Stone Me
Fairview 22nd January: Six of the nine races at Friday’s turf meeting were run over 1200m and the fastest of these was the MR87 Handicap won by CUP CAKE. Well supported on course to go off a joint favourite at 3/1, the daughter of Var raced in midfield early on. She put her head in front as they approached the 100m marker and kept on strongly below the distance to beat the running on MYSTIC EXPRESS by a half.
The faster of the two 1000m races was the MR64 Handicap in which SKRIK VIR NIKS registered his second career victory. Prominent throughout, the son of Kahal struck the front 50m from home and won well by a length.
The one remaining race was a novice plate over 1600m and here a major upset was to be had when STONE TOWN landed the spoils. Sent off as the rank outsider of the eleven horse party at 80/1, Jacque Strydom’s charge raced in the backend of midfield for most of the journey. She ran on best of all after having to switch out for a run, and won comfortably by a length and a half after striking the front 80m or so from home.
Titbits
At the helm from pillar to post SUMMER CRUISE won the MR69 Handicap over 1200m with plenty in hand.
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Evergreen
Greyville 22nd January: They raced on both surfaces on Friday evening with two of the three races on the poly being MR66 Handicaps over 1800m. The fastest of these was the second division won by SELVAN’S JET. Supported into 4/1 from 8’s, Alyson Wright’s charge wasn’t the quickest into stride, and as a result he raced in the rear early on. He ran on best of all in the short home straight and won going away after striking the front close home.
All five races on the turf were staged over 1400m and quickest home amongst these was MARK MY CARD in the bill topping MR90 Handicap. Always available at around 20/1, the 4yo daughter of Miesque’s Approval was also a little slow into stride. He ran on strongly from midfield and striking the front 100m from home, won well by a length and a quarter.
The faster of the two maiden plates over 1400m on turf was the boy’s affair won by FORCEFUL RUSH. Sent off a joint favourite at 33/10, Garth Puller’s charge was always handy. He was ridden to lead shortly after passing the 300m marker and won comfortably by three quarters from the running on PURPLE SPLASH.
Titbits
The 3yo NYANGAN only had to be pushed out when winning the MR72 Handicap over 1400m (turf) going away by three.
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Dominant Throughout
Turffontein 23rd January: They raced on the old stand side track on Saturday where the fastest of the four 1800m races was the MR91 Handicap won by STONEHENGE. A winner of Port Elizabeth’s Gr3 Algoa Cup three runs back, Sean Tarry’s charge made all. He was always in command and won without any anxious moments by four.
The faster of the two 1160m races was the MR72 Handicap in which the Joshua Dancer gelding BARBEL RUN registered his fourth career victory. Positioned in midfield in what was always a very tightly bunched group, Alec Laird’s charge ran on best of all and got up nicely late to deny the easy to back FORT EAGLE.
A pinnacle stakes over 1400m topped the bill and in what proved to be a real thriller the 33/10 second favourite ZAMBEZI RIVER got the verdict. Still in the rear some six lengths off the front running runner up DIESEL JET 400m out, Sean Tarry’s charge flew late and with the rest comfortably beaten he got up in the dying strides.
Titbits
Lightly raced SHIMMERING BROOK won the MR72 Handicap over 1800m going away by three and three quarters.
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Lighting Up The Wallet
Kenilworth 23rd January: In terms of prizemoney, the CTS Million Dollar topped the bill in Cape Town on Saturday and here a bit of an upset was to be had when ILLUMINATOR landed the spoils. Freely available at 16/1 in what proved to be the fastest of the afternoon’s three 1400m events, the apprentice ridden son of Trippi raced in the rear for most of the journey. He ran on stoutly in the straight and got up late to deny the uneasy favourite SILVER MOUNTAIN.
