Solid Form
Scottsville 10 April: The only distance to stage more than one race in Pietermaritzburg on Sunday was 1000m, and the fastest of these three races was the MR64 Handicap won by ROY’S GUARDIAN. Freely available at 6/1 on the off, the daughter of Rebel King raced in midfield during the early part of the race. She quickened well from halfway and under a well-judged ride from Alec Forbes she got up late to score by a half. Squeezed at the start, the runner up in this race BLACK CASHMERE was finishing best of all.
The faster of the two maiden juvenile plates over the 1000m trip was the girl’s affair where WILD IRISH got off the mark. Taken straight to the front by Sean Veale, Dennis Drier’s newcomer led throughout. She kept on strongly at the business end of the race won by a half from the favourite LIL GAMBLER.
In terms of distance the easiest victory on the card was recorded by Wild Irish’s stable companion FERRIE when gaining his second career victory from just four starts in the MR82 Handicap. Soon up with the speed, the son of Trippi asserted his authority shortly after passing the 300m marker and comfortably accounted for one of the rank outsiders of the ten horse party ROYAL ROY (66/1) by two and a half.
A pinnacle stakes over 1600m topped the bill and here victory went to the Dean Kannemeyer trained SOLID SPEED. Backed into favouritism at the track, the Dynasty gelding was squeezed at the start and raced in midfield for most of the journey. He ran on strongly in the straight and with the rest some five lengths adrift, he got up late to deny another of the progeny of Dynasty, DYNAMIC.
Titbits
After taking up the running 300m out, the 3yo WEALTHY found extra when headed 100m later and went on to score going away by a length and a quarter.
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Seven Sisters
Vaal 12th April: Three of the eight races on the outside track on Tuesday were run over 1000m and quickest home amongst these was MOVIE SHOW in the MR68 Handicap. Allowed to drift as if having lost a leg throughout the day (8/1 out to 33’s), Paul Peter’s charge made all. She kept on strongly at the business end of the race and just held on by a neck from the always handy TAPAWAY (reported not striding out) by a neck.
There was also three races run over 1600m and stopping the clock in the fastest time here was SISTERS OF MERCY in the MR78 Handicap. Content to guard the rear in what was always a very tightly bunched field, Tyrone Zackey’s charge made her move 400m out. She ran on best of all in the closing stages and in a race where just a length and a half covered the first six home, she got the verdict by a short head over BRAVO MAYA. The 7/2 favourite MELLIFLORA didn’t find the clearest of passages in this race when running on from the rear to fill sixth position.
The easiest victory on the card was recorded by SUPANOVA when causing a bit of an upset in the MR72 affair over 1000m. Nibbled at into 10/1 from 14’s, Leon Erasmus’ charge led from pillar to post. He was always in command and won without any anxious moments by two and a quarter.
Titbits
The 3yo WILD HORIZON ran on well from midfield when winning the maiden plate over 1600m going away.
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Winter Has Arrived
Greyville 13th April: The faster of the two juvenile plates (turf) that got proceedings underway on Wednesday afternoon was the boy’s division won by the newcomer CADDY MASTER. Easy to back at 33/1 on the off, Michael Robert’s charge was soon up handy. He put his head in front 100m out and won easing down by three quarters.
The faster of the two 1200m maiden races on the poly track was the not so lucky last won by ROYAL VISIONAIRE. Freely available at 8/1 on the off, Paul Gadsby’s charge also raced handy. She was ridden to lead as they approached the 100m marker and with the rest comfortably beaten she won by a half from the front running SONIC A P.
A MR96 Handicap on the poly track topped the bill and in what proved to be the faster of the two races over 1400m on the surface, the 6yo TUSCAN registered his sixth career victory. Nibbled at on course into 10/1 from 12’s, the son of Easing Along sat fifth early on. He ran on strongly in the short home straight and in a race where just a length and a quarter separated the first five home, he got the verdict by a neck over the 8yo grey STOLEN DESTINY. Fourth placed KINGSTON BOY (beaten just a length) caught the eye running on well from the rear in this race.
Titbits
A fluent winner of her only previous outing, the heavily supported 6/10 favourite CALL ME WINTER won the girl’s division of the juvenile plate easing down by two and a half.
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Almost Aptly Named
Vaal 14th April: They raced on the inside track on Thursday where the fastest of the three maiden juvenile plates over 1000m was the second division for the girls won by PINOT VAR. The focus of outside support into 8/1 from 14’s, Paul Matchett’s charge was soon positioned close to the speed. She put her head in front going through the 400m and only having to be pushed out at the business end of the race, she won by a half from the newcomer TIMEDTOPERFECTION. Four lengths behind Pinot Var 400m out, the runner up (racing green) quickened well late and had the remainder a minimum of five lengths in arrears.
