Still Going Strong
Turffontein 9th August: Four of the ten races at the old stand side track on Sunday were run over 1400m and the fastest of these was the MR86 Handicap won by FEATHERFOOT. Backed into favouritism at the track, the Silvano mare was always handy. She was ridden to lead shortly after passing the 400m marker and although SUEDETTE (saddle slipped) kept on after being headed, she won comfortably by a length and three quarters.
There was also four races over 1000m and quickest against the clock amongst these was the 9yo MAJI MOTO in the MR74 Handicap. Racing off a mark some 21 points below that of his former best, the Malhub gelding was always positioned close to the speed. He ran on strongly over the final 400m and in a race where less than a length separated the first four home, he got the verdict by a neck from the running on CLEAN CUT.
The newcomer PERFUMED LADY was backed as if the result was already known in the opening maiden event over 1000m and she didn’t let down her supporters. In the red at 15/20 on the off (op 6/1), Mike De Kock’s charge raced second during the early part of the race. She was asked to take up the running at the 400m pole and with the rest well beaten she comfortably accounted for another newcomer in SPANISH KISS.
Titbits
TORA TORA ran on well from the back when fourth beaten just a length and a quarter in the MR86 Handicap over 1400m.
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Scope For Improvement
Kenilworth 10th August: The going was soft in Cape Town on Monday where victory in the fastest of the four 1200m races went to the nibbled at PURPLE MOUNTAINS. Backed into 13/2 from 10/1, Glen Puller’s charge was always in touch with the leaders. He took up the running under a well-judged ride from Brandon Morgenrood 50m from home and went on to score by three quarters from the low flying PANGA PANGA. The runner up had raced in the rear and ran on very well late.
A progress plate over 1000m topped the bill and in what proved to be a real thriller victory here went to the sparingly raced 4yo CAPTAIN BAGG. Having only his fourth career start here, the son of Captain Al was very quickly a length and a half clear. He ran on strongly over the final 400m and just held on from the running on DOOR OF DECEPTION.
Race five on the card was a MR72 Handicap over 2000m and here we saw a comfortable victory for the 3/1 favourite OVIDIO. Nicely positioned in fifth turning for home, the top weight took up the running 200m out and won well by three quarters from the easy to back BRUNO.
Titbits
The well supported even money favourite ALPHA PEGASI (13/10 into even money) came from the rear when winning the graduation plate over 1400m going away by a length and three quarters with plenty in hand.
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Making Up The Ground
Greyville 11th August: Tuesday’s action took place on the poly track where victory in the fastest of the three 2000m races went to the 6yo FULCRUM. Always handy, Weiho Marwing’s charge took up the running 250m out and won with some in hand by a length and a quarter.
The faster of the two maiden plates over 1800m was the boy’s affair in which we saw an eye catching performance from KITTY’S DESTINY. Sent off third in the betting market at 4/1, the son of Argonaut was positioned at the back of the eleven at the top of the home straight. He quickened well over the final 400m and under a well-judged ride from Keagan De Melo he got up late to beat the 2/1 favourite SCOTS PARTY by a half. Third placed DESERT SUNSET (took a bump at the start) ran on well from midfield in this race.
By far the biggest winning margin on the eight race program was that of SWORD STORM when opening her account in the girl’s division of the maiden 1800m. Swiftly guided over from a wide draw by Anton Marcus, the uneasy favourite (18/10 out to 28/10) made all. She led by just three quarters for most of the journey before quickening clear over the final 400m.
Titbits
A little slow into stride when the gates opened, LAND OF LEGENDS ran on well from the backend of midfield when getting up in the dying strides to win the maiden plate over 1400m.
The favourite BIZJET was also slow into stride in the MR66 Handicap over 1600m and only failed to land the odds by a neck.
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In The Driving Seat
Vaal 12th August: They raced on the inside track on Wednesday where victory in the faster of the two maiden events for fillies over 1400m went to the deposed favourite BESPOKEN. Allowed to drift right out to 5/2 from even money, the daughter of Oracy made all. She was always in command and cruised clear over the final 400m to score by seven and three quarters.
Another to win with lengths to spare from the front on this card was BALLI MIRACLE when opening his account in the maiden plate over 2400m. Just a length and a half clear for most of the journey, Terry Lowe’s charge asserted his authority from the 300m marker and came home lonely by five and a quarter.
A MR87 Handicap over 1200m topped the bill and here another to race from the front KWINTA landed the spoils. Always deep in the red the best bet on the card for most was made to work hard over the final 100m and only got the verdict over the running on LADY AL by a neck.
Titbits
Beaten a short head in the first division of the maiden plate for fillies over 1400m, the heavily supported favourite TRIPADVISOR was reported as making a severe respiratory noise and uncomfortable behind.
NETFLIX only had to be pushed out when winning the maiden plate for 3yo’s over 1700m.
