Speed Double
Vaal 10th January: They raced on the sand on Thursday where victory in the first of the two bill topping conditions events went to the speedy LA VOLTA. Sent off a marginal favourite at 17/10, Michael Azzie’s charge led throughout. She was two and a half lengths clear going through the 400m and despite the efforts of the second favourite KINEMATIC COUNTESS in the closing stages of the race, she cruised clear to score by six.
The fastest of the three 1000m events on the card was the boy’s conditions plate where La Volta’s stable companion SOLARIUM blazed a trail. Clear by three at the halfway mark, the 4yo daughter of Var ran on strongly at the business end of the race and went on to score without any anxious moments.
Another to score very easily from the front on this card was FIRST WINTER when opening her account in the maiden 1800m. Soon at the helm of what has to be said was a very moderate looking field, First Winter was allowed a soft lead throughout. She kept on strongly in the home straight and other than PARIS WIND who ran on from the rear to take second, she had the remainder a minimum of fifteen lengths adrift.
Titbits
Racing over a trip well short of her best on her return from a seven month break here, the Mike De Kock trained RIGHT BEAUTY was running on strongly at the finish when third beaten 3,60 lengths in the conditions plate won by Solarium
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Italian Excellence
Arlington 11th January: The only favourite to arrive on the eight race program in Port Elizabeth on Friday was VICTOR SILVESTER in the MR69 Handicap over 1800m. Having only his second outing in the province since relocating from Cape Town, Gavin Smith’s charge was soon up handy. He was ridden to lead going through the 300m and kept on strongly in the latter stages of the race to beat the easy to back ASTRO BOY by three quarters.
The afternoon’s feature event was an Allowance Plate over 1400m and here we saw a smart performance from the 3yo OTTIMO. Thought good enough to contest two Gr1 events during the Natal season, Ottimo broke well and was always close to the speed. He moved through to take up the running as they approached the 200m pole and drew clear easily from there onwards to beat two very useful local 3yo’s in SEDGE and PLACIDO.
In terms of distance the easiest victory on the card was undoubtedly that of ROBIN ISLAND who came home smoking in the maiden 2400m. Nicely positioned in third, in what soon became a very strung out field, the son of Mullins Bay was always poised to strike. He did so rounding the home turn and drew clear easily down the short home straight to score by eight.
Titbits
SECRET QUEST ran on from the back end of midfield when registering her third career victory in the MR66 affair over 1000m.
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Champion Miler
Kenilworth 12th January: Last season’s Horse of the Year was sent off a strong favourite to win the prestigious Gr1 Queen’s Plate in Cape Town on Saturday and although there was some controversy surrounding a false start, he did nonetheless win in impressive style. Skilfully guided over from the widest draw by champion jockey Anton Marcus, the champion miler made virtually all. He ran on stoutly down the long new course straight and despite his only serious rivals in the betting market POMODORO and JACKSON being positioned with every chance, he went on to win fair and square by two and a quarter.
Another to win well in top grade company on this card was BEACH BEAUTY in the Gr1 Paddock Stakes. She got away well in what not surprisingly was the faster of the two 1800m events and raced close up in fourth for most of the journey. She made her move early in the straight and after striking the front shortly after passing the 300m marker she quickly drew clear.
In terms of distance the easiest victory on the card was recorded by ESTIVATION when opening his account in the workrider’s maiden 1200m. Sent off a rather uneasy favourite at 5/2, Mike Bass’ charge was soon positioned close to the speed. He put his head in front going through the 400m and although TRIBUTARY ran on strongly from off the pace he went on to score very easily by four and a quarter.
Titbits
Positioned in the rear early on, the newcomer TRUE GIFT was not given a hard ride when coasting into third in the maiden juvenile plate over 1200m.
PLEASURE JET ran on well from the rear when runner up to CAPTAIN ‘S LULLABY in the MR86 Handicap over 1000m.
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Hard Knocker
Turffontein 13th January: The Gr3 London News Stakes topped the bill at the inner track on Sunday and in what proved to be the faster of the four 1800m events on the card, the 5yo son of Muhtafal KNOCK ON WOOD caused a major upset. Freely available at 30/1 on the off, Ormond Ferraris’ charge broke well from a wide draw and was soon in touch with the leaders. He ran on well in the long home straight and kept on strongly after striking the front 170m from home to beat the faster finishing Summer Cup runner up SHOGUNNAR by a length and a quarter.
