Go Slow
Fairview 20th November: Monday’s action took place on the poly track where one wonders why the times, over all distances, were much slower than usual. The MR65 Handicap over 1200m proved to be the fastest race on the card comparatively and here we saw a smart performance from the 4yo QUINELIA. A fluent winner over 1300m on this surface last time out, the daughter of Querari was hampered early on and as a result she raced in midfield. She ran on best of all in the short home straight and won going away by two and a quarter after striking the front 150m out.
The only other distance to stage more than one race on the program was 1900m where the quickest of the three was the MR80 Handicap won by the former KZN campaigner CAT IN COMMAND. Making his fourth appearance since relocation to the province, the 7yo raced fifth of the eight for most of the journey. He quickened best over the final 400m and in a thrilling three way finish he got up in the dying strides.
A MR86 Handicap over 1200m topped the bill and here the favourite MIRANDA FROST duly landed the odds. Taken straight to the front by Greg Cheyne, the daughter of Western Winter led throughout. She was always doing it easily and although the improving PINK ROCK did run on strongly from off the pace and was only beaten a neck, Miranda was never asked to engage top gear.
Titbits
Running on from midfield, FREMONT didn’t find the clearest of passages when winning the maiden plate over 1300m by a length and a quarter.
Stunning Prison
Vaal 21st November: They raced on the outside track on Tuesday where five of the afternoon’s nine races were run over 1200m. The fastest of these on my clock was the bill topping MR83 Handicap in which the 4yo TORRE DEL ORO registered his third career victory. On leaving the stalls it was the 9yo VULCAN who elected to make the running whilst the son of Trippi sat fifth. He ran on best of all over the final 400m and under a well-judged ride from Pierre Strydom, he got up late to beat the useful ARABIAN BEAT.
The faster of the two 1000m races was the maiden plate in which the odds on favourite STAR OF JOBURG got off the mark. Soon positioned close to the speed, Erico Verdonese’s charge got the better of the front running HE’S GREAT 90m out and went on to score comfortably by a half.
The two remaining races were both run over 1600m and here the MR65 Handicap won by TRIP TO TROY was the quicker. Freely available at 7/1 on the off, the top weight was always handy. He ran on strongly from halfway and despite being disadvantaged by a slipped saddle won well by a half from the running on RESOLUTE CAPTAIN.
Titbits
The newcomer PENNY ROYAL impressed when winning the maiden plate going away with some in hand.
Stepping Up
Kenilworth 22nd November: Despite some much needed rain, the going was still good in Cape Town on Wednesday where three of the afternoon’s eight races were staged over 1400m. By far the fastest of these was the MR80 Handicap won by the improving BERNIE. A winner at Durbanville over this distance in the maiden ranks last time out, this son of Horse Chestnut was soon up handy. He was ridden to lead as they approached the 200m marker and comfortably accounted for the always handy HEMMINGWAY by two and a quarter.
The faster of the two 1600m events which brought proceedings to a close was the conditions plate in which SEATTLE GOLD registered her fourth career victory. Freely available at 36/1 on the off Brett Crawford’s charge made all. She raced a length clear throughout and although the well-supported 21/20 favourite GIMME SIX chased hard over the final 400m, she did have that one held by three quarters at the wire.
Two of the three remaining races were run over 1000m and in what proved to be the faster of these, a MR72 Handicap, we saw a smart performance from the recent maiden winner WHAT A WINNER. Another to make all, the son of What A Winter was always clear, and showing good improvement won without any anxious moments by two and a quarter.
Titbits
OMEGA FORCE ran on strongly in the closing stages when getting up late to open her account in the maiden 1200m.
Cruising In
Vaal 23rd November: With the false rail out 3m from the 2400m – 500m marks, it was no surprise that the only race down the straight, the MR66 Handicap over 1000m, was comparatively the fastest race on the card. The winner AIRTAXI raced in midfield early on. He ran on stoutly when given rein 400m out and won well by a half after striking the front 100m out.
The only distance to stage more than one event on the nine race program was 1500m where quickest home was FISH RIVER CANYON in the MR63 Handicap. Initially priced up as the favourite, Gary Alexander’s charge was always in touch with the leaders. She took up the running shortly after passing the 200m marker and won well by a length and a half.
In terms of distance, the easiest victory on the card was recorded by KANTARA QUEEN in the opening work rider’s maiden plate over 1500m. Making her eleventh racecourse appearance here, the 9/1 shot was soon up handy. She was ridden to lead as they approached the 200m pole and cruised clear in the closing stages of the race to score by six and a half.
Titbits
The 3yo FLIGHT SCHOOL showed good improvement when winning the boy’s division of the maiden plate over 1500m with plenty in hand.
The well supported favourite CASH TIME came from the backend of midfield when winning the MR66 Handicap over 2000m going away.
