Soaring Eagle
Kenilworth 9th January: The prestigious Gr1 Queen’s Plate topped the bill in Cape Town on Saturday and in what not surprisingly turned out to be the fastest of the four 1600m races, the highest rated horse in the country LEGAL EAGLE landed the spoils. Normally one to run on stoutly from off the pace, the Greys Inn gelding broke well and raced second for most of the journey. He put his head in front approaching the 400m marker and kept on strongly in the closing stages of the race to beat LEGISLATE by a length and a half.
In terms of prizemoney the Gr1 Paddock Stakes shared top billing and here we saw a smart performance from the aptly named SMART CALL. Always handy in what proved to be the slowest of the afternoon’s three 1800m events, Ormond Ferraris’ charge took up the running 200m out and went on to win well by two from the locally trained INARA.
The Gr3 Politician Stakes for 3yo’s was surprisingly the quickest of the three 1800m races and here we saw an eye catching performance from the progressive BLACK ARTHUR. Guarding the rear as the thirteen runners turned for home, Justin Snaith’s charge ran on best of all over the final 600m and won going away by three quarters after striking the front close home.
Titbits
The recent maiden winner NIGHTINGALE won the MR68 Handicap over 2000m in good style going away.
Now a winner of two from three, VILIKAZI came from the rear when getting up late to win the MR85 Handicap over 1600m.
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Smart Double
Greyville 10th January: This was the meeting originally scheduled to take place on the turf at Scottsville. They raced on the poly track on Sunday where five of the eight races were run over 1200m. The fastest of these was the bill topping MR86 Handicap won by JAYYED. Sent off third in the betting market at 5/1, Mike De Kock’s charge was a little slow into stride and raced in the rear early on. He quickened well in the straight and in what was a thrilling three way finish he only got the verdict by the narrowest of margins.
The remaining three races were all staged over 1000m and quickest home amongst these was the veteran QUINTELLA when registering only her third career victory in the MR66 Handicap. Making her seventy third racecourse appearance here the Miesque’s Approval mare wasn’t the quickest into stride and raced in midfield during the early part of the race. She made her move early in the straight and got up late to deny the 4yo WHISTLING WONDER.
A maiden juvenile plate over 1000m had gotten proceedings underway and here we saw a very comfortable victory for Jayyed’s stable companion MEGNAAS. Always in the red, the son of Asiatic Boy took up the running shortly after passing the 200m marker and won going away by three.
Titbits
ASTROMAN won the third division of the maiden 1200m very easily by three and a half.
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Fastest In South Africa
Fairview 11th January: The Western Winter mare BLIZZARD BELLE broke the course record when completing a four-timer in the Eastern Cape on Monday and in the process she became the fastest horse ever over 1000m in South Africa. Soon at the head of affairs, Yvette Bremner’s charge kept up a healthy gallop throughout and won comfortably from the running on COPPER PARADE.
The course was clearly running very fast though as the maiden plate over 1000m won by the aptly named SPEED LIGHTNING was won in a time just 0,86 seconds slower than that of Blizzard Belle. Either the record stands to be broken again in similar conditions, or Speed Lightning is going to prove to be useful. Always handy, the son of A P Answer took up the running 250m out and drew clear easily in the closing stages of the race to score by four and a quarter.
Quickest home in the three 1400m races was ETERNAL JET in the pinnacle stakes. Freely available at 20/1 on the off, the Jet Master gelding raced in the rear and was easily eight lengths off the pace turning for home. Once given rein though he quickened well and in a blanket finish he got up the very last stride.
Titbits
The 8yo MONEY GRUBBER won the MR84 Handicap over 2000m going away by three and a quarter.
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Ruler In Charge
Vaal 12th January: Tuesday’s action took place on the outside track where four of the nine races were run over 1400m. The fastest home in these was the 5yo BRAD’S SURGE when causing a major upset in the afternoon’s feature event, a MR93 Handicap. Sent off as the rank outsider of the ten horse party at 33/1, Bradley Maroun’s charge raced towards the rear early on. He ran on stoutly from halfway and got the verdict over SOVEREIGN MINT by a half.
The best bet on the card for many was AFRICAN RULER in the MR88 Handicap, and in what proved to be the faster of the two 1000m events, he did indeed do the business. Sent off a well-supported favourite at 11/10, Paul Peter’s charge was soon up handy. He was ridden to lead going through the 200m and comfortably accounted for RAFA by a length and a half.
By far the faster of the two 1600m events was the MR68 Handicap won by BAJAN FANTASY. Always easy to back at around 8/1, the 3yo daughter of Mullins Bay was soon positioned close to the speed. She initially led passing the 400m pole, but was headed 100m later by the well-supported favourite ALEXA. She fought back gamely from there onwards and won well by a length after regaining the lead 100m out.
Titbits
Lightly raced AMERICAN STORY won the maiden plate over 1600m with authority by two.
