Oh So Easy
Flamingo Park 5th September: A maiden event over 1400m was first up in the Northern Cape on Monday and here a bit of an upset was to be had when the easy to back CAMEO opened her account. Unable to get within ten lengths of a winner in each of her four previous starts, and drawn widest here to boot, the 16/1 shot broke well and was soon up handy. She was ridden to lead going through the 200m and went on to score comfortably by a length and a half from the second favourite FIRE ESCAPE.
The easiest victory on the card was undoubtedly that of MAR ABERTO who came home smoking in the afternoon’s feature event, a pinnacle stakes over 2200m. Sent off a well supported favourite at 13/10 (opened 18/10), last season’s horse of the year in the Northern Cape was always well positioned to strike. He was asked to take up the running as they approached the 400m marker and with nothing else really running on, he cruised in by ten.
A MR77 Handicap over 1800m topped the bill and here we saw a gutsy performance from the lesser fancied of Sean Miller’s three runners CLAVERHOUSE. Soon at the head of affairs, the son of Victory Moon led throughout. He kept on strongly in the straight and still had a length and a quarter to spare over the running on HEAD FOR HILTON at the wire.
The not so lucky last was a MR62 Handicap over 1200m and here victory went to the 25/1 shot WINE AND SONG. Another to lead from pillar to post, Wine And Song was always a couple of lengths to the good. The in form PRIDEOFTHENATION ran on well from midfield over the final 400m, but she was still a length and a half adrift at the wire.
Titbits
DERBY PRINCE ran on from the rear to take third in the maiden event over 1000m.
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Eyes Of The Wolf
Scottsville 6th September: Favourite backers got off to a nice start in Natal on Tuesday when the well supported favourite BLUROUTE (33) did the business in the opening maiden event over 1200m. Backed into 11/20 at the track (opened 8/10), Mike De Kock’s charge raced up with the speed throughout. She kept on strongly from half way and under a determined ride from Anthony Delpech, she got the verdict by a half over BRATALOOCHEE.
Race four on the card was a MR78 Handicap over 1000m and here we saw another smart performance from the up and coming grey OCCHI DI LUPO (67). Sent off a strong favourite at 16/10, Dennis Bosch’s charge was soon up handy. He was ridden to lead shortly after passing the 400m marker and although the pacemaker ALLOCATION kept on determinedly after being headed, he went on to win going away by two and a quarter. Occhi Di Lupo has now won three from five and clearly won’t be stopping here.
A MR98 Handicap over 2400m topped the bill and here it was nice to see the Gold Vase runner up PREDESTINATION (72) back in the winner’s enclosure. Confidently ridden by champion jockey Anton Marcus, Joey Ramsden’s charge was always handy. He was asked to take up the running early in the home straight and kept on strongly in the closing stages of the race to fend off a determined challenge from the veteran MEMBRADO.
The easiest victory on the card was recorded by BARCELONA BOY (31) when opening his account in the maiden event over 1600m. Always handy in what soon became a very strung out field, Barcelona Boy was perfectly placed to attack as they turned into the home straight. He struck the front 250m out and although the favourite DANSILI EXPRESS was running on in snatches from midfield, he went on to score very easily by three and three quarters.
Titbits
Recent maiden winner TROUBLE AGAIN was hampered in the latter stages when running on to take second in the MR70 affair over 1950m.
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First For Love
Kenilworth 7th September: Racing in Cape Town on Wednesday got underway with a maiden event over 1200m and here victory went to the Glen Kotzen trained SPLIT THE PROFIT (23). He raced in midfield during the early part of the race before making his move going through halfway. He hit the front 250m from home and kept on strongly in the closing stages of the race to beat the easy to back D’ANGELO by a length and three quarters.
The most impressive performance in the maiden ranks on this card was undoubtedly that of FEEL MY LOVE (30) when opening her account in the 1400m event. Confidently ridden by Grant Van Niekerk, Greg Ennion’s charge raced in midfield for most of the journey. She didn’t find the clearest of runs when asked to take closer order, but once seeing daylight she quickly began to make headway. She hit the front 120m from home and with some in hand, she drew clear easily late to score by two and a quarter. Feel My Love won very well and is clearly one to keep tabs on.
Another to win well on this card was BLOUBERG BEACH (49) who sent the locals home happy when winning the lucky last, a MR70 Handicap over 1200m. Backed into favouritism at the track (5/1 into 33/10), Blouberg Beach adopted a change of tactics here and made the running. She kept up a healthy gallop throughout and although the veteran LOVING CUP tried hard to make a race of it over the final 400m, she went on to score quite comfortably by a length and three quarters.
A MR86 Handicap over 2000m topped the bill and here we saw a nice performance from the 4yo CHATEAU ROYAL (46). On leaving the stalls it was the well supported favourite SPITFIRE RUN (28/10 into 18/10) who elected to set the pace, whilst Joey Ramsden’s charge was content to sit in midfield. Spitfire Run kept on strongly in the home straight, but neither he nor the handily placed PEREGRINE POWER could go with Chateau Royal when he loomed alongside 100m out.
