Shining Bright
Fairview 30th October
The highlight in Port Elizabeth on Sunday was the Gr3 Algoa Cup over 2000m and here we saw a smart performance from the visiting NEBULA. Backed into 4/1 second favourite from 11/2 at the track, Brett Crawford’s charge raced close to the pace in sixth. He took up the running as they approached the 300m marker and won comfortably by three quarters from the running on CAPTAIN SPLENDID.
Three of the afternoon’s nine races were staged over 1400m and quickest home amongst these was CAPTAINS SLIPPER in the MR74 Handicap. Nicely drawn in gate 3, the Captain Al gelding was soon nicely positioned in second. He ran on strongly down the long home straight and got the verdict over DUTCH HARBOUR by a half.
Stopping the clock in the fastest time in the two 1200m events was the aptly named CLEAR SAILING when winning the conditions plate. Sent off second in the betting market at 3/1, the top weight raced in the backend of midfield early on. She quickened well over the final 400m and in what proved to be a real thriller she got up in the very last stride to deny the visiting ACACIAWOOD.
Titbits
GIMME NOW came from the rear when winning the maiden over 1400m going away.
Showing Her Class
Kenilworth 1st November
Three of the eight races in Cape Town on Tuesday were run over 1600m and the quickest home in these was the R5,2M purchase HORIZON when getting off the mark in the boy’s division of the maiden event for 3yo’s. Sent off second in the betting market at 4/1, the son of Dynasty was always handy. He was ridden to lead as they approached the 200m marker and went on to score going away from the odds on favourite CROMPTON COURT by two and a half.
The stable of Dennis Drier have started off in good form since migrating to Cape Town for the summer and they were again on the mark here with ANIME in the MR76 Handicap over 1000m. Soon up handy in what was always a very tightly bunched field, the daughter of Count Dubois ran on strongly at the business end of the race and won comfortably by a length and a quarter from the running on CHINA PEARL. The runner up had raced detached at the rear and finished well.
In terms of merit ratings a graduation plate over 1200m topped the bill and in what proved to be the faster of the two races over the distance we saw a smart performance from last season’s GR1 Gold Medallion winner ALWAYS IN CHARGE. She jumped awkwardly when the gates opened and losing a length or so, she very quickly found herself at the back of the six. The pace wasn’t a blistering one though and she was always in touch with the leaders. She quickened in good style below the distance and won going away by three quarters.
Titbits
The very progressive looking 3yo JUST SENSUAL won very easily in the maiden ranks last time out and she repeated the dose here in the MR72 Handicap over 1400m. Soon positioned close to the speed, Joey Ramsden’s charge put her head in front shortly after passing the 300m pole and only had to be pushed out in order to score by three and a half.
Unbeaten Since Layoff
Turffontein 1st November
They raced on the old stand side track on Tuesday evening where the faster of the two 1400m races was the pinnacle stakes in which FORT EMBER completed a hat-trick. Now a winner of four from six, Paul Peter’s charge raced fourth of the eleven during the early part of the race. She put her head in front going through the 300m and kept on strongly in the latter stages to fend off a determined challenge from PENNY SERENADE. Since returning from a layoff of just over a year, Fort Ember is now unbeaten in three starts.
Quickest home in the two 1600m races was Fort Ember’s stable companion URGENT FURY in the MR80 Handicap. Registering his sixth career victory here, the son of Rebel King also raced in a handy position. He was asked to take up the running 150m out and won going away by two and a half from the more fancied SILVER PEG.
They also ran two races over 1160m and stopping the clock in the fastest time here was QUEEN’S JET in the MR70 Handicap. Nibbled at on course into 8/1 from 12’s, Grant Maroun’s charge was another to race close to the speed. Just four and a half lengths covered all going through the 400m and at that stage the race looked open. Queen’s Jet ran on stoutly from there onwards though, and after striking the front 150m from home won fair and square.
Titbits
Running on from the backend of midfield, poorly drawn DEVADIP was finishing best of all when a 1,1 length fifth in the opening maiden plate over 1400m.
Won Fair And Square
Greyville 2nd November
With the going officially given as rain affected, and a 30k headwind to contend with, the times were relatively slow at the poly track on Wednesday afternoon.
Two of the eight races were staged over 1200m and the fastest of these was the MR74 Handicap in which ONE O WON registered his second career victory. Backed into joint favouritism at the track (6/1 into 4/1), Garth Puller’s charge raced in the backend of midfield for most of the journey. He began to take closer order coming off the bend and won well by two after striking the front 150m from home.
Three of the eight races were staged over 1600m and first past the post in the fastest of these was NICKLAUS in the MR90 Handicap. Taken straight to the front by apprentice Ngwane, the Point Given gelding attempted to lead throughout. He was headed by THIRTYTWO SQUADRON 350m out and although he did get his head back in front close home, he lost the race in the stewards room because of interference.
In terms of distance the easiest victory on the card was recorded by the classy LALA in the MR85 Handicap. Sat ready to pounce in second for most of the journey, the top weight put her head in front shortly after passing the 300m marker and comfortably accounted for the always handy PLAYBOY BUDDY by two and three quarters.
Titbits
Running on from midfield, the Mike De Kock trained MALHAMA was baulked for a run 300m out before winning the maiden plate for the girls over 1400m going away.
Another to run on well from midfield was OLYMPIC POWER when winning the MR78 Handicap over 2000m going away.
