Borrowdale Park 21st November
Winning With Authority
The easiest victory in the maiden ranks across the Limpopo on Sunday was undoubtedly that of CAD’S ALLEY (6) who came home smoking in the lucky last over 1200m. Making his debut here, Lisa Harris’s charge was soon prominent. He was ridden to lead shortly after passing halfway and drew clear easily in the closing stages of the race to beat the well tried OLYA by six.
The unbeaten ROCK PORT (48) was priced up as if unbeatable to win the graduation event over 1600m and he didn’t let down his supporters. Rock solid in the betting market at 1/5, the son Kitalpha was content to amble along towards the rear during the early part of the race. Once given rein though, he quickened well and after striking the front at the 300m market, he easily drew clear. Rock Port has now won all three of his racecourse appearances to date with authority and is clearly very useful.
The afternoon’s feature event was the Z.N.A Charity Handicap over 1800m and here victory went to the former South African campaigner SPLENDID TAMBUR (51). Now a winner of both starts since crossing the border, Splendid Tambur was taken straight to the front by Dewy Williams and led throughout. He was three lengths clear for most of the journey and although the highly regarded FLASHING NUMBERS did make some headway over the final 300m, he went on to score easing down by three quarters.
Flamingo Park 22nd November
All Over SA
The best bet on the card for most in the Northern Cape on Monday was BATTLE FIELD GLORY (9) in the maiden event over 2200m and he didn’t let down his supporters. He got away well when the gates opened and soon up handy raced prominent throughout. He was ridden to lead as they approached the 300m marker and drew clear easily in the closing stages to beat TUCANA by five and a half.
The afternoons’ feature event was a Pinnacle Stakes over 1600m and here a bit of an upset was to be had when the easy to back EYE OF THE WORLD (52) landed the spoils. Freely available at 12/1 on the off, the former Eastern Cape campaigner raced in midfield during the early part of the race. He quickened nicely in the straight and after striking the front 250m from home, he comfortably accounted for the favourite WATER JET by a length and a quarter.
A Pinnacle Stakes over 1200m was next up and here it was nice to see the 6yo MILLWOOD CLASSIC (58) back in the winner’s enclosure. Having only his third start since relocating from Natal, Cornelius Lensley’s charge was drawn wide, but despite that he was soon up handy. Both MR RAWLING and in particular NIGELLA ran on stoutly over the final 400m and in what proved to be a thrilling finish between the three of them, it was only by the narrowest of margins that Millwood Classic prevailed.
Vaal 23rd November
Topsy Turvy
Tuesday’s action took place on the sand where the easiest victory on the card was recorded by KENTUCKY EXPRESS (73) in the afternoons’ feature event, an allowance plate over 1000m. Always prominent in what was a tightly bunched field early on, Mike De Kock’s charge was asked to take up the running passing the 400m pole. He quickly went clear and despite the efforts of the chasing HURRICANE FORCE, he cruised in by six and a quarter. Kentucky Express won well after a short spell of lameness and clearly has more to come.
A MR92 Handicap for the girls over 1000m was next up and here we saw a nice performance from the Windrush filly STRATISFACTION (59). Nibbled at on course to go off a joint second favourite at 7/2, Bradley Maroun’s charge raced prominent throughout. She was ridden to lead shortly after passing the 200m marker and kept on strongly in the closing stages of the race to beat the running on REBECCA SHARP by a half.
Race five on the card was a MR87 Handicap over 1600m and in what proved to be a bit of a topsy turvy race, victory here went to the easy to back SONIC GANG (60) Freely available at 9/1 on the off, the son of Astor Place raced very many lengths off the leaders at the back for most of the journey. Once in the long home straight though, the early leaders soon began to come under pressure and as the field began to concertina, those racing off the pace were quickly thrust into contention. STAR OF DESTINY hit the front 400m out and soon going three lengths clear, the 7yo looked to have the race at his mercy. Sonic Gang though finished best of all and as Star Of Destiny in turn began to run out of steam close home, Sonic Gang got up nicely late to score by three quarters.
The final event on the card was a MR68 Handicap over 1450m and here victory went to the 5yo KING’S DESINY (39). On leaving the stalls it was the friendless SICILIANO (5/1 out to 14/1) who elected to set the pace whilst King’s Destiny was content to race in midfield. Just as in the race won by Sonic Gang though, the early effort took it’s toll on the leaders in the long home straight and running on best of all King’s Destiny hit the front 200m out.
Kenilworth 24th November
Under Sufferance
The Western Winter filly MAXIXE was the best bet on the card for many in Cape Town on Wednesday and she didn’t let down her supporters. Sent off a very well supported favourite at 6/10, Joey Ramsden’s charge was always handy. She was ridden to lead shortly after passing the 300m marker and kept up to her work under a typically determined ride from the talented Bernard Fayd’Herbe, she went on to score by three quarters from the running on NOR’WESTER. One to look out for next time from this race is the newcomer APPROACH ME who finished third. Yogis Govender’s charge raced at the back and without being given a hard ride over the final 200m, she did very well indeed to get within a length and three quarters of the winner.
A maiden event over 1600m was next up and here we saw a smart performance from POLAR BOUND. On leaving the stalls it was the rank outsider of the sixteen horse party PETRADI (100/1) who elected to set the pace, whilst Brett Crawford’s charge raced close up in fifth. He was ridden to lead shortly after passing the 400m marker and after quickly going clear, he comfortably accounted for his fellow joint favourite BAD WINTER by three. Polar Bound won well and is clearly one to keep tabs on.
