Nice Surprise
Fairview 11th April: They raced on the poly track on Friday where victory in the opening maiden event over 1000m went to the Requiem filly MERKEL. Usually slow into stride, Jacque Strydom’s charge broke well when the gates opened and was soon up handy. She quickened well at the top of the short home straight and just held on from the running on COOL FOR CATS by a neck.
Three of the afternoon’s nine races were run over 1300m and the fastest of these was the MR60 Handicap won by the extremely well handicapped UNTAMED. Once rated 79 (raced off a mark of 60 here), the daughter of Black Minnaloushe raced third for most of the journey. She was ridden to lead as they approached the 200m pole and drew clear easily in the closing stages of the race to score by four and a half.
In a time 0,34 seconds slower than that of Untamed, the easiest victory on the card was recorded by the 3yo FIRST SURPRISE. Allowed to ease right out to 7/2 from 15/10 at the track, although still retaining his position at the top of the boards, Alan Greeff’s charge was positioned in the backend of midfield during the early part of the race. He fairly flew in the straight and cruised clear to score by six and a quarter after striking the front 200m from home.
A MR80 Handicap over 1800m topped the bill and here the stable of Alan Greeff were again on the mark when SPECK OF LIGHT registered his fourth career victory. On leaving the stalls it was SIGNATURE who elected to make the running whilst the son of Spectrum was content to sit in midfield. He made his move as they came off the bend and won well by two and a quarter after taking command 250m out.
Titbits
Running on from the rear the 28/10 2ndfav RIVER TYNE was gaining at the finish when only beaten half a length in the MR60 Handicap over 1300m.
Positioned at the back of the fourteen turning for home, MANONTHECATWALK ran on strongly in the straight and was only beaten 2,35 lengths.
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Polly Returns
Turffontein 11th April: A juvenile plate for the girls got proceedings underway on Friday and in what proved to be the fastest of the evening’s four 1160m races we saw a smart performance from the lightly raced CARRY ON ALICE. A runner up in feature events after making the running in each of her last two starts, FLAME CAT not surprisingly led them through the 500m. Carry On Alice was close on her heels at that point though and after she in turn took up the running 150m later she went on to win well by a length and three quarters. The remainder were a further 8 lengths adrift.
The Gr1 Empress Club Stakes over 1600m topped the bill and here it was nice to see last season’s Gr1 Thekwini Stakes winner ALONG CAME POLLY back in the winner’s enclosure. The 7/2 favourite JET AGLOW was the first to make a move and on striking the front 500m out she looked to have done everything right. In touch with the leaders throughout though, the daughter of Judpot quickened well at that point and with the benefit of first run she comfortably accounted for the running on ARCETRI PINK by a length and a quarter.
Titbits
Racing in open company, the 2yo LADY KY won the maiden 1160m with authority by three and a quarter.
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Extra Thrust
Scottsville 12th April: Four of the nine races in Pietermaritzburg on Saturday were run over 1200m and the fastest of these was the closing maiden event won by the heavily supported THE BIG LEAGUE. Backed throughout the day into 33/10 favourite from 20/1, Mark Dixon’s charge was soon up handy. He was ridden to lead going through the 200m and with the rest some four and a half lengths adrift, he kept on strongly to beat the fancied SAIL TO PARADISE by a neck.
A maiden juvenile plate over 1200m had gotten proceedings underway and here we saw a very comfortable victory for the Black Minnaloushe filly SPANISH FLAMENCO. Allowed to drift right out to 8/1 from 2’s at the track as money came in buckets for the newcomer OBREGA (15/10 into 4/10), Michael Roberts’ charge led throughout. She was always in command and won without any anxious moments by three and a quarter.
Marginally the faster of the two 1400m Gr3 events was the Byerley Turk won by CHESTNUT’S ROCKET. Well supported to go off favourite at 28/10 (op 4/1), Vaughan Marshall’s charge was taken straight to the front by M J Byleveld and attempted to lead throughout. It looked as if NINETEEN FOURTEEN would spoil the party when putting his head in front 300m out. The son of Horse Chestnut found extra once headed though, and after regaining the lead 200m later he went on to score by a length and a quarter.
Titbits
Beaten just a neck in the fillies maiden over 1200m, PHONETIC ran on strongly after being baulked for a run 300m out.
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Smart 2yo’s
Kenilworth 12th April: The former Gauteng campaigner RICHARD STRAUSS found good support to win the opening workrider’s maiden event in Cape Town on Saturday and he didn’t let down his supporters. In front from the halfway mark, Justin Snaith’s charge kept on strongly over the final 600m and won comfortably by two and a quarter.