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Fortune Special
Vaal 13th August: Trainer Paul Matchett got off to a flying start at Thursday’s sand meeting, bagging the first three races. The most noteworthy performance amongst these was that of the easy to back KIDMAMBO when opening his account in the maiden plate over 1600m. Freely available at 10/1 on the off, the Mambo In Seattle gelding raced handy in sixth during the early part of the race. He made his move early in the straight and won going away by four and a quarter after striking the front 350m from home.
Run in a faster time than that of Kidmambo was the MR74 Handicap in which the progressive BIG SHOT completed a double. Always in touch with the leaders the son of A P Arrow was hard ridden to lead 100m out and won going away from the tiring WHITE CHRISTMAS (raced in rear; led 350m) by two and three quarters.
Four of the afternoon’s eight races were run over 1200m and the fastest of these on my clock was the MR94 Handicap won by CAPTAIN HADDOCK. Virtually motionless throughout, Jockey Fortune took the veteran straight to the front. He was always in command and won cosily by just over a length.
Titbits
The lightly raced 4yo ALL I WANT ran on well from midfield when winning the MR75 Handicap over 1200m going away.
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Top speedratings for this weekend include:-
Fairview (fri)
Race 1: (1) Fort Kalimenta 8
Race 2: (7) Dandyman Can 39
Race 3: (3) Joy Of Hope 9
Race 4: (13) Western Wonder 56
Race 5: (13) Heartfelt 41
Race 6: (7) Ess El Kay 54 (EW)
Race 7: (2) Murmering Sky 59
Race 8: (7) Commanche Moon 50
Turffontein (sat)
Race 1: (12) Samarra 23
Race 2: (7) Rock The Country 83
Race 3: (8) Nesspresso 4 (NAP*)
Race 4: (4) Mirage Drive 60
Race 5: (2) Lemonade River 38
Race 6: (4) Final Score 52
Race 7: (10) Rocky Stallone 46
Race 8: (5) Fly Phillippa 60 (EW)
Race 9: (10) Gypsey Myth 42
Kenilworth (sat)
Race 1: (2) Bold Aspen 26
Race 2: (1) Storm Front 5
Race 3: (9) Beautiful Bird 17
Race 4: (5) Exclusive Knight 13
Race 5: (4) Ready To Attack 46
Race 6: (6) Exelero 84
Race 7: (8) Bravo Maya 60
Race 8: (1) Nordic Wind 43 (NAP**)
Greyville (sun)
Race 1: (2) Captain King 20
Race 2: (1) Masked Girl 15
Race 3: (12) Omega Onslaught 29 (nb)
Race 4: (8) Seek The Summit 34 (NAP*)
Race 5: (6) Beluga 12
Race 6: (5) Ho’oponopono 56
Race 7: (2) Aware 55 (EW)
Race 8: (1) Translunar 45
Race 9: (12) London Olympics 36
Race 10: (12) Shikra 30
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Top rated winners last week included
S’way won 12/1
Balli Miracle 5/1
Mambo Fever won 7/2
Shine Tiger won 7/2
Roy’s Angel won 33/10
Netflix won 18/10
Alpha Pegasi won 1/1
Kwinta won 1/3
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Notebook:-
Alpha Pegasi (J Snaith, W-Cape)
Bespoken (JJ Van Vuuren, Gauteng)
Kitty’s Destiny (D Howells, KZN)
Perfumed Lady (M De Kock, Gauteng)
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FASTEST TIMES
The number of races run over each distance is shown in brackets
*Denotes – Times taken by Clockwatcher
Turffontein (old) 9th August
Penetrometer 22 – Going Good
1000m (4) Maji Moto 57,91
1400m (4) Featherfoot 85,86
2000m (1) Divine Wind 127,93
2450m (1) Marmalady 154,62
Kenilworth (old) 10th August
Penetrometer 27 – Going Soft
1000m (1) Captain Bagg 62,03
1200m (4) Purple Mountains 75,49
1400m (1) Alpha Pegasi 88,78
1600m (1) Mambo Fever 101,92
2000m (1) Ovidio 130,06
Greyville (poly) 11th August
Going Standard
1000m (1) Golden Mirabilis 57,89
1400m (1) Land Of Legends 83,42
1600m (1) Pure Valor 96,47
1800m (2) Kitty’s Destiny 110,28
2000m (3) Fulcrum 122,80
Vaal (inside) 12th August
Penetrometer 20 – Going Good
1200m (2) Torrelavega 71,88
1400m (2) Bespoken 86,05
1700m (2) Opah Latino 105,63
2000m (2) Leeuloop Jet 126,01
2400m (1) Balli Miracle 153,59
Vaal (sand) 13th August
Going Standard
1000m (1) Thrust 59,84
1200m (4) Captain Haddock 73,32*
1450m (1) Bad Dream 94,11
1600m (2) Big Shot 102,63
