Now Or Never
Kenilworth 2nd January
Solemn Promise
The best bet on the card for many in Cape Town on Sunday was the Right Approach filly APPROACH ME (29) and she didn’t let down her supporters. Always deep in the red to win this 1600m maiden event, Yogis Govender’s charge was content to sit towards the rear during the early part of the race. She was asked to take closer order early in the straight and soon began to make headway. She hit the front shortly after passing the 300m marker and went on to score very comfortably from BOOBALINA who also finished well.
There were a number of very close finishers on the day and none more so than that of the maiden event over 1200m in which the well supported BLUE ON BLUE (21) did the business. Backed into favouritism at 28/10 (opened 33/10), Stan Elley’s charge was always handy. She ran on stoutly at the business end of the race and in what proved to be a real thriller, she only got the verdict by the narrowest of margins from TOADINTHEVILLAGE.
At the other end of the scale, the easiest victory on the card was recorded by BUSH PIRATE (89) who gained a well overdue first feature race success in the listed Southeaster Sprint over 1100m. Initially priced up at 20/1, Joey Ramsden’s charge was nibbled at throughout the day and was eventually sent off at 17/2. Bush Pirate got away well when the gates opened and nicely positioned in fifth when the race began in earnest was always poised to strike. He struck the front shortly after passing the 300m marker and went on to score very easily from the hattrick seeking KAYHALADIN by three and a half.
The Gr2 Sceptre Stakes over 1200m topped the bill and here we saw another smart performance from the up and coming COVENANT (92). A fluent winner of the Gr2 Southern Cross Stakes last time out, Mike Bass’ charge was soon up handy. She didn’t get the clearest of runs when the race began in earnest 400m out, but once seeing daylight she quickened well. Indeed, Covenant finished best of all in the closing stages of the race and even though the well supported 22/10 favourite DANCE WITH AL got first run, she went on to score very comfortably by two and a quarter. Now a winner of four of her seven career starts to date, Covenant is improving nicely and is clearly one to keep tabs on.
Titbits
LUCKY MOON was baulked for a run twice when only beaten 1,8 lengths in the 1400m novice event.
MERINGE ran on well in the latter stages of the MR77 affair over 1800m.
Fairview 3rd January
Strawberries And Cream
The easiest victory in Port Elizabeth on Monday was recorded by SPEED OF LIGHT who came home smoking in the opening maiden event over 1100m. Racing for the first time since relocating from the Western Cape, Speed Of Light raced prominent throughout. He was ridden to lead as they approached the 300m marker and kept on strongly from there onwards to beat the running on MASTER MOGOK by four and a half.
Another to win well in the maiden ranks, albeit by a small margin, was CLEMO who opened his account in the 1700m event. The fifteen strong field soon became very strung out and racing second last, Jacque Strydom’s charge looked to have more than enough to do on turning for home. Once in the straight though, the easy to back Clemo (12/1 into 10/1) quickened best of all and in what proved to be a real thriller, he got up in the dying strides to deny the deposed favourite SPELLCASTER (18/10 out to 28/10).
The best bet on the card for most was ETON MESS in the novice 1400m and he didn’t let down his supporters. Sent off a strong favourite at 16/10, Alan Greeff’s charge raced in midfield during the early part of the race. PORT CURTIS and BIG DADDY dictated the pace and with both staying on strongly at the business end of the race Eton Mess had no easy task. On reaching the 400m marker though, Eton Mess suddenly took off and fairly flying at the finish, he got up late to deny the 66/1 shot Big Daddy.
Race seven on the card was a graduation event over 1200m and here victory went to one of the 9/2 joint second favourites KWACHA. Taken straight to the front by Musi Yeni, the daughter of Tiger Ridge led throughout. The easy to back CREAM CHEESE launched a serious assault 200m out and in order to score by a half, Kwacha had to work hard all the way to the wire.
Titbits
COLATERAL FORM (MR74 Handicap) was again running on strongly and will find easier pickings.
SMART PLAY caught the eye running on from the back in the maiden event over 1700m.
Vaal 4th January
Thrown In
Tuesday’s action took place on the sand where victory in the opening maiden event over 1000m went to the well supported outsider CAPRICHOSA (23). Backed throughout the morning into 7/1 from 16’s, the daughter of Toreador raced up with the speed throughout. The 17/20 favourite REGAL ROXY raced with her and 300m out it was already clear that they had the race between them. Despite being disadvantaged by a slipped saddle, Regal Roxy fought on determinedly below the distance and it was only by a neck that the money horse prevailed.
The first of four favourites on the card to arrive was BEE PATROL (28) who did the business in the maiden event over 1800m. Positioned towards the rear during the early part of the race, Bee Patrol was still some four lengths adrift when the nibbled at BLACK ACES (14/1 into 10/1) moved through to take up the running 400m out. Finishing by far the best though, Bee Patrol quickly began to reduce the deficit. He struck the front as they approached the 100m pole and went on to score very easily by two and a quarter.
Still very well weighted on sand despite having won her latest outing on the surface, POLO (15) was not surprisingly well supported (15/10 into 9/10) to win the MR68 affair over 1600m. Confidently ridden by apprentice Juglall, the 5yo Polo sat fifth for most of the journey. She was ridden to lead 100m from home and although the fancied CUT THE RIBBON tried her best to make a race of it on the run to the line, she went on to score very comfortably by a length and a quarter.
