Cool Double
Fairview 25th September: The non-black type Walmer Handicap over 1800m topped the bill at Friday’s poly track meeting and here victory went to the former KZN campaigner CHILI CHOCOLATE. Now a winner of both starts since relocating to the province, Grant Paddock’s charge raced second for most of the journey. She was ridden to lead shortly after passing the 200m marker and comfortably accounted for VARSTER by a length.
The faster of the two 1200m events on the eight race program was the novice plate in which the 10/1 shot MUSIC APP landed the spoils. He got away well from his wide draw and taken straight to the front by Collen Thabana led throughout. He kept on strongly in the short home straight and just had enough in hand to beat the running on DYNAMITE by a neck.
There was also two races run over 1600m and quickest home in these was the aptly named STORMING HOME in the MR63 Handicap. Another to race from the front, Alan Greeff’s charge was always two and a half lengths to the good and won without any anxious moments.
Titbits
The unfancied newcomer BROOKE’S MONTANA (12/1 out to 20/1) ran on stoutly from the rear when winning the 1200m maiden plate for 3yo fillies going away with some in hand.
The 3yo BLUE DAWN followed up on her recent maiden success with another comfortable victory in the MR60 Handicap over 1300m.
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Firing On All Cylinders
Greyville 25th September: They also raced on the poly on Friday evening where three of the eight races were run over 1000m. The fastest of these was the MR74 Handicap won by the top weight FIRE THE ROCKET. Sent off a joint favourite at 22/10, Doug Campbell’s (4 winners on the night) charge was always handy. He ran on stoutly at the business end of the race and only got the verdict by a short head over the running on HO’OPONOPONO.
There was also three races run over 1600m and fastest against the clock here was MAMASITA in the bill topping MR92 Handicap. Not the quickest into stride the 5/1 shot raced fifth of the seven early on. Once in the straight though, she ran on well and comfortably accounted for ALPINE RIDGE by a length.
The lucky last was a maiden plate over 2000m and here the best bet on the card for most, PRINCESS VARUNYA did the business. Always deep in the red, the daughter of High Chaparral was soon positioned close to the speed. She was ridden to lead early in the home straight and won going away by five and three quarters.
Titbits
Now a winner of four from nine, WAY OF LIGHT ran on well from off the pace when getting up late to win the MR86 Handicap over 1400m.
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Deputy Takes Command
Vaal 26th September: The highlight at the doomed Vaal sand track on Saturday was the Gr2 Supreme Cup over 1450m and here we saw a smart performance from the 4yo son of Judpot DEPUTY JUD. He broke well from his very useful gate four draw and was always handy. He put his head in front going through the 400m and after quickly going clear he won comfortably by two and a quarter from the running on UNCLE TOMMY.
Four of the afternoon’s ten races were run over 1000m and quickest home amongst these was DOING IT FOR DAN when beating his stable companion TRIP TEASE (the favourite) in the listed Hampton Handicap. As per usual Trip Tease raced up with the speed whilst the Windrush gelding sat at the back some seven lengths adrift early on. Once into stride though, Doing It For Dan quickened well and won going away by two after striking the front 100m from home.
The faster of the two 1200m events was the opening MR80 Handicap won by DUTCH HARBOR. Soon positioned up with the pace, Brian Wiid’s charge asserted his authority as they approached the 400m marker and with the rest well beaten he comfortably accounted for the running on SUPANOVA by two and a half.
Titbits
MIGHTY MANZAI finished best of all when getting up in the very last stride to win the MR90 Handicap over 1450m.
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Back At Number One
Durbanville 26th September: Four of the eight races at the country course on Saturday were run over 1300m and stopping the clock in the fastest time amongst these was VARUMBA when registering her second career victory in the MR85 Handicap. Taken straight to the front by M J Byleveld, the 3yo daughter of Var led throughout. She was a length and a quarter clear coming off the bend and despite the efforts of the chasing NIGHT IN TAHITI, she barely relinquished an inch of her advantage.
