Just Compensation
Greyville 28th June: The only race run on turf amongst the nine events on Sunday afternoon was the bill topping KZN Breeders Million Mile (non-black type) won by the favourite BEZANOVA. Drawn wide, Alec Laird’s charge raced in the backend of midfield early on. He quickened well at the top of the short home straight and under a well-judged ride from Anton Marcus, he got the verdict over WILD ONE by a neck.
Four of the eight races on the poly took place over 1200m and fastest against the clock here was KINGSTON BOY when registering his seventh career victory in the KZN Breeders 1200m. Another to run on stoutly from midfield, Doug Campbell’s charge got up late to deny the more fancied AL CIBERANO.
The faster of the two KZN Breeders 1900m races (poly) was the boy’s affair won in very good style by JOSHUAS CROWN. Freely available at 5/1 on the off, the top weighted 6yo was a little slow into stride and as a result he raced in the rear for most of the journey. Once given rein though, he quickened best of all and after striking the front 200m or so from home, he won going away by three and three quarters.
Titbits
TAKING CHANCES and COUSIN ANNIE ran on well in the closing stages when 3rd & 5th respectively in the girl’s division of the KZN Breeder’s 1200m.
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The Word Was Out
Flamingo Park 29th June: The fastest of the three 1400m races in Kimberley on Monday was the MR61 Handicap won by the Rebel King filly MILYNNE. Swiftly guided over from a wide draw by Gavin Lerena, Milynne was nicely positioned in fourth coming off the bend. She ran on stoutly in the straight and in what proved to be a real thriller she got up late to beat ENCHANTING LASS by a half.
Much easier a winner over 1400m was GIBSON when opening his account in the maiden plate. Sent off a well-supported favourite at 18/10, the son of Ashaawes was a little slow into stride, but despite that was soon at the head of affairs. He led by just a length turning for home and cruised clear in the straight to score by five and three quarters.
The faster of the two 1200m races was the MR84 Handicap in which the 3yo TALKTOTHESTARS registered his third career victory. An easy winner on turf at the Vaal last time out, the Overlord gelding was soon up handy. He was ridden to lead as they approached the 200m marker and won with authority by two and three quarters.
Titbits
PONTEDERA made all when comfortably accounting for his ten rivals in the bill topping pinnacle stakes over 1800m.
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Surprisingly The Faster
Vaal 30th June: They raced on the outside track on Tuesday where a half of the eight races were run over 1600m. The fastest of these somewhat surprisingly was the maiden plate won by COUNTERSTROKE. Backed into favouritism in what was effectively priced up as a boat race, the son of Count Dubois raced fifth early on. He put his head in front shortly after passing the 400m pole and with the rest some six lengths adrift, he comfortably accounted for GOLD STATUS by a length and a half.
The faster of the two 1000m races was the MR80 Handicap won narrowly by RAFA. Ridden to lead approaching the 200m marker Leon Erasmus’ charge ran on stoutly below the distance and did well to hold off a determined challenge from the very well handicapped DREAM LEADER.
In terms of distance the easiest victory on the card was recorded by RAINBOW STAR when getting off the mark in the opening work rider’s maiden plate over 1200m. Always handy, Wallace Tolmay’s charge took up the running 300m out and drew clear easily in the closing stages of the race to score by four.
Titbits
PACIFIC G was baulked for a run twice en-route from the rear when a length and three quarter runner up in the MR69 Handicap over 1600m.
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Coming Along Nicely
Durbanville 1st July: The going was good at the country course on Wednesday where the fastest of the four 1400m races, a MR88 Handicap, was won by the 3yo BLACKMORE. Sent off a joint second favourite at 4/1 (op 6’s), Dean Kannemeyer’s charge was a little slow into stride and as a result he raced in midfield early on. He quickened well at the top of the 600m straight and won going away by a length and a quarter after striking the front 150m from home.
Another to win well over the 1400m trip was the best bet on the card for most CHISANYAMA. Deep in the red at 4/10 to open her account in the maiden juvenile plate over 1400m, the daughter of High Chaparrel was always handy. She put her head in front going through the 300m and won well from LITTLE CHAPEL by a length.
The faster of the two 1300m races was the maiden juvenile plate won by ROMAN DISCENT. Nicely positioned in sixth for most of the journey, Greg Ennion’s charge began to take closer order early in the straight. He commenced battle with NUTBUSH as they approached the 200m marker and after a thrilling tussle he only got the verdict by the narrowest of margins. This race was run in a time half a second quicker than the MR68 Handicap won by FAIRY MAKER.
