Antonius With Authority
Fairview 12th July: The Gr3 Juvenile Cup topped the bill in Port Elizabeth on Friday and in what proved to be the fastest of the four 1400m races on the card victory here went to the Cape Town raider ANTONIUS DU BOIS. Deposed at the top of the boards (15/10 out to 33/10) as support came for the locally trained SEATTLE STORM (33/10 into 5/2), the son of Antonius Pius was always in touch with the leaders. He moved through to take up the running going through the 200m and won going away by three.
The supporting act was the listed East Cape Breeders Stakes over 1200m and here victory went to the best weighted runner in the race HURRICANE KATRINA. Taking her winning tally into double figures here the 6yo daughter of Windrush was soon prominent. She ran on strongly at the business end of the race and comfortably accounted for the friendless SPLENDID SUN (8/1 out to 20/1) by two.
The easiest victory in the maiden ranks was that recorded by BURSARY in the maiden juvenile plate over 1400m. Positioned in the rear coming off the bend, Jacque Strydom’s charge ran on best of all down the long home straight and won well after striking the front 250m from home.
Also worthy of note on this card was the performance of INDIAN HAWK in winning the pinnacle stakes over 1600m. Allowed to ease a little out to 11/2 at the track, Indian Hawk raced raced in the rear early on. Once given rein though he quickened best of all and in what proved to be a real thriller he got up in the very last stride to deny the supported THE SHARK.
Titbits
LADY EMMALEEN ran on well from the rear when opening her account in the maiden 1200m.
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Shocking Secret
Clairwood 13th July: Having his last outing before being retired to stud, all eye were on the champion sprinter WHAT A WINTER at the garden course on Saturday. Best in at the weights the son of Western Winter was expected to bow out in a blaze of glory in the Gr1 Mercury Sprint, but in what proved to be the faster of the four 1200m cards it wasn’t to be. Soon up handy, Mike Bass’ was always perfectly positioned to challenge. The pacemaker ALL IS SECRET kept on determinedly over the final 400m though and try as he might (there were no excuses in the stipes report) he couldn’t make any impression.
A workrider’s maiden event over 1200m had gotten proceedings underway and here victory went to the 2yo TITLEE. The 3yo TRIX OF THE TRADE made the running and going through the 300m it was clear that she had the rest well beaten. Mike De Kock’s charge quickened well from there onwards though, and won going away by a length and a quarter after striking the front close home.
The faster of the two juvenile plates run over 1500m was the girls’ affair won by ATHINA. Sent off third in the betting market at 7/2, the daughter of Fort Wood raced sixth for most of the journey. She was ridden to lead going through the 200m and won well from the horse with the name change COCO (formerly Channel Five) by two.
Race six on the card was a MR99 Handicap over 1600m and here we saw a smart performance from the talented BRAVURA. Shouldering the super heavyweight burden of 64,5kg, the 6yo led the small field of six throughout. He was three lengths clear at the top of the long home straight and despite having his advantage cut into half over the final 600m, he won without any anxious moments.
Titbits
The highly regarded 3yo MAN TO MAN won the MR82 Handicap over 1600m very easily by three.
A nine length winner in the maiden ranks last time out, ALEXANDER quickened in good style late when again running on from the rear to win the MR74 Handicap over 2800m.
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From Off The Pace
Kenilworth 13th July: They also raced in the Western Cape on Saturday where five of the afternoon’s eight races were run over 1200m and the fastest of these was the bill topping MR99 Handicap won by VILLA DEL LARGO. Now a winner of four of his fourteen outings to date, Justin Snaith’s charge raced in midfield early on. He ran on nicely from halfway and won well by two and a quarter from the veteran MOONLIGHT GAMBLER.
Another to win very well from off the pace on this card was MISS SAIGON in the MR84 Handicap over 1200m. Sent off 4/1 favourite in a very competitive looking race, Joey Ramsden’s charge ran on well from the backend of midfield and won going away by a length and three quarters from RUN LIKE HELL.
Race five on the card was a MR76 Handicap over 2000m and here victory went to the fancied GYPSY MADONNA. Beaten less than three lengths when fourth in the Winter Oaks last time out, Mike Bass’ charge made an early move from midfield, and struck the front passing halfway. She kept on strongly in the home straight and showing real guts and determination she held on to win from a wall of horses by a half.
Titbits
One of four runners from the stable of Justin Snaith, the unfancied newcomer GLENTON (40/1) raced in the rear. He ran on strongly in the latter stages of the race and did well to get up for third beaten just a length and a quarter.
DYNASTY’S SECRET and FORT BUKLOH both ran on well from off the pace when 1st and 4th respectively in the MR72 Handicap over 1400m.
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Top speedratings for this weekend include:-
Arlington Race 1: (14) Mentalist 16 Race 2: (2) After The Carnival 8 Race 3: (1) Norvic 11 Race 4: (6) Butterfly Child 20 Race 5: (3) Global Trade 50 Race 6: (2) Galileo’s Destiny 84 Race 7: (17) Velocity One 46 Race 8: (13) Wild Count 56 Vaal (tues) Race 1: No Qualifiers Race 2: (2) Dragon Fay 26 Race 3: No Qualifiers Race 4: (15) Victrixit 68 Race 5: (1) Yukon Gold 68 (EW) Race 6: (5) Killua Castle 89 Race 7: (1) Sugar And Shake 52 Race 8: (11) Izaanazama 39 Race 9: (14) Empire Of The Moon 50 Clairwood Race 1: (10) Summertime 23 Race 2: (1) Duly Ordained 30 (NAP*) Race 3: (4) Gone Baby Gone 18 Race 4: (14) Wimoweh 23 Race 5: (13) Enchanted Silk 30 Race 6: (5) Premium Wood 90 Race 7: (2) Henchman 54 Race 8: (4) Indigo Child 46 Race 9: (3) Party Doll 27 Vaal Race 1: (1) Kerry Rose 10 Race 2: (15) Sioux She 18 Race 3: (9) Lucky Luciano 24 (NAP*) Race 4: (5) Miesque’s Manor 17 Race 5: (4) Bibbety Bobbety 57 Race 6: (4) Eastern Cobbler 65 Race 7: (1) Rand Club 45 Race 8: (2) Move Like Jagger 13 .
Top rated winners last week included
It’s Exciting won 22/1 Elegant Tune won 20/1 Alexander won 10/1 Ebro won 7/1 Jackodore won 7/1 Kono won 7/2 Tayba won 2/1 Tamayim won 11/20 .
Notebook:-
Alexander (G Kotzen, KZN) Antonius Du Bois (G Kotzen, W-Cape) All Is Secret (V Marshall, KZN) .
FASTEST TIMES
The number of races run over each distance is shown in brackets *Denotes – Times taken by ClockwatcherFairview 12th July Penetrometer 25 – Going G/Soft 1200m (3) Hurricane Katrina 71,42 1400m (4) Antonius Du Bois 86,07 1600m (2) Indian Hawk 98,74 .
Clairwood 13th July Penetrometer 23 – Going G/Soft 1000m (1) Tribute To Kylie 58,07 1200m (4) All Is Secret 69,00 1500m (2) Athina 90,18 1600m (2) Man To Man 95,85 2800m (1) Alexander 181,32 .
Kenilworth (old) 13th July Penetrometer 27 – Going Soft 1200m (5) Villa Del Largo 75,31 1400m (1) Dynasty’s Secret 90.22 1600m (1) Victorious Lady 105,53 2000m (1) Gypsy Madonna 134.16
