Little Between Them
Turffontein 23rd June: They raced on the inner track on Sunday where just a fifth of a second separated the winners of the three 1450m events. The MR71 Handicap was the fastest of these and here the Pathfork filly PROMISE gained her third career victory. Taken straight to the front by Warren Kennedy, Promise led throughout. She kept on strongly at the business end of the race to beat the running on MARCH TO GLORY by a length.
The MR92 Handicap was not surprisingly much the faster of the two 1000m races and here the former Cape Town campaigner SINGFONICO opened his account in the province. Now a winner of 4 from 26 the Bezrin gelding sat seventh of the twelve for most of the journey. He ran on strongly over the final 400m and won well by a length from the easy to back LIFE IS GOOD.
The bill topping MR94 Handicap was by far the faster of the two 1600m races and here it was nice to see the 3yo GIFT FOR THE GAP gain just reward for his consistency. Sent off third in the betting market at 4/1, Tyrone Zackey’s charge raced in the rear during the early part of the race. He ran on best of all in the short home straight, and won going away by a length and three quarters after striking the front150m from home.
Titbits
Racing off a mark some 30 points lower than that of his earlier best, ROYAL HONOUR ran on well from the backend of midfield when winning the MR68 Handicap over 1800m going away.
Weighted To Deceive
Kenilworth 25th June: Just 2/100th of a second separated the winners of the two handicaps over 1100m in Cape Town on Tuesday with the quicker being the lower graded of the pair, the MR79 Handicap won by JEPHTHAH. Freely available at 22/1 on the off, Vaughan Marshall’s charge came from the backend of midfield. He ran on best of all from halfway and comfortably accounted for the much more fancied NATURALIST by a length and a quarter.
Three of the afternoon’s eight races were staged over 1200m and stopping the clock in the fastest of these was MACTHIEF in the MR79 Handicap. Sent off a well-supported favourite at 3/1, Brett Crawford’s charge also came from well off the pace. He quickened well when given rein, and under a well-judged ride from Corne Orffer he got up late to beat the always handy DESTRUCTION BOY. Although never a threat to the winner, third placed IT’S COMPLEX (a newcomer) also finished well in this race.
The only two races beyond sprint distances on the card were 1400m events. The MR75 Handicap for the girls was the quicker of these and here victory went to the well weighted HAMMIE’S FAN. Technically in under sufferance by 3 points, this was negated by apprentice Mbhele’s allowance, and racing off a mark some 14 points below that of her best, she was clearly weighted to deceive. Nicely drawn in gate two, Piet Steyn’s charge got away well when the gates opened and was soon up handy. She was ridden to lead as they approached the 300m marker and after quickly skipping clear she won well by two and a quarter.
Titbits
Detached at the rear early on, the Dean Kannemeyer trained newcomer BENICARLO ran on strongly over the final 400m when a 1,25 length runner up in the opening maiden juvenile plate over 1000m.
Collecting Scalps
Greyville 26th June: Four of the eight races on the poly track on Wednesday were run over 1400m and stopping the clock in the fastest time amongst these was OLOYE in the MR62 Handicap. Taken straight to the front by apprentice Gates, the Tiger Ridge filly led throughout. She kept on strongly at the business end of the race and comfortably accounted for the running on MAKHET by two and a quarter.
A MR90 Handicap over 2000m topped the bill and here victory went to the Gauteng raider AMERICAN INDIAN. Content to sit fourth of the six, Stuart Pettigrew’s charge was ridden to lead 300m out. The favourite SILVA’S BULLET ran on strongly in the straight, but he did have that one held by 1,9 lengths at the wire.
A maiden juvenile plate over 1000m had opened up proceedings and here we saw a smart performance from the Skitt Skizzle colt LAGACIO. Sent off a well-supported favourite at 11/10, Glen Kotzen’s charge was soon positioned close to the speed. He took command shortly after passing the 300m marker and went on to win with authority by two and a half.
Titbits
In touch throughout, JACK’S BIRD had the rest over 6 lengths adrift when getting the better of the heavily supported odds on favourite POINT OF SALE by a length and three quarters in the maiden plate for the girls over 1400m.
4 Wins & 3 Seconds
Vaal 27th June: Thursday’s action took place on the classic track where the faster of the two 1000m races on the card was the MR74 Handicap won by the former Cape Town campaigner WHAT A RED. Having her first outing for trainer Barend Botes, this 3yo daughter of What A Winter wasn’t the quickest into stride, but despite that was soon up handy. She put her head in front going through the 400m and won going away by four and a quarter.
An Assessment Plate over 1200m topped the bill and in what not surprisingly proved to be the faster of the two races over the distance, the talking horse BIG BLUE MARBLE put up a smart performance. Taken straight to the front by Warren Kennedy, Paul Peter’s charge led throughout. He was always in command and without any anxious moments he comfortably accounted for the form horse CROWN GUARDIAN. In form trainer Paul Peter saddled four winners on the day, three runners up, and only 3 of his 12 runners missed the quartet.
The only other distance to stage more than one race was 1600m where the faster of the two was the MR66 Handicap won by JAGESA JAGESA. Easy to back at 12/1 on the off the lightly weighted Byword gelding raced in the rear early on. He ran on stoutly over the final 500m and under a well-judged ride from Chase Maujean he got up late to deny TRIPPLE Z.
