An important scientific complimentary tool of the trade for punters and racing enthusiasts, sectional timing data can enhance both the form study and horseracing viewing experience on both KwaZulu-Natal and Western Cape race meetings.
In Time Is Money this week, we look at Sunday and Monday’s highlights.
Crowned Hornbill (Muzi Yeni) holds off a late challenge from low-flyer The US Of A (Craig Zackey) in the final race at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Monday (Pic – Chase Liebenberg)
Hollywoodbets Kenilworth 14 April (originally scheduled for 12 April)
Track Condition
Going: Soft
Penetrometer: 27
Rain: Last 24 hours 8mm – Last 7 days 52mm
Irrigation: Last 7 days Nil
False Rail: Inside rail nil: 2m spur at 600m: Outside rail 4m in from 600m
Wind: 7-18km/h South Easterly head wind
Course Variant: 0,02s fast (straight) – 1,23s slow (bend)
Sweet Chestnut Stakes (L) 1400m
Run in a time just 3/100th of a second faster than that of the maiden plate 35 minutes earlier, the pace was not a true one. Callmegetrix made the running and they were 1,4 seconds slower than that of the aforementioned maiden plate coming off the bend. Callmegetrix kept on strongly when the race developed into a sprint and only relinquished the lead 120m from home to the hard ridden BE MERRY.
The maiden plate over 1400m was won by GOLD DUST. Eric Sands’ charge made all, and won with a bit in hand.
Variety Club Mile Gr3 1600m
It was a similar story in the bill topping Variety Club Mile where despite there being plenty of pace in the race on paper, we were again subjected to a sprint finish. After finding early position the pace on the bend was almost identical to that of the Sweet Chestnut. As such, Billy Bowlegs (detached at the rear after fly jumping at the start) who had raced at least ten lengths behind the leader entering the turn, reduced that deficit to six lengths at the top of the straight without any real effort. The well supported favourite GARRIX (2/1 into 14/10) meanwhile was always handy in the tightly bunched field and went on to score comfortably by a length and a half after striking the front 400m from home.
1100m Races
By far the quicker of the two 1100m races was the Celebrating Van Huysteen’s Birthday Middle Stakes and here we saw a smart performance from the lightly raced Lancaster Bomber gelding AIR RAID. On leaving the stalls it was Elusive Winter who elected to set the pace and a brisk one throughout it was too. Air Raid meanwhile (down in trip in this his first outing since December) in a strung out field was easily 8 lengths adrift. The early effort only began to take its toll on the front runner in latter stages and finishing best of all, Candice Bass-Robinson’s charge got up 50m from home.
1000m Races
The Hollywoodbets Bright Future C Stakes was the faster of the two 1000m races and here Musi Yeni completed a hattrick for trainer Justin Snaith when partnering CROWNED HORNBILL to victory. In the box seat throughout, the son of Rafeef put his head in front 150m from home and with the benefit of first run, he beat the low-flying The US Of A by just under a half. The runner up finished best of all and recorded the fastest 400-finish time of the afternoon.
Fastest Times:
1000m (2) Crowned Hornbill 59,19
1100m (2) Air Raid 64,88
1200m (2) Angel’s Oasis 73,31
1400m (2) Be Merry 87,68
400-finish The US Of A 23,02
Hollywoodbets Scottsville 13 April
Track Condition
Going: Good to Soft (both tracks)
Penetrometer: 26 (both tracks)
Rain: Last 24 hours Nil – Last 7 days 10mm
Irrigation: Last 7 days Nil
False Rail: 7m
Wind: 10-15km/h North Easterly cross wind
Course Variant: 0,18s fast (straight) – 0,26s (inside track)
WSB Highland Night Cup (NBT) 2400m
The first of the three feature events to be run, the Highland Night Cup, proved to be a very false paced affair. The aptly named Positive Attitude (saddle slipped backwards) made the running and early in the back straight he was a good 8 lengths clear of the eventual winner SHOOT THE RAPIDS racing in third. The pace slowed considerably in the latter part of the back straight though (no doubt caused by the slipped saddle) and coming off the bend the field then led by Cape Eagle was very tightly bunched. Frank Robinson’s charge struck the front 400m out and although Cape Eagle rallied gamely under a determined ride from Serino Moodley, he still had a neck to spare at the wire. After the race Frank said that the winner (second run after gelding) would have needed the run here, and went on to speak very highly of him.
WSB Sledgehammer (L) 1750m
Another sprint finish was to be had in the afternoon’s top liner where the heavily supported I SALUTE YOU (9/2 into 5/2) did the business. There was visibly no pace early on and this was confirmed by the sections rounding the turn. The race resembled a cavalry charge 300m out and in a thrilling three-way finish Peter Muscutt’s charge got the verdict by a head.
WSB Scarlet Lady (NBT) 1750m
Run in a time a second faster than the Sledgehammer, the pace was much fairer in the Scarlet Lady, but even so, it wasn’t particularly fast. The two leaders both faded quickly in the home straight and as the field began to concertina the race also became wide open going through the 300m. Running on from the rear TOMYRIS finished best of all and with the rest left trailing in their wake, she got the better of the 33/10 favourite Mascherina by three quarters of a length. Jockey Khumalo was fined R1000 for mis-using the crop on Tomyris.
1000m Races
With two of the 1000m races being maiden events, it was not surprising then that the WSB Race With The Best C Stakes won by HAPPY ANALIA was by far the quicker of the three. Soon up with the speed, Tienie Prinsloo’s charge set healthy fractions throughout. She kept on strongly after taking up the running 400m from home and beat the running on Tchaikovsky by just under a half. The runner up had raced three lengths behind the winner and finishing best of all recorded the fastest 400m to finish time of the afternoon.
Quickies
Trainer Justin Snaith’s first runner in Champion’s season, GRAN CANARIA was hard held throughout when winning the maiden event over 1400m with a ton in hand. Clearly impressed with the son of Vercingetorix, jockey Andrew Fortune said that he expected him to win his next two or three starts. Fortune also said that he expected Eight On Eighteen to be unbeaten throughout this champions season!
Fastest Times:
1000m (3) Happy Analia 57,03
1400m (3) Colorado Creek 84,41
1750m (2) Tomyris 105,93
400-finish Tchaikovsky 22,92
