Borrowdale Park 7th November
6 From 7
Favourite backers got off to a nice start in Zimbabwe on Sunday when the heavily supported newcomer MARAUDING LADY (16) did the business; Deep in the red at 5/10 on the off, the daughter of Century Stand was soon up handy. She was ridden to lead shortly after passing the 400m marker and cruised clear in the closing stages of the race to beat her stable companion PREDICTRESS by six and a quarter.
Race three on the card was a MR79 Handicap over 1600m and here we saw a very easy victory for the former South African campaigner SPLENDID TAMBUR (41). Racing for the first time since crossing the Limpopo, Splendid Tambur was taken straight to the front by Dewy Williams and led throughout. He was always in command and although the second favourite BALANCE OF PAYMENT chased hard over the final 400m, he went on to win under just hands and heels by three.
The afternoons’ feature event was the Fillies Mile and here we saw another smart performance from the Lisa Harris trained FLASHING NUMBERS (49). On leaving the stalls it was MEMORY who elected to make the running whilst the 2/1 favourite Flashing Numbers was content to amble along in the rear. MRS BUCKET was the first to make a move in the straight and when she went clear 400m from home, Flashing Numbers was still some five lengths adrift. Once into stride though, Flashing Numbers quickened well and fairly flying at the finish she got up late to win by three quarters. Flashing Numbers has now won six of her seven career starts to date and is still clearly improving.
Flamingo Park 8th November
Ton In Hand
A maiden event over 1000m got proceedings underway in Kimberley on Monday and here victory went to the Bradley Maroun trained GREY MOMENTO (0). Sent off favourite at 2/1, Grey Momento raced a few lengths off them during the early part of the race. She quickened well when asked for her effort and under a well judged ride from Louis Nhlapo, she got up late to score by three quarters.
Although not in terms of distance, the easiest victory on the card was recorded by IMPROMPTU (35) in the MR66 affair over 1400m. Swiftly guided over from a wide draw by Andrew Fortune, the 7/10 favourite was soon positioned close to the pace. He was ridden to lead passing the 500m marker and asked to do no more than was absolutely necessary on the run to the line, he won by two and a quarter with a ton in hand.
Topping the bill was a Pinnacle Stakes over 2200m and here the stable of Peter Miller were again on the mark when TIE THE KNOT (62) landed the spoils. Tie The Knot was taken straight to the front when the gates opened and soon had the field well strung out. He kept on strongly at the business end of the race and although the favourite MAR ABERTO did make some headway in the home straight, Tie The Knot still had a length to spare at the wire.
Kenilworth 10th November
Powerful Form Line
Having watched a number of winners come out of the FOREIGN SOVEREIGN form line, it was no surprise to see LORD FORT WOOD sent off a well supported favourite to win the opening maiden event over 1000m. Backed through the rates into 9/20 from even money at the track, Yogis Govender’s charge was visibly cruising throughout. He was asked to take up the running 250m from home and went on to score very easily from the running on EFFECTIVE POWER by four and a quarter.
The best bet on the card for many was GREY ROSE (22) in the maiden event over 1200m and she didn’t let down her supporters. Returning from an eight month break here, Grey Rose found good support throughout the day and was eventually sent off at 9/20. She was soon up with the speed and although CAPTAIN’S EMBLEM put in a determined effort throughout the course of the final 400m, she won with some in hand by three quarters. Keep an eye on the runner up CAPTAIN’S EMBLEM. She had the remainder some 5,5 lengths in arrears.
The easiest victory on the card was undoubtedly that of MERINGUE who came home smoking in the maiden event over 2000m. Usually one to run on stoutly from off the pace Meringue was always in touch with the leaders here and nicely positioned in fifth coming off the bend, she was perfectly placed to challenge. She struck the front 300m out and drew clear very easily in the closing stages of the race to beat the well tried CHOSEN KID by five and a half.
Vaal 11th November
Against The Odds
They raced on the turf on Thursday where the easiest victory in the four qualified maiden handicaps was recorded by MILESANMORE (33) in the 2400m event. Pitched in against what has to be said was a very moderate bunch, the daughter of Jet Master was taken straight to the front by Jimmy Van Der Merwe and led throughout. She led by just a length and a half for most of the journey, but once given rein, she easily drew clear.
A MR 66 Handicap over 1700m was next up and here followers of the money were on the mark when the Anytime gelding DONNINGTON PARK (39) did the business. Backed throughout the day into 5/2 from 6/1, Donnington Park was soon up handy. He was asked to take up the running 600m from home and although SUN EMPEROR finished well from off the pace, he went on to score comfortably by a length.
Also worthy of note on this card was the performance of IMOGEN (43) in winning the MR62 event over 1700m. Troublesome at the start, Imogen then lost three lengths when the gates opened and soon found herself positioned in the rear. She quickened best of all in the long home straight though, and despite having to switch at a vital part of the race, she got up in the dying strides to deny the well supported outsider PINK SOMBRERO (20/1 into 7/1).
