New Course Record
Fairview 2nd December
The non-black type Glendore Sprint topped the bill in Port Elizabeth on Friday and in a new South African record time the only female in the race SCANDAL registered her fifth career victory. Easy to back at 6/1 on the off, Corne Spies’ charge raced fourth for most of the journey. She quickened well in the 27km per hour tail wind, and when the brisk pace got the better of the frontrunners THAYER and FIRE HORSE, she won with authority by a length and three quarters after taking it up 100m out.
The faster of the two 1400m events on the eight race program was the MR72 Handicap won by the 10/1 shot VALEDICTION. On leaving the stalls it was THE WILD MISTRESS who elected to make the running whilst the former Cape Town campaigner was content to sit in midfield. She ran on well down the long home straight and just got the better of A WOMAN’S WILL (also came from midfield) by a neck.
The first maiden juvenile plate (800m) of the season had been first up and in a race where less than a length covered the first five home the friendless SACRED ORATION landed the spoils. Allowed to drift as if a win was out of the question (6/1 out to 20/1), the son of Oratorio was soon up handy. He put his head in front 150m out and eased very late won a tad more easily than the bare form would suggest.
Titbits
The 3yo NOORDHOEK’S SPEED was always in command when making all to win the maiden plate over 1000m.
Where’s The Others
Greyville 2nd December
They raced on the poly track on Friday evening where three of the eight events were staged over 1400m. Quickest home in these was Sporting Post’s best bet ARCHILLES. Backed into even money from 2/1, the son of Captain Al sat fifth early on. His only serious rival in the betting market COSSACK GUARD raced handy and getting first run grabbed a two lengths advantage 400m out. With the rest left trailing in their wake though (8 lengths at the wire), Yogis Govender’s charge steadily reduced the deficit and got up nicely late to score by three quarters.
They also ran three races over 1200m and stopping the clock in the fastest time here was the aptly named TOP FORM in the MR86 Handicap. He got away well when the gates opened and was soon positioned close to the speed. He put his head in front 150m out and won well by a length and three quarters from the front running SARAH’S SECRET.
The faster of the two 2000m races was the MR74 Handicap in which the 6yo EMPEROR NIARCHOS registered a well overdue fourth career victory. Nibbled at on course into 6/1, the son of Miesque’s Approval raced fourth for most of the journey. He put his head in front shortly after passing the 200m marker and kept on strongly late to beat the running on LIVE ON THE MOON (came from the rear) by a length and a quarter.
Titbits
Eased late, PATH TO GLORY only had to be pushed out when getting off the mark by three and a quarter in the maiden plate for the girls over 1400m.
Ready For The Fight
Turffontein 3rd December
The first 2yo race in Gauteng took place on Saturday and here we saw a smart performance from the King Of Kings filly DARING DIVA. Sent off a well-supported favourite to win this 800m scurry, Barend Botes’ charge led throughout. She was always in command and with her jockey Andrew Fortune looking around for challenges from the 200m, she won with some in hand by a length and three quarters.
Another to win well on this card was MATADOR MAN in the bill topping Secretariat Stakes (L). Freely available at 11/2 in what proved to be the faster of the two 1400m events, Sean Tarry’s charge raced in midfield for most of the journey. He ran on strongly over the final 400m and comfortably accounted for his stable companion TILBURY FORT (15/1) by a length and three quarters.
Three of the afternoon’s eleven races were staged over 2000m and quickest home amongst these was LET IT RAIN when registering his third career victory in the MR80 Handicap. Backed through all rates into 9/2 from 14/1, Weiho Marwing’s charge raced in midfield during the early part of the race. He began to take closer order early in the home straight and after striking the front 150m out, he drew clear easily to score by three.
Titbits
The Sean Tarry trained newcomer AL SAHEM won the maiden plate over 1600m going away by four and a half.
Mouth Watering Clash Ahead
Kenilworth 3rd December
By far the fastest of the three 1600m races in Cape Town on Saturday was the Gr2 Green Point Stakes and here victory went to the highest rated runner in the field LEGAL EAGLE. Always handy, Sean Tarry’s raider took up the running 200m out and kept on strongly in the closing stages of the race to beat the running on MARINARESCO by just under a half. Marinaresco finished well. It will be interesting to see who gets the verdict next time.
The Gr1 Fillies Guineas over the same distance topped the bill and in a time more than 3 seconds slower than that of Legal Eagle, JUST SENSUAL showed good improvement. Positioned third to last early on, Joey Ramsden’s charge looped runners on the turn and was on the heels of Safe Harbour in sixth at the top of the straight. This pair both ran on stoutly over the final 600m and in what proved to be a real thriller the daughter of Dynasty got the verdict by just 0,3 lengths.