Four of the afternoon’s nine races were run over 1200m in total and the fastest of these was the Allowance Plate won by CAPTAINOFMYSOUL. Taken straight to the front by Richard Fourie the daughter of Captain Al led throughout. She was always in command and won without ever having to engage the upper gears by two and a quarter.
Marginally the faster of the two listed events for juveniles over 1200m was the Somerset 1200 won by KINGVOLDT. Deep in the red at 13/20 on the off, Joey Ramsden’s charge was always handy. He was ridden to lead as they approached the 300m pole and kept on strongly in the closing stages of the race to beat the running on PRINCE OF MAGIC by two and a quarter. Detached at the rear early on, the newcomer MASTER’S EYE finished well to take third position in this race.
Titbits
Towards the rear turning for home, lightly raced FANCY YELLOW finished by far the best when getting up late to win the maiden 1400m.
HOT AFFAIR won the listed Perfect Promise Sprint with authority by a length and three quarters.
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Top speedratings for this weekend include:-
Kenilworth Race 1: (7) Rebel’s Game 18 (NAP*) Race 2: (9) Paradise Horse 16 Race 3: (4) Sister Act 23 Race 4: (12) Sir Duke 71 Race 5: (10) Sidecar 42 Race 6: (4) Dark Journey 64 Race 7: (13) Clockwinder 57 Race 8: (3) Sweet Carolyn 12 Flaming Park Race 1: (1) Asiatic Pearl 23 Race 2: (2) Extreme Dream 11 Race 3: (1) Imagine 17 Race 4: (5) Beyond The Burg 19 Race 5: (8) Tobe Heather 38 Race 6: (1) Kirtling Towers 38 Race 7: (1) Regal Breeze 27 Race 8: (7) Koenigsegg 47 Vaal (tues) Race 1: (1) Battle Of Alma 36 Race 2: (1) Across The Ice 77 (NAP**) Race 3: (1) Spiaggia 31 (nb) Race 4: (2) Shiver ‘n Shake 43 Race 5: (4) Sole Mio 60 Race 6: (6) Pylon 97 Race 7: (3) Formation 82 Race 8: (13) James Blunt 25 Scottsville Race 1: (7) Gemstone Glamour 14 Race 2: (3) Madiba’s Pride 21 Race 3: (5) Stormy Cat 24 Race 4: (1) Secret Traveller 23 Race 5: (11) Squadron 50 Race 6: (8) Bryonybrightwater 53 Race 7: (3) Ball Dancer 33 (EW) Race 8: (8) Burrwood 48 Vaal (thur) Race 1: (1) Amazing Strike 7 (NAP*) Race 2: (8) Middle Earth 4 Race 3: (1) Battle Of Alma 32 Race 4: (1) Wat’s Up Sarge 19 Race 5: (9) Sheen Queen 58 Race 6: (4) Strongmind 50 Race 7: (11) Empire Of Fire 51 Race 8: (3) Regal Stride 46 Race 9: (14) Suzi Swift 48 Race 10: (15) Indigo Pixie 41 .
Top rated winners last week included
Spanish Flamenco won 8/1 Eventual Angel won 7/2 Captainofmysoul won 33/10 Omaticaya won 18/10 Richard Strauss won 11/10 Melody Of Magic won 1/1 Sharp Design won 1/1 Kingvoldt won 13/20 .
Notebook:-
Carry On Alice (S Tarry, Gauteng) Fancy Yellow (A Marcus, W-Cape) Kingvoldt (J Ramsden, W-Cape) Master’s Eye (J Snaith, W-Cape) .
FASTEST TIMES
The number of races run over each distance is shown in brackets *Denotes – Times taken by ClockwatcherFairview (poly) 11th April Going Standard 1000m (1) Merkel 58,78 1200m (1) No Question 70,08 1300m (3) Untamed 75,88 1400m (1) 82,93 1600m (2) Cottonlino 96,85* 1800m (1) Speck Of Light 108,55 .
Turffontein (stand side) 11th April Penetrometer 21 – Going Good 1000m (1) Sharp Design 56,52 1160m (4) Carry On Alice 66,36 1400m (1) Brainstorm 86,82 1600m (2) Along Came Polly 96,21 .
Scottsville (stand side) 12th April Penetrometer 22 – Going Good 1200m (4) The Big League 70,09 1400m (3) Chestnut’s Rocket 83,88 1600m (1) Omaticaya 97,51 1800m (1) Educated 109,69 .
Kenilworth (new) 12th April Penetrometer 24 – Going G/Soft 1000m (2) Daring Dave 58,25 1200m (4) Captainofmysoul 71,62 1400m (2) Marmalade Tycoon 86,41 1800m (1) Jet Flo 112,63
