Durbanville 16th November
Gutsy Forest
Sent off as if unbeatable to win the opening maiden event at the country course on Tuesday was the Joey Ramsden trained Jeanne D’arc. She was soon up handy and when she moved up to challenge 400m from home, a win looked on the cards. Just as quickly as she moved into contention though, her effort petered out, and she could do no better than to finish tenth of the twelve. Victory instead went to the joint second favourite SILVER VANITY. Glen Kotzen’s charge had also raced handy and took up the running 200m out.
Favourite backers were on the mark in the next though, when the heavily supported MR WINS PARADE did the business in the maiden event over 2400m. Backed into 5/10 from 9/10 at the track, Dean Kanneyer’s charge raced fifth during the early part of the race. He began to take closer order rounding the turn and was already at the front early in the straight. He drew clear easily over the final 400m and far from fully extended cruised in by eight.
Race five on the card was a MR72 affair over 1600m and here victory went to the Eric Sands trained COUNT MY LUCK. Another to race handy, which is clearly the place to be at this circuit, Count My Luck was always travelling well. He quickened well at the top of the straight and went on to beat both the pacemaker URBANE KNIGHT, and the favourite SHADOW IN THE WIND, fair and square.
The afternoons’ feature event was an Allowance Plate over 1400m and here we saw a very gutsy performance from the only 3yo in the race CORK FOREST. Taken straight to the front by Gerrit Schlechter, the son of Kabool led throughout. He kicked nicely early in the straight and soon had some very useful older horses under pressure. IMPERIAL FOX finished best of the rest, but even he couldn’t get within a length and a half of the winner at the wire.
Turffontein 16th November
All The Way
First up on the old stand side track on Tuesday evening was a workriders’ maiden event over 1800m and here we saw a very comfortable victory for the second favourite HAIL THE TIGER (24). Ridden by the very able Patrick Matshokotsha, Hail The Tiger was soon up handy. He was ridden to lead as they approached the 200m marker and although the favourite FURLING SAIL was running on late from off the pace, he went on to score without any anxious moments by two and quarter.
Another to win very nicely in the maiden ranks here was BLING DANCER (24) who opened her account in the maiden event over 1160m. Confidently ridden by Anthony Delpech, the daughter of West Man sat in midfield during the early part of the race. She quickened well when asked for her effort and after striking the front 300m from home, she easily drew clear to beat SUNNY DISPOSITION by two and a half.
A conditions event over 1600m topped the bill and here it was nice to see the Fort Wood mare QUEEN’S BAY (76) back in the winner’s enclosure. Having her third run after a break here, Michael Azzie’s charge was taken straight to the front by Gavin Lerena and led throughout. She soon had the field well strung out and going through the 500m most were out of their ground. The well supported TREE OF PERFECTION (12/1 into 13/2) ran on stoutly from there onwards, but having been some six lengths adrift passing the 500m pole, she couldn’t get closer than a length at the wire.
Race eight on the card was a MR70 Handicap over 1400m and in what proved to be a real thriller, victory here went to the Fanatic Dane filly DANISH (43). Freely available at 9/1 on the off, St John Gray’s charge was tucked away in midfield for most of the journey. She fairly flew at the business end of the race and much to the dismay of the followers of the pacemaker QUI DUEL, she got up in the very last stride.
Scottsville 17th November
Music To The Ears
The best bet on the card for many in Natal on Wednesday was CLEARLY KEEN (18) in the maiden event over 1600m and he didn’t let down his supporters. Backed into 9/10 from 12/10 at the track, Gilbert Werner’s charge was always handy. He ran on stoutly over the final 400m and although the pacemaker THURSDAY LUNCH fought on determinedly, he went on to score comfortably by three quarters.
Also worthy of note in the maiden ranks was the performance of FLAMING KING (34) who did the business for favourite backers in the 1600m event. On leaving the stalls it was the unfancied CHIEF AND CHAMPION who elected to set the pace whilst Flaming King sat in midfield. DAY BY DAY was the first to make a move and when that one struck the front 600m out, Flaming King was still some four lengths adrift. Day By Day kept on determinedly in the straight and at the wire had the rest some five lengths in arrears. Flaming King had been steadily reeling him in all the way down the straight though and in what proved to be a real thriller, he did well to get up close home. Flaming King won well and is clearly one to keep tabs on.
The afternoons’ feature event was a MR94 Handicap over 1200m and here we saw a very easy victory for the aptly named GOOD THING (83). Freely available at 9/2 on the off, the 7yo Good Thing raced prominent throughout. He was ridden to lead shortly after passing the 400m marker and clearly relishing the soft underfoot conditions, he drew clear easily in the closing stages of the race to beat the well supported favourite BE ASSURED by three.
A MR92 Handicap over 1200m was next up and here we saw a smart performance from the 3yo Opera King filly POPPINS (64).The small field of seven were always closely grouped and nicely positioned in fourth, Gavin Van Zyl’s charge was always poised to strike. The mare FAIRYTALE STORY struck the front 150m from home and for a moment it looked as if she would gain her first win since Jan ’09. Poppins finished best of all below the distance though and got up nicely late to win going away by a half.
Vaal 18th November
The Right Field
A workriders’ maiden event over 2000m got proceedings underway at the Vaal’s turf meeting on Thursday and here the ultra consistent DOVER CROSSING (20) couldn’t have bumped a much weaker field. Sent off at the prohibitive, but somewhat generous odds of 3/10 taking everything into account, Brett Warren’s charge was always in touch with the leaders. She was asked to take up the running at the 400m marker and with her workrider Makubo continually looking around for challengers from there onwards, she cruised in by two without ever engaging the upper gears.