Just The Three
Greyville 24th November: As is the norm nowadays in KZN a barrier trial over 1000m kicked off proceedings. Run in a typically slow time, EVERLASTING LOVE was first past the post. She put her head in front 200m out and with none of the runners in any kind of a hurry in the closing stages of the race, she won comfortably by a length and a half.
Race 1 was a maiden plate over 1600m and here we saw a comfortable victory for the joint second favourite FLY BY SKYE. Always handy, Glen Kotzen’s charge took up the running approaching the 300m marker and won well by a length and a half from the favourite BIOMETRIC.
Racing was delayed due to a heavy downpour and close proximity of an electric storm after the running of this race, and after race two was run in very heavy rain the remainder of the meeting was abandoned.
Race two was the girl’s division of the maiden 1600m and in a time not surprisingly slower than that of race one, the best bet on the card for Sporting Post, MISS MILANNA still managed to do the business. Soon prominent, Dean Kannemeyer’s charge took command 220m out and won going away.
Titbits
CHROME BLUE (jarred right fore knee) and REDEEMER (elevated temperature) were the only early scratchings in the abandoned later races.
Top speedratings for this weekend include:-
Fairview (fri)
Race 1: No Qualifiers
Race 2: (10) Tin Tan 7 (NAP**)
Race 3: (5) Silver Goblet 11
Race 4: (7) Precious Pansy 33 (nb)
Race 5: (10) Emerald Island 41
Race 6: (10) Grandissimo 65
Race 7: (6) Vous Et Var 84
Race 8: (5) Kimberley Club 37
Race 9: (6) Across The Lake 30
Greyville (fri)
Race 1: (1) Kateecador 6 (nb)
Race 2: (2) Vision Of Trust 17
Race 3: (4) Rodney 75
Race 4: (2) Myelisha 13
Race 5: (4) Prince Ponti 14
Race 6: (6) Lonely Arethebrave 63
Race 7: (2) Gadget Man 39 (NAP*)
Race 8: (10) Mayfair 51
Race 9: (10) Soldier’s Bride 31
Turffontein (sat)
Race 1: (15) Tia 5
Race 2: (1) Prince Of War 12
Race 3: (6) Lobo’s Legend 23
Race 4: (7) Arte 35
Race 5: (2) Outside Edge 8
Race 6: (6) Dhabyaan 62
Race 7: (2) Angelic 7
Race 8: (1) Green Top 40
Race 9: (7) Subtle Force 26
Race 10: (1) Twelve Oaks 42
Kenilworth (sat)
Race 1: (6) Rebel’s Burst 7
Race 2: (1) Straat-Kind 40
Race 3: (2) Love Happens 14
Race 4: (2) Believethisbeauty 11
Race 5: (2) Mujaafy 73
Race 6: (1) Marinaresco 99
Race 7: (4) Via Seattle 71
Race 8: (1) Legal Eagle 101
Race 9: (4) Wedgwood 48
Scottsville (sun)
Race 1: (10) Special Force 2
Race 2: (14) Tommaso 8
Race 3: (4) Musigny 22
Race 4: (1) Rose Hill 15
Race 5: (3) Neala 83
Race 6: (3) Wynkelder 75
Race 7: (6) Wealthy 70
Race 8: (6) Ryker 69
Race 9: (1) Toltec 15)
Race 10: (1) Lady Li Lay 8
Top rated winners last week included
Cat In Command won 15/1
Quinelia won 6/1
What A Joker won 41/10
Magic Flame won 7/2
Omega Force won 15/10
Miss Milanna won 12/10
Plano won 9/10
Star Of Joburg won 9/10
Notebook:-
Penny Royal (JAJ v Vuuren, Gauteng)
FASTEST TIMES
The number of races run over each distance is shown in brackets
*Denotes – Times taken by Clockwatcher
Fairview (poly) 20th November
Going Standard
Course Variant: 2,77s slow
1000m (1) Mini Loushe 60,04
1200m (2) Qunelia 71,93
1300m (1) Fremont 78,44
1600m (1) Rule The World 97,79
1900m (3) Cat In Command 118,61
Vaal (outside) 21st November
Penetrometer 22 – Going Good
Course Variant: 0,23s fast
1000m (2) Star Of Joburg 57,10
1200m (5) Torro Del Oro 69,56
1600m (2) Trip To Troy 95,14
Kenilworth (old) 22nd November
Penetrometer 23 – Going Good
Course Variant: 0,2s fast
1000m (2) What A Winner 59,97
1200m (1) Omega Force 74,15
1400m (3) Bernie 85,62
1600m (2) Seattle Gold 99,09
Vaal (classic) 23rd November
Penetrometer 23 Going – Good
Course Variant: 0,28s fast
1000m (1) Airtaxi 56,56
1200m (1) Decision Time 70,71
1500m (4) Fish River Canyon 91,74
1700m (1) Crazy Vision 105,31
2000m (1) Cash Time 124,79
2400m (1) Casino 154,14
Greyville (poly) 24th November
Going Standard
1000m (1) Everlasting Love 61,51
1600m (2) Fly By Skye 98,88
