Brighter Outlook
Fairview 24th October: Racing returned to the turf in Port Elizabeth on Friday where the fastest of the four 1000m races was the MR80 Handicap won by BENEDICT. Freely available at 20/1 on the off (op 33’s), Yvette Bremner’s charge was soon at the head of affairs. He kept up a healthy gallop throughout and just held on from the Cape Town raider YOU BEAUTY by a neck.
The afternoon’s feature event was the listed Racing Association Stakes over 1600m and here the best bet on the card for many, LIGHT THE LIGHTS did the business. Always in the red, You Beauty’s stable companion raced sixth of the eight for most of the journey. Once given rein though he quickened well and won very cosily by two after striking the front 200m from home.
In terms of distance the easiest victory on the card was recorded by BOARDWALK CLASSIC in the maiden plate over 1000m. Taken straight to the front by Grant Van Niekerk, the son of Classic Flag led throughout. He was always in command and ran out a very easy winner by five.
Titbits
READY TO ROCK won the opening maiden event over 1000m with authority by four and a quarter.
TOSS THE DICE ran on well from midfield when comfortably winning the maiden event over 1800m.
PIPETTE ran on well from midfield when third in the MR60 Handicap over 1400m.
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More Inspiration
Greyville 24th October: They raced on both surfaces on Friday night.
The faster of the two races over 1200m on the poly was the MR73 Handicap won by the Anton Marcus ridden BURRWOOD. Sent off a rather uneasy favourite at 17/10, the consistent son of Overlord was soon up handy. He was ridden to lead as they approached the 300m marker and although RISKY ROSCO ran on strongly, he did have that one held by a length and a quarter at the wire.
There was also two races run over 1600m on the poly and fastest against the clock here was SUPERCEDE in the MR85 Handicap. Six runners went to post and for most of the journey just four lengths covered all. The winner ran on from fifth position and under a strong ride from Stuart Randolph he got up late to score by a neck.
The listed Michaelmas Handicap over 1900m on turf topped the bill and here we saw another smart performance from the improving 4yo BOLD INSPIRATION. In the red at 8/10 on the off, the son of Horse Chestnut was always handy. He was asked to take up the running going through the 300m and although ZHIVAGO ran on stoutly from midfield he always had his measure.
Titbits
Lightly raced BELLICOSITY made all when winning the maiden plate over 1200m very comfortably by two and a quarter.
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Mythology
Turffontein 25th October: Three of the nine races at the inner track on Saturday were run over 1450m and the fastest of these was the MR72 Apprentice Handicap won by TIP A CHAMPION. Swiftly guided over from a wide draw by Craig Zackey, the well supported (8/1 into 3/1) son of Windrush was soon at the head of affairs. He answered every call over the final 400m and with the rest well beaten he got the verdict by the narrowest of margins from the all-out LONDON.
There were also three races run over 1800m and quickest home amongst these was the Michael Azzie trained GREEK LEGEND. Allowed to ease right out to 10/1 from 11/2 at the track, the 3yo son of Black Minnaloushe raced in the rear for most of the trip. Unable to find a clear passage early in the short home straight, Greek Legend showed a nice turn of foot in the closing stages of the race and won very well by a length and a quarter. His trainer spoke highly of him after the race. One to follow.
Race three on the card was a maiden plate over 1800m and here we saw a nice performance from the Greys Inn filly MISS RAMBO. Sent off a clear second favourite at 5/2, Geoff Woodruff’s charge was positioned in the rear as the ten runners moved off the strip. Once in the short home straight though she quickly worked her way through the field and won going away by two and a half after striking the front 200m out.
Titbits
Backed into even money from 33/10, RAMPANT ICE was fairly flying at the finish (came from midfield) and would have won the maiden plate over 1450m in another stride.
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War Machine
Kenilworth 25th October: They raced on the old course on Saturday where the best bet on the card for most was BRUTAL FORCE in the opening maiden plate over 1200m. Deep in the red at 4/10 on the off, Joey Ramsden’s charge was soon at the head of affairs. He was always in command and went on to beat a strung out field headed by JOINERS ARMS comfortably by two and a quarter.
Four of the afternoon’s ten races were run over 1400m and the fastest of these was the pinnacle stakes won by the aptly named READYTOGORIGHTNOW. Sent off a well-supported favourite at 7/10, the More Than Ready gelding was always handy; He took up the running 100m out and won going away by a length and a quarter.
