Firm But Fair
Vaal 14th January: They raced on the inside track on Thursday where favourite backers got off to a good start when KELLIE FIRTH did the business in the opening work rider’s maiden plate over 2000m. Confidently ridden by Goodman Dabamasi, the 6/10 favourite sat seventh of the nine for most of the journey. Once given rein though she quickened well, and won going away with some in hand after striking the front 100m from home.
The best bet on the card for many was RIKITIKITANA in the novice 1400m and the son of Toreador didn’t let down his supporters. Confidently ridden by Gavin Lerena in what proved to be the fastest of the three races over the distance, Sean Tarry’s charge raced sixth of the eight for most of the journey. He responded well after quite a bit of persuasion, and won going away after striking the front 200m from home.
The faster of the two 2400m races was the false paced MR74 affair in which the 6yo ROCKY STALLONE gained just reward for his consistency. As per usual positioned towards the rear early on, the Eyeofthetiger gelding quickened best of all when the field began to concertina 600m out and in what proved to be a real thriller he got up in the dying strides to deny the 22/10 favourite SUPER GLUE.
Titbits
Progressive TIGER’S TOUCH quickened away nicely in the closing stages when winning the MR85 Handicap over 1200m.
Always at the helm, SOUTH ATLANTIC won the second division of the girl’s maiden 1400m going away by three and a half.
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Always Looking Good
Fairview 15th January: Three of the eight races at Friday’s poly track meeting were run over 1300m and quickest home amongst these was CAPE FLYAWAY in the bill topping non-black type Aloe Handicap. Freely available at 14/1 on the off, the daughter of Windrush was always handy. She ran on strongly in the closing stages of the race and with the rest well beaten she got the better of SILVAN JAZZ (led 400) by a half.
The faster of the two 1600m events was the MR81 Handicap in which RAZED IN BLACK registered his fourth career victory. Another to race handy, Justin Snaith’s charge found extra when challenged strongly by the 3yo MEMPHIS MAFIA close home and in another thrilling finish he got the verdict by a half.
At the other end of the scale the biggest winning margin was just the two lengths recorded by SHINE LIKE A STAR in the MR65 Handicap over 1600m. On leaving the stalls it was WELL INFORMED who elected to make the running and he was very quickly five lengths clear. Gavin Smith’s charge meanwhile raced in midfield and made his move coming off the bend. He was running on stoutly when the pacemaker went in search of gas and won well after striking the front 150m out.
Titbits
The Toreador gelding FASHION SCOUT ran on well from the rear when getting up late to complete a double in the MR72 Handicap over 1200m
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The Right Idea
Greyville 15th January: Friday’s action also took place on the poly where four of the eight races were staged over 1600m. The fastest of these was the MR74 Handicap won by the nibbled at VOGUE IDEA. Sent off third in the betting market at 7/2, the Silvano mare raced fifth during the early part of the race. She ran on stoutly over the final 400m and got up late to deny PEACE AGAIN (led 300m).
The faster of the two 1400m races was the MR91 Handicap won by the 8yo grey STOLEN DESTINY. Easy to back at 20/1 on the off, the top weight was always handy. He put his head in front approaching the 100m marker and drew clear easily in the closing stages of the race to score by a length and three quarters.
The two remaining races were maiden plates over 2000m and quickest home in these was CHESA in the boy’s affair. Backed into 6/1 from 12’s, Gavin Van Zyl’s charge was always handy. He was ridden to lead at the top of the straight and kept on strongly over the final 400m to score by three quarters.
Titbits
Beaten just a neck, BIZJET was finishing best of all when third in the MR76 Handicap over 1400m.
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Against All Odds
Turffontein 16th January: Saturday’s action took place on the old stand side track where the fastest of the four 1160m races, a pinnacle stakes, was won by SPLENDID GARDEN. Freely available at 7/1 on the off, Michael Azzie’s charge was soon up handy. He was ridden to lead shortly after passing the 400m pole and despite shifting around, won comfortably from the running on MOOFEED by a length and a quarter.
A maiden juvenile plate over 1000m had gotten proceedings underway and here we saw a promicing performance from Sean Tarry’s newcomer WATER LILY LAKE. Slow into stride and disadvantaged by a slipped saddle, the daughter of Trippi raced at the back early on. She ran on best of all over the final 400m and with the rest well beaten, she did well to reel in the 17/20 favourite FURSA (raced 2nd – led 400m) in the dying strides.