Also very well in at the weights on her turf rating was DELIGHTFULL DIVA (39) who easily accounted for her twelve rivals in the lucky last, a MR64 Handicap over 1000m. Sent off a strong favourite at 14/10, Barend Botes’ charge raced up with the speed throughout. She began to assert her authority going through the 300m and although the veteran GOLD ESSENCE ran on stoutly from off the pace, she went on to score very easily by three and a quarter.
Titbits
The 3yo PONTING’S ODDS showed good pace in the MR68 Handicap over 1600m and was only run out of it late.
Kenilworth 5th January
Major Upset
A maiden event over 1200m got proceedings underway in Cape Town on Wednesday and here we saw a nice performance from the newcomer LAKE ARTHUR (21). Sent off second favourite at 28/10, Yogis Govender’s charge raced in midfield during the early part of the race. The favourite EFFECTIVE POWER was the first to make a move and struck the front 250m out. Lake Albert was already on his heels at that point though and after he in turn struck the front 100m later, he easily drew clear. Lake Arthur won well and is clearly one to keep tabs on.
Sent off a strong favourite to win the graduation event over 1200m was the hattrick seeking 3yo CYPRESS POINT (63). The six runner field was always tightly bunched and going through the 400m just two lengths covered all. CAPTAINOFTHEGUARD struck the front 300m out and running on stoutly was always going to take some catching. Cypress Point very steadily edged closer in the latter stages though and in what proved to be a real thriller, he got up in the very last stride.
A MR88 Handicap over 1400m was next up and here it was nice to see the grey IMPERIAL FOX (62) gain a well overdue third career victory. Not usually the quickest into stride, Vaughan Marshall’s charge got away well here and raced much closer to the pace than he had done in recent starts. He moved through to take up the running as they approached the 200m marker and kept on strongly in the closing stages of the race to beat the running on ASAAL’S MAGIC by a half.
The afternoons’ feature event was the Gr2 Peninsula Handicap over 1800m and here a major upset was to be had when one of the outsiders of the sixteen horse party, LION IN WINTER (91) landed the spoils. Freely available at 40/1 on the off, Joey Ramsden’s charge was content to guard the rear for most of the journey. Once in the home straight though he quickened best of all and in a race where only two lengths covered the first nine home, he got up in the dying strides to deny another outsider PADDY O’REILLY.
Titbits
Fourth placed WOODEN COUNT ran on strongly after switching out for a run in the maiden event over 1600m.
RUN FOR IT was only beaten a neck in the Gr2 Peninsula Handicap despite being forced to ease briefly 250m out.
Top speedratings for this weekend include:-
Arlington
Race 1: (4) Taurus 21
Race 2: (7) Mill Key Way 77
Race 3: (11) Dynamite Magic 12
Race 4: (10) Slumdog Oscar 78
Race 5: (9) Valdivar 53
Race 6: (9) Cannonball 75
Race 7: (9) Master’s Edge 61
Race 8: (15) Forever Casey 62 (EW)
Turffontein
Race 1: (6) Silver Forest 19
Race 2: (4) Winter Desire 28
Race 3: (1) Hard Currency 30
Race 4: (4) Lizzie Arden 18 (NAP**)
Race 5: (10) Hollywoodboulevard 110
Race 6: (14) Apple Princess 93
Race 7: (15) National Danzig 47
Race 8: (13) Wood Be 57
Race 9: (6) Mr Black Tom 67
Race 10: (10) Pink Sombrero 51
Kenilworth
Race 1: (3) Toadinthevillage 16
Race 2: (1) Hey Toro 13
Race 3: (4) Jeppe’s Reef 14
Race 4: (4) Coasting Avalanche 18
Race 5: (1) Shades Of Indigo 78 (NAP*)
Race 6: (10) Six To Six 49
Race 7: (7) Jean Jeannie 83
Race 8: (9) In Like Flynn 78
Race 9: (11) Princess Magic 49
Scottsville
Race 1: No Qualifiers
Race 2: (5) Sexy Salsa 16
Race 3: (14) Wieland 14
Race 4: (5) Silver Heath 11 (NAP*)
Race 5: (14) National Chant 51
Race 6: (4) Haddaway 71
Race 7: (12) Askari 90
Race 8: (7) La Negrita 59
Race 9: (5) Raindrops On Roses 35
Race 10: (5) Drift Along 17
Top rated winners last week included:-
Epursimuove won 9/1
Bielorruso won 9/2
Kabamba won 9/2
Preposterous won 9/2
Princeton 2/1
Just Tiger won 18/10
Exclaim’n’exclude won 7/20
Flashing Numbers won 1/3
Notebook:-
Covenant (M Bass, W-Cape)
Eton Mess (A Greeff, E-Cape)
Lake Arthur (Y Govender, W-Cape)
Run For It (J Snaith, W-Cape)
FASTEST TIMES
(Shown in brackets is the number of races run in each category)
Kenilworth 2nd January
Fastest Sprint 1000-1300 (3) Bush Pirate
Fastest Middle 1400-1800 (5) Cool Conqueror
Fastest Long 1900-3600 (1) Golden Parachute
Fairview 3rd January
Fastest Sprint 1000-1300 (4) Kwacha
Fastest Middle 1400-1800 (4) Eton Mess
Fastest Long 1900-3600 (0) No Qualifiers
Vaal 4th January
Fastest Sprint 1000-1300 (2) Delightfull Diva
Fastest Middle 1400-1800 (6) Son Of The Burg
Fastest Long 1900-3600 (0) No Qualifiers
Kenilworth 5th January
Fastest Sprint 1000-1300 (4) Darrie
Fastest Middle 1400-1800 (4) Lion In Winter
Fastest Long 1900-3600 (0) No Qualifiers
