Work Rider’s Day
Vaal 31st January
All of the runners at Tuesday’s inside track meeting were ridden by work riders. Two maiden plates over 2000m opened up proceedings and by far the quickest of these was the girl’s affair won by SEA BEAN. Always deep in the red, the lightly raced daughter of Philanthropist raced in midfield for most of the journey. She put her head in front shortly after passing the 200m marker and drew clear easily below the distance to score by three and a half.
Another to win very comfortably on this card was SNOW IN SEATTLE in the faster of the two 1400m maiden plates. Sent off a clear favourite at 18/10, Barend Botes’ charge was always handy. He was ridden to lead going through the 300m and won going away by three.
They also ran two maiden plates over 1000m and stopping the clock in the fastest time here was CASA DA VAR in the boy’s division. Soon at the head of affairs, the daughter of Var was a length and three quarter clear passing the 400m pole. The always handy newcomer UNCHAINED MELODY ran on strongly in the closing stages of the race, and it was only by a neck that Louis Goosen’s charge got the verdict.
Titbits
Soon up handy, despite taking a bump at the start, the newcomer ANALYSE THAT won the girl’s division of the maiden plate over 1000m going away.
Captain In Command
Scottsville 1st February
The fastest of the three 1200m races in Pietermaritzburg on Wednesday was the bill topping MR92 Handicap won by JUST VOGUE. Always positioned close to the speed, Gavin Van Zyl’s charge ran on strongly at the business end of the race, and in a thrilling three way finish she only got the verdict by the narrowest of margins.
Quickest home in the two 1400m events was MAMBO in the MR62 Handicap. Positioned in midfield in a race where there was a lot of interference in the straight, Duncan Howell’s charge ran on stoutly after taking a bump 300m out, and won well by a half. Third placed TROPICAL’S SON (drawn wide) ran on well from the rear.
Two of the four remaining races were maiden plates over 1950m and by far the faster of these was the first division won by TECHNO CAPTAIN. Sent off favourite at 18/10, the 3yo son of Captain Al was content to sit in midfield for most of the journey. He was ridden to lead approaching the 300m marker and with the rest well held he comfortably accounted for SHINE UP by three quarters.
Titbits
Well supported into 4/1 from 8’s, MANOUCHE ran on well from midfield when getting off the mark in the maiden plate over 1400m.
1011/1 Four Timer
Vaal 2nd February
They raced on the outside track on Thursday where by far the fastest of the three 1200m races was the MR80 Handicap won by JUST AS I SAID. Looking to complete a hat-trick here, the Just As Well gelding led throughout. He held a length and a quarter advantage for most of the journey, before drawing clear over the final 300m to score by over three.
Quickest home in the three 1400m events was Just As I Said’s stable companion MY FRIEND LEE in the MR68 Handicap. The last of four winners on the card for trainer Lucky Houdalakis, My Friend Lee raced in midfield during the early part of the race. She quickened well 400m out and got up nicely late to deny POLLY WOLLY DOODLE. The three remaining races were all staged over 1600m and stopping the clock in the fastest time amongst these was another Houdalakis inmate MAN’S INN. Taken straight to the front by Marco Van Rensburg, the son of Grey’s Inn led throughout. He kept on strongly at the business end of the race, and did have the runner up SMARTIFACT held at the wire.
Titbits
The lightly raced 5yo DON CHRISTO was eased late when making it three from ten in the MR66 Handicap over 1200m.
Despite being reported as not striding out, the 3yo ARABIAN SEA won the maiden plate over 1400m very comfortably by a length and a half.
Quick Double
Greyville 3rd February
As has become the norm Friday evening’s action took place on the poly track. A maiden plate over 1000m got proceedings underway and here we saw a very comfortable victory for the uneasy second favourite APHRODEITY’S RAIN. Allowed to ease right out to 3/1 from 18/10 at the track, the Argonaut filly raced fifth during the early part of the race. She quickened well at the top of the short home straight and after striking the front 150m out, won going away by three and a quarter.
Two of the evening’s eight races were run over 1600m and the faster of these was the maiden plate in which MASTER SHOGUN got off the mark. Sent off a well-supported favourite at 6/10 (op even money), Alyson Wright’s charge was soon up handy. She was ridden to lead as they approached the 200m marker and won well by a length from the running on KASH IS KING.
