Sand Specialist
Vaal 16th February: Thursday’s action took place on the sand where the easiest victory on the card was undoubtedly that of PROLAN in the opening maiden event over 1000m. Backed throughout the morning from 4/1 into 2’s, the lightly raced daughter of National Assembly moved through to take up the running going through halfway. She coasted clear with the least of effort from there onwards and with a ton in hand she cruised in by nine.
A conditions plate over 1600m topped the bill and here we saw another smart performance from the Sean Tarry trained MR TOBIN. Confidently ridden by regular partner Robbie Fradd, Mr Tobin raced fifth of the seven for most of the journey. Once given rein though, he soon began to make headway and after striking the front 300m from home, he drew clear easily in the closing stages of the race to score by four and a quarter. The 6yo Mr Tobin is now unbeaten in four starts on sand.
The biggest upset on the card was registered by the 5yo BOWNORE in the MR87 Handicap over 1200m. Freely available at 28/1 on the off, Leon Erasmus’ charge raced at the back early on and soon found himself many lengths adrift of the leaders. On reaching halfway though, the field quickly began to concertina and finishing best of all, he got up nicely late to win going away.
Titbits
Racing on sand for the first time here, the 3yo IKATI ran on stoutly from many lengths off the pace in the MR80 Handicap over 1000m and did well to get within a length and three quarters of the winner BLINGLE BELLS.
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A Merry Jig
Arlington 17th February: Since returning from a six month break in December the 6yo REFINED IN FIRE had been knocking at the door loudly and so it was nice to see him gain just reward for his efforts when registering his eighth career victory in the MR90 Handicap over 1800m. Always in touch with the leaders, Yvette Bremner’s charge made his move at the top of the short home straight. He finished best of all and in a race where only a neck covered the first four home, he got up in the very last stride.
The non-black type Breeders Guineas Plate over 1400m topped the bill and here we saw a smart performance from the improving IRISH MAID. Sent off second favourite at 3/1, Gavin Smith’s charge raced in the rear during the early part of the race. Once in the straight though, the daughter of Dynasty quickened best of all and under a well judged ride from Aldo Domeyer, she won going away after striking the front close home.
Another to win well on this card was HURRICANE KATRINA when doing the business for favourite backers in the MR90 affair over 1400m. Backed into 17/10 from 2/1 at the track, Justin Snaith’s charge was always handy. She was ridden to lead as they approached the 100m marker and comfortably accounted for MAIN MIRACLE by a length.
Titbits
The 12/10 favourite FAUSTINA ran on strongly to take fourth after being carried out 200m from home in the maiden event over 1600m.
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As Well As Ever
Greyville 17th February: A maiden juvenile plate over 1000m was first up on Friday evening and here we saw a smart debut performance from the Charles Laird trained INDABA MY CHILDREN (18). Always in the red, the son of Tale Of The Cat was soon positioned close to the speed. He took up the running as they approached the 200m marker and easily accounted for the well supported second favourite OTTIMO (5/2 into 15/10) by two and three quarters.
The best bet on the card for most was WINTER MISCHIEF (6/10 into 9/20) in the novice 1600m, but after being positioned with every chance turning for home, he failed to get in a blow. Victory instead went to the lightly raced 4yo CHISLER (49). Having only his second outing since returning from a thirteen month break here, the son of Requiem raced just behind the short priced favourite in fifth. He quickened nicely 400m from home and in what proved to be a real thriller, he got up in the dying strides to deny the rank outsider of the party FUNNY GLORY (40/1 out to 66/1).
The evening’s feature event was a MR86 Handicap over 1600m and in another tight finish victory here went to the 3yo TOP TALENT (38). Nibbled at into 15/2 from 10’s at the track, the lightly weighted daughter of Kahal raced fourth for most of the journey. She quickened well at the top of the straight and in a race where less than a length separated the first four home, she got up late to beat the free striding pacemaker SIX BLUE NOTES by a neck.
Titbits
Positioned in the backend of midfield after setting off from a very wide draw, the heavily supported newcomer SHOGUNNAR (10/1 into 33/10) ran on best of all when finishing runner up in the maiden 1400m.
Easy to back SON OF ORIMANDES ran on strongly late when second to Boeing Boeing in the MR74 Handicap over 1300m.
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Gutsy Galanthus
Turffontein 18th February: They raced on the inner track on Saturday where as expected victory in the opening maiden event over 1200m went to WYATT WEST (39). Placed in all thirteen of his previous outings, Alec Laird’s ultra consistent son of Way West was soon in touch with the leaders. He made his way to the front quickly in the short home straight and drew clear easily over the final 200m to score by three and three quarters. Wyatt West was unlucky enough to bump some good sorts in the maiden ranks and will probably pick up a second win much more quickly than he gained his first.
