Beware The Mafia
Fairview 30th October: The listed Racing Association Stakes for 3yo’s over 1600m topped the bill in Port Elizabeth on Friday and here a major upset was to be had when the unfancied MEMPHIS MAFIA landed the spoils. Freely available at 33/1 on the off, Dorrie Sham’s charge raced in midfield for most of the journey. Once in the straight though, he quickened best of all and won going away after striking the front 150m or so from home.
A MR92 Handicap was the supporting act and in what proved to be the faster of the two 1200m events CAPTAIN’S RESERVE registered his third career victory. Another to run on stoutly from midfield, the Captain Al gelding struck the front 200m out and won well by three quarters from the more fancied SEVEN WOOD.
The faster of the two 1400m races was the MR62 Handicap won by WESTERN WU. Backed into favouritism at the track (7/2 into 22/10), Alan Greeff’s charge was always in touch with the leaders. He ran on strongly from halfway and in what proved to be a real thriller he got up in the very last stride to deny the 75/1 shot WOGSY (led 100m).
Titbits
The 3yo NATURAL TAN ran on well from midfield when winning the girl’s division of the maiden plate over 1000m with some in hand by two and a quarter.
WILD NIGHT OUT came from the back when getting up in the very last stride to open his account in the maiden plate over 1400m.
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Money Or Black Type
Turffontein 31st October: They raced on the old stand side track on Saturday where five of the twelve races were run over 1400m. The fastest of these was the Gr3 Graham Beck Stakes in which we saw a smart performance from the uneasy favourite MUWAARY. He got away well when the gates opened and soon up handy raced prominent throughout. He was ridden to lead approaching the 200m marker and won by two and a quarter with some in hand.
Although not in terms of prize money, the Gr2 Charity Mile topped the bill and in what not surprisingly turned out to be the fastest of the three 1600m races, the 5yo BOUCLETTE TOP registered his fifth career victory. Freely available at 14/1 at the off, Alec Laird’s charge raced in midfield during the early part of the race. He ran on strongly in the straight and after striking the front 100m from home he won comfortably by two and a quarter from the always handy M L JET. The poorly drawn duo of MITRAAD (3rd) and FRENCH NAVY (6th) both ran on well from the rear in this race.
The biggest first prize on offer on the day was the R1,25M netted by CHAMPAGNE HAZE when winning the non-black type Ready To Run Cup for 3yo’s over 1400m. Sent off second in the betting market at 5/2, Gary Alexander’s charge was always handy. He took up the running shortly after passing the 300m pole and went on to score by three from the previously unbeaten RABADA. Running on from a very wide draw, Rabada was just that three lengths behind Champagne Haze at the 400m pole and couldn’t make any headway in the closing stages.
In terms of distance the easiest victory on the twelve race program was that of NEW PREDATOR in the R250000 maiden plate over 1600m. Sent off a joint favourite at 9/2, the son of New Approach was soon positioned close to the speed. He put his head in front as they approached the 500m marker and drew clear easily from there onwards to score by six and a quarter.
Titbits
THE CENTENARY ran on well from the rear when winning the Gr3 Yellowwood Handicap over 1800m going away by a length and a half.
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Cutting It Fine
Kenilworth 31st October: A pinnacle stakes topped the bill in Cape Town on Saturday and in what proved to be the fastest of the three 1400m races the 7yo BLARNEY BAY registered his seventh career victory. Freely available at 20/1 on the off, the Nysaean gelding as per usual, raced up with the speed throughout. He kept on determinedly at the business end of the race and in what proved to be a real thriller he got the verdict by the narrowest of margins over the 18/10 favourite CAPTAIN AMERICA.
There was also three races run over 1200m and quickest against the clock amongst these was PEARL OYSTER BAY in the MR76 Handicap. Taken straight to the front by Greg Cheyne, the nibbled at daughter of Mullins Bay made all. Another supported runner JETS-A-BLAZING raced three lengths away in second and running on stoutly at the finish this one only failed to get up by a short head.
