That’s The Spirit
Scottsville 30th August: in terms of distance the easiest victory recorded in Pietermaritzburg on Sunday was the two and three quarter lengths recorded by PIONEER SPIRIT when landing the MR80 Handicap over 1950m. Not the quickest into stride, Gavin Van Zyl’s charge raced sixth of the nine for most of the journey. He put his head in front shortly after passing the 300m marker and won going away from the well-supported favourite DOWN UNDER (4/1 into 5/2).
A MR90 Handicap topped the bill and in what proved to be the faster of the two 1400m events ROYAL DENISE caused a major upset. Freely available at 25/1 in this seven runner contest, the Rock Of Gibraltar mare made all. She raced a length and a half clear for most of the journey and although the 12/10 favourite SABAHA ran on from sixth position to get within a half, she did look to have that one held at the wire.
Quickest home in the two 1600m races was the 3yo SYLVESTER THE CAT when winning the MR70 Handicap. Soon up handy, the Black Minnaloushe colt took up the running approaching the 200m pole and went on to score by two from the 66/1 shot BONSAI.
Titbits
The regular place getter GREY’S A ROCKIN ran on very well late when runner up in the maiden plate over 1950m.
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34 For 9
Flamingo Park 31st August: Three of the nine races in the Northern Cape on Monday were run over 1200m and the fastest home amongst these was BLACK PEPPER when registering his ninth career victory from just 34 starts in the pinnacle stakes. Sent off second favourite at 33/10, the son of Black Minnaloushe was soon up handy. He was ridden to lead going through the 300m and kept on strongly late to beat the friendless DEVON GOLD by three quarters. LA TOURELLE ran on well from midfield to fill third position in this race.
The faster of the two 1400m races was the MR72 Handicap in which the 33/10 favourite FIRST ANSWER ran out a very easy winner. Another to race close to the speed, Corrie Lensley’s charge took up the running 500m out and drew clear easily from there onwards to score by six and three quarters.
Another to win well in handicap company here was EVERCELL in the MR72 affair over 2200m. On leaving the stalls it was AVENUE who elected to make the running whilst the Kahal gelding raced just a length away in second. He put his head in front as they approached the 300m marker and with the rest some eleven lengths adrift he went on to beat the pacemaker by three and a quarter.
Titbits
Having only his second outing since relocating to the Northern Cape, STRICTLY BUSINESS made up many lengths from the rear in the straight when runner up in the maiden plate over 1200m.
Positioned 11th of 13 turning for home, ETHEMBA ran on strongly in the latter stages when third (beaten 1,4 lengths) in the MR62 Handicap over 1200m.
After making up many lengths from the rear over the final 400m, runner up CUPID’S GOLD would surely have won the MR62 Handicap over 1600m in another stride.
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Lighting Up The Maidens
Kenilworth 1st September: A maiden plate for 3yo’s was first up in Cape Town on Tuesday and here we saw a smart debut performance from the Trippi colt ILLUMINATOR. Freely available at 25/1 on the off, Glen Puller’s charge was a little slow into stride and as a result he raced in the rear early on. Once given rein though he fairly flew, and got up nicely late to beat the strongly fancied ARCTIC BLAST by a length and a quarter.
There were three races run over 1200m in total and the fastest of these was the MR80 Handicap in which the well weighted veteran ALBARAKAH completed a quick double. Nibbled at on course into 9/2 from 11/2, the son of Almushtarak also came from the rear. He ran on stoutly over the final 400m and under a well-judged ride from Greg Cheyne, he got up late.
The faster of the two 1600m events was the MR78 Handicap in which AIR CHIEF MARSHAL registered his second career victory. On leaving the stalls it was ARACHNE who elected to make the running whilst Mike Bass’ charge raced close up in second. Arachne kept on determinedly at the business end of the race and it was only 50m or so from home that Air Chief Marshal got his head in front. Perhaps a little unlucky in this race was the runner up VALERIO. He had to switch twice en-route from the rear, and gaining at the finish he went down by less than a half.
Titbits
At the back 350m from home, WINTER TRADE was running on strongly at the finish when third in the novice plate over 1200m.
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Hot Stuff
Scottsville 2nd September: All the rage to win the opening maiden plate over 1000m at Scottsville on Wednesday was the lightly raced 4yo AL WAHED and the son of Elusive Fort didn’t let down his supporters. The first of three odds on favourites to oblige, Duncan Howells’ charge made all. He led by just a half for most of the journey, but once given rein, he cruised clear to score by five and a half with a ton in hand. This was the fastest of the three 1000m races.
With a merit rating of 90 RIKITIKITANA always looked to be a good thing in the maiden event for 3yo’s over 1600m and so it proved to be. Deep in the red at 11/20 on the off Sean Tarry’s charge raced very unsettled in midfield early on. Once in the home straight though, the son of Toreador quickened well and drew clear easily to score by six and three quarters after striking the front 250m from home.
BIZJET was sent off a strong favourite to win what proved to be the faster of the two 1400m events, a MR66 Handicap, and he too did the business. Usually one to run on stoutly from off the pace, the 5yo son of Jet Master broke well here and was always handy. He took up the running shortly after passing the 300m marker and went on to score with a ton in hand by five and a half from the second favourite ICE RUN.
