Magic Stuff
Turffontein 19th July: A work rider’s maiden plate over 1600m got proceedings underway on the old stand side track on Sunday and here victory went to the well-supported CONSIDER THE CAT (5/1 into 28/10). Backed into favouritism at the track, Sean Tarry’s charge was soon up handy. He was ridden to lead going through the 100m and just had enough in hand to hold off the running on newcomer (came from the rear) MR BALBOA.
Three of the afternoon’s eight races were run over 1160m and quickest home amongst these was HEYWOT in the MR68 Handicap. Another to leave the stalls at the top of the boards, the King Of Kings gelding also raced close to the speed. He took up the running as they approached the 200m marker and went on to score very cosily by three and a quarter.
The easiest victory on the card was recorded by LITTLE GENIE when blazing a trail to win the MR79 Handicap over 1000m. Very quickly three and a half lengths clear, Dominic Zaki’s charge kept up a healthy gallop throughout and cruised clear over the final 300m to score by seven and a quarter.
The fastest of the three 1800m races was the MR85 Handicap won by SCENT. Sent off second in the betting market at 4/1, Ormond Ferraris’ charge raced fourth for most of the journey. He put his head in front going through the 400m and comfortably accounted for the running on TAKUSHI by three quarters.
Titbits
The 3yo PENSTOCK was baulked for a run twice before getting up late to win the maiden plate over 2000m.
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Fastest Of Five
Greyville 21st July: Five of the nine races at the poly track on Tuesday afternoon were run over 1400m and the fastest of these was the MR70 Handicap won by the well-supported favourite CALL ME MAYBE. She got away well when the gates opened and taken straight to the front by Anton Marcus led throughout. She raced a length and a half clear coming off the bend and quickened well in the straight to score by four and a quarter.
Another to win with lengths to spare was DUCHESS KATE when opening her account in the lucky last, a maiden plate over 2000m. Allowed to ease at the track (evens out to 16/10) as money in the main came for the second favourite DELLAVERA (33/10 into 5/2), the daughter of Greys Inn adopted a change of tactics here and raced handy. She put her head in front going through the 300m and went on to score with authority by four and three quarters.
Favourite backers had also been on the mark in the opening maiden juvenile plate over 1400m when the best bet on the card for many EXIT HERE did the business. Always deep in the red, the son of Jay Peg was looking to make all. He was briefly headed by HOT CHILLI going through the 500m, but after regaining the lead 100m later he went on to win well by two and a half.
The girl’s division of the maiden juvenile 1400m was won by the Brett Crawford trained RED MOON AT NIGHT. Swiftly guided over from a wide draw by Sean Veale, the Western Cape visitor raced close up in second. She was ridden to lead early in the straight and won well by a length and a half from the strongly fancied CHRONOLOGICAL.
Titbits
The 6/1 shot LUCKY PACKET ran on from the back when fourth beaten 1,85 lengths in the MR70 Handicap over 1400m.
The veteran INDIAN CONNECTON was finishing best of all when runner up in the MR72 Apprentice Handicap.
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Progressing Nicely
Kenilworth 22nd July: The going was soft in Cape Town on Wednesday, but that didn’t stop the best bet on the card for most, LITTLE CHAPEL from doing the business in the maiden plate over 1600m. There was no real pace on early, but despite that the field soon became strung out. Little Chapel raced second and won comfortably after taking up the running 80m or so from home.
There were four races run over 1600m in total and the fastest of these (Little Chapel’s race was the slowest) was the MR78 Handicap won by THAT COWBOY KID. Always available at around 12/1, Brett Crawford’s charge made all. He kept on strongly at the business end of the race and comfortably accounted for the running on SHEPHERDS PURSE by a length and a quarter. The runner up came from the back and had to switch for a run 200m out.
The faster of the two 1000m events was the MR80 Handicap in which the 3yo CANDALEEYAH caused an upset. Freely available at 16/1 on the off, the recent maiden winner was soon up handy. She was ridden to lead as they approached the 100m pole and in a blanket finish she got the verdict by a neck.
Titbits
SAINT MARY and GUEST OF HONOUR both ran on strongly from the rear when 2nd & 3rd respectively in the MR68 Handicap over 1400m.
