Dancing To Victory
Scottsville 4th October: A maiden plate for 3yo’s over 1200m got proceedings underway in Pietermaritzburg on Sunday and here we saw a comfortable victory for the 15/10 favourite SUBLIME CODE. Taken straight to the front by Alec Forbes, the son of Warm White Night led throughout. He was always a couple clear and won without any anxious moments. The newcomer BRAVE KNIGHT ran on well from midfield to take third position in this race.
There were three races run over 1200m in total and the fastest of these was the graduation plate won by SPLIT THE BREEZE. Always handy, Charlie Laird’s charge ran on stoutly over the final 400m and with the rest well beaten he got up late to deny the more fancied EXECUTIVE POWER.
There was also three races run over 1950m and quickest home amongst these was the mare TIMEFORATIGER when registering her second career victory in the MR70 Handicap. On leaving the stalls it was the easy to back KEEP IT QUICK who elected to make the running whilst Mark Dixon’s charge raced close up in third. The race looked wide open going through the 300m and in what proved to be a real thriller Timeforatiger only got the verdict by the narrowest of margins.
A pinnacle stakes over 1600m topped the bill and here victory went to the 4yo son of Mambo In Seattle SARATOGA DANCER. Well supported on course into 33/10 second favourite, Duncan Howells’ charge was always in touch with the leaders. He was ridden to lead as they approached the 200m marker and won well by a length and a half from the running on STORMY ECLIPSE.
Titbits
HANNAH’S ANSWER won the girl’s division of the maiden plate for 3yo’s over 1200m with some in hand.
.
A Mixed Bag
Fairview 5th October: Three of the eight races at Monday’s poly track meeting were run over 1300m and the fastest of these was the MR78 Handicap won by JUDD’S JOY. Sent off a joint favourite at 4/1, Grant Paddock’s charge raced sixth of the nine for most of the journey. The always handy STRONG MAN SAM was the first to make a move and on striking the front 150m from home, he looked to have done everything right. Running on stoutly below the distance though, the son of Judpot finished best of all, and under a well-judged ride from Musi Yeni he got up late to score by a half.
The faster of the two 1000m races was the MR64 Handicap in which the 4yo AMADEUS ROCKS completed a double. A winner in the maiden ranks over the course and distance last time out, the Amadeus Wolf gelding was soon positioned on the heels of the pacemaker LEODOCUS. The front runner kept on determinedly in the short home straight and it was only 50m or so from home that Amadeus Rocks got his head in front.
A conditions plate over 1300m topped the bill and here a bit of an upset was to be had when the highly regarded even money favourite SHAUNTREL got rolled. Reported as hanging, the always handy Shauntrel was beaten after holding every chance. Victory instead went to the 8/1 shot JAY’S FAVOUR who made all, and won comfortably by two and a quarter.
Titbits
The lightly raced THAYER won the opening maiden plate over 1000m with a ton in hand.
.
91 For 8
Vaal 6th October: They raced on the outside track on Tuesday where three of the afternoon’s ten races were run over 1400m. The fastest of these was the MR86 Handicap won by PLATINUM JET. Sent off as one of three co-favourites at 4/1, the Jet Master gelding was soon positioned close to the speed. He took up the running shortly after passing the 400m marker and comfortably accounted for the running on NATIONAL KEY by a length.
There was also three races run over 1200m and stopping the clock in the fastest time amongst these was the veteran COHIBA when registering his eighth career victory in the MR76 Handicap. Although a little smarter into stride than is often the case, the 7yo still raced in the rear. The field was quite closely grouped though, and he was always near enough to mount a challenge. He did so at the 100m pole and won going away by a length and a quarter from the pacemaker CARTER.
The faster of the 1600m events was the MR72 Handicap in which we saw a smart performance from the lightly raced 4yo CAYMEN SUNSET. Content to race in midfield for most of the journey, Geoff Woodruff’s charge was still a good six lengths off the pace going through the 400m. Once given rein though, the son of Miesque’s Approval quickened best of all and in what proved to be a real thriller he got up in the very last stride.
The two remaining races were both maiden plates over 1000m and surprisingly the quickest of these was the girls’ affair won by the newcomer PENNY SERENADE. Always handy, Michael Azzie’s charge struck the front 120m from home and drew clear easily in the closing stages of the race to score by three and three quarters. The runner up CHRISTMAS CAROL (also a newcomer) ran on well from the rear to fill second position in this race.
Titbits
The 3yo FINDING ALICE won the opening work rider’s maiden plate over 1400m with authority by two and a quarter.
EINA was finishing best of all when third in the MR67 Handicap over 1400m.
.
