A Day To Be Proud
Turffontein 29th May: They raced on the old stand side track on Sunday where four of the nine races took place over 1400m. The fastest of these was the MR83 Handicap in which MISS TWEEDY registered her fourth career victory. Sent off second in the betting market at 7/2, Stuart Pettigrew’s charge was always handy. She put her head in front going through the 400m and kept on strongly in the closing stages of the race to beat another always handy runner in SHIVERING SEA by three quarters.
Marginally the faster of the two juvenile plates over 1160m that opened up proceedings was the boy’s affair won in good style by the newcomer AGGRESSIVE. Positioned in the backend of midfield during the early part of the race, Stanley Ferreira’s charge ran on best of all and won going away by a length and a half after striking the front close home.
There were three races run over 1160m in total and by far the fastest of these was the bill topping pinnacle stakes won by the highly regarded GRADUATION DAY. Always top of the boards (3/1 into 15/10) Joey Soma’s charge raced in midfield early on. He cut through the field like a knife, when given rein and with a ton in hand won eased right down by a length.
Titbits
The 15/10 favourite LAST CHIRP made all when winning the girl’s division of the juvenile plate over 1160m with some in hand.
.
Winning In Style
Kenilworth 31st May: There were a number of easy victories in Cape Town on Tuesday, but none more so than that of LORD BALMORAL in the faster of the two maiden juvenile plates over 1200m. Backed as if unbeatable at the track (7/10 into 1/3), Vaughan Marshall’s charge led throughout. He asserted his authority going through the 300m and cruised in by four despite being eased down late.
Three of the afternoon’s eight races were staged over 1600m and by far the fastest of these was the MR95 Handicap won by SILICONE VALLEY. Confidently ridden by Richard Fourie, the son of Jay Peg raced in the backend of midfield during the early part of the race. He quickened in good style at the top of the short old course straight and had he not been eased up late would probably have won by double the official margin of a length and a quarter.
Two of the three remaining races were run over 1400m and the faster of these was the MR70 Handicap won by ELUSIVE STARS. Another to run on stoutly from midfield, Ronnie Sheehan’s charge struck the front 300m out and with the rest well beaten he was always holding off a determined challenge from SPEEDBALL by three quarters.
Titbits
The 6/1 shot REINE TONNERRE won the opening maiden juvenile plate over 1200m going away by a length and a quarter.
The 3yo MEGA SECRET showed good improvement when winning the maiden plate over 1600m with authority by two.
.
4 from 5
Scottsville 1st June: Three of the nine races in Pietermaritzburg on Wednesday were run over 1200m and not surprisingly the fastest of these was the bill topping Middle Stakes (non-black type) won by the well supported favourite HUMIDOR. On leaving the stalls it was LETDAGOODTIMESROLL who elected to make the running and he kept up a healthy gallop throughout. Indeed, Humidor had to work hard over the final 300m and only got his head in front close home. Other than when not striding out in his latest outing, Humidor has won all four starts over today’s course and distance.
They also ran three races over 1600m and quickest against the clock here was PIROGUE when winning the MR70 Handicap. Backed into 19/10 from 7/2 at the track, the improving son of Mullins Bay wasn’t the quickest into stride and as a result he raced in midfield during the early part of the race. Once in the home straight though he ran on best of all and went on to score with authority from the 5yo MAACHAAN.
The faster of the two 1000m races on the card was the MR76 Handicap for fillies & mares won by MIDANSWER. Freely available at 20/1 on the off, the daughter of A P Arrow was soon positioned close to the speed. She put her head in front as they approached the 200m marker and although the speedy pacemaker SHE’S A FORTRESS kept on determinedly once headed, she won comfortably by a length and three quarters.
Titbits
The topweight JET INTOMBI ran on well from off the pace when getting up late to win the MR75 Handicap over 1950m going away.
.
Gutsy Frontrunner
Vaal 2nd June: The afternoon’s two 1600m races got proceedings underway at the Classic track on Thursday and by far the fastest of the these was the Juvenile Plate won by the lesser fancied of Mike De Kock’s two runners BOLD REX. Just five went to post and although the son of Bold Silvano raced at the back he was only 3,5 lengths off the pace turning for home. He took up the running shortly after passing the 300m marker and comfortably accounted for the friendless DAWN ASSAULT (16/1 out to 33’s) by a length and three quarters.
