Pillar To Post
Arlington 29th June: First up on Friday was a maiden juvenile plate over 1200m and backed into joint favouritism here was the winner MISS AFRICA (5/1 into 5/2). The first of four winners on the card for trainer Gavin Smith, the lightly raced Miss Africa was always handy. She was ridden to lead shortly after passing the 200m marker and comfortably accounted for the pacemaker OH SO EASY by a length and a quarter.
In terms of distance the easiest victory on the card was recorded by SEVENHILLSOFROME in the maiden event over 1400m. Taken straight to the front by Barend Vlooh, the son of Caesour soon had the field well strung out. He was four lengths clear turning for home and extended his advantage to five and a quarter over the final 400m.
Another to win very easily from the front on this card was BYE NOW in the MR70 affair over 2400m. Two lengths clear throughout, the aptly named Bye Now quickened nicely at the top of the short home straight and went on to score very easily by four.
A MR78 Handicap over 1800m topped the bill and here victory went to the Smith trained LUCKY FLAG. Easily eight lengths off the pace in what was another strung out field turning for home, Lucky Flag quickened best of all in the straight and under a well judged ride from his apprentice rider Teague Gould, he got up very late to deny LEADING THE FIELD.
Titbits
Newcomer SCENTED ASH was running on nicely at the finish when fourth beaten 3,75 lengths in the maiden juvenile event won by Miss Africa.
MILLION MILES was finishing best of all when fourth in the MR70 Handicap over 1400m.
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Business Concluded
Turffontein 30th June: They raced on the inner track on Saturday where victory in the opening workrider’s maiden event over 1450 went to the 2yo KAROO QUEEN (18) Sent off second favourite at 33/10 Weiho Marwing’s charge was squeezed at the start, but despite that was soon up handy. She was ridden to lead as they approached the 200m marker and comfortably accounted for the running on LADY’S DESIRE by a length and a quarter.
The best bet on the card for most was ANEEFA (5) in the maiden 1800m and she didn’t let down her supporters. Deep in the red at 1/4 on the off, the daughter of Encosta De Lago was soon in touch with the leaders. She took a while to get going when asked for her effort 500m out, but after striking the front 150m from home, she easily drew clear.
A pinnacle stakes over 2600m topped the bill and here it was nice to see the Requiem mare SALUTATION register her sixth career victory. She got away well when the gates opened and soon up handy raced prominent throughout. She was ridden to lead going through the 300m and went on to score easily by three from the running on CHANGING MOON.
Race six on the card was a MR86 Handicap over 1600m and here the in form Pierre Strydom was on the mark when the 3yo MOUNT CARMEL landed the spoils. Sent off second favourite in what looked to be a very open event, Robbie Sage’s charge was always handy. The gallant top weight END OF SEASON got first run when the race began in earnest and it was only close home that Mount Carmel managed to get her head in front.
Titbits
Recent winner MILLENNIUM WIND was again running on very strongly at the finish when third in the MR88 Handicap over 1800m won by Yer-Maan.
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Answering The Call
Greyville 1st July:
A maiden juvenile event over 1400m got proceedings underway in Natal on Sunday afternoon and here we saw a comfortable victory for the newcomer LEHAAF (31). Sent off a very uneasy favourite at 19/10 (op 12/10), the son of Excellent Art wasn’t the quickest into stride. He was soon up handy despite that though and after striking the front 300m from home, he went on to score with some in hand.
Race three on the card was a maiden event over 1600m and here we saw a nice performance from the Go Deputy filly CRIMSON FIRE (28). She ran on well from her position in midfield and with the benefit of first run she comfortably accounted for the running on SAFAA by two and a quarter. Keep an eye on the runner up Safaa. She was positioned in the rear turning for home.
Race six on the card was a MR84 Handicap over 2000m and here victory went to the friendless SYDNEY’S GIRL (64). A stable companion to the favourite WINTER MIST, Sydney’s Girl was always well positioned to strike. She did so going through the 200m and kept on strongly late to beat ATAIR by a length and a quarter.
The non-black type KZN Breeders Stakes over 1600m topped the bill and on the mark here was the Gauteng raider KNOCK ON WOOD (84). Soon up handy despite not being the quickest into stride, Ormond Ferraris’ charge was always positioned close to the speed. He quickened well early in the straight and kept on strongly after striking the front 200m from home to beat the faster finishing BLACK WING by three quarters of a length.
Titbits
Well handicapped WINTER MISCHIEF caught the eye when running on from the rear to finish fifth in the KZN Breeders 1600m.
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Top speedratings for this weekend include:-
Fairview Race 1: (16) Oh So Easy 23 Race 2: (11) Fixed Bet 16 Race 3: (2) Cataloj 12 Race 4: (4) Victorialaine 50 Race 5: (4) Superfederation 69 Race 6: (10) Solar Charged 73 Race 7: (15) Beast Of Burden 62 Race 8: (2) Gossamer 46 Scottsville Race 1: (5) Flyfirstclass 19 Race 2: (5) Iceonic 19 Race 3: (8) Rosie The Rebel 21 Race 4: (1) Dawn Eclipse 27 Race 5: (1) Share The Silver 68 Race 6: (1) Heavy Metal 65 (NAP**) Race 7: (1) Schwarzwald 27 Race 8: (3) Firm Approach 25 Kenilworth Race 1: (19) Untamed 30 Race 2: (10) Kirtling Towers 19 Race 3: (11) Rain Lily 21 Race 4: (1) Air Dancer 14 (EW) Race 5: (5) Asaal’s Magic 56 Race 6: (1) Caravaggio 53 Race 7: (5) Martial Eagle 74 Race 8: (5) American Fantasy 50 Vaal Race 1: (4) Gemmayze Street 26 (NAP*) Race 2: (9) Slightly Blonde 11 Race 3: (2) Virgil Cane 20 Race 4: (13) The Fixer 44 Race 5: (7) New York 54 Race 6: (3) Cherry On The Cake 61 Race 7: (5) Prive Du Bois 50 Race 8: (16) Princess Rue 55 (EW)
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Top rated winners last week included
Guantanamera won 9/2 The Hangman won 33/10 Daffodil Day won 3/1 Senorita Casey won 28/10 Just B Brave won 19/10 Var Light won 15/10 Colour Quest won 13/10 Aneefa won ¼.
Notebook:-
Lehaaf (M De Kock, KZN) Winter Mischief (H Brown, KZN).
FASTEST TIMES
(Shown in brackets is the number of races run in each category)Arlington 29th June Fastest Sprint 1000-1300 (3) Molly R Fastest Middle 1400-1800 (4) Desert Kite Fastest Long 1900-3600 (1) Bye Now
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Turffontein 30th June Fastest Sprint 1000-1300 (0) No Qualifiers Fastest Middle 1400-1800 (8) Arctic Sun Fastest Long 1900-3600 (1) Salutation
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Greyville 1st July Fastest Sprint 1000-1300 (2) Guantanamera Fastest Middle 1400-1800 (5) Knock On Wood Fastest Long 1900-3600 (2) Sydney’s Girl
