Engraved On The Cup
Greyville 28th July: Favourite backers got off to a nice start on Gold Cup day when TWITTER (53) did the business in the opening juvenile plate over 1100m. Taken straight to the front by MJ Byleveld, the son of Var led throughout. He kept on strongly in the short home straight and with the rest some six lengths adrift he held off a very determined challenge from the heavily supported second favourite CONTADOR (3/1 into 12/10) by three quarters.
The first of the afternoon’s four top grade events to be run was the Gr1 Thekwini Stakes over 1600m and here it was nice to see the Gr1 Allan Robertson winner ALL IS SECRET (65) bounce back to best. Confidently ridden by champion jockey Anton Marcus, the daughter of Captain Al raced in midfield during the early part of the race. She quickened in good style coming off the bend and won comfortably by a length and three quarters after striking the front 100m from home. One to look out for in the future from this race is CAREFUL HIKER who finished third. Having only her third career start here, Joey Ramsden’s charge was running on strongly at the finish and was only beaten by three and a quarter.
With a full field of twenty going to post the Gr1 Ladbrokes Gold Cup was always going to be a thriller and so it proved to be. The friendless PRINCECESS OF LIGHT (16/1 out to 33/1) made the running and staying on strongly entering the home straight she soon had the remainder under pressure. The much more fancied IN WRITING had tracked her throughout though and was always poised to strike. He did so going through the 200m and although Princess Of Light gave her all, and did keep the rest at bay, she couldn’t hold on to In Writing who went on to score by three quarters.
The Gr1 Champions Cup over 1800m was next up and in new course record time victory here went to the recent Gr1 KZN Derby winner MASTER PLAN (93). Freely available at 11/1 on the off, Greg Ennion’s charge was always handy. He ran on strongly in the straight and in what proved to be a real thriller he only managed to get to the nibbled at BLACK WING (14/1 into 9/1) in the very last stride.
Titbits
Drawn wide and slow into stride to boot, STOLEN DESTINY ran on strongly from the rear and did well to get within two lengths of the winner in the MR78 Handicap over 1300m.
Lightly raced HEAVENISARACEHORSE ran on from the rear when fourth in the Gr1 Premier’s Champion Stakes over 1600m.
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Heavy Man Heavy
Kenilworth 28th July: The going was heavy in Cape Town on Saturday and that no doubt was a contributing factor in none of the eight market leaders finding the winner’s enclosure.
The writing was on the wall in the opening maiden juvenile event over 1400m when EMBLEM’S STAR got off the mark. Freely available at 28/1 on the off, Carl Burger’s charge raced in midfield during the early part of the race. She quickened well from halfway and in what proved to be a real thriller she only got the better of the 18/10 favourite IN FULL FLO by the narrowest of margins.
A maiden juvenile plate over 1400m was next up and here we saw a smart performance from the Casey Tibbs gelding CIGAR BOY. Drawn widest of all in gate fifteen, Joey Ramsden’s charge was allowed to drift right out to 4/1 from 2/1 favourite at the track. It looked as if the market had gotten it right turning for home as Cigar Boy was positioned many lengths adrift of the leaders in the rear. Once given rein by the in form Richard Fourie though, Cigar Boy ran on stoutly and in another tight finish he did well to get the better of a much improved MALTESE FALCON. Keep an eye on the runner up, he also finished well from off the pace.
The afternoon’s feature event was a pinnacle stakes over 1600m and here we saw a nice performance from the 3yo JET EXPLORER. On leaving the stalls it was the soon to be an eleven year old GRAFTON STREET who elected to make the running whilst Jet Explorer raced close up in fourth. He was ridden to lead passing the 200m pole and although Grafton Street kept on strongly, and did hold the rest at bay, he went on to win very comfortably by two.
Race six on the card was a MR76 Handicap over 1200m and here victory went to the 3yo HAMMIE’S DYNASTY. Having his first outing since being gelded, Mike Bass’ charge was always in touch with the leaders. He quickened well when asked for his effort 300m out and won going away after striking the front close home.
Titbits
The 3yo LAKE GENEVA ran on well from midfield and won the MR90 Handicap over 1200m going away.
SPRING BEAUTY ran on well from the back end of midfield when third in the MR73 Handicap over 1200m.