There was a major upset in the fastest of the three 1200m races, a MR68 Handicap, when O’BRIEN THE LION registered his second success. Freely available at 20/1 on the off, the Captain Al gelding was soon up handy. He was ridden to lead as they approached the 300m pole and kept on strongly below the distance to fend off a determined challenge from the well-supported favourite HIDDEN AGENDA (3/1 into 17/10) by a neck.
They also ran three races over 2000m and by far the fastest of these was the MR84 Handicap won by the gutsy RUNALONG. Taken straight to the front by apprentice Lyle Hewitson, the Mogok filly led throughout. She found extra when challenged over the final 400m and held on by a neck from the running on 20/1 shot STAR OF LOVE (came from the rear).
Titbits
The newcomer HEAVEN’S DOOR had to switch en route from midfield when winning the maiden plate over 1200m going away.
.
Top speedratings for this weekend include:-
Fairview (fri)
Race 1: (2) Blizzard King 41
Race 2: (1) Consonance 13
Race 3: (12) Clifton Sands 16
Race 4: (9) Seattle Swing 72
Race 5: (5) Impressionist 56
Race 6: (12) O Tamara 42
Race 7: (9) Barega 81
Race 8: (13) Captain On The Run 47
Greyville (sat)
Race 1: (5) King Of Scots 12
Race 2: (1) Tar Heel 82 (NAP*)
Race 3: (1) Aussie Austin 30
Race 4: (6) Intriguing Lady 36
Race 5: (1) Inara 97
Race 6: (13) Greek Legend 100
Race 7: (3) Ice Machine 98
Race 8: (12) Fantasy Art 73
Race 9: (5) Tanjiro 57
Race 10: (4) Piano Man 77 (EW)
Kenilworth (sat)
Race 1: (3) Cock-A-Hoop 12 (NAP*)
Race 2: (6) Kenny Trix 16
Race 3: (9) Silver Captain 11
Race 4: (3) Tripvilia 17
Race 5: (5) Ledbury 40
Race 6: (12) Seventh Sister 49
Race 7: (6) Shout 51 (EW)
Race 8: (14) Pride Rock 26
Turffontein (sun)
Race 1: (2) Uposeupay 3
Race 2: (8) Levi Lady 12
Race 3: (1) Nasmyth 19
Race 4: (12) Secret Vision 28
Race 5: (6) Penington Sands 71
Race 6: (3) Enaad 77
Race 7: (5) Diesel Jet 97
Race 8: (16) Tobesuretobesure 51
.
Top rated winners last week included
Apple Crumble won 20/1
Bold Rex won 5/1
Pachuco won 15/4
Mega Secret won 3/1
Russian Friend won 5/2
Celtic Charm won 22/10
Judicial won 17/10
Graduation Day won 15/10
.
Notebook:-
Aggressive (S Ferreira, Gauteng)
Graduation Day (J Soma, Gauteng)
Silicone Valley (G Puller, W-Cape)
.
FASTEST TIMES
The number of races run over each distance is shown in brackets
*Denotes – Times taken by Clockwatcher
Turffontein (old) 29th May
Penetrometer 22 – Going Good
1160m (3) Graduation Day 66,01
1400m (4) Miss Tweedy 85,61
1800m (1) Russian Friend 114,22
2000m (1) Judicial 122,80
Kenilworth (old) 31st May
Penetrometer 21 – Going Good
1000m (1) Rebel’s Idol 58,45
1200m (2) Lord Balmoral 71,28
1400m (2) Elusive Stars 87,40
1600m (3) Silicone Valley 97,67
Scottsville (new) 1st June
Penetrometer
1000m (2) Midanswer 56,87
1200m (3) Humidor 69,27
1600m (3) Pirogue 95,33
1950m (1) Jet Intombi 119,00
Vaal (classic) 2nd June
Penetrometer 20 – Going Good
1200m (3) O’Brien The Lion 70,90
1450m (1) Apple Crumble 87,76
1600m (2) Bold Rex 98,61
2000m (3) Runalong 123,19
