Smart Double
Greyville 31st October: Four of the eight races on the poly track on Friday evening were run over 1600m and the fastest of these was the MR70 Handicap won by the well-supported favourite LEVEN POINT. Backed into 7/10 from even money at the track, Frank Robinson’s charge was always handy. He was ridden to lead as they approached the 200m marker and comfortably accounted for the running on PROF TIGER by two.
The stable of Frank Robinson were also on the mark in the next, a graduation plate over 1800m when the best bet on the card for most OLMA did the business. Always deep in the red (sent off 1/4) Olma was also soon positioned close to the speed. She took up the running going through the 300m and only having to be pushed out in the closing stages of the race, she cruised clear to score by four and a quarter.
The faster of the two 1200m events was the MR69 Apprentice Handicap won by AL CIBERANO. Taken straight to the front by Divan Neethling, the 4yo Al Miqdaam gelding led throughout. He was always clear and won without any anxious moments by two and a quarter.
Titbits
Poorly drawn ROYALSECURITYBABY flew up from the rear when winning the MR70 Handicap over 1200m going away.
After losing two lengths at the start, the newcomer VERGE (reported as racing green and coughing) ran on well from the rear when only beaten 1,15 lengths in the maiden plate over 1000m.
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Magic Majmu
Turffontein 1st November: They raced on the old stand side track at Turffontein on Saturday where not surprisingly the fastest of the four 1600m races was the Gr2 Charity Mile in which BEZANOVA registered his fourth career victory. Freely available at 18/1 on the off (op 8/1), The son of Bezrin was soon up handy. The in-form NO WORRIES was the first to make a move and ran on stoutly after striking the front 500m out. Bezanova steadily wore that one down at the business end of the race though and in what proved to be a real thriller he got up late to score by a neck. Third placed LOUIS THE KING ran on very well from the rear in this race.
The fastest of the four 1400m events was the Gr3 Starling stakes in which we saw a very smart performance from MAJMU. Well-supported at the track into 13/20 from even money, Mike De Kock’s charge raced in midfield for most of the journey. Once given rein though she quickened well and comfortably accounted for the progressive SIREN’S CALL by a length and three quarters.
Taking his tally of wins to eight from 12 in the listed Golden Loom Handicap over 1000m was the 4yo son of Trippi TRIP TEASE. Soon at the head of affairs Louis Goosen’s charge led throughout. BLAZING AL and DE VAR HYT were always in close attendance and after a thrilling three way tussle he got the verdict by a half.
The fastest of the three 1160m races was the MR72 Handicap in which the 3yo daughter of Trippi ZAMBEZI RIVER kept her unbeaten record in tact. Backed throughout the afternoon into 18/10 from 4/1, Sean Tarry’s charge sat in midfield during the early part of the race. She quickened well from halfway and beat the useful MITRAAD going away by a length.
Titbits
HARRY’S SON was baulked for a run twice when running on from a handy position to win the Gr3 Graham Beck Stakes over 1400m.
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Blue Is The Colour
Kenilworth 1st November: A maiden plate over 1200m got proceedings underway in Cape Town on Saturday and here victory went to the Dynasty gelding KILRAIN. Easy to back at 7/1 on the off, Mike Bass’ charge raced up with the pace throughout. He kept on strongly over the final 400m and held on to score by a half.
The faster of the two 1200m events was not surprisingly the MR72 Handicap won by the 4yo MISTER MATCHETT. On leaving the stalls it was the confirmed front runner ROBERTSON who elected to make the running whilst Darryl Hodgson’s charge was content to sit in midfield. THE JET also running on from midfield got first run and struck the front going through the 300m. Mister Matchett though finished best of all and won well by a length and a half after he in turn hit the front 150m out.
