What A Cracker
Scottsville 30th November: Five of the ten races in Pietermaritzburg on Sunday were run over 1200m and the fastest of these was the conditions plate won by LITTLEBLACKNUMBER. Freely available at 12/1 on the off, the daughter of Black Minnaloushe broke well when the gates opened and along with the 7/10 favourite BELOVED COUNTRY made the running. She kept on strongly at the business end of the race and with the rest well beaten she comfortably accounted for the market leader by a length and three quarters.
The easiest victory on the card was recorded by HIGHWAY EXPLORER in the maiden 1200m. Always top of the boards the son of Mossman made all. He was always in command and won without any anxious moments by three.
The fastest of the three 1600m events was the MR90 Handicap won by VIENNA WOOD. Nibbled at on course into 5/1 from 7’s, the grey son of Fort Wood was always handy. He was ridden to lead shortly after passing the 200m marker and kept on strongly late to beat FLYING FELLOW by a half.
The two remaining races were both run over 1000m and fastest against the clock here was the 5yo MR WHATEVER in the R120000 pinnacle stakes. Quickly into stride, Pat Lunn’s charge made all. SHEIK’S BRASHEE and GARIBONDY chased hard over the final 400m, but both were held at the wire by three quarters.
Titbits
Positioned in the backend of midfield early on, the newcomer RUN RHINO RUN impressed when winning the maiden plate over 1600m going away by two and a quarter.
ELOQUENCE ran on well from midfield when winning the maiden plate over 1200m.
.
Sprinting Clear
Scottsville 2nd December: They also raced at Scottsville on Tuesday where the easiest victory on the card was recorded by CHILLINGHAM in the MR74 Handicap over 2400m. Freely available at 8/1 on the off, the 4yo son of Mullins Bay made most. He quickened well when the race developed into a sprint at the top of the home straight and won very easily by five.
Four of the afternoon’s nine races were run over 1400m and the fastest of these was the MR67 Apprentice Handicap won by RED ROSETTE. Nicely positioned in third for most of the journey, the Imperial Stride mare was always poised to challenge. She ran on stoutly over the final 400m and in what proved to be a real thriller she got the verdict by a neck.
The fastest of the three 1950m races was the MR91 Handicap won by JOSHUAS CROWN. She lost two lengths at the start and as a result raced fifth of the six early on. The runners were always closely grouped though and once in the straight she soon began to make headway. She hit the front going through the 100m and went on to win going away by two.
Titbits
Positioned in the rear after being a little slow into stride, SILVER TALE ran on best of all over the final 400m and with the rest well beaten she did well to deny the 50/1 shot FEELS LIKE HEAVEN (raced 3rd – led 250m).
.
Speeding Bullet
Turffontein 2nd December: Three maiden plates over 1160m got proceedings underway on the old stand side track on Tuesday evening and the fastest of these was girl’s affair won by VANCOUVER GOLD. Sent off a rather uneasy favourite at 2/1, the 3yo daughter of Var made all. She was always in command and won with authority by five. The third horse in this race was beaten eleven lengths.
The best bet on the card for most was BULLETING HOME in the faster of the two maiden plates over 1600m and the son of Western Winter didn’t let down his supporters. Backed into 6/10 from 9/10 at the track, Sean Tarry’s charge was soon positioned close to the speed. He was ridden to lead as they approached the 400m marker and although LUCA DELAGO chased hard, and did have the remainder well beaten, he won comfortably by two.
Three of the four remaining races were run over 1400m and fastest against the clock here was DREAM GALAXY in the MR88 affair. Soon into stride, the daughter of Kahal was taken straight to the front by Piere Strydom and led throughout. The field was well strung out when the race began in earnest, and although BERNADINE ran on well from midfield, she won with a touch in hand by a length and three quarters.
Titbits
Beaten just a neck, the 9yo KAYHALADIN made up many lengths from the rear when runner up in the MR88 Handicap over 1000m.
Always clear, the recent 5,5 length maiden winner GOLD CUP GIRL completed a quick double in the MR71 Handicap over 1400m with some in hand by a length and a quarter.
.
Bouncing Back
Kenilworth 3rd December: Favourite backers got off to a nice start in Cape Town on Wednesday when QUEEN’S JET did the business in the opening maiden plate over 1200m. Allowed to ease a little at the track out to 16/10 from 12/10, Justin Snaith’s charge raced sixth early on. She ran on stoutly from halfway and in a thrilling three way finish she only got the verdict by the narrowest of margins over the 10/1 shot SUNDAY SEVENTH.
The stable of Justin Snaith were also on the mark in the MR86 Handicap when OREO SHAKE bounced back to best. In what proved to be the fastest of the afternoon’s three 1400m events the son of Oratorio raced seventh of the nine for most of the journey. Once in the home straight though he quickened best of all and in another classic finish he got up in the very last stride to deny the 3yo NIGHT IN SEATTLE.
The faster of the two 1200m races was the MR76 Handicap won by CHESTNUT DANCER. Sent off a clear favourite at 3/1, Mike Stewart’s charge was soon positioned close to the speed. She took up the running going through the 200m and kept on strongly in the latter stages of the race to beat the running on veteran MONEY SURGER by a length and a quarter.
Titbits
Despite hanging quite badly at times TOMBA LA BOMBA beat the heavily supported 4/10 favourite ACES UNITED fair and square when winning the maiden plate over 1000m by a length and a quarter.
.