The listed Durbanville Cup run over 3200m topped the bill and here an upset was to be had when GREY COSSACK registered only his second career victory. In under sufferance by some 6,5kg here, Grey Cossack was always in touch with the leaders. He had moved up to third on entering the straight and running on stoutly at the business end of the race, he went on to beat the veteran SUDDEN STORM fair and square.
Vaal 25th November
Speedy Legislature
The first favourite to arrive at Thursday’s turf meeting was MONEY GRUBBER (31) who did the business in the second race on the card, a maiden event over 1400m. Always deep in the red, Gavin Van Zyl’s charge raced prominent throughout. He ran on stoutly at the business end of the race and with the rest some 6,5 lengths in arrears, he went on to beat a determined CROWN HEIGHTS by three quarters. Money Grubber won well despite being reported as lame on the off hind and can only improve once over his problems.
Also worthy of note in the maiden ranks here was the performance of the Tamburlaine filly OLYMPIC AFFAIR (37) who opened her account in the 1400m event. Freely available at 11/1 at the off, Geoff Woodruff’s charge raced in midfield during the early part of the race. On passing halfway though, the field rapidly began to concertina and then one of nine runners within 2,5 lengths of the winner going through the 400m, Olympic Affair was quickly thrust into contention. She hit the front 100m later and went on to score very comfortably by two and a quarter.
A Graduation Plate over 1200m was next up and here we saw a smart performance from the Michael Azzie trained LEGISLATURE (67). Deposed at the top of the boards as money came in buckets for the Sean Tarry trained GIVE ME FIVE (5/1 into 17/10), Legislature was taken straight to the front by Jimmy Van Der Merwe and led throughout. He quickened well over the final 400m and extended his lead from a length to three and a half before crossing the line.
Top speedratings for this weekend include:-
Arlington
Race 1: (16) High Mass 8
Race 2: (6) Miss Delish 12 (EW)
Race 3: (7) Fringe Benefit 60
Race 4: (9) Hail The Duke 81
Race 5: (11) Rocky Beach 56
Race 6: (5) French Pearl 80
Race 7: (5) Bandol 94
Race 8: (2) Icemberg 66
Greyville
Race 1: (7) Victory Beat 11
Race 2: (1) Detectorist 12
Race 3: (1) Federer 18
Race 4: (6) Marsh Gas 19 (NAP*)
Race 5: (14) Nadal 48
Race 6: (11) Royal Hero 60
Race 7: (6) Eliza Maria 80 (EW)
Race 8: (16) Premiere Night 16
Turffontein
Race 1: (1) Harry Hall 11
Race 2: (6) Best In The West 13
Race 3: (10) Crown Heights 37
Race 4: (13) Single Minded 66
Race 5: (10) Frozen Fire 94
Race 6: (5) Tender Twilight 66
Race 7: (6) Apple Princess 86
Race 8: (5) Precedent 92
Race 9: (1) Variety 52
Kenilworth
Race 1: No Qualifiers
Race 2: No Qualifiers
Race 3: (1) Cypress Point 21
Race 4: (5) Lucky Moon 87
Race 5: (12) Urbane Knight 66
Race 6: (1) Warm White Night 99
Race 7: (1) On Her Toes 76
Race 8: (1) Ebony Flyer 73 (NAP*)
Race 9: (6) Cause To Believe 14
Scottsville
Race 1: No Qualifiers
Race 2: No Qualifiers
Race 3: (3) Two Tone Rocka 4
Race 4: (4) Spanish Journal 20
Race 5: (5) Silver Lord 1
Race 6: (4) Take Over Target 74
Race 7: (8) Friday Lunch Club 78
Race 8: (12) First ‘n Fast 78 (EW)
Race 9: (8) Dare To Be Grand 13 (NAP*)
Top rated winners last week included:-
Lindenburg won 10/1
In Like Flynn won 7/2
Mary Hinge won 2/1
What A Winter won 18/10
Polar Bound won 16/10
Dynastic Rule won 15/10
Knock On Wood won 8/10
Al Caruso won 11/20
Notebook:-
Approach Me (Y Govender, W-Cape)
Legislature (M Azzie, Gauteng)
Polar Bound (B Crawford, W-Cape)
Rock Port (K Swanson, Zimbabwe)
FASTEST TIMES
(Shown in brackets is the number of races run in each category)
Borrowdale Park 21st November
Fastest Sprint 1000-1300 (3) Soho Lady
Fastest Middle 1400-1800 (4) Rock Port
Fastest Long 1900-3600 (0) No Qualifiers
Flamingo Park 22nd November
Fastest Sprint 1000-1300 (4) Little Miss Casey
Fastest Middle 1400-1800 (4) Staying Alive
Fastest Long 1900-3600 (1) Battle Field Glory
Vaal 23rd November
Fastest Sprint 1000-1300 (3) Stratisfaction
Fastest Middle 1400-1800 (5) Calanish
Fastest Long 1900-3600 (0) No Qualifiers
Kenilworth 24th November
Fastest Sprint 1000-1300 (2) Captain Thriller
Fastest Middle 1400-1800 (5) Posh Josh
Fastest Long 1900-3600 (1) Grey Cossack
Vaal 25th November
Fastest Sprint 1000-1300 (3) Legislature
Fastest Middle 1400-1800 (5) Money Grubber
Fastest Long 1900-3600 (1) Tommy Brock
