Never In Doubt
Vaal 7th January: The best bet on the card for most at Thursday’s inside track meeting was KIRSTEN’S PRIDE in the opening work rider’s maiden plate over 1000m, and she didn’t let down her supporters. Taken straight to the front by Lyle Hewitson, the 1/3 favourite led throughout. She was always clear and won without ever really being asked to race by seven and a quarter.
Four of the afternoon’s nine races were run over 1200m and quickest against the clock in these was LA MANGA in the MR86 Handicap. Another to lead from pillar to post, the daughter of Captain Al was a length and a half clear going through the 400m. She quickened well at that point and went on to score with authority by four.
Marginally the faster of the two 1700m maiden plates was the boy’s affair won by WOODY GLOW. Content to amble along in the backend of midfield for most of the journey, the top weight ran on best of all at the business end of the race and won well by two and a half from the lightly raced NAWAB.
Titbits
The newcomer POLYPHONIC made all when winning the slowly run maiden event over 1200m going away by five and a half.
The uneasy favourite BULLETING HOME only got going late when runner up in the MR84 Handicap over 1400m.
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Daylight Robbery
Fairview 8th January: They raced on the poly track on Friday where the fastest of the three 1200m races was the bill topping MR91 Handicap won by REBEL HOUSE. Taken straight to the front by Teague Gould, the 14/1 shot enjoyed a three lengths advantage for most of the journey. The chasing pack headed by WEEKEND TEMPER closed in quickly over the final 300m though and it was only by the narrowest of margins that the son of Rebel King held on.
The faster of the two 1900m events, a MR59 Handicap, was also stolen by a front runner. Nine lengths clear of the second horse turning for home, the 8/1 shot MY CELEBRATION kept on determinedly in the short home straight and still had three and a half lengths to spare at the wire.
Another to win with lengths to spare but in a much more worthy fashion was TOWNSHIP TALK in the opening maiden plate over 1200m. Sent off an uneasy favourite at 18/10, Dorrie Sham’s charge was soon up handy. He was ridden to lead as they approached the 200m marker and won going away by three and three quarters.
Titbits
The 5/1 joint second favourite CONQUERING QUEEN was running on strongly late when third in the novice plate over 1600m.
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Beware The Wolf
Greyville 8th January: Races 5-8 at this meeting were originally scheduled to take place on the turf. Three races over 1400m got proceedings underway on Friday evening and the quickest home in these was ELUSIVE WOLF in the boy’s division of the maiden plate. Always handy, the well supported son of Elusive Fort (9/2 into 3/1) got the better of the odds on favourite HEARTS ‘R PUMPING (1/3 out to 6/10) 60m out, and with the rest some nine lengths adrift, he won going away by three quarters.
The fastest of the three 2000m races was the MR86 Handicap won by JONOVICH. The field was very tightly bunched in the straight and with a lot of jostling going on the form might not stand up. The winner raced sixth of the eight and with a clear run down the inside rail he got up late to score by a half.
The remaining two races were both run over 1600m and stopping the clock in the fastest time here was NIGHT SHADOW in the MR74 Handicap. Gavin Van Zyl’s top weight got away well when the gates opened and was soon positioned close to the speed. He took up the running as they approached the 100m pole and drew clear easily below the distance to score by three.
Titbits
The 6yo JET INTOMBI came from the rear when getting up late to win the MR62 Handicap over 2000m.
Not the quickest into stride, the 3yo MR WINSOME ran on well from midfield when winning the MR70 Handicap over 2000m with authority by two and three quarters.
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Just The Five
Turffontein 9th January: Trying the distance for the first time, the 3yo STEBBINS found good support to win the opening maiden plate over 2000m and he did do the business. Sent off second favourite at 22/10 (op 7/2), Justin Snaith’s charge was always handy. He was ridden to lead shortly after passing the 200m marker and with the rest well beaten he comfortably accounted for the costly to follow SCHILLACI by three quarters.
