Speedy Consolation
Greyville 16th May: Racing returned to Greyville on Friday evening where victory in the opening maiden juvenile plate over 1300m went to the easy to back MODERN MUSE. Freely available at 10/1 on the off, Mike De Kock’s charge wasn’t the quickest into stride and raced in the rear early on. She quickened well at the top of the straight and in what proved to be a real thriller she got up in the very last stride to deny the well supported 12/10 favourite PRINCESS CHLOE.
The boy’s division of the maiden juvenile 1300m was won by the 20/1 shot THE REAL HERO. Unable to get within twelve lengths of a winner when slow into stride in each of his two previous outings, the son of Brave Tin Soldier made all. He was a length clear turning for home and doubled his advantage in the straight.
The Gr2 Betting World 1900 topped the bill and here victory went to the only female in the race ESPUMANTI. On leaving the stalls it was the easy to back TRIBAL DANCE who elected to make the running whilst Mike De Kock’s charge sat close up in fifth. She was ridden to lead shortly after passing the 200m marker and comfortably accounted for the running on PUNTA ARENAS by two and a quarter.
Run in a faster time was the 1900 consolation race in which we saw another smart performance from the highly regarded FUTURA. Deep in the red at 6/10 on the off, Brett Crawford’s charge raced sixth for most of the journey. She quickened in good style halfway down the straight and comfortably accounted for the useful GIFTED FOR GLORY by a length and a quarter.
Titbits
DOUBLE CLUTCH came from the rear when getting up late to win the maiden plate over 1800m.
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Locked On Target
Turffontein 17th May: They raced on the inner track on Saturday where six of the ten races were run over 1200m. The fastest of these was the not so lucky last won by CASHA. Positioned towards the front of the chasing pack in sixth the 3yo daughter of Stronghold quickened well in the short home straight, and comfortably accounted for the easy to back CASSIA by a length.
A maiden plate over the same distance had gotten proceedings underway and in a time 1,72 seconds slower than that of Casha, the 7/10 favourite JAMES BLUNT scored a very easy victory. Nicely positioned in second in what quickly became a very strung out field, Mike De Kock’s charge had the race at his mercy when the pacemaker SOCIAL MEDIA went in search of gas 300m out. He ran on strongly in the closing stages of the race and won very easily by five and a quarter.
Also worthy of note in the maiden ranks on this card was the performance of MAJESTIC MISSILE in winning the girl’s 1200m event. Freely available at 75/1 on the off, Clinton Binda’s newcomer raced in the rear early on. Once given rein though she quickened nicely and won well from the running on JAY RIVER (also raced in the rear) by two and a quarter.
A MR88 Handicap over 1450m topped the bill and here victory went to the 2013 Zimbabwe Guineas runner up NEWTON POWER. Positioned in midfield as the twelve runners came off the strip, the Newton gelding quickly made headway in the straight and comfortably accounted for BRAD’S SURGE by a length and a half.
Titbits
Poorly drawn DIRTY CHAMPAGNE came from the rear when winning the maiden plate over 1200m going away by three and a half.
The 20/1 shot SISTERS OF MERCY was also poorly drawn and ran on well from the rear when winning the MR69 Handicap by two and a half going away.
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Afternoon Stroll
Clairwood 18th May: The action on Sunday took place at the garden course where the fastest of the afternoon’s three 1000m events, a MR74 Handicap, was won by NETSUKE. Taken straight to the front by Donovan Dillon the Western Winter filly held a two lengths advantage for most of the journey. She had the rest comfortably beaten, but running on strongly from midfield was THE QUEEN and it was only by a neck that Netsuke held on.
There were a number of easy victories on the card and none more so than that of HAMMIE’S HOOKER in the conditions plate over 1450m. Content to sit towards the backend of midfield early on, Mike Bass’ charge began to take closer order at the top of the straight. She was already at the front going through the 300m and cruised clear in the closing stages of the race to score by six.
Another to win as he liked was the Glen Kotzen trained LIGHT THE LIGHTS in the maiden juvenile plate over 1600m. Always handy, the son of Western Winter took up the running as they approached the 200m marker and drew clear easily from there onwards to win by four.
Titbits
STAR JET ran on well from midfield when winning the listed East Coast Handicap going away by three quarters.
NIGHT TIDE won the MR74 Handicap going away.
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Top speedratings for this weekend include:-
FairviewRace 1: (5) True Lonhro 29
Race 2: (8) Eye Spy 28
Race 3: (8) Glam I Am 24
Race 4: (4) Strike A Light 52
Race 5: (9) Velocity One 55
Race 6: (2) Laurie’s Dancer 53
Race 7: (7) Secret Quest 54
Race 8: (12) Marionette 54
Race 9: (2) Letas Bonnet 33 (EW)
Vaal
Race 1: (3) Sendintheclowns 20 (NAP*)
Race 2: (3) Shirla 10
Race 3: (3) Dragon Fay 34
Race 4: (9) Moon Lay Hidden 48
Race 5: (1) Pylon 91
Race 6: (7) Stavinsky 63
Race 7: (2) Papa Joe 47
Race 8: (16) Orlando Magic 27
Scottsville
Race 1: (9) National Approval 14
Race 2: (3) Gemstone Glamour 14
Race 3: (2) Salander 25
Race 4: (2) Emblem Royale 18
Race 5: (5) Natterjack 22
Race 6: (8) Hana 54
Race 7: (13) Cereza 43
Race 8: (10) Guantanamera 82
Race 9: (1) Libertine 52
Race 10: (1) Krackerjack Ace 56
Vaal
Race 1: (14) Mystic Express 14
Race 2: (5) Dayla 21
Race 3: (1) Gullwing 31
Race 4: (1) Flaming Ace 22
Race 5: (7) Egyptian 57
Race 6: (11) New Light 38
Race 7: (12) Nicety 47
Race 8: (8) Crown Gold 79
Race 9: (11) Times Remembered 32
Race 10: (6) White Whisper 39 .
Top rated winners last week included
Sisters Of Mercy won 20/1African Gladiator won 7/1
In Tribute won 7/1
Musical Man won 28/10
Moon Shot won 5/2
Light The Lights won 2/1
Abercrombie won 11/10
James Blunt won 7/10 .
Notebook:-
Futura (B Crawford, W-Cape)Hammie’s Hooker (M Bass, W-Cape)
FASTEST TIMES
The number of races run over each distance is shown in brackets*Denotes – Times taken by Clockwatcher Greyville 16th May
Penetrometer 23 – Going Good
1300m (3) Crescendo 77,46
1400m (2) Lady Carter 83,88
1800m (1) Double Clutch 112,08
1900m (2) Futura 117,23
2000m (1) French Revolution 124,91 Turffontein (inner) 17th May
Penetrometer 22 – Going Good
1200m (2) Majestic Missile 73,60
1450m (2) Newton Power 87,35
1600m (6) Casha 98,49 Clairwood 18th May
Penetrometer 21 – Going Good
1000m (3) Netsuke 57,48
1450m (2) Hammie’s Hooker 84,48
1600m (1) Light The Lights 95,78
1800m (2) Abercrombie 108,29
2000m (1) Star Jet 120,40
2500m (1) Night Tide 156,13