Interesting Times
Kenilworth 16th November: The Eric Sands trained JOINERS ARMS was all the rage to win the opening maiden plate over 1200m in Cape Town on Sunday and he didn’t let down his supporters. Backed all the way in to 33/10 favourite from 12/1 the son of Greys Inn was soon positioned up with the speed. He began to assert his authority going through the 200m and comfortably accounted for the nibbled at MUSIC APP (8/1 into 6’s) by a length and three quarters. This was the second fastest of the 1200m races.
There were four races run over 1200m in total and the fastest of these, albeit by just 0,15 seconds, was the bill topping Gr2 Merchants won by TEVEZ. Always on offer at around 8/1, the Caesour gelding raced towards the backend of midfield for most of the journey. He quickened well after having to switch out for a run 400m from home and under a well-judged ride from Aldo Domeyer he got up late to deny the marginally more fancied DARING DAVE (handy – led 300m).
Three of the afternoon’s nine races took place over 1600m and fastest against the clock here was INDEPENDENCE in the MR74 Handicap. On leaving the stalls it was VALERIO who elected to make the running whilst Brett Crawford’s charge raced close up in second. He ran on stoutly over the final 400m and in a race where less than a length separated the first four home he got the verdict by a half over ROYAL FOLLY (looked to be held at the finish).
Also worthy of note on this card was the performance of INDABA when winning the MR67 Handicap over 1600m. Always handy, Dean Kannemeyer’s charge looked to be under pressure going through the 400m. On reaching the 200m pole though, he suddenly found another gear, and quickened away nicely late to win by two and a half.
Titbits
WANING CRESCENT won the maiden plate over 1600m going away by two and a half.
The exceptionally well weighted FLY BY NIGHT won the conditions plate over 1000m quite a bit more easily than the official winning margin of half a length would suggest.
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Lonely By Sixteen
Vaal 18th November: Surprisingly the faster of the two 1000m events at the sand track on Tuesday was the opening maiden plate won by the costly to follow PENITENT PIRATE. Sent off second favourite at 7/1 (op 5/2jtfav) the son of Mullins Bay broke well and was soon up with the speed. He ran on stoutly over the final 300m and with the remainder some six and three quarter lengths adrift, he comfortably accounted for the nibbled at TRIP KINGS by a length and three quarters. The runner up ran on well from midfield.
Three of the afternoon’s eight races were run over 1600m and fastest against the clock in these was another costly to follow runner in DIE KAT. Also sent off second in the betting market, Michael Azzie’s charge raced seventh of the nine for most of the journey. The field was always tightly grouped though and once given rein he quickly began to make headway. He struck the front going through the 300m and although the pacemaker JEWEL OF THE STAGE kept on determinedly once headed, he won comfortably by two.
A MR91 Handicap topped the bill and in what proved to be the fastest of the three 1200m races victory here went to the only 3yo in the race KISS ME HARDY. Always handy, the grey son of Captain Al was asked to take up the running 200m out and won going away by three and a quarter from the uneasy favourite VULCAN.
By far the easiest victory on the card was that of MULBERRY BAY in the maiden plate over 1600m. Freely available at 7/1 on the off, Gary Alexander’s charge was soon at the head of affairs. She began to assert her authority going through the 500m and drew clear very easily from there onwards to score by sixteen and a half.
Titbits
Racing on the surface for the first time, KAPITAN made all and was always clear when winning the MR73 Handicap over 1200m.
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Another Star Performance
Kenilworth 19th November: Three of the nine races in Cape Town on Wednesday were run over 1400m and the fastest of these was the MR80 Handicap won by the 3yo IN THE CRUISE. On leaving the stalls it was the recent maiden winner BLACKMORE who elected to make the running whilst the son of Western Winter raced close up in fourth. Blackmore kept on determinedly at the business end of the race and did have the rest well beaten. Joey Ramsden’s charge steadily wore him down over the final 300m though and got up late to score by under a half.
The faster of the two 1600m events was the conditions plate in which we saw another smart performance from the Danehill Dancer filly ACROSTAR. Backed into 17/10 joint favourite from 5/2 at the track, Justin Snaith’s charge, as per usual raced in the rear. Just seven had gone to post though and when given rein she quickly began to make headway. She struck the front going through the 200m and won going away from the other joint favourite EVENTUAL ANGEL by a length and a quarter. Hampered 150m out, third placed SHINGWEDZI (raced sixth) also finished well in this race.
In terms of distance the easiest victory on the card was recorded by BOSTON CELTIC when registering his second career victory in the MR72 affair over 1800m. Taken straight to the front by Grant Van Niekerk, the Fort Wood gelding soon had the field well strung out. He kept up a healthy gallop throughout and won without any anxious moments by three and a quarter.
Titbits
ULTIMATE DOLLAR ran on well from midfield when third in the maiden plate over 1200m.
Having only her second career outing here, LEGAL FORCE ran on strongly from the backend of midfield when runner up in the maiden 1000m.
