Shades Of Home
Kenilworth 8th April: They were still racing on the new course on Saturday where victory in the fastest of the three 1200m races, a MR72 Handicap, went to the 4yo AL WAHED. Backed into favouritism at the track, Mike Stewart’s charge was soon at the head of affairs. He kept up a healthy gallop throughout, and although the pack headed by LEDBURY were gaining at the finish, he won with three quarters of a length to spare.
Two listed juvenile features over 1200m topped the bill and by far the fastest of these was the Somerset 1200 contested by the boys. On leaving the stalls it was the deposed favourite SERGEANT HARDY (7/10 out to 19/10) who elected to make the running whilst the eventual winner ATTENBOROUGH (7/2 into 5/2) raced close up in third. He was ridden to lead as they approached the 400m marker and although the newly installed favourite ELEVATED also ran on strongly in the closing stages of the race, he won comfortably by two and a quarter.
The juvenile girls contested the Perfect Promise Sprint and first past the post here was the Captain Al filly THE MERRY WIDOW. A fluent winner of the listed East Cape Fillies Nursery last time out, Justin Snaith’s charge was always handy. She ran on strongly from halfway and went on to win fair and square by a half from LIVE LIFE.
They also ran two races over 1600m and quickest home here was OUR ICON when winning the MR80 Handicap. Allowed to ease in the betting market out to 7/1 from 9/2, Dean Kannemeyer’s charge raced close to the pace throughout. He moved up to dispute matters passing the 300m pole, and after a thrilling tussle with the well-supported 2/1 favourite PALADIN he got the verdict by a neck.
Titbits
After leading narrowly for most of the journey, STARFLASH won the maiden juvenile plate over 1000m going away by two and a half.
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In The Zone
Kenilworth 10th April: Unusually racing took place for the second time in three days at Kenilworth on Tuesday where somewhat surprisingly the fastest of the three 1200m races was the maiden plate won by the 2yo in open company OUR MATE ART. Freely available at 10/1 on the off, Mike Bass’ newcomer was soon up handy. He was ridden to lead as they approached the 200m marker and kept on strongly in the closing stages of the race to beat another 2yo newcomer LORD BALMORAL by three quarters.
They also staged three races over 1400m and comfortably the quickest of these was the bill topping MR98 Handicap in which the 3yo MIDNITE ZONE registered his third career victory. Backed into favouritism at the track, Brett Crawford’s charge was always in touch with the leaders. He quickened well 400m from home and went on to beat the second favourite STAR CHESTNUT fair and square by a length and a quarter.
The stable of Brett Crawford were also on the mark in the maiden plate for fillies & mares over 1400m when the best bet on the card for many LOUISIANA did the business. In the red at 8/10 on the off, the daughter of Ideal World was soon up handy. She was ridden to lead shortly after passing the 400m marker and only having to be pushed out from there onwards won with some in hand by a length and a quarter.
Titbits
After making all the running in the MR81 Handicap over 1400m, PANGA PANGA found extra when challenged and won well by a half.
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Just One To Settle
Scottsville 11th April: The faster of the opening two maiden juvenile plates over 1000m in Pietermaritzburg on Wednesday was the boy’s affair won by BUFFALO SOLDIER. Allowed to drift alarmingly during the morning (2/1 out to 7’s) as money came in buckets for Dennis Drier’s newcomer ROCKY VALLEY (raced midfield – beaten 4,75), the son of Warm White Night was soon up handy. The 16/1 shot LIL RED ROOSTER set a brisk pace and still three lengths to the good going through the 200m, it was looking as though he may not be caught. Buffalo Soldier ran on strongly at the business end of the race though, and under a well-judged ride from Anton Marcus he won going away by a length and a quarter after striking the front 50m or so from home.
There were four races run over 1000m in total and the fastest of these was the bill topping MR90 Handicap won by ROCK ON BABY. Returning from a five month break here, the daughter of Seventh Rock led throughout. She ran on stoutly over the final 400m and with the rest comfortably beaten she held off a determined challenge from the running on SHEZALEADER by a neck.
Another tight finish was to be had in the non-black type Middle Stakes over 1400m where the uneasy favourite NEVER SETTLE (18/10 out to 33/10) did the business. Not the quickest into stride, Dean Kannemeyer’s only runner at the meeting raced in the rear early on. Once in the straight though, he ran on best of all and with the remainder some three lengths adrift he got up late to deny POIVRE (raced midfield – led 300m).
Titbits
The 3yo FORBIDDEN DUEL made up five lengths in the home straight when a running on third in the MR80 Handicap over 2400m.