The faster of the two 2000m races was the bill topping MR90 Handicap in which HYAKU registered his sixth victory from just 21 starts. Easy to back at 7/1 on the off, Sean Tarry’s charge was always in touch with the leaders. He ran on strongly in the straight and after getting the better of the front running THIRTYTWO SQUADRON, he fended off a determined challenge from the 18/10 favourite MR WINSOME.
Titbits
The 3yo ORELIA was baulked for a run en-route from midfield before getting up late to shed her maiden tag over 1400m.
WAVEBREAKER was always a length clear when completing a quick double over the course and distance in the 1200m Middle Stakes.
Top speedratings for this weekend include:-
Fairview (fri)
Race 1: (8) Joking 4
Race 2: (4) Pirangi 67
Race 3: (7) Kirinia 13
Race 4: (19) Lady Away 16
Race 5: (9) Hidden Gem 21
Race 6: (13) Badger Creek 34
Race 7: (9) River God 55
Race 8: (7) Intisara 34
Race 9: (11) Destined For Dawn 51
Greyville (fri)
Race 1: (5) Scarlet Lady 10
Race 2: (4) Mighty Mississippi 5
Race 3: (5) Roy’s Flyer 5
Race 4: (8) Jamal 43
Race 5: (13) Academy Princess 50
Race 6: (3) Mr Mcsteamy 35
Race 7: (9) Fashion Fusion 37
Race 8: (3) Aznerak 33
Turffontein (sat)
Race 1: (1) Roman Evening 14
Race 2: (2) Osculation 6
Race 3: (5) American Story 65
Race 4: (4) Uposeupay 13
Race 5: (9) Blue Diamond Road 65
Race 6: (6) Kings Archer 98
Race 7: (5) Matador Man 67 (EW)
Race 8: (6) Maleficent 63 (NAP*)
Race 9: (12) Cool Fantasy 40
Kenilworth (sat)
Race 1: (9) Victorious Captain 21
Race 2: (13) Twilight Trip 14
Race 3: (1) Sabina’s Dynasty 13 (NAP**)
Race 4: (10) Put The Berries 18
Race 5: (3) Come On Sonny 17 (EW)
Race 6: (12) Blue Door 68
Race 7: (9) Hammie’s Game 47
Race 8: (14) Amatori 44
Scottsville (sun)
Race 1: (6) Hoppertunity 9
Race 2: (11) Rainbowinthesky 20
Race 3: (5) Rebel Circus 8
Race 4: (3) Roy’s Winter Patch 57
Race 5: (5) Pirogue 64
Race 6: (10) Charisma 54
Race 7: (9) Argyle Bay 49
Race 8: (1) Modesty 7
Top rated winners last week included
Belle Rose won 11/1
Lisnoble won 11/1
Arpad won 9/1
Fantasy View won 3/1
Constantine won 5/2
Snow In Seattle won 18/10
Jackman won 9/10
Sea Bean won 6/10
Notebook:-
Just As I Said (M Houdalakis, Gauteng)
FASTEST TIMES
The number of races run over each distance is shown in brackets
*Denotes – Times taken by Clockwatcher
Vaal (inside) 31st January
Penetrometer 26 – Going G/Soft
Course Variant: 0,36s slow
1000m (2) Casa Da Var 57,93
1200m (2) Last Laugh 71,42
1400m (2) Snow In Seattle 85,03
2000m (2) Sea Bean 126,03
Scottsville (inside) 1st February
Penetrometer 23 – Going Good
Course Variant: 0,84s fast
1000m (1) Argo Magic 57,22
1200m (3) Just Vogue 67,83
1400m (2) Mambo 83,60
1600m (1) Attic View 97,54
1950m (2) Techno Captain 118,92
Vaal (outside) 2nd February
Penetrometer 23 – Going Good
Course Variant; 0,89s fast
1200m (3) Just As I Said 68,51
1400m (3) My friend Lee 81,95
1600m (3) Man’s Inn 94,71
Greyville (poly) 3rd February
Going Standard
Course Variant: 1,53s slow
1000m (1) Aphrodeity’s Rain 59,66
1200m (1) Wavebreaker 71,11
1400m (1) Orelia 86,13
1600m (2) Master Shogun 98,84
2000m (2) Hyaku 123,76
