Marching On
Scottsville 9th October
Three of the eight races in Pietermaritzburg on Sunday were run over 1400m and stopping the clock in the fastest time amongst these was MONTE CHRISTO in the MR80 Handicap. Rewarded for consistency here, the top weighted Trippi gelding raced in midfield for most of the journey. He quickened well at the top of the straight and in what proved to be a real thriller he got up in the very last stride to deny the recent winner BIZJET.
The only other distance to stage more than one race was 1200m where the quicker of the two was the graduation plate won by BUFFALO SOLDIER. Always clear at the top of the betting boards, Charlie Laird’s charge also came from off them. He put his head in front shortly after passing the 200m marker and won going away from his stable companion TOP FORM by a length and a half.
A MR92 Handicap over 1000m topped the bill and here we saw a smart performance from the 18/10 favourite ELUSIVENCHANTMENT. Shouldering top weight of 63kg, the Elusive Fort filly was always handy. She was ridden to lead 400m out and comfortably accounted for the running on COSMIC BURST by two.
Titbits
Backed through all rates into 22/10 from 12/1, the newcomer KARATAGE won the maiden plate for 3yo fillies going away by two and a half.
Leagues Above
Flamingo Park 10th October
A pinnacle stakes over 1000m topped the bill in the Northern Cape on Monday and in what not surprisingly was the fastest of the three races over the distance, victory went to the Gr1 winner TALKTOTHESTARS. Always deep in the red, the top weight raced handy throughout. He only had to be pushed out at the business end of the race and won a lot more easily than the official winning margin of 0,4 lengths would suggest.
Prior to winning last time out, the 4yo JUSTASH had been a maiden for 22 starts. He won well in only his second start in Kimberley though, and he repeated the dose in the MR66 Handicap over 1200m here. Taken straight to the front by Musi Yeni, Corrie Lensley’s charge led throughout. He was always clear and won without any anxious moments by two.
The faster of the two 1400m races was the MR72 Handicap in which the top weight FORD COUNTRY caused an upset. Sent off as the rank outsider of the nine horse party at 50/1, the son of Ashaawes was always well positioned to strike. He did so going through the 300m and went on to score with authority by three and a quarter.
Titbits
The 3yo RISK ALL made all when winning the maiden plate for the girls over 1200m going away by six.
The 6yo DIESEL ENGINE was always clear when winning the MR64 Handicap going away by seven and three quarters.
Springing Into Action
Vaal 11th October
They raced on the classic track on Tuesday where victory in the fastest of the three 1200m races, a MR68 Handicap, went to the very lightly raced 5yo SPRING STEEL. Returning from a 7 month layoff here, Michael Azzie’s charge was soon positioned close to the speed. He put his head in front as they approached the 300m marker and won comfortably from the running on SLEEPINSEATTLE. The poorly drawn runner up came from the rear and was finishing strongly.
They also ran three races over 1600m and stopping the clock in the fastest time here was TRIP TO TROY when registering his second career victory in the MR68 Handicap. Another to race handy, the son of Trippi got the verdict by three quarters from the luckless TRIP TO PARADISE, and that despite being reported as not striding out, lame off fore.
The two remaining races were both staged over 1450m and quickest home here was TENDRE in the maiden plate over 1450m. He got away well when the gates opened and was soon prominent. He was asked to take up the running after just 650m and kept on strongly all the way to the wire to beat the consistent AIR FORCE LEGEND by a length and three quarters.
Titbits
Quickening well off a steady pace, PEP SQUAD won the maiden plate for fillies & mares over 1450m going away by a length and three quarters.
The 3yo BOLD REX came from the rear when winning the false paced MR84 Handicap going away.
Coming Or Going
Durbanville 12th October
For the second midweek meeting in a row the going was changed to good after the early races.
The faster of the two 1200m events on the seven race program was the MR76 Handicap won by the 6yo FAIRY MAKER. Backed into favouritism at the track, PEARL OYSTER BAY was the first to make a move and quickly went three clear after striking the front 450m out. With the rest well beaten though, the Goldkeeper mare ran on stoutly at the business end of the race and under a well-judged ride from Pierre Orffer she got up late to score by three quarters.
The faster of the two 1400m races was the MR80 Handicap in which we saw a gutsy performance from THE GREAT ONE. Taken straight to the front by Pierre Orffer (three winners on the day), the son of Nadeem led throughout. He kept on strongly over the final 400m and despite the efforts of the determined DANCER, he won well by three quarters.
They also ran two races over 1600m and quickest home here was LOUISIANA in the MR71 Handicap. Soon up handy, Brett Crawford’s charge took up the running early in the straight and went on to score with authority from MIXED EMOTIONS.
Titbits
Now a winner of four from five, QUINE showed a nice turn of foot late when winning the MR90 Handicap going away.
The 3yo STEP OUT ran on well from midfield when runner up in the maiden plate for the girls over 1400m.
In The Blood
Turffontein 13th October
Thursday’s action took place on the inner track where quickest home in the two 1200m events was MIGHTY MANZI in the MR74 Handicap. Racing off a mark some eighteen points below that of his former best here, the Windrush gelding was soon up handy. He was ridden to lead as they approached the 200m marker and with the rest well beaten he comfortably accounted for the lightly raced 5yo CAPTAINOFMYHEART by a length and three quarters.
