More Aggression
Kenilworth 20th December: A maiden juvenile plate over 800m got proceedings underway in Cape Town on Saturday and here we saw a comfortable victory for the Dennis Drier trained SEVENTH PLAIN. Taken straight to the front by Sean Cormack the son of Seventh Rock led throughout. He was always travelling well and won with some in hand by a length and a half.
Another to win well from the front on this card was VALERIO in the MR86 Handicap over 1600m. Allowed a healthy advantage throughout Valerio answered every call in the straight and won well by a length and three quarters.
There were three races run over 1600m in total and not surprisingly the fastest of these was the bill topping Gr1 Cape Guineas. The Joey Ramsden trained ACT OF WAR was always in the red to win the event and the son of Dynasty didn’t let down his supporters. Confidently ridden by Bernard Fayd’Herbe, Act Of War sat in midfield for most of the journey. He made his move at the top of the straight and won well from his always handy stable companion KINGVOLDT by a length and three quarters.
The supporting act was the Gr3 Cape Summer Stayers Handicap and here an upset was to be had when Act Of War’s stable companion COLTRANE registered his fourth career victory. Having his third outing since a spell across the Limpopo here, the 5yo son of Giant’s Causeway was content to amble along in the rear for most of the journey. He quickened best of all when the race developed into a sprint 500m out and comfortably accounted for the regular place getter GOTHIC by three quarters.
Titbits
WINTER TRADE ran on well from the rear when a three quarter length third in the maiden plate over 1000m.
Gaining quickly at the finish, JET EXPORER had to switch out for a run en-route from the rear when only beaten half a length in the listed Jet Master Stakes over 1600m.
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Impressive Double
Turffontein 21st December: After his impressive 7,75 length win on the poly track at Greyville in his only previous race course appearance, all eyes were on ERTIJAAL in the lucky last at the old stand side track on Sunday. Backed into even money from 18/10 to win what proved to be the fastest of the afternoon’s three 2000m events (a MR71 Handicap), the 3yo son of Hard Spun raced in the rear early on. He took a bump 700m out, but despite that he struck the front going through the 400m. He drew clear easily in the closing stages of the race and came home lonely by eight and a quarter.
Another to win with lengths to spare on this card was AVENUE in the opening work rider’s maiden plate over 2450m. Positioned in midfield turning for home, Michael Azzie’s charge took up the running as they approached the 200m marker and comfortably accounted for the friendless TIBBED TO WIN (16/1 out to 33’s) by four and three quarters.
A progress plate over 1160m was next up and here the talented CARRY ON ALICE was sent off deep in the red. Backed into 9/20 from 6/10 at the track, Sean Tarry’s charge was just half a length off the front running NOT SULKING passing the 400m pole. Geoff Woodruff’s charge ran on stoutly at the business end of the race though and despite having the remainder some three and a half lengths adrift at the wire, Carry On Alice failed to narrow the gap.
A pinnacle stakes over 1600m topped the bill and in what proved to be a very false paced affair SABADELL registered his fifth career victory. Just six went to post and usually one to run on stoutly from off the pace, BOUCLETTE TOP made the running. Sabadell meanwhile raced close up in second and was always poised to strike. He did so shortly after passing the 200m marker and although Bouclette Top kept on determinedly, he won well by a length and a half.
Titbits
The best bet on the card for many CORLEONI won the maiden plate over 1400m with authority by a length and three quarters.
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Fastest Of Five
Fairview 22nd December: Five of the eight races run on Fairview’s poly track on Monday were run over 1600m and the fastest of these was the MR76 Handicap won by HE’S A NADOE. Sent off joint second in the betting market at 9/2, Justin Snaith’s charge was soon up handy. He was ridden to lead as they approached the 200m marker and easily accounted for the recent recruit from KZN THE HELMSMAN by three and a quarter.
The faster of the two 1200m races was the MR62 affair won by LAND OF MEADOWS. Always on offer at around 8/1, the 5yo son of Jet Master raced fifth during the early part of the race. He made his move early in the straight and won well by a length and a half after striking the front 150m from home.
Successful in the only 1000m race, a MR72 Handicap, was FOREST FIGHTER. Soon at the head of affairs, the top weight made virtually all. He kept on strongly over the final 400m and in what proved to be a real thriller he only held on by the narrowest of margins from the always second placed runner MY JELLY BEAN.
Titbits
The well supported favourite CRIME OF PASSON won the opening maiden plate over 1200m with authority by two and a quarter.
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Four For Ray
Vaal 23rd December: This was the meeting originally scheduled to take place on the sand track. A maiden plate over 1000m was first up and here we saw a very smart performance from the 3yo SEATTLE LADY. Sent off as a co-favourite of three, the Sail From Seattle filly raced a length and a half clear for the first half of the race. She began to assert her authority going through the 400m and cruised clear in the closing stages of the race to score by eleven and a quarter.