Doing It In Style
Durbanville 7th October: In terms of prize money a MR78 Handicap over 2000m topped the bill at the country course on Wednesday and here victory went to the deposed joint favourite MORNING LIGHT. A winner in MR68 company over the course and distance last time out, Morning Light raced second for most of the journey. She took up the running early in the straight and although the pack headed by the favourite MASKED LADY were steadily gaining over the final 200m, she still had three quarters of a length to spare at the wire.
The faster of the two 1000m races was the very competitive looking graduation plate won by ZINNAVAR. Freely available at 16/1 in this eight runner contest, Vaughan Marshall’s charge was always handy. He collared the pacemaker GALAXY KING 100m out and went on to score with authority by a length and a half.
In terms of distance the easiest victory on the card was recorded by TAFFETY TART when opening her account in the maiden plate over 1400m. Nicely positioned in fifth as the ten runners turned for home, Mike Bass’ charge was ridden to lead 200m or so out, and won going away from the similarly fancied SABRINA FAIR by three.
Titbits
The even money favourite DURBAN BEACH was always in command when opening his account in the maiden plate over 1000m.
.
Top speedratings for this weekend include:-
Fairview (fri)
Race 1: (1) Ideal Countess 17
Race 2: (6) African Heritage 60
Race 3: (5) Sky Full Of Stars 15 (NAP*)
Race 4: (1) Jam Tart 12
Race 5: (7) Zoo Biscuit 61
Race 6: (1) Brave Vision 32
Race 7: (15) Moucha Gasolina 45
Race 8: (12) Midnight Magenta 48
Greyville (fri)
Race 1: (1) Chronological 5
Race 2: (1) Kolinsky 1
Race 3: (7) Diamond King 69
Race 4: (9) Rumbullion 61 (nb)
Race 5: (3) Intergalactic 35
Race 6: (5) Iced Gem 9
Race 7: (12) Dun Carrer 48
Race 8: (8) Rasta’s Jet 33
Race 9: (9) Fareeq 32 (NAP**)
Turffontein (sat)
Race 1: (4) Arabian Bay 15
Race 2: (3) Seal My Fate 16 (NAP*)
Race 3: (11) Coral Fever 22
Race 4: (13) Ntoma 35 (nb)
Race 5: (10) Main Sunday 62
Race 6: (7) Jolie Roger 57 (EW)
Race 7: (9) Noble Star 91
Race 8: (6) Balli Miracle 63
Race 9: (3) Stay Amazed 43
Durbanville (sat)
Race 1: (7) Our Destiny 12
Race 2: (2) Bora Bora 18
Race 3: (2) Make The Magnet 16
Race 4: (7) Avail 17
Race 5: (6) Bordered In Grey 46
Race 6: (9) Waiting For Rain 78
Race 7: (3) Sublime Lady 50
Race 8: (5) Another Idea 67
Scottsville (sun)
Race 1: (10) Nikki 12
Race 2: (14) Seventh Moment 15
Race 3: (1) Destined For Dawn 27
Race 4: (11) Brave Knight 29 (NAP*)
Race 5: (1) African Dream 88
Race 6: (6) Piano Man 68
Race 7: (2) Rascality 41
Race 8: (9) Ravishing Romance 25
Race 9: (1) Golden Earings 16
.
Top rated winners last week included
Evil Woman won 14/1
Blue Door won 7/1
Split The Breeze won 11/2
Platinum Jet won 4/1
Battle In Seattle won 2/1
Memphis Mafia won 15/10
Sublime Code won 15/10
Roy’s Gold won 13/10
.
Notebook:-
Christmas Carol (G Woodruff, Gauteng)
Thayer (A Greeff, E-Cape)
.
FASTEST TIMES
The number of races run over each distance is shown in brackets
*Denotes – Times taken by Clockwatcher
Scottsville (inside) 4th October
Penetrometer 22 – Going Good
1000m (1) Piano Man 56,88
1200m (3) Split The Breeze 68,84
1600m (1) Saratoga Dancer 95,73
1950m (3) Timeforatiger 119,20
Fairview (poly) 5th October
Going Standard
1000m (2) Amadeus Rocks 57,82
1200m (1) Seventh Circle 71,30
1300m (3) Judd’s Joy 76,06
1600m (1) Galao 95,97
2200m (1) Hazel Jay 137,49
Vaal (outside) 6th October
Penetrometer 22 – Going Good
1000m (2) Penny Serenade 58,54
1200m (3) Cohiba 70,75
1400m (3) Platinum Jet 83,79
1600m (2) Caymen Sunset 97,21
Durbanville 7th October
Penetrometer 21 – Going Good
1000m (2) Zinnavar 58,68
1300m (1) Princess Salme 79,70
1400m (2) On The Side 84,78
1600m (1) Ice Style 98,26
2000m (1) Morning Light 122,38
2400m (1) Blue Door 152,55