The faster of the two 1200m races was the bill topping MR91 Handicap won by MANX PARK. Freely available at 8/1 on the off, the son of Battersea Park also raced handy. He was ridden to lead 250m out by Craig Zackey and in a race in which 2,8 lengths separated all nine runners, he got the verdict by a neck over the Western Cape raider THE STONE THROWER.
Race seven on the card was a MR74 Handicap over 1200m and here we saw a smart performance from the 4yo HIDDEN AGENDA. Ridden by replacement rider S’manga Khumalo, the lightly raced son of Brave Tin Soldier (sweating) raced fifth during the early part of the race. He quickened best of all when the race began in earnest and won with authority from the running on ASTRO by a length and a half.
Titbits
The well-supported newcomer RED ROCK (3/1 into 14/10) only had to be pushed out when winning the boy’s division of the maiden juvenile plate over 1000m.
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Top speedratings for this weekend include:-
Fairview (fri)
Race 1: (6) Singita Sweni 12
Race 2: (7) Samian 8
Race 3: (1) Aspen Fire 13
Race 4: (16) Tall Ship 42
Race 5: (14) Beulah 43
Race 6: (1) Welsh Emperor 54
Race 7: (1) A Time To Dream 5
Race 8: (2) Line Break 84 (NAP*)
Race 9: (2) Arcsign 35
Race 10: (8) Keep On Chooglin 60
Greyville (fri)
Race 1: (1) Stokvel 9
Race 2: (1) Rose Water 10
Race 3: (1) Minnie The Minx 12
Race 4: (10) Royal Roy 48 (EW)
Race 5: (3) Regardstobroadway 52 (NAP*)
Race 6: (8) Chill 53
Race 7: (3) Lady Ming 47
Race 8: (9) Lady Linda 26
Race 9: (6) Winter’s Heir 41
Turffontein (sat)
Race 1: (3) Connaught Hotel 11
Race 2: (9) Might As Well 7
Race 3: (9) Unagi 5
Race 4: (1) Aventurine 15
Race 5: (9) Chessy 52
Race 6: (9) Secunde’s Victor 43
Race 7: (3) Scent 50
Race 8: (7) Imperial Gold 57
Race 9: (1) Miss December 49
Kenilworth (sat)
Race 1: (2) Storm Front 16
Race 2: (3) China Pearl 13
Race 3: (9) Gregorian Chant 14
Race 4: (1) Ashton Park 78
Race 5: (4) Oli Miranda 16
Race 6: (7) Captain’s Flame 66
Race 7: (8) Mr Wise Guy 68
Race 8: (1) Mega Secret 18
Scottsville (sun)
Race 1: (4) Gio Ponti’s Legacy 2
Race 2: (3) Flash Fire 6
Race 3: (13) For Show Me Angel 43
Race 4: (1) Piano Man 72 (NAP*)
Race 5: (10) Tiger Tops 75
Race 6: (2) It Is Written 79
Race 7: (4) Deputy Ryder 75
Race 8: (3) Trinity Hall 20
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Top rated winners last week included
Victor’s Castle won 10/1
Royal Visionaire won 8/1
Rock On won 7/2
Solid Speed won 28/10
Inara won 11/10
Oomph won 11/10
Call Me Winter won 6/10
Carry On Alice won 1/4
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Notebook:-
Call Me Winter (M Miller, KZN)
Red Rock (S Tarry, Gauteng)
Timedtoperfection (C Spies, Gauteng)
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FASTEST TIMES
The number of races run over each distance is shown in brackets
*Denotes – Times taken by Clockwatcher
Scottsville (inside) 10 April
Penetrometer 23 – Going Good
1000m (3) Roy’s Guardian 56,96
1200m (1) Ferrie 68,18
1600m (1) Solid Speed 95,27
1750m (1) Fantasy Lady 108,38
1950m (1) Wealthy 122,65*
2400m (1) Forbidden Duel 154,18
Vaal (outside) 12th April
Penetrometer 22 – Going Good
1000m (3) Movie Show 56,81*
1200m (1) Dawn Flight 70,52
1400m (1) Artica 80,73
1600m (3) Sisters Of Mercy 95,41
Greyville (turf/poly) 13th April
Turf Good/Poly Standard
1200m (2) Caddy Master 72,86T
1200m (2) Royal Visionaire 72,11P
1400m (2) In Other Words 83,91T
1400m (2) Tuscan 83,16P
Vaal (inside) 14th April
Penetrometer 21 – Going Good
1000m (3) Pinot Var 57,21
1200m (2) Manx Park 68,93
1400m (1) Noah’s Ark 83,02
1700m (1) Shepherds Warning 102,16
2000m (1) Frappachino 124,47
2400m (1) Bird Alley 151,63