The fastest of the three 1600m races was the MR72 Handicap won by HARD DAY’S NIGHT. Sent off a rather uneasy favourite at 2/1, Joey Ramsden’s charge broke well and was soon positioned close up in second. He put his head in front going through the 300m and cruised in by three and a half despite being eased down late.
The one remaining race was a MR95 Handicap over 2400m and here we saw a comfortable victory for AREZZO. Sent off joint second in the betting market at 4/1, Justin Snaith’s charge raced fifth for most of the journey. He made his move early in the home straight and won well by a length and a quarter after striking the front 300m from home.
Titbits
The 3yo MIXED EMOTIONS came from the rear when getting up late under a well-judged ride from Craig Du Plooy to open her account in the maiden plate over 1300m.
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Top speedratings for this weekend include:-
Fairview (mon)
Race 1: (2) Skrik Vir Niks 16
Race 2: (4) Memphis Mafia 13
Race 3: (6) Arrow Heart 57
Race 4: (4) Judd’s Joy 55
Race 5: (6) On My Wits Alone 49
Race 6: (9) Sissy Gray 55
Race 7: (10) Sputnik Sweetheart 32
Race 8: (17) Miesquesrok 29
Vaal (tues)
Race 1: (8) A Woman’s Will 11
Race 2: (11) Welcome Home 3
Race 3: (7) Fancy Dancer 18
Race 4: (7) Boulogne 14
Race 5: (12) Revelation 17
Race 6: (14) Double Bind 45
Race 7: (2) Rake’s Chestnut 65
Race 8: (17) Ruby Ruby 33
Race 9: (10) Carter 55
Race 10: (11) New Predator 36 (NAP*)
Durbanville (wed)
Race 1: (2) Ritmo Total 4
Race 2: (8) Little Mo 49
Race 3: (1) Ravishing Lad 15
Race 4: (3) Sabrina Fair 18
Race 5: (6) Blue Door 52 (EW)
Race 6: (4) Guest Of Honour 54
Race 7: (8) Rush For Roses 39
Race 8: (9) Last Viceroy 34
Vaal (thur)
Race 1: (1) The Berry Lady 17
Race 2: (6) Battle In Seattle 63
Race 3: (1) Infinity Knot 17
Race 4: (7) Le Clos 17
Race 5: (3) Fire Dancing 60
Race 6: (5) Dravidian 45 (EW)
Race 7: (2) Seattle Fairy 31
Race 8: (10) Perfect Trip 45
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Top rated winners last week included
Music App won 10/1
Mamasita won 5/1
Chili Chocolate won 3/1
Fontenoy won 28/10
Fire The Rocket won 22/10
Alzerra won 16/10
Mixed Emotions won 14/10
Princess Varunya won 11/20
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Notebook:-
Brooke’s Montana (G Smith, E-Cape)
Doing It For Dan (L Goosen, Gauteng)
Hard Day’s Night (J Ramsden, E-Cape)
Way Of Light (G Puller, KZN)
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FASTEST TIMES
The number of races run over each distance is shown in brackets
*Denotes – Times taken by Clockwatcher
Fairview (poly) 25th September
Going Standard
1200m (2) Music App 70,34
1300m (1) Blue Dawn 75,61
1600m (2) Storming Home 96,59
1800m (1) Chili Chocolate 111,19
1900m (1) Valmode 116,29
2200m (1) Come Along 139,51
Greyville (poly) 25th September
Going Standard
1000m (3) Fire The Rocket 58,60
1400m (1) Way Of Light 83,62
1600m (3) Mamasita 96,70
2000m (1) Princess Varunya 123,58
Vaal (sand) 26th September
Going Standard
1000m (4) Doing It For Dan 57,24
1200m (2) Dutch Harbor 71,09
1450m (3) Deputy Jud 88,37
1800m (1) Ahlaam 112,60
Durbanville 26th September
Penetrometer 20 – Going Good
1300m (4) Varumba 79,24
1600m (3) Hard Day’s Night 99,11
2400m (1) Arezzo 154,15