Race five on the card was a MR79 Handicap over 1200m and here we saw another smart performance from the Trippi colt ILLUMINATOR. A fluent winner over the course and distance in his only previous outing, Glen Puller’s charge was content to sit sixth of the eight for most of the trip. He quickened well when given rein and went on to score with authority from MR BOND by a length and a quarter.
Titbits
The Albert Hall mare GORGEOUS GABY ran on well from midfield when winning the MR68 Handicap going away.
Runner up in the opening maiden plate over 1000m, the newcomer SPEED LIMIT came from the rear.
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Top speedratings for this weekend include:-
Flamingo Park (mon)
Race 1: (3) Striking Pose 8
Race 2: (2) All The Bids 58
Race 3: (2) Ayrton 8
Race 4: (14) Fussy Ball 34
Race 5: (9) Gold Status 46
Race 6: (10) Raging Princess 34
Race 7: (8) Glinka 48
Race 8: (4) One Cool Cat 46
Race 9: (2) Star Empress 24
Greyville (tues)
Race 1: (10) Roy’s Emblem 7
Race 2: (10) Poivre 43
Race 3: (8) Marino Casino 54
Race 4: (11) Seeking The Dream 50
Race 5: (1) Miss Varlicious 56 (NAP*)
Race 6: (8) Brave Knight 31
Race 7: (1) Ravishing Romance 11
Race 8: (8) Ten Gun Salute 31 (nb)
Turffontein (tues)
Race 1: (12) Suyoof 30 (NAP*)
Race 2: (7) Inzaba 21
Race 3: (4) Beaufort Sea 24
Race 4: (7) Schillaci 31
Race 5: (11) Sicilia 37
Race 6: (5) Lady Al 57
Race 7: (1) Trip To Heaven 89
Race 8: (1) Cohiba 41
Kenilworth (wed)
Race 1: (1) Ravishing Lad 15
Race 2: (7) Vinsanto 41
Race 3: (3) The Best Of Me 15
Race 4: (9) Amarillo Rose 75
Race 5: (7) Casey’s Jet 43
Race 6: (3) Tiger Tiger 75
Race 7: (6) Shout 42
Race 8: (3) Arabian Winter 21
Turffontein (thur)
Race 1: (1) Dublin Rebel 29
Race 2: (5) Brass Verdict 55
Race 3: (1) Retro Chic 4
Race 4: (2) Queen Of Hearts 4
Race 5: (5) Ntoma 35 (NAP*)
Race 6: (6) Lunar Approach 59
Race 7: (9) Gold Shades 45
Race 8: (2) Hawaiian Sun 48
Race 9: (1) Golden Man 23
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Top rated winners last week included
Ess El Kay won 25/1
Madame Dubois won 10/1
Free Agent won 6/1
New Predator won 9/2
Pipette won 9/2
Quintella won 4/1
Waity Katie won 22/10
Lineker won 12/10
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Notebook:-
Champagne Haze (G Alexander, Gauteng)
Illuminator (G Puller, W-Cape)
Muwaary (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
Fairview (turf) 30th October
Penetrometer 22 – Going Good
1000m (2) Plain Of Wisdom 58.24
1200m (2) Captain’s Reserve 69,14*
1400m (2) Western Wu 86,46
1600m (1) Memphis Mafia 98,97
2400m (1) Tygerhoogte 152,20
Turffontein (old) 31st October
Penetrometer 21 – Going Good
1000m (1) Doing It For Dan 56,27
1160m (1) Tahini 67,90
1400m (5) Muwaary 84,80
1600m (3) Bouclette Top 97,07
1800m (1) The Centenary 110,26
2450m (1) Fulcrum 154,40
Kenilworth (old) 31st October
Penetrometer 21 – Going Good
1000m (1) Chennai Spice 59,14
1200m (3) Pearl Oyster Bay 72,37
1400m (3) Blarney Bay 86,29
1800m (1) Spirit Of Hamilton 112,35
