Successful Launch
Fairview 17th June: They raced on the poly track on Friday where the fastest of the three 1600m races was the novice plate won by the 3yo RAHVAR. Soon up handy, the son of Var put his head in front going through the 300m and kept on strongly in the latter stages of the race to beat the running on NORDIC WIND by a neck.
Surprisingly the faster of the two 1900m events on the card was the opening maiden plate won by INCADESCENCE. Sent off a strong favourite at 18/10, Dorrie Sham’s charge was always in touch with the leaders. He made his move rounding the home turn and already at the helm 400m out, he went on to win with authority by three and a quarter.
A pinnacle stakes over 1200m topped the bill and here the stable of Alan Greeff were on the mark when SPACE LAUNCH registered his fourth career victory. Having only his third outing since relocating to the Eastern Cape, the Jet Master gelding was soon positioned close to the speed. He took up the running as they approached the 300m marker and with the rest some three lengths adrift, he comfortably accounted for VILLA DEL LARGO by a length.
Titbits
The 5yo NIGHT DANCER ran on well from the rear when fourth beaten 1,1 lengths in the MR68 Handicap over 1600m.
REBEL RAIN was running on strongly from the rear when fifth beaten 1,6 lengths in the MR68 Handicap over 1900m.
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Hopping Clear
Greyville 17th June: They raced on both surfaces on Friday evening with the highlight being the Gr2 Post Merchants over 1200m on the turf. In what not surprisingly proved to be the fastest of the evening’s three races over the distance on turf, we saw a very impressive performance from the Gauteng raider KANGAROO JACK. Allowed to ease out to 14/1 from 9/1 at the track, the 3yo son of Querari was positioned in the rear as the twelve runners came off the bend. Once in the short home straight though he fairly flew, and won going away by three and three quarters after striking the front 150m from home.
A juvenile plate for the girls over 1200m had gotten proceedings underway and here we saw a very comfortable victory for the favourite SHE’S A GIVER. Soon up handy, the daughter of Philanthropist put her head in front as they approached the 200m pole and with some in hand won very cosily by a length and a quarter.
The faster of the two 1200m races on the poly track was the maiden plate in which the regular place getter DESTINED FOR DAWN finally got off the mark. Placed in no less than 21 of his previous 29 outings, the son of Lion Tamer led throughout. He was always clear and won without any anxious moments by three and three quarters.
Titbits
The best bet on the card for most, RIVARINE only had to be pushed out when winning the boy’s division of the juvenile plate over 1200m.
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Distance Had To Suit
Turffontein 18th June: Saturday’s action took place on the inner track where three of the nine races were staged over 1450m. Quickest home in these was AWESOME ADAM when registering his third career victory in the MR68 Apprentice Handicap. Nicely drawn in gate six, Michael Azzie’s charge was always handy. He was ridden to lead going through the 300m and won comfortably by a length and a quarter from the running on LISNOBLE.
They also ran three races over 1800m and stopping the clock in the fastest time here was the 33/1 shot STAVINSKY in the MR88 Handicap. Always one to run on stoutly from off the pace, the poorly drawn son of Stage Call raced in the backend of midfield for most of the journey. He ran on best of all when the field began to concertina early in the home straight and under a well-judged ride from Sherman Brown he got up late to deny the much more fancied ODD ROB.
At the other end of the scale the easiest victory on the card was recorded by DAHLIA’S ARROW when getting off the mark in the opening work rider’s maiden plate over 2600m. Sent off third in the betting market at 6/1, Gary Alexander’s charge was soon positioned close to the pace. She was asked to take it up shortly after coming off the strip and cruised clear over the final 450m to score by six.
Titbits
Racing in open company the 2yo TRIP QUEENS was flying at the finish when a two length third in the maiden plate over 1450m.
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Rodders – Just
Kenilworth 18th June: Off a penetrometer reading of 23 the going was initially posted as good, but with rain falling throughout the afternoon it was changed to Good to Soft. A maiden juvenile plate over 1000m got proceedings underway in Cape Town on Saturday and here we saw a comfortable victory for the well-supported 6/10 favourite OCEANS TRIP. Backed in from even money, Justin Snaith’s charge was soon positioned close to the speed. He put his head in front shortly after passing the 200m marker and comfortably accounted for the 50/1 newcomer POWER GRID.
