Right Choice
Greyville 15th June: Favourite backers got off to a nice start in Natal on Friday evening when KINDLE (22) did the business in the opening maiden juvenile event over 1800m. He got away well when the gates opened and soon up handy raced prominent throughout. He was ridden to lead as they approached the 100m marker and kept on strongly late to beat the pacemaker KALMIA by a half.
Champion jockey Anton Marcus rode four winners on the card amongst them SINGING LORD (65) in the MR82 affair over 1400m. Nicely drawn in gate three, the son of Overlord was always handy. He moved through to take up the running 200m out and showed good improvement in beating the 4yo OLD MAC DONALD by three quarters.
A conditions plate over 1000m was next up and here victory went to the favourite CHOCOLICIOUS (82). Taken straight to the front by Keagan Latham, the Kahal filly led throughout. The lightly raced TORRA BAY ran on stoutly at the business end of the race, but try as she might, she couldn’t get closer than three quarters of a length at the wire.
The Gr2 Post Merchants over 1200m topped the bill and here jockey Latham was again on the mark when the friendless MIKE’S CHOICE (85) landed the spoils. Allowed to drift right out to 15/1 from 8’s at the track, Michael Roberts’ charge was a little slow into stride and as a result he raced in midfield for most of the journey. Once given rein though he quickened well and under a well judged ride he got up late to deny the Gauteng raider REBEL KNIGHT.
Titbits
After being a little slow into stride, the lightly raced DAME DUBOIS ran on well from the rear when a three length fourth in the MR73 Handicap over 1600m.
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Play It Again Glen
Turffontein 16th June: They raced on the old stand side track on Saturday where victory in the opening maiden event over 1160m went to the 2yo STRONGMIND (19). One of six juveniles in the fourteen runner field, Strongmind was taken straight to the front and led throughout. The well tried CROWN GOLD ran on strongly over the final 400m, but although he managed to get within a neck of Strongmind, he did look held at the wire.
The easiest victory on the card was recorded by MIDNIGHT SERENADE (79) in the conditions plate over 1000m. Sent off second favourite at 15/10 (op 18/10), the 3yo son of Malhub was soon up handy. He was ridden to lead shortly after passing halfway and drew clear easily over the final 400m to beat the ultra consistent top weight MANNEQUIN by five and a half.
Another to cruise in by five was RHYTHMIC ROXY (32) in the maiden event over 2000m. Soon at the head of affairs, Geoff Woodruff’s charge led throughout. She began to assert her authority going through the 400m and won without any anxious moments.
Sent off a well supported favourite to win the conditions event over 1400m was the Silvano filly SACRED FEMININE (33/10 into 2/1) and on striking the front 350m from home she looked to have done everything right. Running on stoutly at the that point though was last season’s Gr1 Allan Robertson runner up, UP FRONT and under a well judged ride from Samanga Khumalo, she got up late to score by a length.
Titbits
ZESTFUL ran on well from the rear when only beaten a neck by the improving Desert Sheik in the very competitive looking juvenile plate over 1400m.
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Mixed Fortunes
Clairwood 17th June: The first race for professional jockeys on Sunday was a maiden juvenile event over 1200m and here we saw a nice performance from the newcomer BLUERIDGE MOUNTAIN (29). Allowed to drift right out to 33/10 from 16/10 joint favourite at the track, Gary Alexander’s charge wasn’t the quickest into stride and as a result she raced in midfield early on. Once given rein though she soon began to make headway and with the rest well beaten she got up late to beat the favourite DIVA’S DAUGHTER (16/10 into 13/10) by a half.
A maiden event over 1000m was next up and here we saw a smart performance from the Dennis Drier trained SKWELETI (44). Headed 400m out after making the early running, Skweleti regained the lead 200m out and drew clear in good style from there onwards to win by five and a quarter. Sadly for connections though she broke a bloodvessel and will now be suspended from racing for three months.
The Mike De Kock trained GORONGOSA (81) was well in at the weights in the pinnacle event over 2800m and not surprisingly found good support (11/10 into 13/20). Confidently ridden by Kevin Shea, the Montjeu mare sat in midfield for most of the journey. She made her move at the top of the home straight and won going away after fending off a determined challenge from STORM SAGAZ 200m out. Gorongosa has now won nine of her twelve starts.
The listed Queen Palm Handicap over 2400m topped the bill and here we saw a smart performance from the Western Cape visitor FEEL MY LOVE (70). Sent off second favourite at 3/1, Greg Ennion’s charge as per usual came from well off the pace. She finished best of all over the final 400m and easily accounted for the Gr3 Prix Du Cap winner CROC VALLEY by two and three quarters.
Titbits
After being a little slow into stride, the Mike De Kock trained newcomer FURAAT QUALITY ran on well from off the pace when getting up in the last stride to win the maiden event over 1450m.
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Top speedratings for this weekend include:-
Vaal (Mon) Race 1: (8) Jid Dah 22 Race 2: (14) Sugar And Shake 19 Race 3: (1) Sakkie Sakkie 15 Race 4: (3) City Of Bells 49 Race 5: (11) Hotel Royale 65 Race 6: (15) Lido De Paris 39 Race 7: (4) Be Assured 61 (EW) Race 8: (15) Delightfull Diva 47 Scottsville Race 1: (4) Montelupo 30 Race 2: (6) New Beginnings 17 Race 3: (14) Alexander 22 (NAP*) Race 4: (2) Cadillac Palace 13 Race 5: (6) Make My Day 70 Race 6: (1) Bold Alliance 58 Race 7: (2) Mr Mickey Mouse 76 Race 8: (1) Senor Grise 47 Durbanville Race 1: (1) Testing The Wind 20 (NAP*) Race 2: (14) Ruby Sunset 27 Race 3: (7) Love Boat 17 Race 4: (3) Muntasir 10 Race 5: (12) Count My Luck 65 Race 6: (9) Esoteric 44 Race 7: (3) Cork Forest 62 Race 8: (13) Tibisi 50 Vaal (Thur) Race 1: (14) Brother In Arms 8 Race 2: (14) Virtuosity 28 Race 3: (14) Spring Blaster 22 Race 4: (13) Welcome Boy 42 Race 5: (12) Mo’ Pepper 59 Race 6: (15) Alibaba’s Jewel 89 Race 7: (1) Larussa 69 Race 8: (3) Wollondilly 57 (NAP*) Race 9: (1) Comission Due 42
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Top rated winners last week included
Deepo won 15/2 Magnolia Park won 4/1 Parkwood won 7/2 Special Henny won 33/10 Goldstream won 3/1 Skippyjon Jones won 3/1 Dirtydealin Mamma won 22/10 Chocolicious won 16/10
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Notebook:-
Blueridge Mountain (G Alexander, KZN) Furaat Quality (M De Kock, KZN) Midnight Serenade (D Stenger, Gauteng).
FASTEST TIMES
(Shown in brackets is the number of races run in each category)Greyville 15th June Fastest Sprint 1000-1300 (2) Chocolicious Fastest Middle 1400-1800 (6) Brown Penny Fastest Long 1900-3600 (1) Capture The Crown
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Turffontein 16th June Fastest Sprint 1000-1300 (3) Midnight Serenade Fastest Middle 1400-1800 (5) Millennium Wind Fastest Long 1900-3600 (1) Rhythmic Roxy
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Clairwood 17th June Fastest Sprint 1000-1300 (3) Skweleti Fastest Middle 1400-1800 (4) Happy Archer Fastest Long 1900-3600 (2) Feel My Love
