Inspirational Carlita
Fairview 23rd March: The listed East Cape Nursery over 1200m topped the bill in Port Elizabeth on Friday and in what comparatively proved to be the fastest race on the card, victory went to the 1/3 favourite CARLITA. Beaten just once in three starts coming into the race, and that being in the prestigious Summer Juvenile Stakes at Kenilworth, Alan Greeff’s charge was always handy. She was always doing it easily, and won as a good odds on favourite should, with some in hand.
The only other sprinting event on the eight race program was a juvenile plate over 1000m and in a classic three way finish ALFEO and SAY NO MORE shared the spoils. Both raced handy, and in what proved to be a real thriller they only finished a short head in front of BORN A BULLY.
The faster of the two 1400m races on the card was the not so lucky last, a MR80 Handicap, won by SOVIET COSMONAUT. Freely available at 147/20 on the off, the ultra-consistent son of Jay Peg was soon positioned close to the speed. He struck the front 200m out and went on to score by two and a quarter from the always handy FREE AGENT. Just a short head behind Free Agent at the finish was GREEN LANTERN. Alan Greeff’s charge ran on stoutly from second last and was flying at the finish.
Titbits
TOMBODI raced clear throughout when winning the maiden plate over 1400m without any anxious moments.
Sooner Or Later
Durbanville 24th March: Three of the eight races at the country course on Saturday were staged over 1250m and the quickest home in these was CAPE CHARLOTTE when registering her second career victory in the MR79 Handicap. Soon at the head of affairs, the daughter of Bezrin led by two for most of the journey. She kept on strongly in the straight, and with the rest unable to make any headway, she beat the running on PEARL JAM by a half. The runner up had raced fifth and was gaining quickly at the wire.
A MR100 Handicap over 1000m topped the bill and in what comparatively proved to be marginally the fastest race on the card victory went to the Noordhoek Flyer gelding NORTHERN CORNER. Content to sit at the back of the six for most of the race, Greg Ennion’s charge ran on best of all, and under a well-judged ride from apprentice Mbhele he got up 110m from home.
Another to win well from off the pace on this card was LOVE HAPPENS in the faster of the two 1600m events, a MR76 Handicap. In the rear when the race began in earnest, Justin Snaith’s charge quickened well and won going away after striking the front 50m from home.
Titbits
Always handy, the well supported 15/10 favourite AMERICAN LANDING went on to win the maiden plate over 2000m with authority.
Steeplechase Margins
Flamingo Park 26th March: There were a number of very easy victories in Kimberley on Monday and none more so than that of ANDALUSIAN in the opening maiden juvenile plate over 1000m. Pitched in against winners at Turffontein in her only previous outing, Corne Spies’ charge was very quickly in command of a five lengths advantage here. She was eased down before the line, but despite that, she still extended her lead to ten.
There were four races run over 1000m in total and the fastest of these was the MR78 Handicap won by the Pathfork gelding TURBO. Soon up handy, Stephanie Miller’s charge took up the running 150m out and won going away by four.
A pinnacle stakes topped the bill and in what proved to be the faster of the two 1600m events we saw a very easy victory for RED SPECIAL. Freely available at 10/1 on the off the top weight led throughout. He raced just a length and a quarter clear for most of the journey before drawing clear to score by seven and a quarter over the final 400m.
Titbits
PRETTY WENDY ran on well from midfield when registering her third career victory in the MR66 Handicap over 1800m.
Myths And Legends
Vaal 27th March: There had been over 104mm of rain in the seven days leading up to this meeting, but despite that the going was still posted as good off a penetrometer reading of 23. Two maiden juvenile plates over 1000m were first up and in the faster of these, the boy’s affair, the 6/10 favourite HEAVENLY RISK duly obliged. Third in the listed Storm Bird Stakes in his only previous racecourse appearance, the son of Var led throughout. He kept on strongly over the final 400m and went on to score very comfortably by two and a quarter.
The MR62 affair was the faster of the two 1200m handicaps that followed and here victory went to the Alec Laird trained ESPLORATORE. Easy to back at 6/1 on the off, the 3yo daughter of Eightfold Path raced at the back of the ten going through the 400m. She ran on best of all at the business end of the race and got the better of the front running VIRGINIA MOON by a half.
They also ran two races over 1500m and stopping the clock in the faster of these (a MR74 handicap) was the promising THE RISING LEGEND. Not the quickest into stride when the gates opened, Geoff Woodruff’s charge raced at the back, and was still there going through the 400m. Once given rein though he quickened best of all, and showing a nice turn of foot he got up late to beat COPPER POT (raced second last) by just over a half.
Titbits
The newcomers I LIKE IT and RONNIE’S CANDY both ran on very well from midfield when 1st & 4th respectively in the opening maiden juvenile plate over 1000m.
Running on from the rear, OSSETRA was flying at the finish when only beaten a neck in the MR72 Handicap over 1200m.
Progressing Nicely
Greyville 28th March: Other than the barrier trial, two 1200m events got proceedings underway on the poly track on Wednesday afternoon. The opener for juveniles was marginally the faster of these and here victory went to ARIANO’S SHADOW. Always handy, the lessor fancied of Gavin Van Zyl’s two runners struck the front 170m out and won going away by two and a quarter.
