Smart Stryder
Vaal 25th September: They raced on the turf on Tuesday where victory in the opening maiden event over 1200m went to the favourite ZANZIBAR MAN. Quickly into stride, the highly regarded son of Western Winter was soon at the head of affairs. The lightly raced FANTASTIC MR FOX challenged strongly over the final 400m and with the rest some five lengths adrift at the wire it was only by a neck that Diane Stenger’s charge got the verdict.
The girls division of the maiden 1200m was next up and here we saw a smart debut performance from the Mullins Bay filly TINCHY STRYDER. Claimed into 5/2 at one point before drifting back to her original opening price of 5/1, Sean Tarry’s charge sat in midfield during the early part of the race. She cut through the field with ease when given rein and only having to be ridden with hands and heels after striking the front 300m out, she cruised in by four and a half with some in hand.
The easiest victory on the card was undoubtedly that of THE INTERVENTION who came home smoking in the third division of the maiden 1200m. Backed as if defeat was out of the question on course (9/10 into 6/10), Erico Verdonese’s charge was soon up handy. She was ridden to lead as they approached the 400m marker and drew clear easily in the closing stages of the race to score by eight and a half.
A MR90 Handicap over 1600m topped the bill and here victory went to the well supported SPITFIRE RUN. Allowed to flirt with 3/1 at one stage after opening up at 4/1 the 6yo son of Silvano made all. He was always a couple of lengths to the good and although the favourite GLORIOUS LEADER chased hard over the final 400m, he couldn’t get closer than three quarters of a length.
Titbits
ACRISIUS ran on well when coming from the rear to take second position in the MR80 Handicap over 1200m.
Returning from a nine month break here, ROCCO’S LUCK ran on nicely late when third in the MR90 Handicap over 1600m.
Nibbled at DONA DATIA (16/1 into 13/1) came from the rear when winning the MR67 Handicap over 1600m.
Big Priced Double
Durbanville 26th September: Favourite backers got off to a nice start at the country course on Wednesday when the well supported LOOKATMENOW did the business in the opening maiden event over 1200m. Backed all the way in to 11/20 from 13/10 at the track, Justin Snaith’s charge was soon up handy. She was ridden to lead shortly after passing the 300m marker and comfortably accounted for the running on I’M A ROCK STAR. One to look out for next time from this race is BLACK KITTEN. Greg Ennion’s charge ran on well from midfield to take third.
Another well thought of sort to win in the maiden ranks on this card was ASPEN EMPEROR in the 1400m event. Sent off second favourite at 33/10, Brett Crawford’s charge took full advantage of his gate two draw and was soon positioned close to the pace. He took up the running as they approached the 300m pole and went on to score with authority from the 5/10 favourite COLTRANE.
Race five on the card was a graduation plate over 1300m and here a bit of an upset was to be had when the Windrush filly MADAME ROONEY landed the spoils. It wasn’t a surprise to everybody though as Carl Burger’s charge found good support in to 17/2 from 20/1. She quickly went clear after taking up the running 400m out and although the highly regarded SILVANO’S JET was quickly cutting into her advantage late on, she still had a length to spare at the wire. Silvano’s Jet finished well and is sure to come on plenty for the run.
The afternoon’s feature event was a MR86 Handicap over 1600m and here the stable of Carl Burger were again on the mark when the veteran YOUNG CAESOUR registered her fourth career victory. A confirmed frontrunner, the 6yo was soon in her favourite position at the head of affairs. She kept up a healthy gallop throughout and although PALE NIGHT was very steadily gaining at the finish, she still had that one held by three quarters on crossing the line.
Titbits
Although never near enough to challenge, SOVEREIGN EMPIRE ran on well from the rear when fourth to Madame Rooney in the graduation event over 1300m.
PATRIOTIC REBEL ran on well from midfield when getting up late to win the maiden event over 1800m.
Marcus Magic
Vaal 27th September: With three events including the big one being carried over from Emerald Cup Day, there were eleven races at the Vaal’s sand track on Thursday.
Race four on the card was a MR80 Handicap over 1600m and here victory went to the St John Gray trained THE FIXER. On leaving the stalls it was MILITARY MAIDEN who elected to make the running whilst the son of Announce sat towards the rear. He ran on best of all down the long home straight and did well to get the better of the veteran CARIBBEAN COAST close home.
The easiest victory on the card was undoubtedly that of PYLON who extended his unbeaten run on the surface to three when winning the non-black type Vaal River Handicap over 1800m. Soon at the head of affairs, Michael Azzie’s charge held just a slender advantage for most of the journey. Once given rein though, he quickly began to assert his authority and cruised in by seven despite being eased right down before the line.
Another to score in good style on this card was the recent maiden winner HANGFIRE. Heavily supported into 2/1 favourite from 9/2 at the track, the son of Not For Sale was soon positioned close to the speed. He took up the running as they passed the 400m marker and only having to be ridden with hands and heels from there onwards, he won very easily by five.
The Mike De Kock trained MEADOW MAGIC was sent off favourite to win the Gr2 Emerald Cup and in what proved to be a real thriller, the son of Mogok did the business. Taken straight to the front by replacement rider Anton Marcus, Meadow Magic made virtually all. He only held a slender lead throughout though and having to give his all in the closing stages of the race he only got the verdict by a neck over the faster finishing BEACON FLARE.
Titbits
Racing in the rear after being outpaced early on, IKATI was flying at the finish of the listed Banyana Handicap over 1000m and only failed to get to the winner SAPPHIRE RING by a half.
Top rated winners last week included
Baldwin won 22/1 Showmetheway won 7/2 Daily Flight won 33/10 Patriotic Rebel won 16/10 Capetown Noir won 11/10 Zanzibar Man won 17/20 The Intervention won 6/10 Lookatmenow won 11/20.
Notebook:-
Black Kitten (G Ennion, W-Cape) Tinchy Stryder (S Tarry, Gauteng)
FASTEST TIMES
(Shown in brackets is the number of races run in each category)Vaal 25th September Fastest Sprint 1000-1300 (4) Zanzibar Man Fastest Middle 1400-1800 (5) Spitfire Run Fastest Long 1900-3600 (0) No Qualifiers Durbanville 26th September Fastest Sprint 1000-1300 (3) Madame Rooney Fastest Middle 1400-1800 (5) Young Caesour Fastest Long 1900-3600 (1) Tobe’s First
