5 From The Front
Durbanville – 2 October
Three of the eight races at the country course on Sunday were run over 1200m and stopping the clock in the fastest time amongst these was ELUSIVE PATH when gaining his second win from just four starts in the MR80 Handicap. An easy winner in the maiden ranks over 1400m last time out, the son of Pathfork made all. He raced a length and a half clear for most of the journey and despite the efforts of the running on SUMMER SKY he extended that advantage to two and a half lengths over the final 300m.
The only other distance to stage more than one race was 1400m where the quicker of the two events was the MR84 Handicap won by WINTER PRINCE. The fourth of five horses to win from the front on the afternoon, Brett Crawford’s charge kept on determinedly in the straight and won comfortably by a length and three quarters from the more fancied FREE AGENT.
STATE BALLET was yet another to win from the front when completing a double over the 1000m trip at this circuit in the MR77 Handicap. Freely available at 8/1 after taking fifteen starts to win her maiden, the daughter of St Petersburg was always at least two lengths clear. She quickened well at the top of the straight and doubled her advantage on the run to the line.
Titbits
The only horse to win from off the pace on the day, CARDIFF CASTLE ran on well from the back when getting up very late to win the maiden plate over 2000m.
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Right Royal Performance
Flamingo Park – 3 October
The aptly named ON THE RIGHT PATH won the faster of the two 1000m races in the Northern Cape on Monday. Easy to back at 11/2 to win the MR62 Handicap, the recent maiden winner was soon up handy. He ran on strongly over the final 400m and with the rest well beaten he comfortably accounted for the front running SIR CECIL by a length and a half.
The faster of the two 1400m races was the MR68 Handicap in which WHITE FEATHER registered her third career victory. She got away well when the gates opened and soon up handy raced prominent throughout. She was ridden to lead as they approached the 400m pole and won well from the staying on pacemaker ROYAL VISIONAIRE by a length and a quarter.
There were a number of easy victories on the card, but none more so than that of ROYAL MASTER in the MR72 affair over 1600m. In what proved to be the faster of the two races over the distance, Bill Human’s charge raced seventh of the ten for most of the journey. He took off as if possessed after switching out for a run 300m from home, and after striking the front 100m later he cruised clear to score by seven and a quarter.
Titbits
The costly to follow MORRIE finally got off the mark when winning the maiden plate over 1400m going away by five and a quarter.
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Four In A Row
Fairview – 4 October
There was a 41 kilometre per hour tail wind in Port Elizabeth on Tuesday and so not surprising the 1000m trip on the poly track was running fast. VILLA DEL LARGO recorded the fastest time over the distance when winning the afternoon’s feature event, a pinnacle stakes. Sent off a clear favourite at 16/10, Justin Snaith’s charge raced in the rear during the early part of the race. Just four and a half lengths covered all coming off the bend though and once in the straight he fairly flew. He struck the front shortly after passing the 200m marker and won going away by two and a quarter.
Stopping the clock in the fastest time in the three 1600m races was ZAMA when getting off the mark in the maiden plate. Another to run on stoutly from the rear, the son of Lateral cut through the field like a knife in the straight and won going away by three and a quarter after hitting the front 100m out.
The biggest winning margin on the card was recorded by VELVET ORCHID when extending her winning sequence to four in the MR66 Handicap over 1900m. Always top of the boards, Alan Greeff’s charge raced in midfield for most of the journey. She was ridden to lead going through the 200m and won going away by three and a half from CUP BEARER.
Titbits
After being carried out at the start, GIMME THE STARS ran on best of all in the MR64 Handicap over 1600m and only failed to get up by the narrowest of margins.
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Smart 3yo’s
Durbanville – 5 October
Racing returned to the country course on Wednesday where three of the afternoon’s eight races were staged over 1600m. The fastest of these was the first division of the maiden plate for 3yo’s won by GOLD STANDARD. Sent off a well-supported favourite at 11/10, Glen Kotzen’s charge raced in midfield during the early part of the race. He quickened well once realising what was expected of him and won going away after striking the front 180m or so from home.
The best bet on the card for most was the highly regarded CRAVEN in the second division of the maiden plate for 3yo’s over 1600m. Soon up handy, Brett Crawford’s charge took up the running shortly after passing halfway and went on to score very easily by two with a ton in hand.
In terms of distance the easiest victory on the card was recorded by PILLAR OF HERCULES when opening his account in the faster of the two maiden plates for 3yo’s over 1200m. Taken straight to the front by Donovan Dillon, the lightly raced son of Captain Al led throughout. He was always in command and won without any anxious moments by three and three quarters.
Titbits
After having to switch out for a run twice, GYRE did well to get up in the very last stride when winning the MR72 Handicap over 1600m.
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New Course Record
Vaal – 6 October
Two course records were broken at the last meeting at the classic track and with the course running fast, another fell here. A MR98 Handicap over 2000m topped the bill and it was here that the record fell when the highly regarded LIEGE registered his fifth career victory. Sent off a well-supported favourite at 18/10, Sean Tarry’s charge was always handy. He was ridden to lead as they approached the 300m marker and kept on strongly below the distance to fend off a determined challenge from BANKABLE TEDDY. Usually seen out over further, SMART MART ran on well from midfield to finish fourth in this race.
