Five In A Row
Fairview 20th May: Racing in Port Elizabeth on Friday took place on the poly track where by far the fastest of the three 1000m races was the MR86 Handicap won by THAYER. Extending his winning sequence to five here, Alan Greeff’s charge was soon at the head of affairs. He was always in command, and with plenty in hand won by two and a quarter.
Quickest home in the three 1900m events was ZOO BISCUIT in the bill topping MR92 Handicap. A model of consistency, the Lateral gelding was soon positioned close to the speed. He put his head in front going through the 400m and comfortably accounted for the fancied OH SO MODUS by a length and a quarter.
The three remaining races were all staged over 1300m and stopping the clock in the fastest time here was the former Gauteng campaigner BUENOS AIRES. Freely available at 33/1 on the off, the son of Var raced in midfield for most of the journey. He quickened nicely at the top of the short home straight and went on to score going away by two in very good style.
Titbits
The 3yo RUBY DUCHESS ran on well from off the pace when getting up late to win the maiden plate for fillies and mares over 1900m.
Racing off a mark some 33 points lower than that of her former best, JUST LUCKY ran on well from midfield when getting up in the dying strides to win the MR62 Handicap over 1200m.
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Thrilling 1900
Greyville 20th May: Four of the eight races at Greyville on Friday evening took place over 1400m on the turf and by far the fastest of these was the pinnacle stakes in which the best rated runner in the field PATERFAMILIAS did the business. Nibbled at on course into 7/2 from 9/2, Mike Bass’ charge raced close up in fifth during the early part of the race. He made his move early in the straight and won going away by a length and three quarters after striking the front 100m from home.
The Gr2 Betting World 1900 (turf) topped the bill and in what proved to be a real thriller the Dean Kannemeyer trained SOLID SPEED registered his eighth career victory from just fifteen starts. In a race where the first six home all came from off the pace, the son of Dynasty ran on stoutly over the final 400m and just got the verdict over ST TROPEZ by a neck.
The supporting act was the listed East Coast Cup over 2000m (turf) and here victory went to the Neil Bruss trained DEPUTY RYDER. Allowed to ease out to 6/1 from 9/2 before the off, the Go Deputy filly was soon up handy. She was ridden to lead shortly after passing the 200m marker and only held on by the narrowest of margins from the running on GATHERING FAME (came from the rear).
Titbits
Easy to back ARGO’S JET was flying at the finish when only failing by the narrowest of margins to land the MR70 Apprentice Handicap over 1400m (poly).
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Afternoon Breeze
Turffontein 21st May: They raced on the inner track on Saturday afternoon and here we saw a very easy victory in the fastest of the three 1000m races, a maiden plate for the girls, for EVENING BREEZE. Making her debut here, Clinton Binda’s charge was taken straight to the front by Callan Murray and led throughout. She asserted her authority going through the 400m and with the rest some eleven lengths adrift she easily accounted for the 9/20 favourite FAVOUR’S PRIDE by four and a quarter.
The only other distance to stage more than one race was 1450m and the fastest of these two events was the pinnacle stakes won by PIVOTAL PERSUIT. On leaving the stalls it was TORO ROSSO who elected to make the running whilst Gary Alexander’s charge raced close up in second. He took up the running as they approached the 200m pole and comfortably accounted for the more fancied SILVER SCOOTER by two.
The listed Syringa Handicap over 1600m topped the bill and here it was nice to see the 3yo PERSIAN RUG find her form. Soon up handy, the daughter of Ideal World ran on strongly over the final 400m and in a thrilling three way finish she got the verdict by a neck over FLY PHILLIPPA (raced 5th – led 200m).
Titbits
Running on best of all, the 5yo JUDICIAL was gaining quickly at the finish when a 0,4 length fourth in the pinnacle stakes over 1800m.
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Full Of Fire
Kenilworth 21st May: For the first time this year racing took place on the old course at Kenilworth on Saturday where four of the afternoon’s eight races were run over 1400m. Stopping the clock in the fastest time amongst these was SHOUT when winning the MR72 Handicap. Positioned in the backend of midfield turning for home, the son of Trippi ran on best of all and won going away by two after striking the front 50m out.