Race five on the card was a pinnacle stakes over 1800m and here we saw a very gutsy performance from the favourite GALANTHUS (90). Allowed to ease a little in the betting market (13/10 out to 17/10) as money came for both GLORIOUS JET (9/2 into 5/2) and TITANO (6/1 into 4/1), Galanthus went straight to the front. He was headed by Glorious Jet shortly after coming off the strip, but rallied gamely at the business end of the race and after regaining the lead 200m out he kept on gamely to hold off a determined challenge from KNOCK ON WOOD.
The non-black type Allez France Handicap topped the bill and here victory went to the uneasy favourite ATLANTIC OAK (77). On leaving the stalls it was one of the rank outsiders of the party OR ELS who elected to make the running whilst Mike De Kock’s charge raced close up in sixth. She quickened well early in the home straight and with the rest well beaten she got the better of the 3yo AVENUE OF GOLD by a half.
Titbits
9/20 favourite DANCE ALLEY won the maiden event over 1600m with plenty in hand.
Positioned at the back of the nine turning for home, the lesser fancied of St John Gray’s two runners SUPER TROOPER caught the eye running on nicely to take third in the pinnacle event won by Galanthus.
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Top speedratings for this weekend include:-
Flamingo Park Race 1: No Qualifiers Race 2: (4) Olimpic Flyer 7 Race 3: (9) Raren’s Classique 15 Race 4: (4) It’s Over Rover 13 Race 5: (11) Dance With Ryan 36 Race 6: (10) Man Of Letters 40 Race 7: (10) Good On You 72 Race 8: (3) Metro Man 39 Race 9: (5) Kermes Oak 48 Scottsville Race 1: (1) Manx Magic 11 (NAP*) Race 2: No Qualifiers Race 3: (2) Jamal 27 (EW) Race 4: (2) Music Pass 23 Race 5: (7) She’s A Dime 85 Race 6: (1) Langoustier 43 Race 7: (5) Trendline 85 Race 8: (1) Upity Ann 49 Race 9: (3) Live Controversy 56 Turffontein Race 1: (3) Favourite Daughter 13 Race 2: (4) Golden Veil 23 Race 3: (1) Roaming In Rome 25 Race 4: (1) Terra Marianna 14 Race 5: (9) Winter Cruise 61 Race 6: (1) Gold Site 69 Race 7: (6) Skinny Jeans 46 Race 8: (2) Lady Beatrix 55 Durbanville Race 1: (1) Koenigsegg 11 Race 2: (2) Oratius 15 (NAP*) Race 3: (1) Aconcagua 3 Race 4: (1) Princess Alberta 47 (EW) Race 5: (8) La Belle Helene 62 Race 6: (6) Red Eminence 43 Race 7: (3) Feel My Love 59 Race 8: (1) Eyeofthebeholder 11 Vaal Race 1: (2) Beautiful Dawn 10 Race 2: (3) Celtic King 19 Race 3: (11) Goldstream 60 Race 4: (4) Fair Rosalind 58 Race 5: (1) The Mouseketeer 76 (EW) Race 6: (7) Hotel Royale 54 (EW) Race 7: (9) Perrier-Jouet 38 Race 8: (11) The Fixer 53 Race 9: (1) The Club King 18
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Top rated winners last week included
Mass Destruction won 15/2 Amatol won 33/10 Calanish won 33/10 Irish Maid won 3/1 Slick Jet won 2/1 Wyatt West won 9/10 Mr Tobin won 13/20 Dance Alley won 9/20.
Notebook:-
Ikati (M De Kock, Gauteng) Mr Tobin (S Tarry, Gauteng) Super Trooper (St John Gray).
FASTEST TIMES
(Shown in brackets is the number of races run in each category)Vaal 16th February Fastest Sprint 1000-1300 (3) Prolan Fastest Middle 1400-1800 (5) Mr Tobin Fastest Long 1900-3600 (0) No Qualifiers
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Arlington 17th February Fastest Sprint 1000-1300 (1) Flying Hawk Fastest Middle 1400-1800 (6) Hurricane Katrina Fastest Long 1900-3600 (1) Flaming Dame.
Greyville 17th February Fastest Sprint 1000-1300 (2) Boeing Boeing Fastest Middle 1400-1800 (5) Chisler Fastest Long 1900-3600 (1) Denozzo.
Turffontein 18th February Fastest Sprint 1000-1300 (1) Wyatt West Fastest Middle 1400-1800 (6) Amatol Fastest Long 1900-3600 (2) Atlantic Oak