Another 3yo to win well on this card was ZAFIRA in the MR80 Handicap over 2450m. An easy winner in the maiden ranks last time out, the daughter of Silvano raced in sixth for most of the journey. She quickened nicely when the race began in earnest 600m out and won well from the grey KISSIMMEE by three quarters.
Race five on the card was a MR88 Handicap over 1400m and here we saw a nice performance from OFF THE MARK. Backed into favouritism at the track (3/1 into 18/10), Sean Tarry’s charge raced prominent throughout. She put her head in front shortly after passing the 200m marker and went on to win with authority from FORTITUDE by two.
Due the persistent close proximity of an electrical storm the remainder of the meeting was abandoned.
Titbits
NEVADA only had to be pushed out in order to score when making all in the maiden plate over 1160m. Third placed VEE MAN (beaten two lengths) took a bump at the start of this race and was running on strongly at the finish.
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Top speedratings for this weekend include:-
Flamingo Park (mon)
Race 1: (1) Bollemakiesie 8
Race 2: (6) Leroy 23
Race 3: (1) Maya The Bee 8
Race 4: (1) Ocean Pirate 10
Race 5: (3) Evercell 35
Race 6: (5) Sub Shaawes 41
Race 7: (6) Butool 25
Race 8: (12) Cool Kid 34
Race 9: (4) Here We Are 36 (EW)
Turffontein (tues)
Race 1: (2) Profit Ratio 23
Race 2: (5) Span Die Seile 19
Race 3: (1) Secunde’s Victor 21
Race 4: (4) Honeybush Tea 22
Race 5: (4) Buckland 65 (NAP*)
Race 6: (2) Silver Class 72
Race 7: (5) Mr Mulliner 68
Race 8: (10) Ruby Ruby 50
Kenilworth (wed)
Race 1: (5) Moulina 5
Race 2: (6) Boomtown Belter 38 (nb)
Race 3: (1) Castlewood 11 (NAP**)
Race 4: (11) Leisure Trip 22
Race 5: (6) Orange Tractor 61 (EW)
Race 6: (2) Playboy Buddy 12
Race 7: (4) I Am The Law 46
Race 8: (4) Nutbush 23
Vaal (thur)
Race 1: (1) Minnesota 19
Race 2: (3) Seven League Boots 22
Race 3: (5) Shelly 18
Race 4: (7) Raise The Red 67
Race 5: (5) First Dance 60
Race 6: (7) Dangerous Diva 39
Race 7: (1) Gun Fighter 50
Race 8: (2) Turbo Tom 51
Race 9: (5) Seattle Lady 62
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Top rated winners last week included
Maachaan won 8/1
Roman Society won 15/4
Donna Amata won 7/2
Zevenastic won 7/2
Zafira won 5/2
So Suspect won the 16/10
New Predator won 1/1
Astroman won 17/20
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Notebook:-
Mr Winsome (D Kannemeyer, KZN
Zafira (W Marwing, Gauteng)
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FASTEST TIMES
The number of races run over each distance is shown in brackets
*Denotes – Times taken by Clockwatcher
Vaal (inside) 7th January
Penetrometer 21 – Going Good
1000m (1) Kirsten’s Pride 57,48
1200m (4) La Manga 68,41
1400m (1) My Treasure 82,22
1700m (2) Woody Glow 103,58
2000m (1) Triple Beat 120,66
Fairview (poly) 8th January
Going Standard
1000m (1) Stamford Bridge 57,61
1200m (3) Rebel House 69,75
1600m (1) So Suspect 98,14
1900m (2) My Celebration 117,59
2200m (1) The Barbadian 135,21
Greyville (poly) 8th January
Going Standard
1400m (3) Elusive Wolf 83,30
1600m (2) Night Shadow 96,09
2000m (3) Jonovich 122,46
Turffontein (old) 9th January
Penetrometer 24 – Going G/Soft
1160m (1) Nevada 68,85
1400m (1) Off The Mark 86,84
1600m (1) Dakiwe 100,09
2000m (1) Stebbins 128,06
2450m (1) Zafira 158,32
