Like The Wind
Fairview 9th October: The biggest winning margin at Friday’s poly track meeting was the 4,25 lengths recorded by BLIZZARD BELLE when registering her fourth career victory from seventeen starts in the MR85 Handicap over 1000m. Taken straight to the front by S’manga Khumalo, the Western Winter mare led throughout. She raced just two lengths clear for most of the trip before asserting her authority in the short home straight.
Another to win with lengths to spare on this card was BOLT OF LIGHT in the MR71 Handicap over 1600m. Pitched in against stronger in recent starts, Tara Laing’s charge spent most of the race sitting in midfield. Once given rein though, he quickened well and cruised in by four.
Race five on the card was a novice plate over 1200m and here we saw an eye catching performance from the former Cape Town campaigner EVIL WOMAN. Usually seen out over much further, the Go Deputy mare was priced up at 14/1 in this her first start in the Eastern Cape. As might have been expected she was in the rear turning for home, but once in the straight she fairly flew. She looked in a different league as she went past the leaders close home and is clearly one to keep tabs on at this centre.
The non-black type Cradock Place Stakes over 1200m topped the bill and here victory went to the 6yo VAUCLAIR. His more fancied stable companion THE WEST IS WIDE set the pace and four lengths clear coming off the bend, he looked to have the race in the bag. The early effort took its toll over the final 400m though, and the always handy Vauclair got up late.
Titbits
NIGHT FALL ran on well from midfield when comfortably accounting for her nine rivals in the novice plate over 1900m.
.
No Certainties In Racing
Greyville 9th October: They also raced on the poly track on Friday evening where a half of the eight races were run over 1400m. The fastest of these was the MR74 Handicap won by LAST TIGER. Backed into 28/10 second favourite from 9/2 at the track, Dean Kannemeyer’s charge was soon up handy. He was ridden to lead as they approached the 200m marker and won well by a length and three quarters.
The faster of the two 1200m races was the MR70 Handicap in which we saw a gutsy performance from the 4yo KADEZE. Taken straight to the front by apprentice Eric Ngwane, the daughter of Kahal gave her all in the straight and just held on by the narrowest of margins.
The 3yo AFICIONADO looked to be a good thing in the second division of the maiden plate over 1400m, but taking no interest in racing, and reported as lame on the off fore, the 1/3 favourite finished an always handy fourth. Victory instead went to the 20/1 shot SECOND LIEUTENANT. Frank Robinson’s charge ran on well from his handy position and won comfortably by a length and three quarters.
Titbits
Poorly drawn SAMOVAR ran on well from midfield when a neck runner up in the first division of the maiden plate over 1400m.
.
Prepping For The Big Ones
Turffontein 10th October: A maiden plate over 1000m got proceedings underway on the inner track on Saturday and here we saw a smart performance from the newcomer ROCK ON REBEL. Allowed to drift right out to 10/1 from 4/1 at the track, Brian Wiid’s charge raced in midfield during the early part of the race. He ran on best of all at the business end of the race and comfortably accounted for the heavily supported 13/20 favourite DOLPHIN (made the running) by a length and a quarter.
Due to a burst water pipe at the 1200m mark the four races scheduled to take place over 1200m were all run over 1150m. The fastest of these was the boy’s division of the progress plate for 3yo’s in which BULL VALLEY kept his unbeaten record intact. A fluent winner of his only previous racecourse appearance, the son of Toreador was soon up handy. He was ridden to lead early in the short home straight and kept on strongly over the final 400m to beat the consistent AL AZRAQ by three and a quarter.
Also worthy of note on this card was the performance of MODEL EMPIRE when opening her account in the apprentice maiden plate over 1600m. Freely available at 25/1 on the off, Erico Verdonese’s charge raced in midfield early on. She took closer order coming off the strip and won with some in hand by three after striking the front 250m from home.
Titbits
SWIFT SARAH won the girls’ division of the progress plate over 1200m with authority by three.
.
Top rated winners last week included
Top Shot won 8/1
Candaleeyah won 9/2
Last Tiger won 28/10
Entrée won 5/2
Bagger Vance won 2/1
Just Like Magic won 2/1
Barbosa won 16/10
Machismo won 13/10
.
Notebook:-
Bull Valley (D Zaki, Gauteng)
Evil Woman (Y Bremner, E-Cape)
Swift Sarah (S Tarry, Gauteng)
.
FASTEST TIMES
The number of races run over each distance is shown in brackets
*Denotes – Times taken by Clockwatcher
Fairview (poly) 9th October
Going Standard
1000m (1) Blizzard Belle 56,98
1200m (3) Vauclair 69,26
1600m (3) Soleil Royal 95,89
1900m (1) Night Fall 116,33
Greyville (poly) 9th October
Going Standard
1200m (2) Kadeze 71,30
1400m (4) Last Tiger 84,16
1600m (1) Alessia 97,94
2000m (1) Entrée 123,27
Turffontein (inner) 10th October
Penetrometer 22 – Going Good
1000m (1) Rock On Rebel 59,55
1150m (4) Bull Valley 68,71
1450m (1) Machismo 89,72
1600m (2) Archetype 99,36
2000m (1) Top Shot 126,29