The stable of Sean Tarry were also on the mark in the faster of the two 1450m races when the favourite AFRICA RISING did the business. Deep in the red at 9/20 on the off, the son of Visionaire raced second during the early part of the race, and looked to be doing it very easily. He was passed by the stayer KINAAN 400m out and although Lyle Hewitson hadn’t moved a muscle at that stage alarm bells must have been ringing. Once asked for his effort though, Africa Rising responded quickly and after switching out for a run, he went on to win with authority by two.
A work rider’s maiden plate over 1450m had opened up proceedings and here we saw a very easy victory for the 15/10 favourite JO MAMBO. Nicely positioned in third early on, Michael Azzie’s charge took up the running shortly after passing halfway and after quickly skipping clear won very easily by seven.
Titbits
The 22/10 favourite SABRE DANCE came from the back when winning the maiden plate for 3yo’s over 1600m going away by a length and a half.
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Top speedratings for this weekend include:-
Fairview (Fri)
Race 1: (1) Captain Marmalade 8
Race 2: (7) Dream To Reality 70
Race 3: (1) Sketches Of Spain 16
Race 4: (10) Simply Black 56
Race 5: (9) Kiss Me Hardy 77
Race 6: (1) Summer Cruise 66
Race 7: (8) Scent 73
Race 8: (10) Facebook 49
Greyville (Fri)
Race 1: (3) Swiss Note 19
Race 2: (12) Roy’s Monkey 30
Race 3: (11) Thaler Point 35
Race 4: (4) Roy Royale 45
Race 5: (4) Al Ciberano 71
Race 6: (11) Variety Romp 55
Race 7: (10) Discourse 33
Race 8: (14) National Chimes 45
Race 9: (6) Mr O’Neill 16 (NAP*)
Turffontein (Sat)
Race 1: (1) Harry’s Silver 16
Race 2: (6) Vision Of Dahlia 23
Race 3: (1) Trip Tease 89
Race 4: (7) Persian Approval 20
Race 5: (6) Crystal Glamour 62
Race 6: (1) Buckland 79 (NAP*)
Race 7: (3) Fortissima 54
Race 8: (12) Blue Light Convoy 41
Race 9: (12) Aquabuoy 52
Durbanville (Sat)
Race 1: (1) Mighty Hash 17
Race 2: (5) Lord Balmoral 43
Race 3: (4) Glennie 16
Race 4: (1) Lady Diddeo 17
Race 5: (1) Braaistin 13
Race 6: (6) Hammie’s Game 51
Race 7: (2) Gimme Six 40
Race 8: (4) Quena 16
Scottsville (Sun)
Race 1: (15) The Reformation 24
Race 2: (7) Captains Moll 16
Race 3: (9) Expresso Martini 20
Race 4: (10) Queen’s Beach 64
Race 5: (17) Roy’s Dollar 40
Race 6: (1) Punta Arenas 87
Race 7: (4) Roy’s Magic 59
Race 8: (5) Aramouse 47
Race 9: (7) Roy’s Air Force 48 (EW)
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Top rated winners last week included
Essenceoflife won 8/1
Westerly Wind won 7/1
Royal Master won 6/1
Zama won 7/2
Evoke Emotion won 3/1
Fire Horse won 5/2
Sabre Dance won 22/10
Villa Del Largo won 16/10
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Notebook:-
Craven (B Crawford, W-Cape)
Elusive Path (V Marshall, W-Cape)
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FASTEST TIMES
The number of races run over each distance is shown in brackets
*Denotes – Times taken by Clockwatcher
Durbanville – 2 October
Penetrometer 25 – Going G/Soft
Course Variant: 0,01s slow
1000m (1) State Ballet 59,08
1200m (3) Elusive Path 72,05
1400m (2) Winter Prince 84,87
1600m (1) Evoke Emotion 98,58
2000m (1) Cardiff Castle 124,11
Flamingo Park – 3 October
Going Standard
Course Variant: 0,11s fast
1000m (2) On The Right Path 57,45*
1200m (1) Music App 72,72
1400m (2) White Feather 87,69
1600m (2) Royal Master 100,75
1800m (2) Emporio Mani 115,92
Fairview – 4 October
Going Standard
Course Variant: 0,42s fast
1000m (3) Villa Del Largo 56,18
1200m (1) Sweetchild O Mine 70,41
1600m (3) Zama 96,91
1900m (1) Velvet Orchid 117,25
Durbanville – 5 October
Penetrometer 25 – Going Good
Course Variant: 0,71s slow
1200m (2) Pillar Of Hercules 73,40
1400m (2) Smokey Affair 86,03
1600m (3) Gold Standard 99,07
2000m (1) Elusive Rose 123,90
Vaal (classic) – 6 October
Penetrometer 21 – Going Good
Course Variant: 0,24 fast
1000m (1) Gimmethemoney 56,72
1200m (1) Captain Von Trapp 69,49
1450m (2) Africa Rising 86,06
1600m (1) Sabre Dance 96,98
2000m (3) Liege 121,16
