Flying The Flag
Fairview 17th October: Four of the eight races in Port Elizabeth on Friday were run over 1200m and the fastest of these was the bill topping MR90 Handicap won by STARS AND STRIPES. Sent off as one of three co-favourites at 9/2, Tara Laing’s charge was always handy. He took up the running going through the 200m and comfortably accounted for the equally fancied BOIS DE VAR by a length and a half.
The stable of Tara Laing were also on the mark in the MR59 Handicap over 1600m when the former KZN campaigner EGREGIOUS won her first outing in the rovince. Freely available at 8/1 on the off (op 5/1), the daughter of Trippi raced in the rear during the early part of the race. Once given rein though she quickened nicely, and in a thrilling three way finish she got the verdict by a neck over DEEPO (the 15/4 favourite) and PURE ELEGANCE.
The faster of the two 1600m races was the novice plate won by HE’S A NADOE. Allowed to ease right out to 12/1 from 7’s at the track, the son of Stronghold raced prominent throughout. He put his head in front as they approached the 300m pole and won well from the Tara Laing trained BOLT OF LIGHT by a length and a half.
Titbits
The nibbled at outsider LUV U BABES ran on well from the back end of midfield when getting up late to win the MR60 Handicap over 1200m.
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Colourful Five Timer
Greyville 17th October: The fastest of the four 1400m races on Friday night was the progress event won by the 5yo ROYAL ZULU GUARD. Just six went to post and nicely positioned in third turning for home Duncan Howells’ charge was always poised to strike. He did so going through the 100m and after a thrilling tussle with PETER PIPER (led 400m and rallied gamely when headed) he only held on by the narrowest of margins.
The faster of the two 2000m events was the MR74 Handicap in which ROYAL COLOURS extended his winning sequence to five. Confidently ridden by Sean Cormack, the son of Bezrin was content to amble along in the rear for most of the journey. Once asked to race though, he quickened well and went on to score a little more easily than the official winning margin of a neck would suggest.
A MR95 Handicap topped the bill and in what proved to be the faster of the two 1200m races on the card victory here went to the Mogok gelding KINGSTON BOY. Nibbled at into 4/1 from 5’s at the track, Doug Campbell’s charge raced second last. Just five had gone to post though, and in effect he was always handy. He ran on best of all over the final 400m and got up late to beat NINETEEN FOURTEEN fair and square by a half.
Titbits
Gaining at the finish, PETITE MASTER was baulked for a run 250m out before running on strongly to finish second in the MR70 Handicap over 1600m.
JUST ASK ME won the maiden plate over 1400m going away by five and three quarters.
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Mint Condition
Turffontein 18th October: They raced on the inner track on Saturday where by far the easiest victory on the nine race program was that of SAILABRATE in the opening workrider’s maiden event over 1200m. On leaving the stalls it was the friendless SNOW CLAD ODESSA (16/1 out to 40’s) who elected to make the running whilst the 12/10 favourite sat close up in third. He took up the running as they came off the strip and cruised clear over the final 500m to score by eight and three quarters.
Four of the afternoon’s nine races were run over 1600m and the fastest against the clock in these was SOVEREIGN MINT in the MR91 Handicap. Looking to complete a four-timer here, the son of Judpot raced sixth for most of the journey. He struck the front as they approached the 200m marker and went on to win well by two and a half.
A MR68 Handicap over 1800m wound up proceedings and here we saw a smart performance from the Mike De Kock trained WILL I DO. Sent off as one of three co-favourites at 4/1, the 3yo daughter of Tiger Ridge was positioned towards the rear as the thirteen runners swung for home. Once in the straight though, she ran on best of all and under a well-judged ride from Randal Simons she got up late.
Titbits
Runner up DOWN UNDER ran on well from midfield when making his seasonal debut in the maiden plate for 3yo’s over 1600m.
The 1/4 favourite ONE FINE DAY was never really asked to race when cosily winning the novice plate over 1000m.
Clearly prepping, FOR THE LADS made up many lengths from the rear when third in the MR76 Handicap over 1000m.
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Flying Start
Durbanville 18th October: The Glen Kotzen trained BRUNO was always deep in the red to win the opening maiden plate at the country course on Saturday and he didn’t let down his supporters. Positioned in fourth as they came off the bend, the son of Dynasty only had to be ridden with hands and heels after taking up the running 400m out and won going away by three and a quarter.