Titbits
Friendless newcomer DOLLAR BILL BLUES caught the eye running on nicely from the rear when fourth in the maiden event over 1600m.
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Ready For The Big One
Vaal 8th September: Thursday’s action took place on the sand where heavily supported to win the second race on the card, a maiden event over 1000m was the newcomer MAGICA ROMA (32). Backed throughout the morning into even money from 5/1, Paul Peter’s charge raced in midfield for most of the journey. He ran on strongly under a determined ride from Francois Naude and with the rest well beaten he did very well indeed to reel in another well supported newcomer CALL THE CHALLENGE (5/2 into 18/10).
Race four on the card was a conditions plate over 1450m and here we saw a nice performance from the Paul Matchett trained XILOMANTE (69). On leaving the stalls it was the lightly weighted SWEET ESCAPE who elected to set the pace whilst Xilomante raced in fifth. She quickened well from halfway and after striking the front 200m from home, she comfortably accounted for the running on LAUGHING RIVER by two.
A little unlucky not to land the 1450m conditions event for the boys was the Emerald Cup hopeful SAYADAW. Many lengths adrift of the leaders turning for home, Sayadaw looked to have his work cut out in order make the frame let alone win. He fairly flew over the final 400m and gaining rapidly at the finish, he only failed to reel in the veteran Ryan’s A Lion by the narrowest of margins.
The final event on the card was a MR86 Handicap over 1000m and here the stable of Paul Matchett were again on the mark when the 6yo COMMISSIONERSTREET (55) registered his fourth career victory. Positioned in midfield when the race began in earnest 400m out, the son of Johannesburg ran on stoutly at the business end of the race and after a thrilling tussle with the friendless BLINGLE BELLS (20/1 out to 35/1), he went on to score by a length and a quarter.
Titbits
Poorly drawn on his return from a five month break in the MR74 Handicap over 1200m, lightly raced ALTAIR ran on well in the latter stages to take third.
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Top speedratings for this weekend include:-
Arlington Race 1: (1) Fire Burning 6 Race 2: (3) Diva Taahirah 8 Race 3: (10) In The Galley 18 Race 4: (1) Chekeche 56 Race 5: (3) What A Beaut 50 Race 6: (3) Last Window 42 Race 7: (14) Count My Luck 69 (EW) Race 8: (1) Bandol 76 Race 9: (9) High Repute 47 Turffontein Race 1: (3) In To Beep 17 Race 2: (1) Reign Victorious 6 Race 3: (2) Fort Petersburg 85 Race 4: (7) The Oaks 19 Race 5: (5) Cabo Wabo 17 Race 6: (9) Tilbury 80 Race 7: (11) Without Malice 95 Race 8: (6) Brandy Nan 71 (EW) Race 9: (8) Sun Emperor 53 Kenilworth Race 1: No Qualifiers Race 2: (11) Laurie’s Gold 21 Race 3: (6) Sovereign Empire 18 (NAP*) Race 4: (3) Tryst 64 Race 5: (1) Casey Cool 88 Race 6: (9) Super Elegant 65 (EW) Race 7: (8) Sabatino 77 Race 8: (11) Lammy 10 Clairwood Race 1: (2) Jamal 30 Race 2: (1) Malkia 16 Race 3: (1) Sexy Salsa 27 Race 4: (12) Dance With Ryan 42 Race 5: (8) Forecastle 88 Race 6: (1) Cool Crystal 22 Race 7: (10) What’s Going On 78 Race 8: (13) Caesour’s Champ 51 Race 9: (2) Sugarformyhoney 32 (EW).
Top rated winners last week included
Kirov won 18/1 Royal Overture won 16/1 Mastende won 7/1 Hockus won 11/2 Three Captains won 2/1 Blonde Ambition won 18/10 Lalou Belle won 16/10 Feel My Love won 7/10.
Notebook:-
Feel My Love (G Ennion, W-Cape) Magia Roma (P Peter, Gauteng) Occhi Di Lupo (D Bosch, Natal).
FASTEST TIMES
(Shown in brackets is the number of races run in each category)
Flamingo Park 5th September Fastest Sprint 1000-1300 (4) Snazzy Jazz Fastest Middle 1400-1800 (4) Richinstyle Fastest Long 1900-3600 (1) Mar Aberto.
Scottsville 6th September Fastest Sprint 1000-1300 (4) Occhi Di Lupo Fastest Middle 1400-1800 (2) Scotwood Fastest Long 1900-3600 (2) Flavio.
Kenilworth 7th September Fastest Sprint 1000-1300 (2) Blouberg Beach Fastest Middle 1400-1800 (3) Why Worry Fastest Long 1900-3600 (3) Kwaheri.
Vaal 8th September Fastest Sprint 1000-1300 (4) Ruby King Fastest Middle 1400-1800 (5) Ryan’s A Lion Fastest Long 1900-3600 (0) No Qualifiers