The Gr3 Winter Classic over 1800m topped the bill and here we saw a smart performance from MARINARESCO. Priced up in the red after winning the Winter Guineas last time out, Mike Bass’ charge was always handy. He put his head in front going through the 200m and kept on strongly late to beat WHISKY BARON by a half.
The 3yo fillies contested the listed Stormsvlei Mile and here we saw another smart performance when the 2/1 favourite CAPTAIN’S FLAME registered her fourth career victory from just six starts. Taken straight to front by Aldo Domeyer, the daughter of Captain Al attempted to make all. The second favourite Goodtime Gal did briefly strike the front 300m out, but once headed the market leader found another gear and went on to win going away by a length and a quarter.
Titbits
ROCK ON WOOD was finishing best of all when only beaten half a length in the girl’s division of the maiden juvenile plate over 1400m.
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Top speedratings for this weekend include:-
Flamingo Park (mon)
Race 1: (2) Flying Peg 19
Race 2: (6) Speed Lightning 51
Race 3: (3) Stavinsky 55
Race 4: (2) Ashkenazi 7
Race 5: (9) Royal Master 52
Race 6: (4) Eviction 33
Race 7: (6) Legal Force 23
Race 8: (11) Gift Of Gold 26
Race 9: (2) Cannes 39
Kenilworth (tues)
Race 1: (14) Sunstrip 7
Race 2: (10) Lord Balmoral 21
Race 3: (1) Mega Secret 18
Race 4: (1) Prudence Prevails 17
Race 5: (5) Elusive Stars 52 (EW)
Race 6: (2) Ntombe 46
Race 7: (7) Kilrain 81
Race 8: (11) Magical Bet 64
Scottsville (wed)
Race 1: (6) Gio Ponti’s Legacy 13 (NAP*)
Race 2: (2) Anime 8
Race 3: (8) Burfi 20
Race 4: (4) Regardstobroadway 53
Race 5: (1) Humidor 63 (EW)
Race 6: (5) Miss Tee 47
Race 7: (11) Hanji 44
Race 8: (8) Captured In Amber 45
Race 9: (1) Overly Impressed 13
Vaal (thur)
Race 1: (1) Pride Of Barbados 4
Race 2: (1) Bold Rex 27
Race 3: (1) Mr Rambo 22
Race 4: (3) Hello Mah 12
Race 5: (1) Hidden Agenda 41 (NAP*)
Race 6: (12) Apple Crumble 58
Race 7: (7) Star Of Love 59
Race 8: (4) Go Fly A Kite 5
Race 9: (9) Tobesuretobesure 41
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Top rated winners last week included
Royal Life won 10/1
Deputy Ryder won 6/1
Bank The Cash won 3/1
Captain’s Flame won 2/1
Lady Linda won 2/1
Equator won 18/10
Brave Queen won 13/10
Carrie Bow Cay won 5/10
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Notebook:-
Buenos Aires (T Laing, E-Cape)
Captain’s Flame (A Nel, W-Cape)
Evening Breeze (C Binda, Gauteng)
Thayer (A Greeff, E-Cape)
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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) 20th May
Going Standard
1000m (3) Thayer 55,96
1300m (3) Buenos Aires 75,11
1900m (3) Zoo Biscuit 113,41
Greyville (mixed) 20th May
Turf Soft/Poly Standard
1400m (4) Paterfamilias 84,39T
1400m (1) Fantasy Art 83,35P
1900m (1) Solid Speed 115,31T
1900m (1) Lady Linda 118,70P
2000m (1) Deputy Ryder 126,43T
Turffontein (inner) 21st May
Penetrometer 23 – Going Good
1000m (3) Evening Breeze 58,16*
1450m (2) Pivotal Pursuit 87,99
1600m (1) Persian Rug 98,67
1800m (1) Alghadeer 110,97
2200m (1) Tricia Dupont 141,60
2600m (1) Equator 168,93
Kenilworth (old) 21st May
Penetrometer 21 – Going Good
1200m (1) Chevauchee 71,80
1400m (4) Shout 86,21
1600m (2) Captain’s Flame 98,93
1800m (1) Marinaresco 112,46