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Speedy Royale
Vaal 12th April: They raced on the inside track on Thursday where four of the eight races were staged over 1000m. Very marginally the second fastest of these was the opening juvenile plate in which the 13/20 favourite BRITISH ROYALE was never headed. Out of the pens in a flash, the son of Great Britain soon had the five runners strung out. A fluent winner of his only previous race when making all SPORTING MONARCH raced second and had three lengths to make up going through the 400m. It looked for a moment as if he might pull it off when getting within half a length 100m out, but once challenged British Royale found extra and was going away again at the finish.
The fastest of the four was the MR84 Handicap won by the Kimberley raider YOU BEAUTY. In a field where question marks were aplenty going into the race, just two and a quarter lengths covered all passing the halfway mark. She ran on strongly at the business end of the race and comfortably accounted for the marginally more fancied MISS DECEMBER by a length and a quarter.
Three of the four remaining races were run over 1700m and surprisingly the quickest of these was the maiden plate won by LET IT RAIN. Always top of the boards, the 3yo son of Dynasty led throughout. He was always in command and won without any anxious moments by a length and a half.
Titbits
Easily eight lengths off the pace when the race began in earnest, the well supported outsider BLAZING BRAVE (20/1 into 10/1) ran on strongly in the latter stages when a length and three quarter fourth in the MR68 Handicap over 1000m.
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Top speedratings for this weekend include:-
Fairview (fri)
Race 1: (10) Petite Choux 14
Race 2: (8) Bird Of War 9
Race 3: (1) Lindelize 12
Race 4: (6) Grape Vine 72
Race 5: (7) Dreamforest 57
Race 6: (12) I Will Be 43
Race 7: (16) Legal Force 44
Race 8: (6) Western Movie 60 (EW)
Race 9: (4) Fire Horse 41 (EW)
Race 10: (11) Nomvula 37
Greyville (fri)
Race 1: (5) Skip The Red 17
Race 2: (4) Fortissimus 26 (EW)
Race 3: (6) Silver Class 83
Race 4: (6) Kingston Boy 85
Race 5: (4) Deputy Ryder 75
Race 6: (11) Dynamic 93
Race 7: (14) Umbusi 42
Race 8: (2) Lady Linda 12
Turffontein (sat)
Race 1: (9) Brave Queen 8
Race 2: (10) Favour’s Pride 20 (NAP*)
Race 3: (1) Equator 19
Race 4: (4) Woody Cape 8
Race 5: (5) Bichette 87
Race 6: (9) Bird Alley 47
Race 7: (12) Fly Phillippa 76
Race 8: (4) Judicial 84
Race 9: (12) Lavender Girl 44
Kenilworth (sat)
Race 1: (3) Pride Rock 6
Race 2: (8) Rock On Wood 15
Race 3: (3) Flying Ryan 13
Race 4: (1) Carrie Bow Cay 22 (EW)
Race 5: (2) Fear Not 75
Race 6: (2) Captain’s Flame 61
Race 7: (6) Brilliant Crimson 65
Race 8: (16) Kwassa Kwassa 44
Scottsville (sun)
Race 1: (1) Bold Rex 31
Race 2: (3) Fortissimus 34
Race 3: (1) Bank The Cash 14
Race 4: (1) Enlightenment 8
Race 5: (8) Royal Life 65
Race 6: (3) Guiness 90
Race 7: (2) Easy Game 72
Race 8: (15) Lily Gray 52
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Top rated winners last week included
Silver Peg won 6/1
Kumiko won 11/2
Winter Trade won 4/1
Navarone won 33/10
Let It Rain won 5/2
Starflash won 5/2
Al Wahed won 22/10
British Royale won 13/20
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Notebook:-
Attenborough (J Ramsden, 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
Kenilworth (new) 8th April
Penetrometer 20 – Going Good
1000m (3) Al Wahed 58,95
1200m (2) Attenborough 70,51
1600m (2) Our Icon 100,03
1800m (1) Jet Air 111,83
Kenilworth (new) 10th April
Penetrometer 21 – Going Good
1000m (1) Navarone 59,00
1200m (3) Our Mate Art 70,55
1400m (3) Midnite Zone 86,24
1600m (1) Bezamod 100,62
Scottsville (new) 11th April
Penetrometer 25 – Going G/Soft
1000m (4) Rock On Baby 56,90
1200m (1) Nuntius 70,72
1400m (1) Never Settle 84,80
1750m (1) Jay Again 108,53
2400m (1) Born To Rule 154,59
Vaal (inside) 12th April
Penetrometer 20 – Going Good
1000m (4) You Beauty 56,82
1700m (3) Let It Rain 104,01
2400m (1) Odd Rob 148,34