Titbits
MR WISE GUY won the maiden plate over 1400m going away by a length and a half.
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Making Headlines
Vaal 2nd July: Thursday’s action took place on the sand where victory in the faster of the two 1000m races, a MR68 Handicap, went to the 5/2 favourite BATTLE OF ALMA. Soon positioned close to the speed, Dominic Zaki’s charge struck the front 150m out, and won well by a length and three quarters.
The biggest winning margin on the card was the four and a quarter lengths registered by NEWS FILTER when winning the opening juvenile plate over 1200m. Another to race handy, Stuart Pettigrew’s charge was ridden to lead going through the 400m and won going away.
Another to win with lengths to spare on this card was MYSTIC TIGRESS in the MR91 Handicap over 1450m. Allowed to drift as if a win was out of the question at the track (14/1 out to 25’s), Gary Alexander’s charge made all. She raced three lengths clear throughout and didn’t relinquish an inch of her advantage over the final 400m.
Titbits
LORD WINDSOR made up many lengths from the rear when getting up in the very last stride to collar the front running Mind Games in the MR68 Handicap over 1600m.
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Top speedratings for this weekend include:-
Fairview (fri)
Race 1: (4) Memphis Mafia 16
Race 2: (3) Calico 11
Race 3: (4) The Great Guru 10
Race 4: (14) Take Off 45
Race 5: (10) Kono 68
Race 6: (18) Wogsy 66
Race 7: (3) Juan Two Three 47
Race 8: (11) Royal Kate 28
Race 9: (9) Diamond Dynasty 32
Turffontein (sat)
Race 1: (6) Ima Perdy Lady 8
Race 2: (6) Daspoort 15
Race 3: (7) Estidraaj 91
Race 4: (3) The Midnight Train 15 (NAP*)
Race 5: (4) Maji Moto 42
Race 6: (6) Fly Phillippa 62
Race 7: (8) Arkansas 52
Race 8: (11) Gypsey Myth 44
Race 9: (4) Penstock 18
Kenilworth (sat)
Race 1: (1) Aspara 14
Race 2: (14) Silver Mountain 18 (NAP*)
Race 3: (1) Mamselle Al 17
Race 4: (2) Royal Flying Corps 27
Race 5: (4) Charlie Strong 12
Race 6: (8) Titus 78
Race 7: (10) Money Surger 61
Race 8: (13) Georgeous Gaby 48
Scottsville (sun)
Race 1: (9) Rock On Baby 8
Race 2: (4) Whiskey Joe 14
Race 3: (4) Melliflora 9
Race 4: (13) Tide Is Turning 15
Race 5: (2) Cherry Tripper 60
Race 6: (7) Samogan 77
Race 7: (13) Nottingham Forest 56
Race 8: (18) Groovy News 23
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Top rated winners last week included
Daggons Hall won 11/2
Lord Windsor won 5/1
Milynne won 4/1
Counterstroke won 18/10
Red Barrel won 18/10
Caprice Des Dieux won 12/10
News Filter won 12/10
Talktothestars won 11/10
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Notebook:-
Blackmore (D Kannemeyer, W-Cape)
Pacific G (W Tolmay, Gauteng)
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FASTEST TIMES
The number of races run over each distance is shown in brackets
*Denotes – Times taken by Clockwatcher
Greyville (turf/poly) 28th June
Turf Good/Poly Standard
1200m (4) Kingston Boy 68,76P
1600m (1) Bezanova 98,63T
1600m (2) Euohoria 94,83P
1900m (2) Joshuas Crown 113,90P
Flamingo Park 29th June
Going Standard
1000m (2) Iron Dragon 57,54
1200m (2) Talktothestars 72,28
1400m (3) Milynne 87,28
1600m (1) Greatist Hits 99,21
1800m (1) Pontedera 113,20
Vaal (outside) 30th June
Penetrometer 20 – Going Good
1000m (2) Rafa 56,73
1200m (2) Rainbow Star 71,19
1600m (4) Counterstroke 95,94
Durbanville 1st July
Penetrometer 22 – Going Good
1300m (2) Roman Discent 79,99
1400m (4) Blackmore 84,36
1600m (1) Belcourt Castle/What’s News 98,59
2000m (1) Captain’s Castle 125,17
Vaal (sand) 2nd July
Going Standard
1000m (2) Battle Of Alma 59,55
1200m (2) Celtic Legend 73,53
1450m (2) Mystic Tigress 90,26
1600m (2) Lord Windsor 102,95