Titbits
Lightly raced BLUE SPARK was flying at the finish when only beaten a neck in the opening maiden juvenile plate over 1450m.
Made To Work
Fairview 28th June: This meeting was originally scheduled to take place on the turf. The listed East Cape Breeders Stakes over 1200m topped the bill on Friday and in what proved comfortably to be the fastest race on the card, the visiting JUNIPER SPRING landed the odds. Sent off a strong favourite at 12/10, Justin Snaith’s charge was soon positioned close to the speed. She put her head in front early in the short home straight and looked to be running out an easy winner at that stage. The local fancy CARLITA ran on stoutly in the closing stages of the race though, and made to give her all below the distance Juniper Spring only got the verdict by the narrowest of margins.
The maiden plate was the faster of the two 1000m events that opened up the meeting and here victory went to the Yvette Bremner trained newcomer SELF ASSURED. Well-supported to go off a marginal favourite, the Captain Of All colt raced second early on. He assumed command going through the 400m and won going away by three and three quarters.
They also ran two races over 1300m (originally scheduled for 1400m) and stopping the clock in marginally the faster time in these was MASTERFUL in the MR65 Handicap. Sent off second in the betting market at 5/1, Gavin Smith’s charge raced in the rear during the early part of the race. Once given rein though, he ran on best of all, and in what proved to be a real thriller he got up late to deny the front running ELUSIVE DIVA.
Titbits
Always handy, ALASKAN FATE won the maiden plate for the girls over 1200m going away by three and a quarter.
Top speedratings for this weekend include:-
Fairview (fri)
Race 1: (4) Great Achievement 30
Race 2: (1) Captain Anne Bonny 31
Race 3: (7) Mistress Of Means 24
Race 4: (1) Cradleofgratitude 12 (NAP*)
Race 5: (7) Convention 16
Race 6: (8) Adalfieri 51
Race 7: (9) Di Me 56
Race 8: (13) Pacifista 45
Race 9: (4) Zalika 37
Greyville (sat)
Race 1: (7) Made In Hollywood 60
Race 2: (2) Attenborough 84
Race 3: (6) Captain And Master 92
Race 4: (8) Sunshine Silk 90
Race 5: (1) Cavivar 52
Race 6: (5) Eden Roc 49
Race 7: (4) Hawwaam 113
Race 8: (12) Captain Of Tortuga 93
Race 9: (10) Celtic Sea 91
Race 10: (9) Brandina 46
Race 11: (3) Desolate Road 81
Race 12: (8) Red Shift 64
Turffontein (sat)
Race 1: (9) Magic School 24 (NAP*)
Race 2: (9) Bouncing Tigger 27
Race 3: (6) Escape To Victory 26
Race 4: (13) Eightfolds Lass 44
Race 5: (12) Ration My Passion 42
Race 6: (6) Flame Fella 43
Race 7: (4) Hawwaam 113
Race 8: (1) Running Brave 62
Race 9: (7) Alex The Great 46
Turffontein (sun)
Race 1: (2) Alramz 46
Race 2: (6) Palace Of Dreams 32
Race 3: (1) Baron Rodney 16
Race 4: (3) Trip To Heaven 92
Race 5: (2) Banner Hill 68
Race 6: (5) Soldier On 88
Race 7: (5) Twelve Oaks 55
Race 8: (11) Snow Palace 29 (NAP*)
Top rated winners last week included
Missibaba won 40/1
African Victory won 8/1
Dons Assembly won 15/2
Promise won 123/20
Oh So Cold won 77/20
Steak And Ale won 15/4
Alaskan Fate won 18/10
Juniper Spring won 12/10
Notebook:-
Big Blue Marble (P Peter, Gauteng)
Blue Spark (A Laird, Gauteng)
Self Assured (Y Bremner, E-Cape)
FASTEST TIMES
The number of races run over each distance is shown in brackets
*Denotes – Times taken by Clockwatcher
Turffontein (inner) 23rd June
Penetrometer 20 – Going Good
Course Variant: 0,46s fast
1000m (2) Singfonico 56,69
1450m (3) Promise 88,28
1600m (2) Gift For The Gap 96,80
1800m (1) Royal Honour 110,69
2600m (1) Merengue 167,80
Kenilworth (old) 25th June
Penetrometer 24 – Going Good to Soft
Course Variant: 3,07s slow
1000m (1) Optimum 62,93
1100m (2) Jephthah 67,37
1200m (3) Macthief 75,13
1400m (2) Hammie’s Fan 88,06
Greyville (poly) 26th June
Going Standard
Course Variant: 1,69s slow
1000m (1) Lagacio 59,03
1200m (1) Missibaba 71,71
1400m (4) Oloye 83,33
1600m (1) Hey Jude 97,45
2000m (1) American Indian 121,42
Vaal (classic) 27th June
Penetrometer 20 – Going Good
Course Variant: 0,03s slow
1000m (2) What A Red 56,40
1200m (2) Big Blue Marble 69,68
1450m (1) Steak And Ale 88,09
1500m (1) Swept Off My Feet 92,16
1600m (2) Zarbarjad 97,19
2400m (1) Flame Fella 148,98
Fairview (poly) 28th June
Going Standard
Course Variant:
1000m (2) Self Assured 58,18
1200m (2) Juniper Spring 69,37
1300m (2) Masterful 75,94
1600m (1) Victory March 97,68
2000m (1) Everdene 123,57