Topping the bill otherwise was the Gr1 Cape Derby over 2000m and the Gr1 Majorca Stakes over 1600m. There was also an upset in the Derby when the similarly priced IT’S MY TURN registered his second career victory. Nicely positioned in midfield turning for home, the Dynasty gelding was carried out when the race began in earnest, and found himself racing along the outside rail. He ran on stoutly at the business end of the race though and won very comfortably by two.
The heavily supported SAME JURISDICTION (11/10 into 11/20) was sent off a strong favourite to win the Majorca and on striking the front 220m from home, she looked to have done everything right. The second favourite INARA also quickened very nicely at that point though, and she went on to win well by three quarters after putting her head in front 100m out.
Titbits
Lightly raced WHISKY BARON won the maiden plate over 1200m going away with plenty in hand.
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Top speedratings for this weekend include:-
Flamingo Park (mon)
Race 1: (2) Maya The Bee 8
Race 2: (1) Lebeoana 25
Race 3: (4) War Declaration 12
Race 4: (1) Raving Jewel 12
Race 5: (14) Celine 28
Race 6: (1) Sub Shaawes 45
Race 7: (9) Emerald Mackay 33
Race 8: (6) Fiery Goddess 39
Race 9: (3) Here We Are 36
Vaal (tues)
Race 1: (1) Watch Me Run 4
Race 2: (4) Secunde’s Victor 13
Race 3: (7) Grand Classic 4 (NAP*)
Race 4: (2) Global Ethos 17
Race 5: (2) Jay River 11
Race 6: (11) Neruda 19
Race 7: (1) Snowdonia 15
Race 8: (10) Honeybush Tea 27
Durbanville (wed)
Race 1: (8) Like Janis 21
Race 2: (2) Galaxy King 39 (EW)
Race 3: (1) Secret Plan 15
Race 4: (2) Bora Bora 12
Race 5: (1) Avail 14
Race 6: (1) Elusive Rose 8
Race 7: (10) Vinsanto 43
Race 8: (12) Hilaria 53
Vaal (thur)
Race 1: (5) Cat’s Whiskers 23
Race 2: (1) First Officer Al 21
Race 3: (6) Keep On Flying 12
Race 4: (2) Runalong 21
Race 5: (13) King Gerard 52 (EW)
Race 6: (11) Polly Wolly Doodle 53
Race 7: (2) Woza Madoda 42
Race 8: (11) Sir Cecil 46
Race 9: (16) Wandie’s 50
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Top rated winners last week included
Mark My Card won 20/1
Man’s Inn won 9/1
Summer Cruise won 5/1
Royal Chian won 4/1
Minnesota won 5/2
Salinger won 22/10
Whisky Baron 9/10
Camomile won 8/10
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Notebook:-
It’s My Turn (J Snaith, W-Cape)
Nyangan (D Kannemeyer, KZN)
Summer Cruise (A Greeff, E-Cape)
Whisky Baron (B Crawford, W-Cape)
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FASTEST TIMES
The number of races run over each distance is shown in brackets
*Denotes – Times taken by Clockwatcher
Fairview (turf) 22nd January
Penetrometer 22 – Going Good
1000m (2) Skrik Vir Niks 56,11
1200m (6) Cup Cake 67,74
1600m (1) Stone Town 98,41
Greyville (mixed) 22nd January
Turf Good/Poly Standard
1400m (5) Mark My Card 83,55T
1600m (1) Spirit Of Dover 96,46P
1800m (2) Selvan’s Jet 110,25P
Turffontein (old) 23rd January
Penetrometer 21 – Going Good
1000m (1) Jiffy 58,77
1160m (2) Barbel Run 68,28
1400m (1) Zambezi River 86,80
1800m (4) Stonehenge 112,35
2000m (1) Shankly Gates 127,38
Kenilworth (new) 23rd January
Penetrometer 22 – Going Good
1000m (2) Cloth Of Cloud 59,82
1200m (2) Pearl Oyster Bay 72,64
1400m (3) Illuminator 86,21
1600m (1) Inara 99,68
2000m (1) It’s My Turn 124,03
