after a thrilling tussle with INYATI over the final 150m she got the verdict by a half.
The only other 1200m race on the card was the bill topping pinnacle stakes won by the second favourite ELUSIVENCHANTMENT. Always handy in a race run 1,24 seconds quicker than that of Warm Night Alice, Duncan Howells’ charge took up the running 300m out, and although the 25/1 shot RESPECT AT BAY ran on well from off the pace, she did have that one held by a length and three quarters at the wire.
The faster of the two maiden juvenile plates over 1400m that opened up proceedings was the boy’s affair won easily by GREGORIAN CHANT. He got away well when the gates opened and taken straight to the front by Anthony Delpech, led throughout. He was always clear and won without any anxious moments by three and a half.
Another to win very well on this card was SHOOT THE BULL when opening his account in the maiden plate over 1000m. On leaving the stalls it was the easy to back AT VARIANCE who elected to make the running whilst Kom Naidoo’s charge raced close up in second. He took up the running at the halfway mark and went on to score with authority by three and a half.
Titbits
The improving PIROGUE won the MR72 Handicap over 1600m with plenty in hand by two and a half. Poorly drawn HANJI ran on well from the back to finish second in this race.
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Weighted To Score
Kenilworth 23rd July: The Gr3 Final Fling Stakes topped the bill in the soft going in Cape Town on Saturday and here we saw a gutsy performance from the Warm White Night filly HARLEM SHAKE. At the head of affairs throughout, Glen Puller’s charge found extra when challenged 200m from home and went on to win well by a length and three quarters. This was the faster of the two 1800m races on the card.
Quickest home in the two events over 1000m was PRIZE PEG in the MR75 Handicap. Easy to back at 7/1 on the off, the Jay Peg filly also led form pillar to post. She asserted her authority going through the 300m and recorded her second career victory very easily by three and a quarter.
Also worthy of note on this card was the performance of NORTHERN BALLET when getting off the mark in the maiden plate over 1800m. Backed into favouritism at the track, the daughter of Silvano was content to sit in midfield during the early part of the race. She was ridden to lead going through the 300m and won going away from the deposed favourite JINGLE BELLE.
Titbits
Well weighted FRIENDLY TIBBS didn’t find the clearest of passages before winning the not so lucky last, a MR78 Handicap over 1600m going away by three and a quarter. He was racing off a mark 16 points below that of his former best here, and should still be very favourably handicapped next time.
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Top speedratings for this weekend include:-
Fairview (mon)
Race 1: (7) Anton Ruskin 19 (NAP*)
Race 2: (1) Sheltering Arms 8
Race 3: (1) La Myst 8
Race 4: (7) Conquering Queen 51
Race 5: (8) Facebook 39
Race 6: (5) Oriental Tiger 72
Race 7: (9) Pataudi 58
Race 8: (13) Intisara 50
Durbanville (tues)
Race 1: (1) Imperial Dancer 31
Race 2: (4) Whispering Light 19
Race 3: (3) Kenny Trix 24
Race 4: (5) Rock On Wood 32
Race 5: (12) Little Mo 44
Race 6: (10) Chestnut Wild 35
Race 7: (7) Roman Discent 66
Race 8: (11) Sheltered 54
Race 9: (11) Moika Dancer 44
Greyville (wed)
Race 1: (1) At Variance 18
Race 2: (12) White Rose 15
Race 3: (9) Esperanza Fire 44
Race 4: (1) Mambo 19 (NAP*)
Race 5: (1) Winter Darling 41
Race 6: (7) Roman Society 39
Race 7: (8) Al Ciberano 71
Race 8: (2) Albert 40
Vaal (thur)
Race 1: (1) Capricious 12
Race 2: (3) Bubbly Reply 7
Race 3: (2) Seal My Fate 10
Race 4: (8) Pyramus 59
Race 5: (13) Queen Of Arts 46
Race 6: (6) Dreamy Forest 36
Race 7: (1) Seventh Symphony 51
Race 8: (2) Mr Rambo 22
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Top rated winners last week included
White Christmas won 14/1
Laws Of Succession won 6/1
Wonder Worker won 5/1
Cream Soda Green won 33/10
Prairie Rose won 33/10
Elusivenchantment won 3/1
Flying Monarch won 22/10
Northern Ballet won 22/10
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Notebook:-
Northern Ballet (J Snaith, 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) 22nd July
Penetrometer 22 – Going Good
1000m (3) Villa Del Largo 57,64
1200m (1) Fatal Attraction 73,03*
1600m (4) Rahvar 98,10
1800m (1) White Christmas 111,98
2000m (1) Wonder Worker 127,20
Scottsville (inside) 23rd July
Penetrometer 23 – Going Good
1000m (1) Shoot The Bull 58,51
1200m (2) Elusivenchantment 70,19
1400m (2) Gregorian Chant 86,06
1600m (2) Sylverster The Cat/Pirogue 98,36
1950m (1) Ruby Gem 123,22
Kenilworth (old) 23rd July
Penetrometer 25 – Going Soft
1000m (2) Prize Peg 60,89
1200m (2) Zud Wes 75,10
1400m (1) Cream Soda Green 89,88
1600m (1) Friendly Tibbs 102,03
1800m (2) Harlem Shake 116,11
