Fastest Of Five
Scottsville 21st January: Five of the ten races in Pietermaritzburg on Sunday were run over 1000m and stopping the clock in the fastest time amongst these was AUTUMN IN SEATTLE in the MR86 Handicap. Soon up handy in a race in which just seven went to post, Pat Lunn’s charge raced prominent throughout. He ran on strongly over the final 400m and won comfortably by a half from the always handy FILIPPO.
Just 14/100th of a second separated the winning times of the three 1400m races, where surprisingly the quickest home was SHANDY in the girl’s division of the maiden plate. Another to race close to the speed, this 4yo daughter of Kahal took up the running as they approached the 200m marker, and kept on strongly in the closing stages of the race to hold off a determined challenge from the 5/4 favourite TRAVEL GUIDE.
The two remaining races were moderate handicaps over 1950m and first past the post in the faster of these, a MR67 affair, was the easy to back BALLYMAINE. Freely available at 11/1 on the off the recent maiden winner raced in midfield for most of the journey. He cut through the field quickly in the home straight and won with authority by three from the favourite AMOR ARDIENTE.
Titbits
The 3yo CALLADDI was always in command when comfortably accounting for his twelve rivals in the maiden plate over 1000m.
Beaten by the narrowest of margins, MAJESTIC GLORY ran on well from midfield and would surely have won the MR72 Handicap over 1000m in another stride.
Not Playing Ball
Vaal 23rd January: They raced on the classic track on Tuesday where the afternoon’s feature event was a pinnacle stakes over 1000m. The talented BULL VALLEY was sent off favourite, but was never able to get in a blow. Victory instead, in a race that was not particularly a fast run affair, went to the filly WRECKING BALL. Freely available at 15/1 on the off Grant Maroun’s charge led throughout. She kept on strongly at the business end of the race and won well by a length and a quarter from another relatively unfancied runner in PURE BLONDE (11/1).
Marginally the faster of the two 1200m races on the card was the MR79 Handicap in which STATE TROOPER made it two from three. Allowed to flirt with 10/1 at one stage after opening up at 9/2, Roy Magner’s charge was always in touch with the leaders. He ran on strongly over the final 400m and in a race where just three quarters of a length separated the first four home, he got up late.
The 3yo PEARL OF BAHRAIN was the best bet on the card for most and the 3yo daughter of Western Winter didn’t let down her supporters. Always deep in the red, Mike De Kock’s charge was soon positioned close to the speed. She took up the running as they approached the 200m marker and with plenty in hand won going away by three and three quarters.
Titbits
Backed into joint favouritism at the track, MANEATER won the opening work rider’s maiden plate over 2000m with authority by two and a half.
Timed To Perfection
Fairview 24th January: Wednesday’s action took place on the poly track where three of the afternoon’s eight races were staged over 1200m. The MR80 Handicap was the fastest of these and here the 4yo FLIGHT CAPTAIN registered his fifth career victory. Soon nicely positioned in second, Yvette Bremner’s charge took up the running 300m out and comfortably accounted for the running on LORD WINDERMERE by two.
The conditions plate proved to be the faster of the two 2200m races and here MASTERLY caused an upset. The well supported STORMY ECLIPSE was the first to make a move in the home straight and going through the 200m he looked to have done everything right. Masterly quickened best of all below the distance though and in what proved to be a real thriller he got up in the dying strides.
Two of the three remaining races were staged over 1600m and stopping the clock in the faster of these was FIRE IN THE BELLY in the bill topping MR85 Handicap. In what very quickly became a strung out field, the bottom weight raced second of the seven for most of the journey. He put his head in front going through the 300m and cruised clear in the closing stages of the race to score by five and a quarter.
Titbits
Easily eight lengths off the pace rounding the bend, lightly raced SEARCHING ran on best of all in the short home straight when a one and a quarter length runner up in the girl’s division of the maiden plate over 1400m.
Even money favourite CHAPPAQUIDDICK cruised clear over the final 300m when winning the maiden plate over 2200m by seven and three quarters.
Despite A Slipped Saddle
Vaal 25th January: Despite being disadvantaged by a slipped saddle, BRIGHT BLESSED DAY was the quickest home in the five 1200m races. Backed into the red to win the second division of the maiden plate, the 3yo son of Judpot raced three lengths off the speed early on. Once given rein though he quickened well and won going away after striking the front 300m out.
The only other distance to stage more than one race was 1700m where the very well weighted WAITY KATIE won the faster of the two. Taking into account apprentice Lerena’s 4kg allowance, Waity Katie was racing off a mark 36 points below that of her former best in this MR64 Handicap. On the heels of the leader throughout, the Jay Peg mare took command 150m out and won going away by a length and a quarter.
Another to win well on this card was the well supported FORAFEWDOLLARSMORE in the MR81 Handicap over 2000m. A little slow into stride when the gates opened, Sean Tarry’s charge raced eighth of the ten during the early part of the race. She cut through the field quickly when given rein and won going away by a length and a quarter.
Titbits
At the head of affairs throughout, WILD CURVE found extra when challenged by the well supported favourite IMPERIAL QUEST and with the rest well beaten he won fair and square by a length and a half.