The stable of Sen Tarry were also on the mark when as expected the very talented FRENCH NAVY did the business in the Gr3 London News Stakes over 1800m. Just seven went to post and usually one to run on stoutly from off the pace, the son of Count Dubois raced handy in third. He put his head in front going through the 300m and went on to win well by two and a quarter.
Titbits
The 7/10 favourite ABASHIRI won the listed Sea Cottage Stakes over 1800m with authority by two and a half.
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Top speedratings for this weekend include:-
Flamingo Park (mon)
Race 1: (1) Captain Disko 7
Race 2: (5) Switched On 8
Race 3: (4) Roxy Babe 5
Race 4: (2) Blue Eyed Boy 35 (EW)
Race 5: (12) Celine 28
Race 6: (3) Sonny Bill 38
Race 7: (6) Racing Red 14
Race 8: (5) Sub Shaawes 53
Race 9: (1) Fannalies Girl 23
Fairview (tues)
Race 1: (2) La Myst 10
Race 2: (1) Icy Avalanche 13
Race 3: (5) Tiger Tim 5
Race 4: (13) Night Dancer 53
Race 5: (5) Rocket Rider 51
Race 6: (11) The Night Away 40
Race 7: (10) Jay’s Man 82
Race 8: (11) Apoc 64
Turffontein (tues)
Race 1: (5) Ashantee 16
Race 2: (1) Captain Chips 21
Race 3: (3) Monarch Air 16
Race 4: (4) Tiger’s Touch 92
Race 5: (2) Jade Bay 90
Race 6: (1) Judicial 82
Race 7: (4) Gasoline 65
Greyville (wed)
Race 1: (9) Imbali 12
Race 2: (10) After Midnight 19
Race 3: (6) Napoli 26
Race 4: (1) Dellavera 14
Race 5: (3) Missmasala 56
Race 6: (11) Flying Fellow 72
Race 7: (3) Feels Like Heaven 66
Race 8: (17) Lily’s Rush 54
Vaal (thur)
Race 1: (14) Storyfields 9
Race 2: (1) Truly 19
Race 3: (5) Revelation 15
Race 4: (8) Lock Him Up 39
Race 5: (7) Laurel Cherry 39
Race 6: (9) Princess Pearl 42
Race 7: (8) Lavish Gal 53
Race 8: (1) One Man’s Dream 76
Race 9: (2) Heywot 54
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Top rated winners last week included
Razed In Black won 5/1
Penteliko won 33/10
Bilateral won 3/1
Suzie’s Arrow won 5/2
Ntokazi won 13/10
Abashiri won 7/10
Angel Of Light won 4/10
French Navy won 1/3
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Notebook:-
Abashiri (M Azzie, Gauteng)
French Navy (S Tarry, Gauteng)
South Atlantic (M De Kock, Gauteng)
Water Lily Lake (S Tarry, Gauteng)
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FASTEST TIMES
The number of races run over each distance is shown in brackets
*Denotes – Times taken by Clockwatcher
Vaal (inside) 14th January
Penetrometer 20 – Going Good
1200m (1) Tiger’s Touch 70,50
1400m (3) Rikitikitana 82,95
1600m (2) Gentleman Only 102,97
2000m (1) Kellie firth 124,22
2400m (2) Rocky Stallone 147,32
Fairview (poly) 15th January
Going Standard
1000m (1) New Orleans Shine 58,79
1200m (1) Fashion Scout 69,66
1300m (3) Cape Flyaway 75,49
1600m (2) Razed In Black 95,56
1900m (1) Zen And Now 117,40
Greyville (poly) 15th January
Going Standard
1400m (2) Stolen Destiny 82,79
1600m (4) Vogue Idea 95,45
2000m (2) Chesa 122,82
Turffontein (old) 16th January
Penetrometer 21 – Going Good
1000m (1) Water Lily Lake 57,22
1160m (4) Splendid Garden 66,20
1400m (2) Khonza 85,12
1800m (2) French Navy 110,32
2200m (2) Bilateral 125,65