The only other distance to stage more than one race was 1450m where ZEN MASTER was the quickest home. Freely available at 16/1 to win the MR68 Handicap, the 4yo son of Var raced close up in third for most of the journey. He ran on strongly below the distance and in a race where just three quarters of a length separated the first four home, he got the verdict over STREETWEAR.
A maiden plate for 3yo fillies over 1600m had opened up proceedings and here we saw a smart performance from the very nicely bred ORCHID ISLAND. Swiftly guided over from a wide draw by Anthony Delpech, Mike De Kock’s charge was always handy. She took up the running going through the 400m and cruised clear in the closing stages of the race to beat the consistent FISH RIVER CANYON by six and three quarters.
Titbits
After being headed 400m out, the front running COBY rallied gamely in the closing stages of the pinnacle stakes over 2600m, and got back up late to score by a length and a quarter.
Top speedratings for this weekend include:-
Fairview (fri)
Race 1: (2) Shady World 13
Race 2: (7) Netherby Hall 28
Race 3: (6) All The Bids 67
Race 4: (9) Angelus Bell 61
Race 5: (5) Golden Crisp 40 (EW)
Race 6: (10) Muskets ‘n Roses 39
Race 7: (7) Fire Horse 46
Race 8: (16) The Night Away 44
Greyville (fri)
Race 1: (6) Starsky 24
Race 2: (3) Back In Town 10
Race 3: (4) Under The Rose 16
Race 4: (6) Mission Rapids 60
Race 5: (8) Variety Romp 35
Race 6: (3) La Di Var 30
Race 7: (9) Wandie’s 54
Race 8: (1) Secret Success 30
Turffontein (sat)
Race 1: (1) Vogue’s Wood 12
Race 2: (5) Negroamaro 83
Race 3: (2) Master’s Spirit 71
Race 4: (9) Racethegreenlight 26
Race 5: (5) Seattle Lady 65
Race 6: (5) Sweet Lady Jade 51
Race 7: (5) Bold Viking 58
Race 8: (10) Front Rank 87
Race 9: (11) Consequentially 46
Race 10: (13) Arabian Bay 44
Kenilworth (sat)
Race 1: (1) Glorious Goodwood 18
Race 2: (3) Mount Keith 20
Race 3: (6) Champery 86
Race 4: (1) Royal Ginger 22
Race 5: (8) Tiger Tiger 92
Race 6: (11) Russian Speed 50
Race 7: (6) Wafiqah 52
Race 8: (5) Three Balloons 92 (NAP*)
Race 9: (10) Boomtown Belter 41
Scottsville (sun)
Race 1: (4) Rand Hedge 35
Race 2: (1) Power Horse 20
Race 3: (7) Napoli 58
Race 4: (2) Courageous King 15
Race 5: (15) Gallic Fire 38
Race 6: (2) Captain Ellio 45
Race 7: (7) Stolen Destiny 83
Race 8: (5) Peach Delight 60
Race 9: (12) Fully Charged 44
Top rated winners last week included
Premier Chance won 12/1
Scotland won 12/1
Fairy Maker won 10/1
Sanshia’s Rock won 9/1
Open Heir won 4/1
Moulina won 33/10
Edgbaston won 3/4
Comme-Ci-Comme-Ca won 6/10
Notebook:-
Orchid Island (M De Kock, Gauteng)
Pep Squad (JJ Van Vuuren, Gauteng)
Quine (A Nel, W-Cape)
FASTEST TIMES
The number of races run over each distance is shown in brackets
*Denotes – Times taken by Clockwatcher
Scottsville (inside) 9 October
Penetrometer 23 – Going Good
Course Variant: 0,08s slow
1000m (1) Elusivenchantment 56,71
1200m (2) Buffalo Soldier 68,52
1400m (3) Monte Christo 83,69*
1950m (1) Open Heir 119,55
2400m (1) Sabre Charge 151,01
Flamingo Park 10 October
Going Standard
Course Variant: 0,29s slow
1000m (3) Talktothestars 57,69
1200m (2) Justash 73,02*
1400m (2) Ford Country 87,18
1600m (1) Diesel Engine 100,10
1800m (1) Premier Chance 113,97
Vaal (classic) 11 October
Penetrometer 21 – Going Good
Course Variant: 0,42s fast
1200m (3) Spring Steel 69,61
1450m (2) Tendre 86,95
1600m (3) Trip To Troy 96,08
Durbanville 12 October
Penetrometer 27 – Soft changed to good
Course Variant: 0,10s slow
1000m (1) Moulina 60,50
1200m (2) Fairy Maker 72,11
1400m (2) The Great One 85,22
1600m (2) Louisiana 97,85
Turffontein (inner) 13 October
Penetrometer 20 – Going Good
Course Variant: 0,53s slow
1000m (1) Modjadi 58,38
1200m (2) Mighty Manzi 73,01
1450m (2) Zen Master 89,54
1600m (1) Orchid Island 99,49
1800m (1) Scotland 112,46
2600m (1) Coby 168,14