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The Word Was Out
Kenilworth 13th January: All the rage to win the opening maiden juvenile plate over 1000m in Cape Town on Wednesday was the newcomer THE SECRET IS OUT. Deep in the red at 9/20 on the off, the full sister to ALL IS SECRET was soon positioned up with the speed. She took command going through the 400m and despite racing very green won well with some in hand.
The faster of the two 1200m races on the card was the maiden plate in which the 15/20 favourite ORION QUEST came home smoking. Run in a time some 0,57 seconds faster than the MR76 Handicap, Brett Crawford’s charge was soon up handy. He took up the running at the 400m marker and cruised clear in the closing stages of the race to score by seven and a quarter.
Four of the afternoon’s eight races were run over 1400m and quickest home amongst these was MR WISE GUY when showing good improvement to win the MR79 Handicap. Sent off second in the betting market at 4/1, Joey Ramsden’s charge was guarding the rear as the seven runners turned for home. He ran on best of all in the straight and after getting the better of the well-supported favourite MIDNIGHT ZONE 200m out, he went on to score with some in hand by a length and a quarter.
Titbits
The recent maiden winner SUPERCILIOUS won the MR70 Handicap over 1400m very easily by four and three quarters.
KINGVOLDT was continually baulked at the business end of the MR94 Handicap over 1400m, and did well to get up late.
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Top speedratings for this weekend include:-
Fairview (fri)
Race 1: (5) O Tamara 2 (nb)
Race 2: (1) Salinger 8
Race 3: (3) Fourteen 10
Race 4: (1) Witchery 42 (NAP**)
Race 5: (9) Tiger Hotspur 42
Race 6: (9) Sail Intotheclouds 50
Race 7: (1) Eros’ Girl 60
Race 8: (4) Summer Cruise 41
Race 9: (8) Captain Blackwater 64
Greyville (fri)
Race 1: (12) Mynameisbond 55
Race 2: (9) Seeking The Dream 34
Race 3: (8) National Chimes 41
Race 4: (14) Portman Square 23 (EW)
Race 5: (14) Millenium Reign 46
Race 6: (10) Thanda 46
Race 7: (10 Mark My Card 75
Race 8: (2) Golden Earings 16
Turffontein (sat)
Race 1: (10) Silver King 6
Race 2: (2) Shadow Ofhis Smile 84
Race 3: (3) Topography 23
Race 4: (3) Jay River 15
Race 5: (3) Gambol 43
Race 6: (10) Global Spin 47
Race 7: (9) American Storm 82
Race 8: (9) Miracle Rising 65
Race 9: (8) Aza Arrow 50
Kenilworth (sat)
Race 1: (1) Beaute Noire 8
Race 2: (5) Sunday Seventh 37
Race 3: (10) Whisky Baron 22 (NAP*)
Race 4: (2) Royal Chian 9
Race 5: (9) Streak Of Silver 47
Race 6: (2) Brazuca 65
Race 7: (1) Same Jurisdiction 100 (nb)
Race 8: (11) Silver Mountain 84
Race 9: (1) Variance 16
Scottsville (sun)
Race 1: (2) Dawn Calling 8
Race 2: (1) Glimmer Of Silver 7
Race 3: (2) Camomile 16
Race 4: (3) Destined For Dawn 27
Race 5: (2) Minnie The Minx 12
Race 6: (1) Silver 23
Race 7: (2) Piano Man 71
Race 8: (9) King’s Affair 38 (NAP*)
Top rated winners last week included
Roman Society won 15/4
Donna Amarta won 7/2
Overshadow won 33/10
Zafira won 5/2
Qing won 2/1
Crimson Magic won 14/10
African Ruler won 11/10
Astroman won 17/20
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Notebook:-
Black Arthur (J Snaith, W-Cape)
The Secret Is Out (V Marshall, W-Cape)
Vilikazi (B Crawford, W-Cape)
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FASTEST TIMES
The number of races run over each distance is shown in brackets
*Denotes – Times taken by Clockwatcher
Kenilworth (new) 9th January
Penetrometer 23 – Going Good
1000m (3) Harry Lime 59,05
1200m (1) Captain Swarovski 72,43
1600m (4) Legal Eagle 99,23
1800m (3) Black Arthur 111,20
2000m (1) Nightingale 127,19
Greyville (poly) 10th January
Going Standard
1000m (3) Quintella 58,60
1200m (5) Jayyed 70,35
Fairview (turf) 11th January
Penetrometer 22 – Going Good
1000m (3) Blizzard Belle 54,55
1400m (3) Eternal Jet 82,61
2000m (2) Money Grubber 123,53
Vaal (outside) 12th January
Penetrometer 22 – Going Good
1000m (2) African Ruler 56,36
1200m (1) Dukes Dime 70,87
1400m (4) Brad’s Surge 81,08
1600m (2) Bajan Fantasy 95,19
Kenilworth (new) 13th January
Penetrometer 22 – Going Good
1000m (1) The Secret Is Out 60,95
1200m (2) Orion Quest 73,34
1400m (4) Mr Wise Guy 86,05
1600m (1) Belle Of Croom 102,22
