Setting The Pace
Scottsville 23rd November: The first baby race of the season took place on Sunday (a maiden juvenile plate over 800m) and in what was priced up as boat race victory went to the favourite BIG SUGAR. One of three fillies in the six horse field, the daughter of More Than Ready raced third just a length or so behind the front running second favourite SILVER KAVALIER. As the betting had suggested the pair drew clear from halfway and with the remainder some seven lengths adrift at the wire Big Sugar got the verdict by three quarters.
Three of the afternoon’s eleven races were run over 1000m and the fastest of these was the graduation plate won by FLYING LOOT. Allowed to ease out to 12/1 from 7’s at the track, Paul Lafferty’s charge made all. Both CLEAR SAILING and ROCKET LADY challenged strongly over the final 300m and in what proved to be a real thriller she only got the verdict by a neck.
There were also three races run over 2400m and fastest against the clock here was JAY POWER in the pinnacle stakes. Priced up as one of the rank outsiders of the nine horse party at 25/1, Flying Loot also raced from the front. He was three lengths clear throughout and although ROC ‘N ROSE chased hard over the final 400m he barely relinquished an inch of his advantage.
The easiest victory on the card was the 3,25 lengths recorded by PEARL EMBLEM when opening her account in the second division of the maiden 1400m. Swiftly guided over from a wide draw by Sean Cormack, the daughter of National Emblem also raced from the front. She was always in command and won without any anxious moments by three and a quarter.
Titbits
Lightly raced Chamaylee ran on well from the backend of midfield when only beaten a neck in the first division of the maiden 1400m.
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Much Improved
Vaal 25th November: A maiden plate over 1000m got proceedings underway at the sand track on Tuesday and here victory went to the nibbled at second favourite TWILIGHT TIGER. On leaving the stalls it was the well supported even money favourite SEVENTH SYMPHONY who elected to make the running whilst Roy Magner’s charge raced close up in fourth. Seventh Symphony kept on strongly over the final 400m and she did have the rest well beaten. Twilight Tiger quickened nicely in the closing stages though, and won going away by a length and a quarter.
The only other race over 1000m on the afternoon was the not so lucky last (a MR68 Handicap) won by LAW ENFORCER. In a time almost a second quicker (on my clock) than that of Twilight Tiger, the 100/1 shot ran on from midfield. He finished best of all and got up in the dying strides to deny the 5/2 favourite RODEO DANDY.
Four of the afternoon’s nine races were run over 1450m and the fastest of these was the MR71 Handicap won by CRYSTAL’S REVENGE. Initially priced up favourite (5/2 out to 33/10 second favourite), Sean Tarry’s charge was soon up handy. She was ridden to lead shortly after passing the 300m marker and easily accounted for the front running DISCO BOY by two and three quarters.
The easiest victory on the card was undoubtedly that of S’WAY in the MR64 Handicap over 1200m. Visibly cruising going through halfway the always handy 18/1 shot took up the running at the 200m marker and cruised clear from there onwards to score with a ton in hand by six and a half.
Titbits
The veteran MIRAGE DRIVE made up many lengths from the rear when only beaten a length and three quarters by AUGUSTINUS (now unbeaten in three starts on sand) in the pinnacle stakes over 1600m.
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Mercury Rising
Kenilworth 26th November: The faster of the two 1000m events in Cape Town on Wednesday was the novice plate in which PERPETUA registered her second career victory. Sent off third in the betting market at 4/1, Greg Ennion’s charge raced fourth of the six for most of the journey. She moved up to dispute matters 200m out and after a thrilling tussle with the pacemaker NIGHT OF STARS she got the verdict by a neck.
Fastest against the clock in the two 1400m events was LIQUID MERCURY winner of the MR68 Handicap. A winner in maiden company over the course and distance last time out, Joey Ramsden’s charge was always handy. Both he and the fancied O’CHEE PAN quickened well early in the straight and after another titanic battle over the final 200m he too only got the verdict by a neck.
The faster of the two 1600m races was the MR80 affair in which the 5yo NONKI POO landed the spoils. Freely available at 13/2 on the off the stagelight mare raced fifth during the early part of the race. The four-timer seeking ABBEY CREEK was the first to make a move and kept on strongly after striking the front 700m out. Once in the straight though Nonki Poo ran on strongly and went on to win comfortably by two after striking the front 150m from home.
Titbits
Beaten just a neck in the second division of the MR68 Handicap SCARLET WITCH was baulked for a run 200m out and didn’t find a clear passage until very late.
ROYAL DREAMER won the maiden plate over 1600m with some in hand.
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Sailing Home
Vaal 27th November: Thursday’s action took place on the inside track where victory in the fastest of the three 1200m events, a MR88 Handicap, went to SHADOW LINE. Not seen out on turf since winning a similar handicap over 1400m six months ago, Scot Kenny’s charge was nibbled at into 9/1 from 14’s. Confidently ridden by Gunter Wrogemann the son of Toreador raced at the back of the eleven for most of the journey. Once given rein though he quickened well and went on to score comfortably by two and a quarter after striking the front 200m from home.