Taking into account the barrier trial, three of the afternoon’s events were staged over 1000m and comfortably the fastest of these was the MR80 Handicap won by the progressive 3yo WINTER BLUES. Now a winner of four from six, Louis Goosen’s charge broke well and was soon positioned close to the speed. He was ridden to lead approaching the 200m marker and kept on strongly in the closing stages of the race to beat the running on PANZA by a half.
They also ran three races over 1400m and quickest home here was CHAMPENOIS when winning the afternoon’s feature event, a MR84 Handicap. Confidently ridden by replacement ridden Tristan Godden, the daughter of Visionaire sat fourth for most of the journey. She put her head in front 100m out and just had enough in hand to get the verdict over the running on MISS MILANNA by a short head.
Titbits
The best bet on the card for many, MAJESTIC MARY cruised clear over the final 250m when opening her account in the maiden plate over 1200m by five.
Top speedratings for this weekend include:-
Fairview (fri)
Race 1: (4) Rendezvous 4
Race 2: (9) Air Belle 5 (EW)
Race 3: (4) Big Jay’s 7
Race 4: (7) Shady World 44
Race 5: (11) Stone Town 34
Race 6: (12) Shine Like A Star 55
Race 7: (5) Silva Key 24
Race 8: (6) Blizzard King 29
Greyville (fri)
Race 1: (3) Cue The Music 7 (NAP*)
Race 2: (2) Esstoora 8
Race 3: (4) Bonnie Dawn 55
Race 4: (3) Stockade 37 (EW)
Race 5: (4) Dark Chocolate 40
Race 6: (7) Salsa Queen 30
Race 7: (8) Into The Groove 46
Race 8: (2) Prince Ardent 15
Turffontein (sat)
Race 1: (6) Peppermint Tea 31 (NAP*)
Race 2: (1) Tia 9
Race 3: (3) Dagmar 42
Race 4: (1) Bold Eagle 55
Race 5: (4) Speedpoint 74
Race 6: (1) Legal Eagle 101 (nb)
Race 7: (3) Greek Fire 71
Race 8: (1) Takingthepeace 61
Race 9: (6) Royal Utopia 77
Race 10: (4) Tambalang 80
Race 11: (3) Imperial Ounce 13 (EW)
Race 12: (7) Make Me Happy 48
Kenilworth (sat)
Race 1: (6) Frank Lloyd Wright 21 (NAP*)
Race 2: (2) Boy Scout 9
Race 3: (2) Flower Of Carmel 15
Race 4: (5) The Silva Fox 13
Race 5: (2) Hammie’s Fan 11
Race 6: (6) Bridal Party 36
Race 7: (2) Nordic Breeze 69
Race 8: (2) Straat-Kind 40 (nb)
Race 9: (7) Milden Spell 51
Greyville (sun)
Race 1: (17) Cashmere Mist 5
Race 2: (10) Palace Rose 8
Race 3: (2) Grizzard 14
Race 4: (1) Crown And Country 28
Race 5: (3) London Call 93
Race 6: (5) Kasimir 93
Race 7: (4) Fish River 76
Race 8: (10) French Legend 62
Race 9: (5) Liquid Rainbow 60
Race 10: (2) Waywood 40
Top rated winners last week included
Chit Chat won 11/1
Quebec Queen won 8/1
Social Order won 9/2
Rose Hill won 17/10
Majestic Mary won 8/10
Heavenly Risk won 6/10
Miss Smartie Pants won 6/10
Carlita won 1/3
Notebook:-
The Rising Legend (G Woodruff, Gauteng)
Winter Blues (L Goosen, KZN)
FASTEST TIMES
The number of races run over each distance is shown in brackets
*Denotes – Times taken by Clockwatcher
Fairview (turf) 23rd April
Penetrometer 23 – Going Good
Course Variant: 1,00s slow
1000m (1) Alfeo/Say No More 57,32
1200m (1) Carlita 68,82
1400m (2) Soviet Cosmonaut 84,50
1800m (2) Seattle Swing 110,77
2000m (2) Seeking Wisdom 127,01
Durbanville 24th March
Penetrometer 20 Good
Course Variant: 0,26s fast
1000m (1) Northern Corner 57,76
1250m (3) Cape Charlotte 74,36
1600m (2) Love Happens 96,90
2000m (2) American Landing 121,18
Flamingo Park 26th March
Going Rain Affected
1000m (4) Turbo 58,24
1400m (3) Nico’s Chick 87,60
1600m (2) Red Special 99,71
1800m (1) Pretty Wendy 114,73
2200m (1) Russian Saint 153,47
Vaal (inside) 27th March
Penetrometer 23 – Going Good
Course Variant: 0,32s slow
1000m (2) Heavenly Risk 58,07
1200m (2) Esploratore 69,78
1500m (2) The Rising Legend 88,74
1800m (1) Sucha Charmer 110,93
2000m (1) Tirzan 123,00
Greyville (poly) 28th March
Going Standard
Course Variant: 1,52s slow
1000m (3) Winter Blues 58,89
1200m (2) Ariano’s Shadow 72,47
1400m (3) Champenois 83,92
1800m (1) Illuminate 111,95