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Gutsy Star
Turffontein 29th July: They raced on the inner track on Sunday where the easiest victory on the card, just two and a quarter lengths, was registered by PERRIER-JOUET in the MR64 affair over 1450m. Running on from midfield, St John Gray’s charge struck the front 250m from home and won comfortably from the costly to follow STUNNING JET.
The easiest of the wins in the maiden ranks was recorded by MUSIC AFFAIR in the juvenile event over 1450m. Taken straight to the front by Pierre Strydom (he also rode Perrier-Jouet), the daughter of Muhtafal led throughout. She was a length and a quarter clear coming off the strip and didn’t relinquish and inch of her advantage on the run to the line.
A MR88 Handicap over 1600m topped the bill and here we saw a gutsy performance from the 17/10 favourite GLITTER STAR (65). After being ridden to lead 400m out, it looked as if Lucky Houdalakis’ charge would have to settle for a place when the hat-trick seeking LANCEWOOD struck the front 200m out. Glitter Star rallied back gamely under a determined ride from champion jockey Anton Marcus though, and got back up late to score by a half.
Also worthy of note on this card was the performance of NAUTICA in winning the MR73 affair over 1600m. Gavin Van Zyl’s charge ran on well from towards the rear and won comfortably by a length.
Titbits
Drawn widest of the thirteen in the maiden juvenile event over 1450m, the newcomer FULL CHARGE ran on stoutly from the rear and was beaten less than half a length.
MISS STINGRAY was finishing best of all when runner up to Music Affair in the second division of the maiden juvenile 1450m.
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Top speedratings for this weekend include:-
Fairview Race 1: (7) Flashing Star 20 (NAP*) Race 2: (7) Strike Twice 28 Race 3: (1) Afore The Flow 15 Race 4: (12) Iron Grey 49 Race 5: (14) La Bomb 43 Race 6: (13) Macarthur Park 72 Race 7: (8) Katsamba 47 Race 8: (3) Lunar Lee 75 Vaal Race 1: (1) Ra 21 Race 2: (1) White Squall 15 Race 3: (6) Formation 83 Race 4: (10) Great Khan 48 Race 5: (4) Louvre 89 Race 6: (15) Do Or Dye 61 Race 7: (10) Rodeo Dandy 70 Race 8: (9) Boogy Boy 41 Clairwood Race 1: (5) Cannon 17 (NAP*) Race 2: (1) Regal Breeze 28 Race 3: (2) Royal Bastide 20 Race 4: (8) Hors D’oeuvre 79 Race 5: (10) Good Idea 54 Race 6: (4) Two Tone Rocka 44 Race 7: (12) Squadron 39 Race 8: (10) Spondulics 37 Turffontein Race 1: (1) Mister Cat Club 17 Race 2: (3) Emblazoned Star 12 Race 3: (11) Wood Nymph 33 Race 4: (1) Senator 23 Race 5: (6) Pylon 81 (NAP*) Race 6: (4) Royal Express 44 (EW) Race 7: (7) Castle Ross 73 Race 8: (12) Funny Glory 63
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Top rated winners last week included
Mining Prospect won 14/1 Midnight Cat won 6/1 Atalaya won 33/10 Music Affair won 33/10 Sammy Silver won 2/1 Commodore Pete won 14/10 Twitter won 15/20 Earl Of Surrey won 1/5.
Notebook:-
Careful Hiker (J Ramsden, W-Cape) Cigar Boy (J Ramsden, W-Cape).
FASTEST TIMES
(Shown in brackets is the number of races run in each category)Greyville 28th July Fastest Sprint 1000-1300 (3) Tetelestai Fastest Middle 1400-1800 (5) Miss Ipanema Fastest Long 1900-3600 (4) Heavy Metal
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Kenilworth 28th July Fastest Sprint 1000-1300 (4) Lake Geneva Fastest Middle 1400-1800 (4) Jet Explorer Fastest Long 1900-3600 (0) No Qualifiers
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Turffontein 29th July Fastest Sprint 1000-1300 (0) No Qualifiers Fastest Middle 1400-1800 (9) Glitter Star Fastest Long 1900-3600 (0) No Qualifiers