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More Promise
Vaal 23rd July: As is often the case at the sand track there were a number of easy victories on Thursday and none more so than that of BELLEVUE in the opening maiden plate over 1800m. Sent off a warm favourite at 18/10, Stanley Ferreira’s charge made all. She asserted her authority going through the 300m and with plenty in hand came home lonely by seven and three quarters. This race was run in a faster time than the only other 1800m event on the card, a MR68 Handicap.
The faster of the two 1600m races was the MR70 Handicap (the other was a MR87 Handicap) won by the BIG SHOT. Nibbled at into 4/1 from 6’s at the track, the recent maiden winner raced towards the rear for most of the journey. Once given rein though she quickened well and went on to score comfortably by four and a half after striking the front 200m out.
A pinnacle stakes over 1200m topped the bill and here we saw an eyecatching performance from the Mike De Kock trained CAPRICORN RIDGE. Disappointing since showing a lot of early promise, the 66/1 shot raced detached at the back early on, and was still a good ten lengths off the front running TRIP TEASE (reported coughing) going through the 400m. He ran on stoutly from there onwards though, and did very well indeed to score by two and a half.
Titbits
The 33/1 shot IMPERIAL EMPRESS ran on from the back when easily winning the MR68 Handicap over 1800m going away by four and three quarters.
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Top speedratings for this weekend include:-
Fairview (fri)
Race 1: (4) Hasty Kitten 3
Race 2: (1) Skrik For Niks 13
Race 3: (5) The Great Guru 10
Race 4: (7) Maximo 49
Race 5: (7) Silent Partner 92
Race 6: (2) Vanishing Sails 45
Race 7: (3) Stormy Ridge 64
Race 8: (9) Happy Lion 53
Greyville (sat)
Race 1: (13) Delicious Damowin 55
Race 2: (2) Grey Light 49
Race 3: (2) Grey’s A Rockin 8
Race 4: (10) All The Bids 75
Race 5: (2) Chestnuts N Pearls 37
Race 6: (3) Cutting Edge 47
Race 7: (11) Storm Warning 101
Race 8: (8) Punta Arenas 7
Race 9: (2) Jet Belle 90 (NAP*)
Race 10: (11) Mountain Master 92
Race 11: (6) Rocket Lady 50
Race 12: (9) Viva La Var 97
Turffontein (sat)
Race 1: (10) Sheik’s Diamond 16
Race 2: (13) Rain In Africa 12
Race 3: (10) Shot 6
Race 4: (1) Meissa 74
Race 5: (6) Bah 51
Race 6: (10) Shepherds Warning 61
Race 7: (11) Soft Sand 30
Race 8: (2) Main Sunday 30
Race 9: (2) Gladiatore 14
Greyville (sun)
Race 1: (1) Relish 26
Race 2: (1) Rock Of Belinda 20
Race 3: (1) Groovy News 23
Race 4: (1) Queen Delta 15
Race 5: (13) Mr Harry 53
Race 6: (11) Jamboree 42
Race 7: (10) Jolo 39
Race 8: (12) The Big League 53
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Top rated winners last week included
Delicious Damowin won 25/1
Heywot won 33/10
Penstock won 5/2
Noisette won 18/10
Little Chapel won 15/10
Usisi won 14/10
Lovar won 12/10
Exit Here won 13/20
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Notebook:-
Capricorn Ridge (M De Kock, Gauteng)
Little Genie (D Zaki, Gauteng)
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FASTEST TIMES
The number of races run over each distance is shown in brackets
*Denotes – Times taken by Clockwatcher
Turffontein (old) 19th July
Penetrometer 20 – Going Good
1000m (1) Little Genie 56,67
1160m (3) Heywot 66,89
1600m (1) Consider The Cat 99,74
1800m (3) Scent 122,61
Greyville (poly) 21st July
Going Standard
1200m (1) Delicious Damowin 69,85
1400m (5) Call Me Maybe 82,65
1800m (1) Dance Critic 110,63
2000m (2) Prince Of Arabia 124,22
Kenilworth (old) 22nd July
Penetrometer 29 Soft
1000m (2) Candaleeyah 61,86
1400m (1) Chrisaldame 88,73
1600m (4) That Cowboy Kid 100,64
2400m (1) Parachute Man 153,89
Vaal (sand) 23rd July
Going Standard
1000m (1) Usisi 61,98
1200m (1) Capricorn Ridge 76,24
1450m (2) Battle Born 94,91
1600m (2) Big Shot 104,48
1800m (2) Bellevue 116,45