Four of the remaining six races were staged over 1200m and fastest against the clock here was SEARCH PARTY. Backed into joint favouritism at the track, Brett Crawford’s charge raced up with the pace throughout. He kept on strongly at the business end of the race to beat the always handy SILICONE VALLEY by a half.
Titbits
CUBAN EMERALD came from the rear when winning the MR86 Handicap over 1200m going away.
Top speedratings for this weekend include:-
Flamingo Park (mon)
Race 1: (4) King Of Cant 8
Race 2: (1) Olimpic Airways 2
Race 3: (2) Sky Full Of Stars 41
Race 4: (1) Green Report 8
Race 5: (11) Jayaash 30
Race 6: (5) Ngong Hills 41
Race 7: (1) Mr Balboa 16
Race 8: (9) Dancingwithjackson 38
Race 9: (4) News Flash 31
Kenilworth (tues)
Race 1: (1) Light Chaser 18
Race 2: (6) Tomba La Bomba 89
Race 3: (6) Figure Of Grey 21
Race 4: (7) Put The Berries 28
Race 5: (6) Juddering Angel 70
Race 6: (10) Storm Front 54
Race 7: (7) Viking Voyage 53
Race 8: (16) Royal Fleece 41
Turffontein (tues)
Race 1: No Qualifiers
Race 2: (6) Negroamaro 91 (NAP*)
Race 3: (7) Steal A March 18
Race 4: (5) Doubly Attractive 11
Race 5: (1) Vogue’s Wood 12
Race 6: (3) Lady On Fire 29
Race 7: (1) French Navy 89
Race 8: (7) Team Guys 60
Race 9: (6) South Atlantic 37
Greyville (wed)
Race 1: (3) Burfi 16
Race 2: (1) Bletchley 32
Race 3: (7) Jay Jay’s Girl 19 (NAP*)
Race 4: (6) Starsky 20
Race 5: (4) Qatar Springs 72
Race 6: (8) Dhaamer 47
Race 7: (14) Mogokity 60
Race 8: (15) Louella 29
Vaal (thur)
Race 1: (6) Vegas Baby 5
Race 2: (13) Twinkle Town 13
Race 3: (1) Vars Pride 20
Race 4: (1) Isolde 16
Race 5: (5) Enchanted Rock 13
Race 6: (10) Al Sahem 66 (NAP*)
Race 7: (9) Lisnoble 46
Race 8: (1) Al Azraq 73
Race 9: (6) Ronin Warrior 44
Top rated winners last week included
I Will Be won 9/1
Let It Rain won 9/2
Secret Vision won 9/2
Noordhoek’s Speed won 4/1
Night At The Proms won 3/1
Shady World won 28/10
Cyber Magic won 16/10
Archilles won 1/1
Notebook:-
Al Sahem (S Tarry, Gauteng)
Legal Eagle (S Tarry, W-Cape)
Marinaresco (C Bass-Robinson, W-Cape)
FASTEST TIMES
The number of races run over each distance is shown in brackets
*Denotes – Times taken by Clockwatcher
Fairview (turf) 2nd December
Penetrometer 21 – Going Good
Course Variant: 1,87s fast
800m (1) Sacred Oration 44,65
1000m (3) Scandal 54,38
1400m (2) Valediction 82,80
1600m (1) I Will Be 97,45
1800m (1) Shady World 111,02
Greyville (poly) 2nd December
Going Standard
Course Variant: 1,29s slow
1000m (1) Je Suis Silver 59,15
1200m (3) Top Form 70,63
1400m (3) Archilles 83,97
2000m (2) Emperor Niarchos 122,17
Turffontein (stand side) 3rd December
Penetrometer 20 – Going Good
Course Variant: 0,09s slow (straight) 1,02s slow (bend)
800m (1) Daring Diva 45,96
1000m (1) Lady Starlett 56,99
1160m (2) Cyber Magic 67,77
1400m (2) Matador Man 85,08
1600m (2) Al Sahem 99,33
2000m (3) Let It Rain 125,01
Kenilworth (new) 3rd December
Penetrometer 21 – Going Good
Course Variant: 0,98s slow (straight) 0,24s fast (bend)
800m (1) Gold Image 47,19
1200m (4) Search Party 71,59
1600m (3) Legal Eagle 96,92
2500m (1) Tiger Tops 159,14