Greyville 11th November
Three For Dennis
A maiden event over 1000m was first up on Friday evening and in what proved to be a real thriller, victory here went to the well supported favourite HAIL ATLANTIS (22). Taken straight to the front by Stuart Randolph, Hail Atlantis was soon two lengths clear. The son of Taimazov still held that advantage going through the 200m and at that stage was looking home and hosed. The nibbled at HARD ON THE ROCKS (7/1 into 6/1) fairly flew below the distance though and only beaten by the narrowest of margins, would surely have gotten up in another stride.
A MR101 Handicap over 1400m topped the bill and here it was nice to see the talented SHARKS BAY (88) register his sixth career victory. Allowed to flirt with 12/10 at one stage after opening up at 18/10, Dennis Drier’s charge raced prominent throughout. He ran on stoutly in the short home straight and just got the better of his arch rival KEAT’S DRIFT close home.
A MR90 affair over the same distance was next up and in a time faster than that of Sharks Bay, stable companion JO PIPER (81) landed the spoils. The third of three winners on the card for trainer Dennis Drier, Jo Piper was always travelling well and nicely positioned in third entering the straight, was perfectly positioned to challenge. She hit the front 200m out and went on to score comfortably from the hattrick seeking PALERMO ROSA by two.
Top speedratings for this weekend include:-
Fairview
Race 1: (10) Brad Street 11
Race 2: (1) Soul Searcher 30
Race 3: (10) Smart Play 20
Race 4: (12) Forever Casey 46
Race 5: (11) El Riche 78
Race 6: (13) Sultan Of Song 60
Race 7: (1) Cape Trafalgar 93
Race 8: (13) Windy Whistle 41
Kenilworth
Race 1: (2) Blue On Blue 14
Race 2: (4) Flowing Stars 18 (NAP*)
Race 3: (4) Mister Gone 19
Race 4: (3) In Like Flynn 55
Race 5: (6) Kayhaladin 79 (EW)
Race 6: (5) Howdoulikemenow 56
Race 7: (6) Fort Vogue 94
Race 8: (1) Winter Burst 77
Race 9: (5) Pasadera 54 (EW)
Vaal
Race 1: (4) Aquatic Club 18
Race 2: No Qualifiers
Race 3: (3) Victory Serenade 26 (NAP*)
Race 4: (9) Dynastic Rule 35
Race 5: (5) Jet Trail 87
Race 6: (13) Storm Crossing 89
Race 7: (14) Mr Tobin 50
Race 8: (3) Royal Exit 70
Race 9: (7) Special Club 50
Race 10: (1) African Love 27 (nb)
Greyville
Race 1: (10) Country Rose 19
Race 2: (7) Mildford 9
Race 3: (6) Arabian Sands 57
Race 4: (5) Bielorruso 55
Race 5: (8) Dance To The Stars 81
Race 6: (12) Rhode 51
Race 7: (10) Emerald Wells 67
Race 8: (13) Miss Diana 22
Borrowdale Park
Race 1: No Qualifiers
Race 2: (5) Cydney’s Dawn 35
Race 3: (5) Vincent 28
Race 4: (6) Fine Society 23
Race 5: (4) Van Dutch 20
Race 6: (1) Splendid Tambur 47 (EW)
Race 7: No Qualifiers
Top rated winners last week included:-
Ozymandias won 4/1
Special Club won 7/2
Crystal Wolf won 33/10
Grey Starling won 33/10
Meringue won 16/10
National Security won 5/10
Grey Rose won 9/20
M’lords Throat won 4/10
Notebook:-
Flashing Numbers (A Harris, Zimbabwe)
FASTEST TIMES
(Shown in brackets is the number of races run in each category)
Borrowdale Park 7th November
Fastest Sprint 1000-1300 (3) Auvergne
Fastest Middle 1400-1800 (4) Flashing Numbers
Fastest Long 1900-3600 (0) No Qualifers
Flamingo Park 8th November
Fastest Sprint 1000-1300 (4) Grey Momento
Fastest Middle 1400-1800 (4) Impromptu
Fastest Long 1900-3600 (1) Tie The Knot
Kenilworth 10th November
Fastest Sprint 1000-1300 (4) Lord Fort Wood
Fastest Middle 1400-1800 (2) Rock The Nation
Fastest Long 1900-3600 (2) Golden Ruse
Vaal 11th November
Fastest Sprint 1000-1300 (3) Lightning Mcqueen
Fastest Middle 1400-1800 (4) Donnington Park
Fastest Long 1900-3600 (1) Milesanmore
Greyville 11th November
Fastest Sprint 1000-1300 (1) Hail Atlantis
Fastest Middle 1400-1800 (4) Jo Piper
Fastest Long 1900-3600 (3) King William