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Next Door To Alice
Vaal 20th November: They raced on the inside track on Thursday where the fastest of the four 1200m events was the MR68 Handicap won by IT’SGOTTOBEME. Freely available at 33/1 on the off, the Tobe Or Nottobe mare made all. She led by a length and a half for most of the journey and that proved to be just enough to hold off the well supported favourite BERNADINE (ran on well from midfield) by a neck.
Three of the afternoon’s ten races were run over 1700m and another major upset was to be had in the fastest of these, a MR80 Handicap when the veteran APPROACHABLE bounced back to form. Easy to back at 33’s before the off, the 7yo son of Right Approach raced with the chasing pack some twelve lengths off the runaway leader LAVENDER LANDSCAPE early on. He quickened well when the field began to concertina 500m out and just got the verdict over the nibbled at WHAT A BOYTJIE by a neck.
A R100000 progress plate over 1000m topped the bill and victory here, not surprisingly, went to the very well weighted 3yo CARRY ON ALICE. The best bet on the card for many, Sean Tarry’s charge raced close up in fourth early on. The well supported VICTORIOUS (14/1 into 7/1) set the pace and she did find extra when headed by Carry On Alice 400m out. The daughter of Captain Al was always in control from there onwards and went on to score quite cosily in the end by a length and a half.
Titbits
The newcomer CORLEONI (lost two lengths, green and a little troublesome at the start) ran on well from midfield when runner up to the highly regarded TOM FOOL in the boy’s division of the maiden plate over 1200m.
The newcomer AVATARA didn’t find the clearest of passages when running on from midfield to fill fourth position in the girl’s division of the maiden 1200m.
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Top speedratings for this weekend include:-
Fairview (fri)
Race 1: (9) Sleepinseattle 14
Race 2: (1) Falling Sky 17
Race 3: (5) Arabica 24 (nb)
Race 4: (11) River Tyne 55
Race 5: (15) Fragile Flower 41
Race 6: (14) Mystical Mouse 51
Race 7: (2) Asgard 39
Race 8: (2) Chestnut’s Rocket 78 (NAP*)
Race 9: (12) Rashaad 49
Greyville (fri)
Race 1: (5) The Lonsdale 22 (nb)
Race 2: (3) Golden High 48 (NAP*)
Race 3: (6) The King’s Hand 24
Race 4: (11) London Olympics 50
Race 5: (11) Royal Lance 51
Race 6: (10) Siddharth 52
Race 7: (7) Seventh Virtue 46
Race 8: (3) West Coast Star 13
Turffontein (sat)
Race 1: (12) General Misty 36
Race 2: (10) Panchatanta 15
Race 3: (3) Pej 75
Race 4: (10) One Man’s Dream 92
Race 5: (4) Ataab 57
Race 6: (1) Harry’s Son 87
Race 7: (17) Sovereign Mint 102
Race 8: (3) Arcetri Pink 77
Race 9: (12) Kingston Mines 86
Race 10: (10) Bravo Maya 85
Race 11: (18) Dirty Champagne 70
Race 12: (14) Tamarind 35
Kenilworth (sun)
Race 1: (1) Nebra 21
Race 2: (2) Sail For Gold 20
Race 3: (3) True Asset 16
Race 4: (8) Parachute Man 57
Race 5: (6) Ze Kaiser 76
Race 6: (5) Turnstone 60
Race 7: (7) Varster 56
Race 8: (4) Indemnity 16
Scottsville (sun)
Race 1: (8) Highway Explorer 29
Race 2: (3) Bomi 14
Race 3: (1) Between The Sheets 16
Race 4: (3) Beloved Country 61 (NAP*)
Race 5: (1) Rio Carnival 92
Race 6: (3) Preamble 56
Race 7: (10) Cage Fighter 75
Race 8: (13) Try Your Luck 60
Race 9: (2) Cut And Polished 25
Race 10: (2) Jay Again 5
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Top rated winners last week included
Lily Gray won 15/4
Penitent Pirate won 7/2
By Jove won 22/10
Times Roman won 16/10
Triptique won 16/10
Fly By Night won 9/10
Carry On Alice won 15/20
Waning Crescent won 5/10
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Notebook:-
Acrostar (J Snaith, W-Cape)
Joiners Arms (A Sands, 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 (old) 16th November
Penetrometer 23 – Going Good
1000m (1) Fly By Night 59,02
1200m (4) Tevez 72,24
1600m (3) Independence 98,62
1800m (1) Saint Sophia 112,21
Vaal (sand) 18th November
Going Standard
1000m (2) Penitent Pirate 60,09
1200m (3) Kiss Me Hardy 72,16
1600m (3) Die Kat 100,98
Kenilworth (old) 19th November
Penetrometer 22 – Going Good
1000m (1) Three Blue Cranes 60,65
1200m (1) Triptique 73,40
1400m (3) In The Cruise 87,11
1600m (2) Acrostar 99,40
1800m (1) Boston Celtic 110,91
2000m (1) Chrome Blue 127,97
Vaal (inside) 20th November
Penetrometer 20 – Going Good
1000m (1) Carry On Alice 56,74
1200m (4) It’sgottobeme 68,96
1400m (1) Glorious Victory 81,47
1700m (3) Approachable 102,45
1800m (1) White Tiger 109,37
