Arlington 21st January
Strength To Strength
The best bet on the card for many in Port Elizabeth on Friday was WAGING WAR in the Conditions Plate over 1300m and he didn’t let down his supporters. Allowed to ease right out to even money from 5/10 at the track, Gavin Smith’s charge was always handy. He was ridden to lead as they approached the 300m marker and went on to score comfortably by three quarters from the running on TRENZADOR.
The non black type Aloe Handicap over 1300m topped the bill and here victory went to the hattrick seeking ZAAFIEL. Freely available at 14/1 on the off, the daughter of Muhtafal was content to sit towards the rear for most of the journey. She made her move early in the short home straight and under a well judged ride from Nadine Rapson, she just got the better of SURGING STAR, who also finished well. Zaafiel is improving with every run and is clearly one to keep tabs on.
The final event on the card was a maiden plate over 1200m and here a bit of an upset was to be had when DANCING JESS opened her account. Nibbled at on course into 10/1 from 14’s Jacque Strydom’s charge was always in touch with the leaders. She was baulked for a run when asked for her effort 400m out and at that stage it looked as if her chance might have gone. Once seeing daylight though, the daughter of Lake Coniston fairly flew and cruised clear late to win by a length and a half. Dancing Jess won well and is clearly much better than this bare form line would suggest.
Titbits
ALL ABLAZE ran on stoutly from the rear in the Conditions Plate over 1400m and was only beaten a neck.
Turffontein 22nd January
Sailing Clear
Saturday’s action took place on the inner track where victory in the opening maiden event over 1600m went to many people’s best bet on the card NATIONAL EXECUTIVE (30). In the red at 17/20 on the off, Paul Matchett’s charge was always handy. The easy to back BEARING STRAIT was the first to make a move in the home straight and kept on strongly after striking the front 400m out. National Executive always had him in his sights though and when he in turn put his head in front at the distance, Ormond Ferraris’ charge could find no extra.
The easiest victory on the card was undoubtedly that of FURLING SAIL (36) who came home smoking in the maiden event over 2600m. Positioned in sixth going down the back straight, St John Gray’s charge made his move as they entered the strip. He was already at the front 500m out and although QUIET STORM stayed on strongly from the rear, he went on to score unchallenged by seven and a half.
A MR89 Handicap over 1450m topped the bill and here we saw a nice performance from the well supported OZYMANDIAS (62). Backed throughout the day into 28/10 from 9/2, Weiho Marwing’s charge raced prominent throughout. He quickened nicely at the top of the short home straight and after getting the better of the free striding pacemaker LAKE ALBERT 150m from home, he went on to score comfortably.
Titbits
TWO WOOD ran on strongly to finish second in the MR68 Handicap over 1800m and was gaining at the finish.
GUNNER GIRL was flying at the finish of the MR76 Handicap over 1600m and would have won in a couple more strides.
Kenilworth 22nd January
Unbeaten Sprinter
A Juvenile Plate over 1000m got proceedings underway at Kenilworth on Saturday and here we saw another smart performance from the Joey Ramsden trained TRINITY HOUSE. Backed throughout the morning into 6/10 from 11/10, the daughter of Captain Al was soon up with the speed. The easy to back COMTESSE DUBOIS (4/1 out to 8/1) raced with her during the early part of the race and as the pair began to draw clear from the remainder 400m out, it looked for a moment as if we would have a race on our hands. Whereas Comtesse Dubois had to be hard ridden though, Trinity House clearly had plenty in the tank. She drew clear nicely in latter stages of the race and with some in hand, won by three and a half. Trinity House has now won both starts with authority and is clearly very useful.
Another to follow up on a good win last time out was SPLASH GOLD who did the business in the non black type Need For Speed Sprint over 1000m. Sent off a well supported favourite at 12/10, Dean Kannemeyer’s charge raced fifth during the early part of the race. The speedy Eastern Cape raider BOB’N WEAVE was the first to make a move and when he took up the running 400m out, Splash Gold still had a few lengths to find. Confidently ridden by the evergreen Karl Neisius though, Splash Gold steadily worked his way into contention and just as if scripted he got up close home to win going away. Now a winner of four of his seven career starts to date, Splash Gold is still improving and is another to keep tabs on.
The Gr1 Cape Flying Championship over 1000m topped the bill and here we saw a smart performance from the 3yo WHAT A WINTER. Sent off second favourite at 33/10, Mike Bass’ charge was always nicely positioned close to the pace. He quickened nicely from halfway and after striking the front 200m from home, he kept on strongly in the closing stages of the race to beat the running on RUSHING WIND by a length and a quarter. What A Winter is unbeaten over sprint distances and having plenty of scope for further improvement, clearly has a bright future ahead of him.
Titbits
After being badly baulked for a run 300m out, MILE HIGH ran on very strongly to take third in the MR76 affair over 2000m.
