Plenty To Go At

Shades Of Dynasty

Scottsville 27th April: The faster of the two maiden events over 1600m on Sunday was the boy’s affair won by JAY POWER. Freely available at 12/1 on the off, Paul Lafferty’s charge wasn’t the quickest into stride, but despite that was soon at the head of affairs. He kept on determinedly at the business end of the race and although the well supported 7/10 favourite did make up a good nine lengths in the straight, he still had three quarters to spare at the wire.
Four of the afternoon’s nine races were run over 1200m and the fastest of these was the MR81 Handicap won by the 3yo SUREFIRE. Slow into stride when the gates opened, the daughter of Count Dubois raced towards the rear for most of the journey. She quickened well from halfway and despite being baulked for a run 250m from home, she still won very well by two. WISDOM STONE didn’t find the clearest of passages when running on from the rear to fill third position in this race.
There were a number of very comfortable winners on the card, but none more so than that of DANCING DYNASTY in the listed Scarlet Lady over 1800m. Another to run on stoutly from midfield, Brett Crawford’s charge also came from well off the pace. She was asked to take up the running as they approached the 200m marker and after quickly going clear she cruised in by five.
Titbits
ROMANTIC BALLADEER ran on well from the rear when runner up in the MR78 Handicap over 1200m.
HARRY LIME won the Gr2 Umkhomazi Stakes over 1200m with authority by three and three quarters.

.

Good Thing

Clairwood 29th April: Having only been beaten a neck in in the Gr3 Godolphin Barb Stakes last time out BECKEDORF always looked to be a good thing in the maiden juvenile plate over 1000m and so it proved to be. Eventually sent off at the prohibitive odds of 1/7, the A P Answer gelding led throughout. He only had to be pushed out at the business end of the race and won with authority by four and a quarter.
In terms of distance the easiest victory on the card was recorded by ADMIRAL CODRINGTON in the maiden 2500m. Nibbled at into 5/1 at the track, Gavin Van Zyl’s charge stumbled at the start, but despite that was soon up handy. He was ridden to lead at the top of the long home straight and won very cosily by seven and a quarter.
Three of the afternoon’s ten races were run over a mile and the fastest of these was the MR72 Handicap won by the 3yo GHARBEE. On leaving the stalls it was AUTO PILOT who elected to make the running whilst Mike De Kock’s charge, despite being hampered 1200m out, raced some seven lengths away in sixth. He ran on stoutly over the final 400m and under a well-judged ride from Anthony Delpech he got up late to beat the 6yo FALCONERS KNOT by three quarters.
Titbits
ROC ‘N ROSE was gaining at the finish when runner up in the MR74 Handicap over 2000m.
Lightly raced SUGAR PIE was flying at the finish when only beaten a neck by the useful Dance For Gold in the MR74 Handicap over 1600m. The third horse in this race was beaten six lengths.

.

Progressive Pair

Turffontein 29th April: They raced on the old stand side track on Tuesday evening and here we saw a smart performance from Sporting Post’s each way value bet FEATHERFOOT in the MR76 Handicap over 1600m. Allowed to ease right out to 12/1 from 7’s at the track, this lightly raced daughter of Silvano raced in midfield for most of the journey. She was ridden to lead going through the 200m and went on to score going away by four and a quarter.
Another to win in good style on this card was SHADOW LINE in the bill topping MR91 Handicap over 1400m. Having only his second outing here following an eight month break, the son of Toreador was soon up handy. He took up the running shortly after passing the 300m pole and drew clear easily in the closing stages of the race to score by five.
Three of the evening’s eight races were run over 1160m and the fastest of these was the MR68 Handicap won by ARCTIC HOOLIGAN. Sent off a warm favourite at 7/2, the son of National Emblem was soon positioned close to the speed. He ran on strongly at the business end of the race and won well from FALL OF TROY by three quarters.
Titbits
Lightly raced ROYAL REVENGE found good support prior to winning the maiden event for the girls over 1160m very comfortably by three and a half.

.

Beautiful Music

Fairview 30th April: Wednesday’s action took place on the poly track where victory in the opening maiden juvenile plate over 1000m went to the heavily supported favourite THE LEADER BOY. Backed into 4/10 from 8/10 at the track, Stephen Van Rensburg’s charge led throughout. He kept on strongly in the short home straight and comfortably accounted for the always second PRINCESS RENEGADE by a half.
The afternoon’s feature event was a MR90 Handicap and in what proved to be the faster of the two 1200m events it was nice to see the 5yo son of Malhub MIDNIGHT SERENADE register his fourth career victory. Freely available at 14/1 in this his first outing since relocating from Gauteng, Alan Greeff’s charge led throughout. He was three lengths clear turning for home and just had enough in hand to beat the running on RUSSIAN MIG by a neck.
At the other end of the scale the biggest winning margin on the eight race program was just the two lengths registered by CAPTAIN’NTENILLE in the maiden 1300m. Always handy, the Royal Academy filly was asked to take up the running at the 200m marker and won well.
Titbits
The well supported SEACLIPPER ran on strongly from off the pace when a three quarter length runner up in the maiden 1600m.

.

Smart Debut

Vaal 1st May: Racing at the Vaal on Thursday took place on the outside track where we saw a very smart performance in the maiden 1400m from the only newcomer in the field LERTASHA. Allowed to ease out to 33/10 (op 2/1) at the track although still retaining her position at the top of the boards, Weiho Marwing’s charge broke well when the gates opened and was soon up handy. She was ridden to lead shortly after passing the 500m pole and cruised clear from there onwards to score by six and a quarter.
Another to win very well on this card was the lightly raced ANYDAY ANYTIME when registering his second career victory from just four starts in the bill topping MR91 Handicap over 1200m. On leaving the stalls it was VULCAN who elected to make the running whilst the son of Any Given Saturday raced close up in third. He ran on best of all over the final 400m and won going away by three and a quarter after striking the front 150m out. There were six 1200m races on the card in total and this was the fastest.
Race seven on the card was a MR75 Handicap over 1200m and here we saw a comfortable victory for the 3yo ABSTRACT. Freely available at 10/1 on the off, Gavin Van Zyl’s charge raced sixth of the thirteen for most of the journey. He began to take closer order at the halfway mark and comfortably accounted for the well exposed JUMBO after taking command 120m or so from home.
Titbits
The 16/10 favourite RICHARD PARKER had to be hard ridden over the final 400m when opening his account in the maiden 1400m.

.

Top speedratings for this weekend include:-

Top rated winners last week included

Notebook:-

FASTEST TIMES

The number of races run over each distance is shown in brackets
*Denotes – Times taken by Clockwatcher

Scottsville (stand) 27th April
Penetrometer 22 – Going Good
1200m (4) Surefire 70,93
1400m (1) Dizzy Feet 85,54
1600m (2) Jay Power 99,25
1800m (2) Joshuas Crown 109,21

.

Clairwood 29th April
Penetrometer 20 – Going Good
1000m (2) Beckedorf 57,50
1200m (1) Darkness 68,25
1450m (2) Exelero 85,30
1600m (3) Gharbee 94,93
2000m (1) Freudiana 120,97
2500m (1) Admiral Codrington 155,97

.

.

Vaal (outside) 1st May
Penetrometer 20 – Going Good
1200m (6) Anyday Anytime 68,15
1400m (2) Lertasha 82,22
1600m (1) The Mutineer 95,03