Lonely Tigress
Arlington 13th September: The easiest victory in Port Elizabeth on Friday was undoubtedly that of TAIPAI TIGRESS who won the opening maiden event over 1400m by a steeplechase margin. Taken straight to the front by Francois Herholdt the daughter of Tiger Dance soon had the field well strung out. She drew clear with ease in the short home straight and came home lonely by ten.
Another to win well in the maiden ranks, albeit by a much shorter margin, was BRIAR KING in the 1800m event. The best bet on the card for many (including Sporting Post), Yvette Bremner’s charge got away well when the gates opened and was soon up handy. He was ridden to lead as they approached the 300m pole and comfortably accounted for GYPSY LANE by two.
Three of the afternoon’s eight races were run over 1600m and the fastest of these was the not so lucky last, a MR74 Handicap, won by GLOBAL TRADE. Freely available at 10/1 on the off, the Silvano mare made all. She led by a length and a quarter turning for home and extended her advantage to four and a quarter despite the efforts of MARRY ME MULLINS and PRINCESSJACQUELINE.
Also worthy of note on this card was the performance of LIELUMS in winning the only 1000m event on the card, a novice plate. Allowed to drift right out to 6/1 from 7/2 second favourite at the track, Corne Spies’ charge lost two lengths at the start and very quickly found herself positioned in the rear. Once into gear though she quickened best of all and under a well judged ride from Robert Khathi, she got up late to win going away.
Titbits
Poorly drawn NORVIC was baulked for a run 100m out when finishing strongly from the rear to take second in the MR72 Handicap over 1600m .
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Widen The Gap
Turffontein 14th September: They raced on the inner track on Saturday where we saw a smart performance in the opening maiden event over 1450m from the favourite HENRY OF YORK. An eyecatching third when running on from the widest of draws over today’s course and distance last time out, Weiho Marwing’s charge was again drawn in the car park here. Whereas the son of Henrythenavigator came from the rear that day though, he came from midfield here and won well by a length after striking the front 100m from home.
The easiest victory on the card was undoubtedly that of CLOSE THE GAP who came home smoking in the maiden 1600m. Heavily supported into 4/10, the daughter of Fort Wood raced fourth for most of the journey. She moved through to take up the running as they came off the strip and only having to be ridden with hands and heels, she cruised in by five and a quarter.
A pinnacle stakes over 1450m topped the bill and here we saw a smart performance from the lightly raced Mossman gelding ROYAL ZULU WARRIOR. A winner of four of his nine previous career outings, the 7yo was soon prominent. He put his head in front going through the 400m and easily accounted for the 4yo WAR HORSE by three.
There were three races over 1450m in total and surprisingly the fastest of these was the MR78 Handicap won by the improving ARCTIC SUN. Allowed to drift right out to 7/1 from 7/2 at the track, the top weight was always in touch with the leaders. He quickened well at the top of the short home straight and ran out a very easy winner by three and a half from the running on SOLEIL ROYAL.
Titbits
After finishing lame last time out, WINTER STAR showed her well being when comfortably accounting for eight rivals in the conditions plate over 1200m.
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Technical Knockout
Durbanville 14th September: The going was good to soft at the country course on Saturday where five of the nine races were run over 1400m.The fastest of the five was the bill topping MR97 Handicap won by HALF MOON HOTEL. Positioned in midfield coming off the bend, the easy to back son of Alado ran on well in the straight and struck the front 100m out.
Next best in terms of the clock over this distance was ARION winner of the MR82 Handicap. In the red at 15/20 on the off, the well supported favourite raced fifth, but in a strung out field he was easily seven lengths off the pace rounding the turn. Once in the straight though, he ran on strongly and showing a nice turn of foot he got up late to deny the 5yo SLIP ‘N SLIDE.
Three of the remaining four races were run over 1000m and the fastest of these was the MR76 Handicap won by KNOCK ‘EM OUT. She fairly flew when the gates opened and very quickly had most under pressure. She was three lengths clear going through the 400m and added another length and a quarter before crossing the line.
Titbits
The newcomer PRESCIENT ran on well from midfield when winning the maiden plate over 1000m going away.
After running on from midfield, PHIRI E KWATILE won the maiden 1400m with a bit in hand.
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Top speedratings for this weekend include:-
Vaal (mon) Race 1: (1) Razzmatazz 21 Race 2: (4) Campbell Black 14 Race 3: (6) Arctic King 15 Race 4: (6) Mink Trip 19 Race 5: (8) Due And Payable 80 (EW) Race 6: (10) Playingtheenemy 54 (NAP*) Race 7: (3) Nuggets 43 Race 8: (11) Izaanazama 38 Clairwood Race 1: (12) King Horizons 22 Race 2: (11) Obligation 30 Race 3: (11) Resolution 31 Race 4: (10) Dun Carrer 50 Race 5: (1) Hard Rock 74 Race 6: (2) Shelleys Connection 43 Race 7: (15) Assessment 45 Race 8: (13) Belt Up 21 Durbanville Race 1: (1) Abyssinia 21 Race 2: (6) Nightside 20 Race 3: (1) Diplomatic 31 Race 4: (16) Marmalady 20 Race 5: (8) Pasadera 53 Race 6: (9) Pergamon Alter 66 Race 7: (11) Kukama 44 Race 8: (7) Coconut Man 21 (NAP*) Race 9: ( Vaal (thur) Race 1: (2) Royal Stock 8 Race 2: (1) Let’s Play 29 Race 3: (8) Delicious Damowin 24 (NAP*) Race 4: (2) Go Indigo 67 Race 5: (1) With Her Approval 25 Race 6: (3) Virgil Cane 31 Race 7: (10) Figurine 34 Race 8: (3) Nad’s Pride 34 .
Top rated winners last week included
Savannah Song won 14/1 Atso’s Hill won 4/1 Defender Of Peace won 7/2 Sakania won 19/10 Taipai Tigress won 19/10 Briar King won 21/20 Arion won 15/20 Via Africa won 2/9 .
Notebook:-
Arion (J Snaith, W-Cape) Henry Of York (W Marwing, Gauteng) Taipai Tigress (SJ Van Rensburg, E-Cape) .
FASTEST TIMES
The number of races run over each distance is shown in brackets *Denotes – Times taken by ClockwatcherArlington 13th September Penetrometer 22 – Going Good 1000m (1) Lielums 56,87 1200m (1) Secret Quest 73,79 1400m (1) Taipai Tigress 86,25 1600m (3) Global Trade 99,51 1800m (1) Briar King 113,99 2000m (1) Silva Chant 125,48 .
Turffontein (inner) 14th September Penetrometer 1200m (1) Winter Star 72,86 1450m (3) Arctic Sun 88,06 1600m (2) Moggytwoshoes 98,99 1800m (2) Tiger Play 110,14 2200m (1) Run Girl Wild 143,13 .
Durbanville 14th September Penetrometer 26 – Going G/Soft 1000m (3) Knock ‘em Out 59,20 1400m (5) Half Moon Hotel 85,18 2000m (1) Temple Tiger 127,67