Clairwood 23rd January
Follow The Form
They raced at the garden course on Sunday where victory in the maiden event over 1900m went to the ultra consistent FOXTROT BABY (26). Placed in all but two of her ten previous starts, Yogis Govender’s charge was content to sit in midfield for most of the journey. She was ridden to lead as they approached the 200m marker and in what proved to be a real thriller, she only held on by the narrowest of margins from the luckless ISLE OF DOGS. Keep an eye on the runner up Isle Of Dogs. Craig Eudey’s charge has ran on strongly in all five starts and would surely have gotten up here had she not have been baulked for a run 250m out.
A MR78 Handicap over 1200m was next up and here we saw a nice performance from the veteran FLASHY (56).Freely available at 33/1 on the off, the 7yo daughter of Gold Press raced in midfield during the early part of the race. Once given rein though, she quickened best of all and in another tight finish, she got up late to deny the heavily burdened top weight AREWEHAVINGFUNYET.
Also worthy of note on this card was the performance of DUN CARRER (32) in winning the maiden event over 1600m. The fourth horse to win from the WARWICKADALE form line, Dun Carrer was always handy. He was asked to take up the running as they approached the 200m marker and kept on strongly in the closing stages of the race to beat the nibbled at GERSHWIN TIGER by a length and a quarter.
Titbits
Highly regarded earlier, CHINDIT ran on stoutly in graduation company on his return from a six month break and looks sure to go one better soon.
Top speedratings for this weekend include:-
Flamingo Park
Race 1: (1) Majestic Lady 10
Race 2: (1) Young Empire 16
Race 3: (14) Dream Big 36
Race 4: (8) Ireland 48
Race 5: (16) Electrifying 56
Race 6: (7) African Vision 83
Race 7: (9) Snazzy Jazz 54
Race 8: (4) Resume 58
Race 9: (5) Halab 28
Vaal
Race 1: No Qualifiers
Race 2: (12) Maji Moto 29 (NAP*)
Race 3: (1) Condaleza 12
Race 4: (14) Courage 73
Race 5: (4) Kentucky Express 75
Race 6: (1) Mannequin 80
Race 7: (7) Thick As Thieves 77
Race 8: (12) Make Space 58
Greyville
Race 1: (1) Black Wing 19
Race 2: (9) Noble Dreams 12
Race 3: (5) Justyouandme 3
Race 4: (16) Please To Progress 62
Race 5: (2) Watch The Sunset 70 (NAP*)
Race 6: (10) In Broad Daylight 48
Race 7: (10) Cariina Coleman 88
Race 8: (1) Snappy 22
Durbanville
Race 1: (11) Silky Lily 1
Race 2: (2) Outswinger 2
Race 3: (5) Willie Gunn 14
Race 4: (1) Wing Man 16
Race 5: (2) Grail Maiden 66
Race 6: (7) Siefried 83
Race 7: (7) Bid Me 70
Race 8: (10) Hasseldon 45 (EW)
Vaal
Race 1: No Qualifiers
Race 2: No Qualifiers
Race 3: (5) Grenade 22 (EW)
Race 4: (5) Fort Petersburg 67
Race 5: (4) Kesha 61
Race 6: (2) Xilomante 64
Race 6: (7) Imogen 41
Race 8: (6) Aquatic Club 12
Top rated winners last week included:-
Foxtrot Baby won 13/2
Moroccan won 7/2
Sayadaw won 3/1
Do It My Way won 12/10
Waging War won 1/1
National Executive won 17/20
Tigers Eye won 13/20
Trinity House won 6/10
Notebook:-
All Ablaze (A Greeff, E-Cape)
Chindit (C Laird, Gauteng)
Isle Of Dogs (C Eudey, Natal)
Splash Gold (D Kannemeyer, W-Cape)
Trinity House (J Ramsden, W-Cape)
Two Wood (G Van Zyl, Gauteng)
FASTEST TIMES
(Shown in brackets is the number of races run in each category)
Arlington 21st January
Fastest Sprint 1000-1300 (6) What I Really Mean
Fastest Middle 1400-1800 (2) D J Detzky
Fastest Long 1900-3600 (0) No Qualifiers
Turffontein 22nd January
Fastest Sprint 1000-1300 (1) Archangel Michael
Fastest Middle 1400-1800 (7) Back Scratch
Fastest Long 1900-3600 (1) Furling Sail
Kenilworth 22nd January
Fastest Sprint 1000-1300 (5) What A Winter
Fastest Middle 1400-1800 (4) Hammie’s Boy
Fastest Long 1900-3600 (1) Miss Maddie
Clairwood 23rd January
Fastest Sprint 1000-1300 (2) Uno Mass
Fastest Middle 1400-1800 (6) Antious
Fastest Long 1900-3600 (2) Foxtrot Baby
