Powerful Force

Shoes On The Up

Turffontein 10th May: The easiest victory at Saturday’s inner track meeting was undoubtedly that of TULBAGH TRIP in the opening workrider’s maiden plate over 1450m. Freely available at 12/1 on the off, Gavin Van Zyl’s charge raced in midfield early on. He was ridden to lead as they approached the 200m marker and cruised clear from there onwards to score by nine and a half.
Another to win in good style on this card was AFRICA’S SPLENDOUR in the maiden 1600m. The best bet on the card for many, the 8/10 favourite was always handy. She moved through to take up the running early in the short home straight and went on to win very easily by six and a quarter.
Five of the afternoon’s nine races were run over 1450m and the fastest of these was the bill topping MR92 Handicap won by MOGGYTWOSHOES. Drawn very wide at thirteen, the Mogok filly very quickly found herself positioned in the rear. She quickened well as they came off the strip though and under a well-judged ride from Gunter Wrogemann she got up late to score by three quarters.
The not so lucky last was a MR72 Handicap over 1450m and here victory went to the poorly drawn BEE KEEPER. On leaving the stalls it was the well supported 18/10 favourite CELTIC LEGEND who elected to make the running whilst Joey Soma’s charge sat in midfield. Celtic Legend kept on strongly at the business end of the race and did have the rest beaten. Bee Keeper ran on stoutly over the final 400m though and went on to win well by a length and a half after striking the front 100m from home.
Titbits
After losing two lengths at the start, and racing detached at the rear, the former Cape Town campaigner LA TIGRESSE fairly flew in the closing stages of the race when a length and a quarter third in the MR76 Handicap over 1000m. One to follow.

.

Mixed Fortunes

Kenilworth 10th May: A maiden plate over 1000m got proceedings underway in Cape Town on Saturday and here victory went to the Darryl Hodgson trained SIMPLY BLACK. Initially priced up as a 3/1 joint favourite, Simply Black was soon positioned up with the speed. He kept on strongly over the final 400m and just got the better of his fellow joint favourite (when the betting opened) DESTINY DRIVEN by a half.
Race four on the card was a MR84 Handicap over 1000m and here we saw a smart front running performance from the 3yo DARING DAVE. Soon at the head of affairs, this progressive son of Dynasty only had to be pushed out at the business end of the race and won well by a length and a half.
The Gr3 Fillies Nursery topped the bill and here followers of the money were on the mark when the Michael Robinson trained HOT AFFAIR did the business. Backed into 18/10 favourite from 7/2, the daughter of Jay Peg also raced from the front. She began to assert her authority going through the 300m and ran out a comfortable winner by three. Sadly for connections though, Hot Affair broke a bloodvessel and will now be suspended for 3 months.
Titbits
INARA ran on from the back when third beaten 2,5 lengths in the maiden 1200m.
Fifth placed WANDA was running on from the rear when only beaten 2,2 lengths in the MR68 Handicap over 1600m.

.

With Authority

Clairwood 11th May: They raced at the garden course on Sunday where we saw a very easy victory for BALKAN in the Juvenile Plate for the girls over 1100m. Taken straight to the front by Sean Cormack, the daughter of Horse Chestnut led throughout. She was always in command and ran out a very easy winner by five.
Another to win particularly well on this card was RED FLAME in the graduation event over 1800m. The daughter of Jet Master got away well when the gates opened and soon up handy raced prominent throughout. She was ridden to lead going through the 300m and eased down late won with plenty in hand by a length and three quarters.
The non-black type Highland Night Cup over 2500m topped the bill and here it was nice to see the Dynasty gelding ALEXANDER back in the winner’s enclosure. Glen Kotzen’s charge was hampered early on, but usually one to run on stoutly from the rear anyway it wasn’t such a hindrance as it might have been for many. He was produced with his usual strong late run once in the long home straight and under a well-judged ride from Keagan De Melo he got up very late to deny GOTHIC.
Four of the afternoon’s eleven races were run over 1600m and the fastest of these was the MR78 Handicap won by ROYAL ZULU GUARD. Sent off third in the betting market at 7/2, the poorly drawn son of Rock Of Gibraltar raced in midfield for most of the journey. He quickened well in the straight and won comfortably by two after striking the front shortly after passing the 300m marker.
Titbits
ABERCROMBIE finished best of all when running on from the rear to take third position in the MR97 Handicap over 1200m. A concern though is that he was reported as blowing (usually a sign of pain or fright) in the stipes report.

.

Top speedratings for this weekend include:-

Top rated winners last week included

Notebook:-

FASTEST TIMES

Turffontein (inner) 10th May
Penetrometer 21 – Going Good
1000m (2) One Cool Cat 58,84
1450m (5) Moggytwoshoes 88,08
1600m (1) Africa’s Splendour 99,94
2600m (1) Wild Ash 167,56

Kenilworth (new) 10th May
Penetrometer 29 – Going Soft
1000m (3) Daring Dave 58,65
1200m (2) Georgeous Gaby 72,99
1600m (3) Disney Queen 102,95

Clairwood 11th May
Penetrometer 24 – Going G/Soft
1000m (2) Secret Traveller 59,70
1100m (1) Balkan 64,94
1200m (2) Gulf Storm 71,47
1600m (4) Royal Zulu Guard 96,34
1800m (1) Red Flame 111,21
2500m (1) Alexander 158,90