Another to win well in the maiden ranks was PRINCESS OF LIGHT (34) who opened her account in the 1400m event. Soon prominent, Geoff Woodruff’s charge moved through to lead shortly after passing halfway. After running on stoutly from midfield, the favourite SYNCOPATE threw down a determined challenge over the final 250m. Princess Of Light found extra when given rein though and with a tad in hand she went on to score by a length.
A MR90 Handicap over 2000m topped the bill and here an upset was to be had when the friendless NATIONAL CLUB (56) registered his third career victory. Freely available at 25/1 on the off, the son of Fan Club’s Mister sat second during the early part of the race. The field was always very tightly bunched though and going through the 400m, the race looked wide open. The favourite HARBOR STREET had just struck the front at that stage and 100m later it looked as if he would go on to score comfortably. His stride did begin to shorten in the latter stages though and heading the chasing pack, National Club in turn struck the front close home.
The best bet on the card for many was BIG CITY ANGEL (38) in the maiden event over 1400m. Confidently ridden by Anthony Delpech, the highly regarded Big City Angel raced in sixth position for most of the journey. The 25/1 shot MIDNIGHT CHARGER had made the running and with little form to his name most were probably expecting him to run out of steam. He was still a good four lengths clear going through the 400m though and was showing no signs of searching for gas. Indeed, Brian Wiid’s charge kept on determinedly at the business end of the race and although the odds on favourite chased hard, he couldn’t get closer than two lengths at the wire.
Top speedratings for this weekend include:-
Fairview
Race 1: (9) Drummie 16
Race 2: (1) Soul Searcher 30
Race 3: (1) Al Caruso 49
Race 4: (5) Bulldozer 81
Race 5: (6) Wood Be Magic 101
Race 6: (1) Torcida Split 54
Race 7: (9) Importantisimo 90
Race 8: (5) Capitella 58
Greyville
Race 1: (15) Sweet Oliver 18
Race 2: (12) Elle Rassa 31 (NAP*)
Race 3: (2) Silver Sensation 18
Race 4: (15) Epursimuove 46
Race 5: (10) Dongola 76
Race 6: (1) Mike’s Choice 52
Race 7: (13) Lindenburg 55
Race 8: (4) Lune De Miele 51
Turffontein
Race 1: (3) Knock On Wood 42
Race 2: (15) Advance Call 54
Race 3: (5) Xilomante 73
Race 4: (11) Tuscan Sky 95
Race 5: (18) Perana 100
Race 6: (2) Gold Onyx 80 (EW)
Race 7: (1) Happy Archer 67 (NAP*)
Race 8: (6) Royal Captive 90
Race 9: (5) Flybyme 94
Race 10: (5) Smart Girl 62
Kenilworth
Race 1: (4) Uncle Tommy 18
Race 2: (2) Captain’s Emblem 15
Race 3: (13) Mary Hinge 11 (NAP*)
Race 4: (6) Abington 61
Race 5: (7) Lemonade 111
Race 6: (1) Manenberg 40
Race 7: (16) Koukla 61
Race 8: (3) What A Winter 87
Race 9: No Qualifiers
Race 10: (4) Spanish Affair 24
Scottsville
Race 1: (16) Watch The Sunset 27 (NAP*)
Race 2: (1) Silver Crest 15
Race 3: (5) Hard On The Rocks 14
Race 4: (1) Wind It Up 9
Race 5: (1) West End 66
Race 6: (3) Calliope 87
Race 7: (7) La Negrita 59
Race 8: (2) Castle Ross 73
Race 9: (11) Spirit Of Success 54
Race 10: (5) Infallible 16
Borrowdale Park
Race 1: No Qualifiers
Race 2: (2) Hornbill Lodge 42
Race 3: (7) Gentle Wave 72
Race 4: (3) Misty Flier 20
Race 5: (8) Balance Of Payment 47
Race 6: (5) Jiminy Cricket 67
Race 7: No Qualifiers
Top rated winners last week included:-
Windy Whistle won 9/1
In Like Flynn won 7/2
Howdoulikemenow won 33/10
Balenciaga won 2/1
King’s Fantasy won 2/1
Flowing Stars won 16/10
Country Rose won 15/10
Dynastic Rule won 15/10
Notebook:-
Flaming King (L Werner, Natal)
Poppins (G Van Zyl, Natal)
FASTEST TIMES
(Shown in brackets is the number of races run in each category)
Durbanville 16th November
Fastest Sprint 1000-1300 (2) Virtuoso
Fastest Middle 1400-1800 (3) Cork Forest
Fastest Long 1900-3600 (3) Forbes
Turffontein 16th November
Fastest Sprint 1000-1300 (5) Faith Of London
Fastest Middle 1400-1800 (4) Queen’s Bay
Fastest Long 1900-3600 (0) No Qualifiers
Scottsville 17th November
Fastest Sprint 1000-1300 (5) Royal Cruise
Fastest Middle 1400-1800 (3) Flaming King
Fastest Long 1900-3600 (0) No Qualifiers
Vaal 18th November
Fastest Sprint 1000-1300 (2) Delightfull Diva
Fastest Middle 1400-1800 (4) Midnight Charger
Fastest Long 1900-3600 (4) National Club
Pics:-
Cork Forest – Kenilworth
The 3yo Cork Forest put up a gutsy frontrunning performance when winning in allowance company at Durbanville last week.