The supporting act was the listed Sea Cottage Stakes over the same distance and in a time close on two seconds slower than that of Knock On Wood victory here went to the Mike De Kock trained ALEXANDRA PALACE. Backed into favouritism at the track, the son of Jet Master was soon up handy. He ran on well over the final 600m and in a race where only a length and three quarters covered the first six home he only got the verdict by the narrowest of margins over the unfancied AMERICAN STORM.
Race five on the card was a MR72 Handicap over 1600m and here we saw a very smart performance from the 3yo TELLINA. He was a little slow into stride when the gates opened and positioned in ninth turning for home had many lengths to find on the leaders. Confidently ridden by the vastly experienced Robbie Fradd though, the son of Silvano quickly worked his way through the field. He hit the front going through the 200m and cruised clear in the latter stages of the race to win by five and a quarter with some in hand.
Titbits
Course specialist BETA won the MR91 Handicap over 1600m with authority.
GRAY’S CHAMP was running on strongly late when only beaten a length and a quarter in the listed Sea Cottage Stakes.
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Top speedratings for this weekend include:-
Flamingo Park Race 1: (3) Reality Show 17 Race 2: (14) Fancy Footwork 38 Race 3: (15) Sudden Surprise 40 Race 4: (3) Sakkie Sakkie 5 Race 5: (7) Breeze Bar 34 Race 6: (2) Zaafiel 56 Race 7: (4) Heyouneverknow 73 (EW) Race 8: (13) Captain Charlie 28 Race 9: (14) Leap In The Del 30 Scottsville Race 1: (5) Cape Vesta 18 Race 2: (1) Angie 15 (NAP*) Race 3: (12) Roy’s Royalty 6 Race 4: (4) Black Is Black 87 Race 5: (12) Watch The Weather 44 Race 6: (11) Mr. Premier 90 Race 7: (2) Punk Royale 46 Race 8: (4) Jamal(aus) 28 Turffontein Race 1: (1) Hello Polly 14 Race 2: (4) Brooks-Club 79 (NAP**) Race 3: (1) Tuscan Lass 21 Race 4: (4) Sharp Design 81 Race 5: (9) Strongmind 47 Race 6: (4) Jolly Poppins 67 Race 7: (3) Bluroute 53 Race 8: (12) Balse 68 Arlington Race 1: No Qualifiers Race 2: (4) Gollywog 16 Race 3: (15) Mark Of The Divine 44 Race 4: (9) Santa Barbara 59 Race 5: (7) Prizefighter 74 Race 6: (6) Bugle Call 54 Race 7: (11) She’s A Lady 48 Race 8: (9) Spondulics 35 Vaal Race 1: (5) Manzai 16 Race 2: (3) Lockheed Jetstar 72 (NAP**) Race 3: (9) Magnolia Man 17 Race 4: (4) National Key 49 Race 5: (14) Wylie Hall 20 Race 6: (8) Smart Royal 58 Race 7: (11) Mass Destruction 48 Race 8: (15) Tatters 54 Race 9: (8) Savannah Montana 50 .
Top rated winners last week included Good Idea won 35/1 American Pie won 18/10 Shadow Line won 18/10 La Volta won 17/10 Mamselle Du Barry won 16/10 Sanfoneiro won 16/10 With Passion won 15/10 Stowaway won 9/20 .
Notebook:-
Ottimo (J Snaith, E-Cape) Tellina (G Woodruff, Gauteng) Variety Club (J Ramsden, W-Cape) .
FASTEST TIMES
The number of races run over each distance is shown in brackets *Denotes – Times taken by ClockwatcherVaal (sand) 10th January Going – Standard 1000m (3) Solarium 58,85 1200m (1) Cool Tempest 74,50 1450m (2) Funny Glory 91,40 1600m (1) Tomorrow’s Miss 102,15 1800m (1) First Winter 116,77 .
Arlington 11th January Penetrometer 21 – Going Good 1000m (2) November Rain 57,22 1300m (1) Olympic Victory 79,38 1400m (1) Ottimo 83,42 1800m (1) Victor Silvester 109,46 2000m (1) Go Googol 126,15 2400m (1) Robin Island 158,64 .
Kenilworth (new) 12th January Penetrometer 24 – Going Good 1000m (3) Cape Royal 58,72 1200m (2) Estivation 72,60 1400m (1) Northern Heritage 86,02 1600m (1) Variety Club 97,83 1800m (2) Beach Beauty 109,76 2800m (1) Jeppe’s Reef 181,84 .
Turffontein (inner) 13th January Penetrometer 22 – Going Good 1200m (1) Irish Flyer 71,49 1450m (1) Casey Novak 87,90 1600m (2) Beta 95,69 1800m (4) Knock On Wood 108,30