The Gr3 Cape Classic topped the bill and here we saw another very smart performance from the Dynasty colt ACT OF WAR. On leaving the stalls it was ZINGARO who elected to make the running whilst Joey Ramsden’s charge sat close up in fifth. The 11/20 favourite MLJET was the first to make a move and struck the front going through the 200m. Act Of War was closing in nicely at that point though and under a clever ride from Anton Marcus he went on to win fair and square by a neck. Act Of War has now won four in a row since finishing runner up on debut.
Titbits
ACROSTAR came from the rear when impressively winning the progress plate over 1400m.
Even money favourite SCHOOL RUN won the maiden plate over 1400m going away with some in hand.
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Top speedratings for this weekend include:-
Flamingo Park (mon)
Race 1: (4) Wild Lord 12
Race 2: (2) Code Red 48
Race 3: (4) Protest Song 28
Race 4: (10) Chadderton 20
Race 5: (5) New Circle 32 (EW)
Race 6: (4) Vestal Virgin 25
Race 7: (1) Random Al 23
Race 8: (1) Varsity Star 50
Race 9: (2) Bluebaygirl 32
Vaal (tues)
Race 1: (2) Phantom Bid 5
Race 2: (5) Pyramus 33
Race 3: (1) Luca Delago 21
Race 4: (1) Girlfriend 14
Race 5: (9) Cedar Wood 27
Race 6: (1) Shadow Ofhis Smile 76
Race 7: (15) Tinchy Stryder 59
Race 8: (11) Doing It For Dan 49
Race 9: (14) Gaz Man 48
Race 10: (1) Massachusetts 35
Kenilworth (wed)
Race 1: (1) Black Chrome 11
Race 2: (1) Missing Link 8
Race 3: (10) Upper Echelon 19
Race 4: (8) Captain Blackwater 14
Race 5: (4) Ze Kaiser 74
Race 6: (1) Arachne 46
Race 7: (4) Money Surger 53
Race 8: (2) Gulf Storm 73 (NAP*)
Race 9: (12) Wanda 36
Vaal (thur)
Race 1: (10) Play Date 9
Race 2: (8) Breathless 51
Race 3: (3) Arctic Hooligan 51
Race 4: (9) Seattle Fairy 36
Race 5: (9) Bermuda Bowl 37
Race 6: (3) Sols Gold 54
Race 7: (7) Chief Sioux 43
Race 8: (1) Shepherd’s Song 33
Race 9: (1) Parade Prancer 25
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Top rated winners last week included
Icelandic Fire won 50/1
Boardwalk Classic won 25/1
Ready To Rock won 15/4
Taiwan Treasure won 5/2
Burrwood won 17/10
School Run won 1/1
Light The Lights won 6/10
Brutal Force won 4/10
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Notebook:-
Act Of War (J Ramsden, W-Cape)
Greek Legend (M Azzie, Gauteng)
Rampant Ice (W Marwing, Gauteng)
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FASTEST TIMES
The number of races run over each distance is shown in brackets
*Denotes – Times taken by Clockwatcher
Fairview 24th October
Penetrometer 23 – Going Good
1000m (4) Benedict 56,89
1400m (1) Ruby Sunset 84,96
1600m (2) Light The Lights 97,54
1800m (1) Toss The Dice 112,41
Greyville 24th October
Poly 1-6 Standard – Turf 7-8 Good
1200m (2) Burrwood 70,96
1400m (1) Summer Sixtynine 85,49
1600m (2) Supercede 96,30
1900m (1) Bold Inspiration 118,88T
2000m (1) Proper Posh 124,36
2400m (1) Whale Watching 153,21T
Turffontein (inside) 25th October
Penetrometer 21 – Going Good
1000m (1) Greasepaint 57,71
1200m (2) Trophy Wife 71,61
1450m (3) Tip A Champion 87,85
1800m (3) Greek Legend 110,42
Kenilworth (old) 25th October
Penetrometer 22 – Going Good
1000m (2) Savannah Song 60,25
1100m (1) Asstar 64,77
1200m (2) Brutal Force 73,04*
1400m (4) Readytogorightnow 86,71
2400m (1) Desert Swirl 150,49