There were also three races run over 1700m (all maiden plates) and fastest against the clock in these was the Mike De Kock trained ALGHADEER in the third division. He got away well when the gates opened and soon up handy raced prominent throughout. He struck the front as they approached the 400m marker and although the favourite RAMPANT ICE chased hard, he did have that one held by a length and a quarter at the wire.
The stable of Mike De Kock were also on the mark in the MR76 Handicap over 1000m when LOVE TO SAIL registered her second career win from just three starts. Easy to back at 6/1 in this her first outing since July, the daughter of Sail From Seattle raced in midfield for most of the trip. She fairly flew in the latter stages of the race and in what proved to be a real thriller she got up in the dying strides to deny the nibbled at 16/1 shot IT’SGOTTOBEME.
Titbits
CAPE MARIGOLD won the maiden 1200m very easily by five and a half,
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Top speedratings for this weekend include:-
Fairview (fri)
Race 1: (8) Lessflashmorecash 13
Race 2: (2) Elfpower 8
Race 3: (3) Starspangledemblem 46
Race 4: (1) Blaze Of Fire 76
Race 5: (13) Can-Can Inn 52
Race 6: (11) Diamond Diva 44
Race 7: (8) Guantanamera 83
Race 8: (12) Placido 67
Race 9: (17) Fiscardo 58
Greyville (fri)
Race 1: (4) The Poet 26
Race 2: (4) Kept Secret 38
Race 3: (1) Invecta 17
Race 4: (6) Nights On Broadway 35
Race 5: (5) Melanchete 42
Race 6: (2) Malrebellio 41
Race 7: (7) Storm Surf 60
Race 8: (6) Miss Stingray 48
Race 9: (5) Halloween Night 12
Turffontein (sat)
Race 1: (11) Crimson Oak 13
Race 2: No Qualifiers
Race 3: (3) Supa Sami 17
Race 4: (1) Halve The Deficit 87
Race 5: (6) Mink Trip 68
Race 6: (6) The Centenary 44
Race 7: (1) Mitraad 43
Race 8: (1) Tee Jay Ar 58
Race 9: (3) Samba Serenade 60 (EW)
Kenilworth (sat)
Race 1: (8) Sister Act 18
Race 2: (9) Ovar 20
Race 3: (2) Alzera 31
Race 4: (4) Capel Top 49
Race 5: (2) Fly By Night 96 (nb)
Race 6: (8) Captain On The Run 87
Race 7: (1) Majmu 89 (NAP**)
Race 8: (1) Lotus Lily Lake 51
Race 9: (11) That Cowboy Kid 41
Race 10: (5) Street Flyer 8
Scottsville (sun)
Race 1: (3) Aqaba 20
Race 2: (3) Ewan’s Dream 19
Race 3: (3) Shezamatador 23
Race 4: (7) Educated 88 (EW)
Race 5: (2) Preamble 56
Race 6: (3) Always Al 70
Race 7: (7) Billy Boy Blues 77
Race 8: (5) Tuscan 78
Race 9: (1) Bold Attitude 22
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Top rated winners last week included
Storm Surf won 5/1
Buzz won 15/4
Canadian Club won 18/10
Unannounced won 18/10
Your Lordship won 18/10
Admiral’s Eye won 16/10
Heart Of A Lion won 1/1
Majestic Bay won 7/10
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Notebook:-
Love To Sail (M De Kock, Gauteng)
Shadow Line (S Kenny, Gauteng)
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FASTEST TIMES
The number of races run over each distance is shown in brackets
*Denotes – Times taken by Clockwatcher
Scottsville (inside) 23rd November
Penetrometer 21 – Going Good
800m (1) Big Sugar 46.41
1000m (3) Flying Loot 56,97
1200m (1) Kings Gold 69,39
1400m (2) Pearl Emblem 83,35
1600m (1) Admiral’s Eye 95,42
2400m (3) Jay Power 150,58
Vaal (sand) 25th November
Going – Rain Affected
1000m (2) Law Enforcer 59,12
1200m (1) S’way 72,93
1450m (4) Crystal’s Revenge 89,87*
1600m (1) Augustinus 99,12
1800m (1) West Wind Ode 117,01
Kenilworth (old) 26th November
Penetrometer 22 – Going Good
1000m (2) Perpetua 57,09
1200m (2) Fashion Scout 70,43
1400m (2) Liquid Mercury 85,77
1600m (2) Nonki Poo 99,83
2000m (1) French Revolution 126,14
Vaal (inside) 27th November
Penetrometer 22 – Going Good
1000m (2) Doing It For Dan 57,75
1200m (3) Shadow Line 71,21
1400m (1) Move Like Jagger 83,70
1700m (3) Alghadeer 105,38
1800m (1) Heart Of A Lion 110,06