Vintage Stuff
Vaal 3rd November
The faster of the two 1000m races that opened up proceedings at the Vaal’s inside track on Thursday was not surprisingly the graduation plate won by SEATTLE SINGER. In the red at 8/10 on the off, the ultra-consistent daughter of Sail From Seattle went straight to the front. She ran on strongly at the business end of the race and forced to give her all she only got the verdict by the narrowest of margins from the very lightly raced 4yo REBEL TO THE FORE. Having just her third career outing here, the runner up was returning from a 15 month layoff.
The faster of the two maiden plates over 1200m was the second division won by the newcomer JOEY PIPER. Freely available at 7/1 on the off, Paul Peter’s charge, was always in touch with the leaders. He quickened well from the 400m pole and won going away after striking the front 150m out.
They also ran two races over 1400m and the quickest home here was REFUGE in the MR72 Handicap. Sent off a clear favourite at 28/10, this 3yo Toreador gelding raced in the rear early on. He ran on best of all from halfway and under a vintage ride from Piere Strydom, he got up very late to deny the deposed joint favourite TRIP TO PARADISE.
Titbits
The improving 3yo BOLD REX completed a double when comfortably accounting for his five rivals in the MR80 Handicap over 1800m.
Top speedratings for this weekend include:-
Fairview (fri)
Race 1: (5) Vilanelle 19 (NAP*)
Race 2: (6) Oswego 13
Race 3: (2) Shady World 13
Race 4: (12) Netherby Hall 59
Race 5: (7) Placido 53
Race 6: (4) Candy Crush 51
Race 7: (9) Pataudi 72
Race 8: (14) Diamondinthedark 45
Greyville (fri)
Race 1: (4) Expresso Martini 24
Race 2: (2) Roy’s Dispren 20
Race 3: (12) Discourse 43
Race 4: (7) Dawn Calling 73
Race 5: (15) Roy’s Monkey 26
Race 6: (10) King Django 53
Race 7: (9) Stolen Destiny 86
Race 8: (4) Momo 22
Turffontein (sat)
Race 1: (5) Secret Star 30
Race 2: (7) Rake’s Chestnut 91
Race 3: (3) Featherfoot 67
Race 4: (1) Pajama Party 23
Race 5: (1) Talktothestars 105 (NAP*)
Race 6: (2) Crown Of Roses 79
Race 7: (4) Liege 98
Race 8: (12) Capuche 47
Race 9: (6) Ebony Knight 58
Kenilworth (sat)
Race 1: (9) Gold Force 17
Race 2: (6) Tiger Tops 83
Race 3: (8) Copper Force 19
Race 4: (2) Moon Princess 27
Race 5: (1) Sail South 87
Race 6: (11) Flying Ryan 50
Race 7: (5) Beach Goddess 82
Race 8: (3) Captain Alfredo 96
Greyville (sun)
Race 1: (4) Gold Dash 11
Race 2: (2) Starwin 10
Race 3: (1) School Run 44
Race 4: (13) Dark Rose 45
Race 5: (7) Ruby Gem 61
Race 6: (11) Silver Rose 69
Race 7: (5) Sun On Africa 74
Race 8: (7) Black Forest 27
Top rated winners last week included
Thirtytwo Squadron won 22/1
In Limine won 13/1
Royal Honour won 8/1
Arctic Teon won 5/2
Being Fabulous won 14/10
Prancing won 12/10
Fish River Canyon won 1/1
Seattle Singer won 8/10
Notebook:
–
Always In Charge (V Marshall, W-Cape)
Just Sensual (J Ramsden, W-Cape)
Horizon (C Bass-Robinson, W-Cape)
FASTEST TIMES
The number of races run over each distance is shown in brackets
*Denotes – Times taken by Clockwatcher
Fairview (turf) 30th October
Penetrometer 23 – Going Good
Course Variant: 0,25s slow
1000m (1) Pacific Spirit 57,11
1200m (2) Clear Sailing 69,50*
1400m (3) Captains Slipper 84,65
1600m (1) High Fashion 97,98
1800m (1) Notting Hill 111,01
2000m (1) Nebula 123,23
Kenilworth (old) 1st November
Penetrometer 22 – Going Good
Course Variant: 0,9s slow
1000m (1) Anime 59,70
1200m (2) Always In Charge 73,08
1400m (1) Just Sensual 87,24
1600m (3) Horizon 100,46
1800m (1) In Limine 111,49
Turffontein (old) 1st November
Penetrometer 20 – Going Good
Course Variant: 0,41s slow
1000m (1) Pipkin 57,86
1160m (2) Queen’s Jet 67,58
1400m (2) Fort Ember 84,09
1600m (2) Urgent Fury 97,14
2450m (1) Royal Honour 154,01
Greyville (poly) 2nd November
Going Rain Affected
Course Variant: 1,33s slow
1200m (2) One O Won 71,41
1400m (1) Malhama 85,75
1600m (3) Thirtytwo Squadron 96,03
1800m (1) Lala 113,87
2000m (1) Olympic Power 123,14
Vaal (inside) 3rd November
Penetrometer 24 – Going G/Soft
Course Variant: 0,53s slow
1000m (2) Seattle Singer 57,53
1200m (2) Joey Piper 70,78
1400m (2) Refuge 83,23
1700m (2) Banking April 103,50
1800m (1) Bold Rex 110,45