Three of the afternoon’s eight races were run over 1600m and the fastest of these was the MR78 Handicap won by the lightly raced BIANZINO. Allowed to ease on course out to 6/1 from 9/2, Justin Snaith’s charge raced in the rear for most of the journey. Once in the straight though he quickened well and under a well-judged ride from Richard Fourie he got up late to deny the front running SCORECARD.
A MR96 Handicap over 1800m topped the bill and here we saw a smart performance from HELDERBERG BLUE. Confidently ridden by Grant Van Niekerk, the son of Jet Master sat fifth of the seven early on. He cut through the field quickly when the race developed into a sprint early in the straight and cruised clear over the final 120m to score by a length and a quarter with plenty in hand.
Titbits
Lightly raced THREE BLUE CRANES didn’t find the clearest of passages when running on to take third position in the maiden plate over 1000m.
STAR OF PARIS was only beaten a neck when running on from the rear in the maiden 1400m.
The 7/10 favourite DYNASTIC only had to be pushed out with hands and heels when running on from the backend of midfield to open his account in the maiden 1600m.
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Top speedratings for this weekend include:-
Fairview (mon)
Race 1: (9) Sleepinseattle 14
Race 2: (2) Bois De Var 64
Race 3: (3) Kirkby Ninja 26
Race 4: (5) Seattle Lass 21
Race 5: (12) Ming Warrior 54
Race 6: (1) Vanishing Sails 32
Race 7: (2) Benedict 45
Race 8: (2) Shake And Bake 33
Vaal (tues)
Race 1: (16) Commentator 9
Race 2: (2) Carry On Alice 68 (NAP*)
Race 3: (9) Majestic Bay 20
Race 4: (11) Seventh Symphony 21
Race 5: (1) Crown Bearer 13
Race 6: (1) Wilhelmina 11
Race 7: (6) Rake’s Chestnut 98
Race 8: (12) Last Battle 54
Race 9: (14) Streak 22 (nb)
Kenilworth (wed)
Race 1: (1) Power To Please 17
Race 2: (1) Caseys Raine 17
Race 3: (3) Camara’s Park 7
Race 4: (10) Saint Donan 19 (nb)
Race 5: (5) Brave Leader 42
Race 6: (3) Nearctic Dancer 43
Race 7: (1) Dynamic 55 (NAP*)
Race 8: (6) Bold Var 46
Race 9: (7) Smiling Mistress 39
Vaal (thur)
Race 1: (6) Gaisce Gold 6
Race 2: (3) Blazing Al 67
Race 3: (1) Tough Tiger 2
Race 4: (12) Soviet Crackdown 5
Race 5: (5) King’s Consent 62
Race 6: (8) Nad’s Pride 50
Race 7: (5) Park Ridge 35
Race 8: (6) Breathless 39
Race 9: (6) Dawn Day 33
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Top rated winners last week included
Imperial Rose won 25/1
Priceless Gem won 10/1
American Storm won 11/2
Rich Girl won 9/2
Military Leader won 7/2
Se Agabor won 22/10
Dynastic won 7/10
Olma won 1/4
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Notebook:-
Louis The King (G Woodruff, Gauteng)
Majmu (M De Kock, Gauteng)
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FASTEST TIMES
The number of races run over each distance is shown in brackets
*Denotes – Times taken by Clockwatcher
Greyville (poly) 31st October
Going Standard
1000m (1) Across The Lake 58,52
1200m (2) Al Ciberano 70,10
1600m (4) Leven Point 95,48
1800m (1) Olma 112,31
Turffontein (old) 1st November
Penetrometer 21 – Going Good
1000m (1) Trip Tease 55,41
1160m (3) Zambezi River 66,45
1400m (4) Majmu 82,90
1600m (4) Bezanova 95,54
Kenilworth (old) 1st November
Penetrometer 21 – Going Good
1000m (1) Come Fly With Me 60,22*
1200m (2) Mister Matchett 73,12
1400m (1) Bountiful Harvest 90,21
1600m (3) Bianzino 98,92
1800m (1) Helderburg Blue 110,88