In terms of distance, the easiest victory on the eight race program was recorded by IN THE JUNGLE when opening his account in the maiden plate over 2400m. The eight runners were well strung out turning for home and although Piet Steyn’s charge raced fifth he still had some eight lengths to find. The early effort took its toll on the leaders quickly in the straight though, and catapulted to the front 300m out, he went on to score with authority by three.
A pinnacle stakes over 1200m topped the bill and in what proved to be a real thriller victory here went to the fancied RODNEY. On leaving the stalls it was SEVEN WOOD who elected to make the running whilst Mike Bass’ charge raced handy in sixth. He was challenged strongly by the favourite SEARCH PARTY shortly after taking up the running 150m out and together from there onwards it was only by a short head that he got the verdict.
Titbits
Epona ran on well from midfield when getting off the mark in the maiden juvenile plate over 1600m.
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Top speedratings for this weekend include:-
Flamingo Park (mon)
Race 1: (7) Linda Honey 6 (NAP**)
Race 2: (4) Jewel Quest 8
Race 3: (7) Flying Peg 19
Race 4: (1) Scarlet Lady 10
Race 5: (14) Noble Virtue 52
Race 6: (6) October Eleventh 46
Race 7: (9) Sacred Countess 47
Race 8: (8) Cannes 45
Race 9: (14) Fiery Goddess 47
Vaal (tues)
Race 1: (2) British Royale 37
Race 2: (1) Time To Be Great 20
Race 3: (1) Air Force Legend 17 (NAP*)
Race 4: (14) Knysna Rose 25
Race 5: (16) Queen Of Arts 32
Race 6: (6) Just Africa 68
Race 7: (12) Bah 49
Race 8: (11) Matilda’s Daughter 38
Durbanville (wed)
Race 1: (3) Cape Horn 17
Race 2: (5) Sandy Bay 17
Race 3: (13) World In Union 15
Race 4: (1) Impressed 15
Race 5: (7) Connaught Hotel 50
Race 6: (13) Rebel’s Idol 34
Race 7: (8) Imperial Guard 53
Race 8: (8) Catside Slew 71
Vaal (thur)
Race 1: (5) Wrecking Ball 23
Race 2: (1) Diablo Canyon 16
Race 3: (11) September Bloom 10
Race 4: (6) Eversilver 14
Race 5: (3) Nation Builder 47
Race 6: (8) Man’s Inn 65
Race 7: (7) Gypsy’s Inn 41
Race 8: (11) Taegan’s Jet 51
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Top rated winners last week included
Amazing Var won 10/1
Winning Sister won 9/2
Legend won 4/1
Doctorow won 28/10
Cape Speed won 5/2
Charock won 12/10
Oceans Trip won 6/10
Rivarine won 9/20
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Notebook:-
Kangaroo Jack (G Alexander, KZN)
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FASTEST TIMES
The number of races run over each distance is shown in brackets
*Denotes – Times taken by Clockwatcher
Fairview (poly) 17th June
Going Standard
1000m (1) Portrait 57,90
1200m (1) Space Launch 69,64
1300m (1) Stratocruiser 75,39
1600m (3) Rahvar 96,46
1900m (2) Incadescence 116,95
Greyville (mixed) 17th June
Turf Good/Poly Standard
1000m (1) Tutta Magee 58,28P
1200m (3) Kangaroo Jack 69,78T
1200m (2) Destined For Dawn 70,87P
1400m (1) Abound West 83,68P
1600m (1) Nebula 97,68T
1600m (1) Breakfast Club 97,76P
Turffontein (inner) 18th June
Penetrometer 22 – Going Good
1000m (1) Macadamia 60,77
1450m (3) Awesome Adam 89,80
1600m (1) Ryder 100,35
1800m (3) Stavinsky 111,13
2600m (1) Dahlia’s Arrow 175,64
Kenilworth (old) 18th June
Penetrometer 23 – Going Good/G/Soft
1000m (1) Oceans Trip 59,34
1200m (2) Rodney 72,37
1600m (2) Studiolo 104,22
1800m (1) In Limine 120,08
2000m (1) Jeremy 133,04
2400m (1) In The Jungle 158,69