Titbits
Although never a threat to the easy winner WELL DRESSED (beaten 5,75 lengths), the poorly drawn runner up ZILLA (110/1) caught the eye running on strongly from the back.
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More Of A Massacre
Vaal 3rd September:
They raced on the sand on Thursday where the fastest of the three 1200m races was the MR68 Handicap won by CAPTAINS CUP. He went to the front early, but was headed by the well-supported FLEETFOOT MAC going through the 600m. He regained the lead 200m later and went on to win going away by six and a half.
Race five on the card was a MR74 Handicap over 1000m and here we saw a smart performance from the lightly raced 4yo THRUST. On leaving the stalls it was JUST AFRICA who elected to make the running whilst Paul Matchett’s charge raced close up in third. Just Africa kept on strongly all the way to the wire and did have the rest beaten. Thrust showed a nice turn of foot over the final 150m though and won in good style by 3,6 lengths going away.
Race seven on the card was a MR80 Handicap over 1600m and here we saw a smart performance from the even money favourite BATTLE IN SEATTLE. Always travelling well under champion jockey Gavin Lerena, the son of Sail From Seattle won without any anxious moments by four.
Titbits
The 4yo RUN FOR ROSES came from the rear when winning the maiden plate over 1200m going away.
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Top speedratings for this weekend include:-
Fairview (fri)
Race 1: (1) Boston Particle 12
Race 2: (2) Current Event 58
Race 3: (3) Patent Of Nobility 7
Race 4: (2) Fort Kalimenta 8
Race 5: (2) Arrow Heart 51
Race 6: (11) Samhaan 83
Race 7: (8) Happy Lion 55
Race 8: (2) Silent Rush 43
Greyville (fri)
Race 1: (8) Just Like Magic 29
Race 2: (1) Queen Of Thrones 17
Race 3: (2) Masked Girl 15
Race 4: (1) The Lonsdale 30
Race 5: (5) Rumbullion 35
Race 6: (6) Dream Bay 45
Race 7: (9) Jive Session 45
Race 8: (6) Taking Chances 67
Turffontein (sat)
Race 1: (2) In The Oven 11
Race 2: (1) Trip To Heaven 83 (NAP*)
Race 3: (1) Shepard One 70
Race 4: (4) In The Moment 11
Race 5: (6) Hawker Hurricane 61
Race 6: (9) Eau De Creole 45
Race 7: (3) S’il Vous Plait 84
Race 8: (5) Mitraad 79
Race 9: (6) Stonehenge 77
Race 10: (12) Dakiwe 67
Race 11: (5) Truly Evelyn 19
Durbanville (sat)
Race 1: (2) Valediction 6
Race 2: (1) Promicing Polly 60
Race 3: (9) Sandton Rocker 20
Race 4: (9) Robertson 45
Race 5: (9) Speedball 39
Race 6: (9) Count My Luck 53
Race 7: (7) Buffalo Trip 54
Race 8: (1) Mount Fugi 7
Scottsville (sun)
Race 1: (2) Dark Abbot 14
Race 2: (2) Miss Varlicious 62 (NAP**)
Race 3: (4) Simla 18
Race 4: (3) Honeysuckle Rose 5
Race 5: (12) Unbelievable Chad 27
Race 6: (1) Guiness 61
Race 7: (7) Top Command 49
Race 8: (11) Pearly King 40
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Top rated winners last week included
Georgeous Gaby won 5/1
Guy From Dubai won 5/1
Whatawondafulworld won 5/1
Commodore Al won 9/2
Roy’s Guardian won 4/1
Evercell won 5/2
Hard Day’s Night won 13/20
Rikitikitana won 11/20
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Notebook:-
Al Wahed (D Howells, KZN)
Illuminator (G Puller, W-Cape)
Rikitikitana (S Tarry, KZN)
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FASTEST TIMES
The number of races run over each distance is shown in brackets
*Denotes – Times taken by Clockwatcher
Scottsville (inside) 30th August
Penetrometer 23 – Going Good
1000m (1) Preamble 58,47
1200m (1) Whatawondafulworld 72,06
1400m (2) Royal Denise 84,78
1600m (2) Sylvester The Cat 97,77
1950m (2) Pioneer Spirit 121,05
Flamingo Park 31st August
Going Standard
1000m (1) A P Dancer 59,47
1200m (3) Black Pepper 72,75
1400m (2) First Answer 86,15
1600m (2) Lightbeam 102,22
2200m (1) Evercell 152,54
Kenilworth (old) 1st September
Penetrometer 28 – Going Soft
1200m (3) Albarakah 75,41
1400m (2) Georgeous Gaby 89,54
1600m (2) Air Chief Marshal 101,50
1800m (1) Can Cope 114,42
Scottsville (inside) 2nd September
Penetrometer 24 – Going G/Soft
1000m (3) Al Wahed 58,20
1400m (2) Bizjet 85,56
1600m (2) Rikitikitana 97,82
1950m (1) Rascality 123,77
Vaal (sand) 3rd September
Going Standard
1000m (1) Thrust 59,23
1200m (3) Captains Cup 74,71
1450m (1) Pride In Battle 92,23
1600m (2) Battle In Seattle 101,23
1800m (1) Guy From Dubai 115,38
