Sargeant In Command
Arlington 22nd February: First up in Port Elizabeth on Friday was a maiden plate over 1800m and here we saw a comfortable victory for DRUMMINOR. Nicely drawn in gate four, the son of Western Winter was soon up handy. He was ridden to lead as they approached the 200m marker and kept on strongly late to beat the well supported AFTER THE CARNIVAL (6/1 into 4/1) by two.
The fastest of the three 1400m events on the card was the graduation plate in which KANTAKA registered his third career victory. Nibbled at on course into 7/1, Mitch Wiese’s charge was nicely positioned in fifth as the sixteen runners swung for home. He ran on strongly down the short home straight and in a race where only a length and a quarter separated the first six home he got the verdict by a neck over the running on KHETHA.
The only outright favourite to oblige on the eight race program was DRILL SARGEANT in the bill topping pinnacle stakes over 2400m. Deposed at the top of the boards as money came for the only female in the race INCA’S SPIRIT, Tara Laing’s charge was always in touch with the leaders. He made his move going through the 400m and after taking up the running 300m later he went on to score going away by two.
The final event on the card was a MR70 Handicap over 1000m and here victory went to the Silvano filly DANAVANO. She got away well when the gates opened and soon up handy raced prominent throughout. She took up the running shortly after passing the 200m pole and kept on strongly late to beat the running on FLYING HAWK by a length.
Titbits
VESTA’S GOLD and CELTIC ROSE both ran on well from off the pace when 1st and 3rd respectively in the maiden 1400m.
Having his first start in the Eastern Cape since contesting the Guineas Plate in Nov ’11, JUPITER SYMPHONY ran on well from the backend of midfield when third in the MR86 Handicap over 1600m.
.
Steeplechase Warning
Turffontein 23rd January: Followers of the money got off to a flying start at Saturday’s inner track meeting when the 3yo ISOBAR did the business in the maiden 1450m. Backed throughout the morning into 5/2 from 12/1 Isobar wasn’t the quickest into stride and raced sixth for most of the journey. He quickened nicely coming off the strip and won well by a length and three quarters after striking the front 250m out.
The best bet on the card for most was STORM WARNING in the maiden 2600m and the son of Jet Master couldn’t have won any more easily than he did. Allowed to ease in the betting market although still in the red when the gates opened, Dominic Zaki’s charge lost a length at the start and very quickly found himself in the rear. Confidently ridden by Pierre Strydom though, Storm Warning only began to take closer order going through the strip. He struck the front shortly after passing the 400m marker and fairly cruised clear from there onwards to win by almost twelve.
Another to win with authority in the hands of national jockey’s log leader Pierre Strydom on this card was CHINESE GOLD in the MR75 Handicap over 1450m. Sent off a well supported favourite at 18/10, Weiho Marwing’s charge was always in touch with the leaders. He moved up to dispute matters early in the straight and drew clear easily after striking the front 250m out.
The afternoon’s feature event was a MR94 Handicap over 1450m and here it was nice to see the 6yo FORESTATION back on the winning trail. Having only is third outing here following a layoff of 14 months, Robbie Sage’s charge raced fifth for most of the journey. He ran on well over the final 400m and comfortably accounted for the 9yo EMIR by a length.
Titbits
FLAMING FORGE ran on best of all after taking a bump at the 400m marker and only failed to reach the winner in the MR70 Handicap over 1800m by three quarters of a length.
.
Wise Punting
Greyville 24th January: The easiest victory at Greyville on Sunday afternoon was undoubtedly that of the heavily supported INFINITE WISDOM in the MR68 Handicap over 1400m. Backed throughout the afternoon into 5/1 from 14’s, Alyson Wright’s charge was soon positioned close to the speed. She took up the running shortly after passing the 200m pole and drew clear easily in the closing stages of the race to score by five and a quarter.
Another to win very easily on this card was TERRITORIAL WATERS in the graduation plate over 1800m. Sent off a rather uneasy favourite at 18/10, the son of Fastnet Rock was soon at the head of affairs. He was four lengths clear turning for home and barely surrendered an inch of his advantage over the final 400m.
The smartest performance in the maiden ranks was that of SO YOU THINK when opening his account over 1400m. On leaving the stalls it was the favourite IT’S MY BROTHER who elected to make the running whilst Dennis Drier’s charge raced close up in third. He was ridden to lead as they approached the 200m marker and went on to score comfortably by a length and a quarter.
Titbits
LADY BIANCA came from the rear when getting up late to win the maiden 2000m going away.
.
Top speedratings for this weekend include:-
Flamingo Park Race 1: (1) Sher Dil 7 Race 2: (6) Zaafiel 47 Race 3: (2) Karlo 41 Race 4: (7) Yes No Maybe So 13 Race 5: (9) Quick Silver 37 Race 6: (4) Poulnabrone 45 Race 7: (5) Reed Dance 35 Race 8: (2) African Gladiator 12 Race 9: (5) Richard’s Grace 25 Vaal (tues) Race 1: (2) Rubies And Pearls 15 Race 2: (3) Lockheed Jetstar 76 (NAP*) Race 3: (7) Tizasmartdollar 12 Race 4: (1) Ushokolethi 22 Race 5: (8) Penny Fare 42 Race 6: (7) Memeza 51 Race 7: (12) Acrisius 52 Race 8: (15) Smart Royal 66 Race 9: (1) Handsome Dancer 26 Durbanville Race 1: (8) Tour De Var 24 Race 2: (2) Laurie’s Gold 66 Race 3: (5) Guest El Grande 12 Race 4: (1) Ambassador Rex 24 Race 5: (5) All Fun 54 Race 6: (12) Amanzi 42 Race 7: (7) Cosmic Flower 52 Race 8: (4) O Jallad 16 Vaal (thur) Race 1: (1) Hello Polly 17 Race 2: (2) Passion Pleaser 7 Race 3: (5) Chapel Of Love 24 Race 4: (2) Tzigane 19 Race 5: (6) Speed Keeper 70 Race 6: (1) Rodeo Dandy 62 Race 7: (11) Immediately 44 Race 8: (9) Moonriver Magic 72 Race 9: (14) Sweet Candy 44 .
Top rated winners last week included
Night Embers won 14/1 Rosie The Rebel won 6/1 Campo De Santana won 11/2 Where’s My Chop won 9/2 Captain Haddock won 7/2 Henry Higgins won 7/2 Pierneef won 7/2 Storm Warning won 9/10 .
Notebook:-
Flaming Forge (B Wiid, Gauteng) Storm Warning (D Zaki, Gauteng) .
FASTEST TIMES
The number of races run over each distance is shown in brackets *Denotes – Times taken by ClockwatcherArlington 22nd Feburary Penetrometer 1000m (1) Danavano 59,13 1200m (1) Kiss And Tell 73,19 1400m (3) Kantaka 85,44 1600m (1) Skippyjon Jones 96,41 1800m (1) Drumminor 111,19 2400m (1) Drill Sargeant 154,10 .
Turffontein (inner) 23rd February Penetrometer 1450m (3) Chinese Gold 87,17 1600m (3) Eskimo Inn 96,94 1800m (2) Saratoga Magic 109,82 2600m (1) Storm Warning 166,54 .
Greville 24th February Penetrometer 1000m (1) Rosie The Rebel 60,12 1200m (1) Regal Eagle 71,66 1400m (5) Fourth Estate 83,39 1800m (1) Territorial Waters 111,23 2000m (1) Lady Bianca 128,89