Quality Umpire
Greyville 26th January: A maiden juvenile plate over 1200m got proceedings underway on the poly track on Friday night and albeit in a comparatively slow time, we saw a very smart performance from DICKIE BIRD. Making only his second racecourse appearance here Glen Kotzen’s charge raced in midfield during the early part of the race. He cut through the field like a knife in the short home straight and cruised clear from the 200m pole to score by four and a half.
A MR84 Handicap over 1000m topped the bill and here victory went to the 3yo QUEEN OF ALAMO. Soon up handy despite being a little slow into stride, the 3yo daughter of Pathfork raced prominent throughout. She put her head in front 50m out and just held on from the very steadily gaining VINE STREET STAR (came from the rear).
The two 1600m races were both maiden plates and by far the faster of these was the boy’s affair won by ITDAWNEDONME. The field was always very tightly bunched and although Charlie Laird’s charge raced towards the rear he was always well within striking distance. He ran on best of all over the final 400m and under a well-judged ride from KEAGAN DE MELO he got up 100m out.
Titbits
TANAMI only had to be pushed out when winning the MR62 Handicap over 2000m.
Top speedratings for this weekend include:-
Fairview (fri)
Race 1: (11) Tune The Scope 9
Race 2: (6) Seattle Splendour 8
Race 3: (3) Love Talk 11
Race 4: (1) Cristian 8
Race 5: (3) Via Seattle 70 (NAP*)
Race 6: (3) Captain Marooned 58
Race 7: (1) Easy Street 67
Race 8: (7) Story Of My Life 84
Race 9: (10) Bring Me More 39
Greyville (fri)
Race 1: (1) Minaloushe Venture 10
Race 2: (5) Travel Guide 13
Race 3: (5) Fantasy Art 45 (NAP*)
Race 4: (9) Dom Seguidor 43
Race 5: (6) Gadget Man 43
Race 6: (6) Sea Urchin 56
Race 7: (3) Stockade 29
Race 8: (12) Power Horse 31
Turffontein (sat)
Race 1: (4) Imperial Ounce 29
Race 2: (3) Greek Fire 74
Race 3: (6) She’s A Giver 89
Race 4: (1) Agent Kay 6
Race 5: (1) Witchcraft 64
Race 6: (11) Secret Captain 95
Race 7: (6) The David Baird 73
Race 8: (2) Fish River 48
Race 9: (8) Inn A Million 73
Race 10: (1) Tigerlace 10
Durbanville (sat)
Race 1: (1) Flower Of Carmel 20
Race 2: (3) Kingston Passage 58 (NAP*)
Race 3: (5) Bikini Model 8
Race 4: (7) Black Pimpinel 13
Race 5: (5) Bank The Cash 50
Race 6: (5) Trip To Ibiza 39
Race 7: (7) Amazingly 45
Race 8: (11) Chatuchak 12 (nb)
Scottsville (sun)
Race 1: (3) Val-La-Ree 7
Race 2: (1) Golden Pheasant 12
Race 3: (1) Tough Love 4
Race 4: (7) Voodoo 8
Race 5: (2) On Your Life 43 (NAP*)
Race 6: (2) Call Me Winter 51
Race 7: (5) Head Honcho 69
Race 8: (4) Roman Courtesan 6
Top rated winners last week included
Just Too Early won 9/1
Waltzed Home won 31/4
Unbelievable Lad won 67/20
Maneater won 26/10
My Favourite Brown won 13/20
Boxley won 5/8
Pearl Of Bahrain won 4/10
Snowdance won 1/4
Notebook:-
Bright Blessed Day (G Van Zyl, Gauteng)
Pearl Of Bahrain (M De Kock, Gauteng)
FASTEST TIMES
The number of races run over each distance is shown in brackets
*Denotes – Times taken by Clockwatcher
Scottsville (inside) 21st January
Penetrometer 25 – Going G/Soft
Course Variant: 0,79s fast
1000m (5) Autumn In Seattle 55,69
1400m (3) Shandy 82,99
1950m (2) Ballymaine 117,77
Vaal (classic) 23rd January
Penetrometer 23 – Going Good
Course Variant: 0,24s fast
1000m (1) Wrecking Ball 56,73
1200m (2) State Trooper 69,79
1500m (2) Paree 90,90
1800m (2) Return To Power 109,49*
2000m (1) Maneater 126,68
Fairview (poly) 24th January
Going Standard
Course Variant: 1,22slow
1200m (3) Flight Captain 70,43
1400m (1) Stola 84,96
1600m (2) Fire In The Belly 96,02
2200m (2) Masterly 136,80
Vaal (inside) 25th January
Penetrometer 23 – Going Good
Course Variant: 0,33s fast
1000m (1) Supanova 57,27
1200m (5) Bright Blessed Day 69,46
1700m (2) Waity Katie 104,14
1800m (1) Judd’s Rocket 112,49*
2000m (1) Forafewdollarsmore 122,88
Greyville (poly) 26th January
Going Standard
1000m (1) Queen Of Alamo 58,22
1200m (2) Caddy Master 83,98
1600m (2) Itdawnedonme 97,18
1800m (1) Ideal Winter 112,22
2000m (1) Tanami 123,70