Another favourite to win well on this card was ZINGZILLA in the MR80 affair over 2000m. Always handy in what was a strung out field turning for home, the well supported Captain Al gelding (5/2 into 15/10) struck the front 350m out and comfortably accounted for the staying on pacemaker REPERTOIRE by two and a quarter.
A half of the afternoon’s eight races were run over 1300m and the fastest of these on my clock was the MR85 Handicap won by MISS SAIGON. Taken straight to the front by Andrew Fortune, the top weight led throughout. She was always in command and won without any anxious moments by two and a quarter.
Titbits
Lightly raced JEWELLER’S JOY won the fillies’ maiden plate over 1300m with some in hand.
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Top speedratings for this weekend include:-
Flamingo Park (mon)
Race 1: (2) Raat Ki Rani 5
Race 2: (8) All Knowledge 7
Race 3: (2) African Gladiator 53
Race 4: (3) Chisler 38
Race 5: (6) My Beloved 33
Race 6: (9) Vestal Virgin 39
Race 7: (5) Forest Flyer 20
Race 8: (2) Wild And Windy 27
Race 9: (1) Sun Silk Star 12
Greyville (tues)
Race 1: (4) Lily Gray 16
Race 2: (4) Maachaan 25
Race 3: (2) Netsuke 29
Race 4: (10) London Olympics 46
Race 5: (10) Platinum Coast 53
Race 6: (2) Royalsecuritypower 46
Race 7: (5) Priceless Gem 59
Race 8: (12) Smart Mart 26
Turffontein (tues)
Race 1: (1) Cellarmaster 31
Race 2: (15) Scarlett Ice 16
Race 3: (1) Smanjemanje 85
Race 4: (6) Alboran Sea 83
Race 5: (8) American Storm 88
Race 6: (9) Vino Veritas 83
Race 7: (3) Depardieu 85
Race 8: (2) Parade Prancer 24
Kenilworth (wed)
Race 1: (1) Imperial Rose 25
Race 2: (3) Jet Flo 53
Race 3: (2) Master’s Eye 22
Race 4: (2) Sweet Sasha 13
Race 5: (1) Highly Decorated 58
Race 6: (1) Azincourt 49
Race 7: (6) Juddering Angel 60
Race 8: (11) Tibet 51
Race 9: (1) Big Ed 15 (NAP**)
Vaal (thur)
Race 1: (1) The Big Show 12
Race 2: (7) Medea 12 (NAP*)
Race 3: (8) Razzle My Tazzle 14
Race 4: (12) Panchatanta 15
Race 5: (10) The Fifth Day 58
Race 6: (9) Rebel Flame 58
Race 7: (15) Dirty Champagne 64
Race 8: (1) Ntombe 52
Race 9: (17) Shamal 57
Race 10: (1) Heywot 14
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Top rated winners last week included
San Trip won 14/1
Kentucky Guest won 8/1
Pegwell Bay won 7/1
Another Idea won 11/2
Field Cat won 4/1
Hands Of Stone won 28/10
Massachusetts won 5/2
Tamaanee won 5/10
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Notebook:-
For The Lads (S Tarry, Gauteng)
Just Ask Me (G Van Zyl, KZN)
One Fine Day (M De Kock, Gauteng)
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FASTEST TIMES
The number of races run over each distance is shown in brackets
*Denotes – Times taken by Clockwatcher
Fairview (poly) 17th October
Going Standard
1200m (4) Stars And Stripes 69,18
1300m (1) Sukomoros 76,07
1600m (2) He’s A Nadoe 96,01
1900m (1) Wooden Star 115,70
Greyville (poly) 17th October
Going Rain Affected
1200m (2) Kingston Boy 68,67
1400m (4) Royal Zulu Guard 82,40
1600m (1) Stormy Eclipse 95,20
2000m (2) Royal Colours 122,47
Turffontein (inner) 18th October
Penetrometer 21 – Going Good
1000m (2) American Pie 57,35
1200m (1) Sailabrate 73,91
1450m (1) Fah Fee 88,79
1600m (4) Sovereign Mint 97,95
1800m (1) Will I Do 112,26
Durbanville 18th October
Penetrometer 23 – Going Good
1200m (1) Line Break 73,74
1300m (4) Miss Saigon 78,22*
1400m (1) Bruno 85,99
1600m (1) Royal Foundation 100,14
2000m (1) Zing Zilla 124,75
