Speed The Key
Fairview 14th February: The faster of the two juvenile plates over 1100m in Port Elizabeth on Friday was the girl’s affair in which the Cape Town raider COTTON CANDY was on the mark. Always handy, Justin Snaith’s charge took up the running going through the 300m and won well by four and a quarter.
The other two races to be run on the turf were both over 1400m and the fastest of these was the boy’s maiden plate won by the costly to follow DUKE OF DESTINY. Positioned in midfield early on, the Windrush gelding quickened well in the long home straight and with the rest well beaten he got up late to deny another battler in O JALLAD.
With the weather conditions deteriorating races five through to nine on the card were switched to the poly track. Amongst these was the non-black type Breeders Guineas Plate which was won by the locally trained WINTER FANTASY. Soon up with the speed, Alan Greeff’s charge stole a bit of a march early in the straight and although the 12/10 favourite LIFT OFF was making good headway late, she still had two and a quarter lengths to spare at the wire. Lift Off had been at the back turning for home and did very well indeed to get as close as she did.
The final event on the card was a MR72 Handicap over 1000m and here we saw a gutsy performance from the 4yo BENEDICT. Taken straight to the front by Keagan Latham, Yvette Bremner’s charge kept on strongly in the short home straight and did well to hold off a determined challenge from the hat-trick seeking STARS AND STRIPES by a half.
Titbits
Third placed RAVISHING JEWEL ran on well from the rear when only beaten a neck in the girl’s division of the maiden 1400m.
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Few To Follow
Turffontein 15th February: They raced on the inner track on Saturday where the fastest of the three 1450m events was a very competitive looking novice plate won by the lightly raced FORT BELLINI. Having only his third career outing here, the son of Fort Wood was always handy. He quickened well in the short home straight and comfortably accounted for the more fancied DASHING SCARLET by a length and a quarter.
In terms of distance the easiest victory on the nine race program was recorded by MOON LAY HIDDEN in the maiden 1450m. Another to race in touch with the leaders the easy to back Victory Moon gelding won well by four and a quarter after striking the front 400m from home.
The non-black type Allez France Handicap over 2200m topped the bill and here we saw a smart performance from the improving ZEPHIRA. Allowed to ease right out to 4/1 from 5/2 favourite at the track, Geoff Woodruff’s charge raced in the backend of midfield for most of the journey. Once given reign though she quickly worked her way through the field and went on to score in eye catching style by three and quarter after hitting the front 150m out. Zephira has now won three of her six career starts and clearly won’t be stopping here.
Another to win comfortably on this card was VIA DELLA TIGRE in the workrider’s maiden event over 1450m. Also allowed to ease considerably in the betting market although still retaining her position at the top of the boards (6/10 out to 12/10), Michael Azzie’s charge led throughout. She kept on strongly in the straight and despite ducking out 300m from home she won unchallenged by two and a quarter. One to look out for next time from this race is FEATHERFOOT. Detached at the rear after being a little slow into stride, Devin Little’s charge fairly few over the final 400m and did well to finish a clear second.
Titbits
After losing two lengths at the start, FLIGHT WARNING ran on well from the rear when fifth beaten 2,75 lengths in the MR89 Handicap over 1800m.
STIRLING LEAVES made up many lengths over the final 400m when running on from the rear to finish runner up in the maiden 1000m.
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Tactics The Key
Kenilworth 15th February: Racing in Cape Town on Saturday got underway with a maiden plate for the girls over 1200m and here we saw a smart performance from the lightly raced FAIRY MAKER. Having only her second career outing here, Adam Marcus’ charge raced in midfield early on. She ran on strongly from halfway and won well after striking the front 100m from home.
Four of the afternoon’s nine races were run over 1600m and the fastest of these was the MR88 Handicap won by BLACK KITTEN. Another to run on stoutly from off the pace, the daughter of Black Minnaloushe finished best of all and got up late to deny BUTTERFLY GIRL.
The afternoon’s feature event was the non-black type Magnum Mile and in a time almost three quarters of a second slower than that of Black Kitten victory here went to the talented KING OF PAIN. Usually one to run on stoutly from off the pace, Joey Ramsden’s charge adopted a change of tactics here and raced handy. He took up the running going through the 200m and in what proved to be a real thriller he only got the verdict by the narrowest of margins from the running on NIGHT TRIP.
Titbits
The 3yo ANZAC ran on well from the rear when winning the maiden 1500m.
SHINGWEDZI won the MR70 Handicap over 1600m going away.
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Top speedratings for this weekend include:-
Flamingo Park Race 1: (1) Ethemba 12 Race 2: (3) Top Mark 72 Race 3: (3) Duck Dodger 24 Race 4: (5) Fort Dixy 18 Race 5: (10) Bruce P 36 Race 6: (11) Lady Emmaleen 27 Race 7: (8) Random Al 40 Race 8: (4) Rashuli Breeze 38 Race 9: (12) Tibisi 30 Turffontein Race 1: (2) Cuirass 17 Race 2: (2) Manzai 26 Race 3: (11) Asiatic Pearl 15 Race 4: (1) Flaming Ace 18 Race 5: (9) Perfect Winter 54 Race 6: (2) Meissa 64 Race 7: (11) Great White 44 Race 8: (2) Kayhaladin 54 Scottsville Race 1: (1) Amrita 7 Race 2: (2) Dixie Flyer 22 Race 3: (7) Natterjack 22 Race 4: (1) Coco Love 18 Race 5: (3) Father Ted 62 Race 6: (7) Mr Royal 50 Race 7: (9) Normanz 82 Race 8: (1) Active Power 48 Race 9: (2) Lemonade River 46 Vaal Race 1: (6) Law Enforcer 7 Race 2: (3) Merlins Gem 8 Race 3: (1) Rivulet 43 (EW) Race 4: (3) Matchless Flag 26 Race 5: (11) Arabian Princess 50 Race 6: (3) Brad’s Surge 45 Race 7: (1) Across The Ice 80 Race 8: (4) Negev 65 Race 9: (4) Flag Of France 77 (EW) .
Top rated winners last week included
Hunting Horn won 6/1 Black Kitten won 11/2 Storm Warning won 11/2 Bonnard won 4/1 Anzac won 22/10 Cotton Candy won 15/10 Via Della Tigre won 12/10 Amarillo Starlight won 4/10 .
Notebook:-
Fort Bellini (S Tarry, Gauteng) Zephira (G Woodruff, Gauteng) .
FASTEST TIMES
The number of races run over each distance is shown in brackets *Denotes – Times taken by ClockwatcherFairview 14th February Going: Turf G/Soft – Poly Standard 1000m (2) London Perfect 56,82P 1100m (2) Cotton Candy 63,43 1400m (2) Duke Of Destiny 86,11 1400m (1) Winter Fantasy 82,55P 1600m (2) Bonnard 95,62P .
Turffontein (inner) 15th February Penetrometer 20 – Going Good 1000m (1) Anna Galeria 57,55. 1450m (3) Fort Bellini 86,45 1800m (2) Henry Higgins 108,24 2200m (1) Zephira 139,63 2600m (2) Storm Warning 166,19 .
Kenilworth (new) 15th February Penetrometer 23 – Going Good 1000m (1) Man From Milan 61,04 1200m (1) Fairy Maker 73,68 1500m (1) Anzac 95,67 1600m (4) Black Kitten 100,17 1800m (2) Nordic Jet 112,48
