On The Navy
Turffontein 24th December: All eyes at Thursday afternoon’s stand side track meeting were on FRENCH NAVY in what proved to be the faster of the two 1600m events, a pinnacle stakes. Not surprisingly sent off at 5/10 as the weights were in his favour, Sean Tarry’s charge raced seventh of the nine for most of the journey. He quickened nicely after a little persuasion 300m out, and won well by a length and a quarter from the second favourite BEZANOVA.
Three of the afternoon’s eight races were run over 1400m and stopping the clock in the fastest time amongst these was EMBLEM KING in the boy’s maiden plate. Positioned in midfield during the early part of the race, Erico Verdonese’s charge came together with the perennial runner up GOLDEN MAN 150m out, and after a thrilling tussle he only got the verdict on the nod. Golden Man has now finished second in each of his last seven outings.
There was a major upset in the faster of the two 1000m races when MANX PARK registered his fourth career victory. Freely available at 25/1 on the off, Clinton Binda’s charge was soon up handy. He was ridden to lead as they approached the 100m marker and comfortably accounted for the always handy 1/4 favourite WISAAM by a length and three quarters.
Another upset was to be had when the veteran LAVISH GAL landed the MR72 Handicap over 1400m. Solid in the betting market at 20/1, the 7yo Makaarem mare ran on well from midfield and with the rest some five lengths adrift she got the better of the 2/1 second favourite DUKE NUKEM (reported coughing and making a respiratory noise) by a length and a quarter.
Titbits
BEACH COTTAGE ran on well from midfield when getting off the mark in the girl’s division of the maiden plate over 1400m.
.
With Some In Hand
Turffontein 26th December: Saturday’s action took place on the inner track where we saw a smart performance in the faster of the two 1450m events, a progress plate, from the 15/20 favourite ROMANY PRINCE. In the rear for most of the journey, Ormond Ferraris’ charge was ridden to lead shortly after passing the 300m pole and with plenty in hand won going away by three and a quarter.
Another to win with authority on this card was SAVE THE DAY in the fastest of the three 1200m races, a MR67 Handicap. Sent off a well-supported favourite to win the lucky last, Paul Peter’s charge was soon positioned close to the speed. She took up the running going through the 400m and won going away by five.
The 3yo MRS BADER won the faster of the opening two maiden plates over 1600m. Initially priced up as the 15/10 clear favourite (sent off 28/10jt2ndfav), Michael Azzie’s charge was always handy. She put her head in front as they approached the 300m marker and won well by a length.
The remaining two races were handicaps over 2000m and quickest home here was WITCHCRAFT in the MR65 affair. On leaving the stalls it was SUSQUEHANNA who elected to make the running whilst Sean Tarry’s charge sat fifth. The easy to back PEGGY JAY was the first to make a move and struck the front going through the 400m. Witchcraft was made to work hard from there onwards and with the rest well beaten it was only very late that she got her neck in front.
Titbits
Trying the mile for the first time, lightly raced STEBBINS ran on well from midfield when beaten less than half a length in the workrider’s maiden plate.
The 4yo RUN FOR REVELRY only had to be pushed out when completing a hat-trick in the MR80 Handicap over 2000m with some in hand.
.
Twas Written
Greyville 26th December: Saturday’s meeting was a mixed affair with six races being run on the turf and four on the poly. Three of the four races on the poly track were run over 1000m and the fastest of these was the MR78 Handicap won by BIG KING. Sent off a well-supported favourite at 18/10 (op 3/1), the Rebel King gelding was soon up handy. He was ridden to lead as they approached the 200m marker and went on to score with authority by two.
The Gr3 Christmas Handicap topped the bill and in what not surprisingly proved to be the fastest of the three 1600m turf races, victory here went to the Dean Kannemeyer trained IT IS WRITTEN. Freely available at 12/1 on the off, the 5yo son of Dynasty raced in midfield for most of the journey. He ran on strongly in the short home straight and comfortably accounted for the much more fancied STORMY ECLIPSE by a length and a quarter.
The only other distance to stage more than one race on the turf was 2400m and quickest home in the two of these was YOUR WORSHIP in the MR71 affair. Adopting a change of tactics here, Dennis Bosch’s charge raced from the front. He kept on determinedly over the final 300m and after a thrilling tussle with the 6yo BLAZE THE TRAIL he got the verdict by a half.
Titbits
The 3yo HOT CHILLI won the opening maiden plate over 1000m (poly) with authority by three.
Poorly drawn SILVER INSPIRATION came from the rear when winning the MR68 Handicap over 1600m (poly).
.
Top speedratings for this weekend include:-
Flamingo Park (mon)
Race 1: (1) Maya The Bee 4
Race 2: (5) Ayrton 8 (EW)
Race 3: (11) Glinka 35
Race 4: (3) Quid Rides 24
Race 5: (7) Bodega 38
Race 6: (7) Cool Kid 48
Race 7: (9) Night Editor 62
Race 8: (4) Boarding Call 54
Race 9: (7) Al Lunam 33
Vaal (tues)
Race 1: (14) Runalong 37
Race 2: (11) Spring Dance 13 (NAP*)
Race 3: (2) Minnesota 19
Race 4: (6) Velvet Verona 50
Race 5: (3) Silver Class 78
Race 6: (2) Heywot 57
Race 7: (13) Pacific G 46
Race 8: (17) Princess Pearl 46
Kenilworth (wed)
Race 1: (2) Kwando 19
Race 2: (4) Nutbush 20
Race 3: (2) Alexis 84
Race 4: (3) Fire Master 48
Race 5: (8) Lovar 32
Race 6: (10) Nebra 55
Race 7: (9) Repertoire 38
Race 8: (1) Playboy Buddy 10
Vaal (thur)
Race 1: (3) Fair Colour 9
Race 2: (1) Pipkin 10
Race 3: (5) Silver Class 79
Race 4: (4) Ultimate Survival 19
Race 5: (4) Revelaion 15
Race 6: (7) Raise The Red 69
Race 7: (9) Royal Master 58
Race 8: (7) Muskogee 39
Race 9: (8) Lady Justice 36
.
Top rated winners last week included
Caligari Carnival won 16/1
Samarra won 33/10
Mrs Bader won 28/10
Save The Day won 15/10
Romany Prince won 15/20
El Bombero won 13/20
Saarikh won 6/10
French Navy won 5/10
.
Notebook:-
French Navy (S Tarry, Gauteng)
Romany Prince (O Ferraris, Gauteng)
.
FASTEST TIMES
The number of races run over each distance is shown in brackets
*Denotes – Times taken by Clockwatcher
Turffontein (old) 24th December
Penetrometer 21 – Going Good
1000m (2) Manx Park 57,28
1160m (1) Samarra 69,12
1400m (3) Emblem King 86,70
1600m (2) French Navy 98,34
Turffontein (inner) 26th December
Penetrometer 20 – Going Good
1200m (3) Save The Day 72,56
1450m (2) Romany Prince 86,95
1600m (2) Mrs Bader 99,31
2000m (2) Witchcraft 125,23
Greyville (mixed) 26th December
Turf G/Soft – Poly Standard
1000m (3) Big King 57,16P
1600m (1) Silver Inspiration 96,65P
1600m (2) It Is Written 96,91T
1800m (1) Sounds Positive 112,59T
2000m (1) Caligari Carnival 129,33T
2400m (2) Your Worship 151,79T