With the change in surface GENERAL MISTY was all the rage in the maiden plate over 1200m and he didn’t let down his supporters. Not the quickest into stride, the son of Redoute’s Choice raced in the rear and was still some six lengths off the pace going through the 400m. Despite hanging though, Michael Azzie’s charge ran on best of all at the business end of the race and won going away by two and a quarter.
There were three races run over 1200m in total and the fastest of these was the MR91 Handicap won by KAPITAN. Taken straight to the front by Raymond Danielson (four winners on the card) Sean Tarry’s 3yo led throughout. He was always in command and won without any anxious moments by a length and a quarter.
Titbits
SAMOGAN made all when winning the pinnacle stakes over 1400m with authority by two and a half.
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Top speedratings for this weekend include:-
Fairview
Race 1: (1) Ideal Countess 17
Race 2: (3) Destiny Driven 18
Race 3: (2) Lets Party 9
Race 4: (1) Heartfelt 8 (nb)
Race 5: (2) Amarillo Starlight 41 (NAP**)
Race 6: (7) Varoma 70
Race 7: (1) Diva’s Daughter 60
Race 8: (1) Shimmer And Shine 52
Race 9: (13) Fiscardo 66
Greyville
Race 1: (2) Shezamatador 23
Race 2: (3) Slewsgate 19
Race 3: (4) Escovitch 20
Race 4: (10) Art Deco 23
Race 5: (9) Poivre 53
Race 6: (7) Jay Power 65
Race 7: (1) Admiral’s Eye 71
Race 8: (12) London Olympics 45 (EW)
Turffontein
Race 1: (10) Sapsan 5
Race 2: (1) Lexicon 12
Race 3: (3) Scotsnog 20
Race 4: (7) Bravo maya 87
Race 5: (6) The Mutineer 61
Race 6: (13) Gypsey Myth 62
Race 7: (1) Trip Tease 93
Race 8: (3) Preamble 58
Race 9: (16) Last Battle 46
Kenilworth
Race 1: (3) Chennai Spice 7
Race 2: (2) Panga Panga 19
Race 3: (4) Dwyka 10
Race 4: (1) Alzerra 31
Race 5: (3) Juddering Angel 37
Race 6: (12) La Callisto 52
Race 7: (2) Ace Antonius 57
Race 8: (9) Prince Of Panarea 53
Scottsville
Race 1: (11) Silver Kavalier 6
Race 2: (1) Varlotone 12
Race 3: (5) Ahlaam 9
Race 4: (1) Your Worship 28
Race 5: (2) Cotswold 62
Race 6: (1) Cool Anne 38
Race 7: (4) Viva La Var 97 (NAP**)
Race 8: (9) Dodge City 49
Race 9: (13) Sabre Edge 20
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Top rated winners last week included
Land Of Meadows won 8/1
Captain’s Delight won 15/2
Captain’s Diva d/h 7/1
Not Sulking won 28/10
Grand Lodge won 2/1
Sunday Seventh won 13/10
Corleoni won 11/10
General Misty won 15/20
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Notebook:-
Act Of War (J Ramsden, W-Cape)
Ertijaal (M De Kock, Gauteng)
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FASTEST TIMES
The number of races run over each distance is shown in brackets
*Denotes – Times taken by Clockwatcher
Kenilworth (new) 20th December
Penetrometer 23 – Going Good
800m (1) Seventh Plain 48,00
1000m (1) Captain Sam 59,49
1200m (1) Sunday Seventh 74,17
1400m (1) St Tropez 87,99
1500m (1) Lanner Falcon 93,89
1600m (3) Act Of War 99,22
1800m (1) Varster 114,10
2500m (1) Coltrane 159,84
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Turffontein (old) 21st December
Penetrometer 22 – Good
1000m (2) Trip Kings 57,04
1160m (1) Not Sulking 66,34
1400m (1) Corleoni 86,63
1600m (1) Sabadell 96,36
1800m (1) Modern Muse 111,18
2000m (3) Ertijaal 123,81
2450m (1) Avenue 160,00
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Fairview (poly) 22nd December
Going Standard
1000m (1) Forest Fighter 57,59
1200m (2) Land Of Meadows 70,53
1600m (5) He’s A Nadoe 96,25
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Vaal (outside) 23rd December
Penetrometer 22 – Going Good
1000m (2) Seattle Lady 57,00
1200m (3) Kapitan 70,81
1400m (2) Captain’s Delight 84,44
1600m (1) Strictly Mine 101,37