Solar Powered
Vaal 4th December: They raced on the sand on Thursday where we saw a smart performance in the opening maiden plate over 1200m from the nibbled at ROYAL TRIP. Backed into 5/1 from 7’s at the track, Stanley Ferreira’s charge raced fifth in the early stages some six lengths off the pace set by MEDEA. She made up the ground quickly when asked for her effort and cruised clear to score by seven and a quarter after striking the front 400m out.
There were four races run over 1200m in total and the fastest of these was the conditions plate won by DUTY DANCE. Freely available at 12/1 on the off, Paul Matchett’s charge was always handy. Just a length covered the first four going through the 600m and after a thrilling tussle with the 14/10 favourite FLAME CAT he only got the verdict by a neck.
Race eight on the card was a MR80 Handicap over 1450m and here we saw a smart performance from the 4/1 second favourite SOLAR TRIPTYCH. On leaving the stalls it was the friendless NICKLAUS who elected to make the running whilst the 4yo son of Trippi sat fifth. He made his move as the favourite MOOTAHADEE moved through to lead 300m out and after he in turn put his head in front 100m later, he went on to win with authority by three and a half.
Titbits
Although handily placed throughout, the maiden SEATTLE LADY only got going late when a two and a half-length third in the MR64 Handicap over 1000m.
Now a winner of two from three, the thirteen length maiden winner DIVA DANNY (set pace) rallied gamely after being headed 400m out and won the MR84 Handicap going away by a length and a half.
.
Top speedratings for this weekend include:-
Fairview (fri)
Race 1: (8) Lessflashmorecash 13
Race 2: (3) Munaaseb 19
Race 3: (3) Vertical Drift 48
Race 4: (6) Highly Decorated 90 (NAP*)
Race 5: (1) Ideal Countess 17
Race 6: (5) King Of The Knight 52
Race 7: (9) Special Effects 50
Race 8: (8) Gouldikova 60
Race 9: (14) Spectacularus 49
Grey (fri)
Race 1: (3) High Maintainance 15
Race 2: (1) Your Worship 29
Race 3: (6) Burra Boy 20
Race 4: (14) Coco Love 12
Race 5: (8) Finding Neverland 35
Race 6: (5) Vitruvian Man 58
Race 7: (6) Red Label 68
Race 8: (5) Pilgovan Star 36
Turffontein (sat)
Race 1: (15) Wild Dancer 31
Race 2: (4) Rake’s Chestnut 96
Race 3: (10) Fort Meyers 18
Race 4: (13) Big Bucks 14
Race 5: (13) Seventh Symphony 19
Race 6: (16) Olympic Goal 53 (EW)
Race 7: (10) Eva Tibbs 43
Race 8: (7) Anyday Anytime 85
Race 9: (15) Romantic Balladeer 56
Kenilworth (sat)
Race 1: (1) Captain Blackwater 20
Race 2: No Qualifiers
Race 3: (4) Dance In The Woods 18
Race 4: (9) Solar Star 77
Race 5: (3) Liquid Mercury 46
Race 6: (2) Acrostar 75 (NAP*)
Race 7: (2) Gold Onyx 85
Race 8: (9) Good Girl Flies 40
Race 9: (12) Jaminna 35
Scottsville
Race 1: (6) Playful Time 20
Race 2: No Qualifiers
Race 3: (4) Krackerjack Ace 68 (EW)
Race 4: (4) Cape Grey 3
Race 5: (6) Elusive Lady 14
Race 6: (12) Dancing Arrow 53
Race 7: (9) Furaat Quality 54
Race 8: (4) Shellys Connection 58
Race 9: (6) Feels Like Heaven 14
.
Top rated winners last week included
Preamble won 10/1
Chillingham won 8/1
Invecta d/h 7/1
Royalsecuritypower won 5/2
Highway Explorer won 18/10
Mogokity won 16/10
Queen’s Jet won 16/10
Skylar Lane won 12/10
.
Notebook:-
Royal Trip (S Ferreira, Gauteng)
Run Rhino Run (L Forbes, KZN)
.
FASTEST TIMES
The number of races run over each distance is shown in brackets
*Denotes – Times taken by Clockwatcher
Scottsville (inside) 30th November
Penetrometer 26 – Going G/Soft
1000m (2) Mr Whatever 57,55
1200m (5) Littleblacknumber 70,24
1600m (3) Vienna Wood 96,18
Scottsville (inside) 2nd December
Penetrometer 24 – Going Good
1000m (1) Royalsecuritypower 57,16
1400m (4) Red Rosette 85,18
1950m (3) Joshuas Crown 122,96
2400m (1) Chillingham 155,25
Turffontein (old) 2nd December
Penetrometer 23 – Going Good
1000m (1) Tiger Territory 57,80
1160m (3) Vancouver Gold 67,92
1400m (3) Dream Galaxy 85,92
1600m (2) Bulleting Home 98,33
Kenilworth (old) 3rd December
Penetrometer 22 – Going Good
1000m (1) Tomba La Bomba 59,39
1200m (2) Chestnut Dancer 72,01
1400m (3) Oreo Shake 85,76
1600m (1) Skylar Lane 100,73
1800m (1) Krambambuli 111,06
2000m (1) The Queen Vic 125,87
Vaal (sand) 4th December
Going Standard
1000m (1) Fab Cat 59,16
1200m (4) Duty Dance 71,86
1450m (1) Solar Triptych 89,43
1600m (1) Smart Mart 102,04*
1800m (1) Diva Danny 114,81
2000m (1) Oriental Blue 128,04
