23 To The Good
Fairview 15th July: They raced on the poly track on Friday where a half of the eight races were staged over 1200m. Quickest home in these was FOLK LAW (12/1 into 8/1) when registering her first win in this country in the MR68 Handicap. Once rated 91 (won off a mark of 68 here) when racing in Ireland, Yvette Bremner’s charge was always handy. She ran on strongly in the short home straight and comfortably accounted for the 20/1 shot RIPPIT WHIPPET by two and a half. Fourth placed TALES OF SILVER ran on well from the backend of midfield in this race.
The faster of the two 1300m races on the card was the MR64 Handicap won by SHINE LIKE A STAR. On leaving the stalls it was AUTO PILOT who elected to make the running whilst the son of Miesque’s Approval was content to sit in midfield. He began to take closer order early in the straight and under a well-judged ride from JP vd Merwe, he got up close home to deny the regular place getter THE STONES.
The former Gauteng campaigner FAVOUR’S PRIDE in the opening maiden juvenile plate over 1200m was the best bet on the card for most and in what proved to be the faster of the two 2yo events over the distance, she did the business. Soon at the head of affairs, Corne Spies’ charge was always in command and won without any anxious moments by two and a half.
Another to win with authority on this card was STRUBEN in the novice 1200m. Confidently ridden by Andrew Fortune, the 8/1 shot sat sixth for most of the journey. He made up the ground quickly when given rein, and won going away by three and a quarter after striking the front 150m from home.
Titbits
ANTON RUSKIN ran on well from midfield when getting up in the very last stride to win the boy’s division of the maiden juvenile plate over 1200m.
.
Perfectly Prepared
Greyville 16th July: The Gr1 Mercury Sprint over 1200m on turf topped the bill at Greyville on Saturday and here it was nice to see the lightly raced 5yo RED RAY back in the winner’s enclosure. Having his third outing here since returning from a layoff of almost two years, Joey Ramsden’s charge was soon positioned close to the speed. He put his head in front shortly after passing the 200m marker and comfortably accounted for the always handy NIGHT TRIP by two. Not given a hard ride late on, the highest rated runner in the field TALKTOTHESTARS ran on well from a poor draw to finish 5th beaten 3,75 in this race.
The supporting act was the listed Off To Stud Stakes over 1600m on the poly and after a false start victory here went to the 12/1 shot LADY OF KILDARE. One of five runners in the eleven strong field from the stable of Sean Tarry, the Captain Al mare was soon up handy. She was ridden to lead as they approached the 200m marker and won well from her running on stable companion ENCHANTED SILK by a length and three quarters.
In terms of distance, the easiest victory on the card was recorded by ZANTE when always clear in the non-black type Queen Palm Stakes over 2400m. Taken straight to the front by Anton Marcus, the 4yo daughter of Ideal World led throughout. Five lengths clear rounding the home turn, Neil Bruss’s charge kept on determinedly in the straight and extended her advantage to six before crossing the line.
Another to win with authority on this card was STEP UP in the opening juvenile plate over 1600m. Nibbled at into 8/1 from 10’s on course, Vaughan Marshall’s charge sat second as they turned to face the judge. He took up the running shortly after passing the 400m pole and drew clear easily in the closing stages of the race to beat the surprise package in second THE BOXSTER by three and a half.
Titbits
The heavily supported favourite HEJIRA (evens into 9/20) made all when easily accounting for his eleven rivals in the maiden plate over 1400m (poly).
.
It’s In The Name
Kenilworth 16th July: Four of the eight races in the good to soft going in Cape Town on Saturday were run over 1400m and fastest against the clock in these was the aptly named READY TO ATTACK in the bill topping MR92 Handicap. Sent off a strong favourite at 18/10, Justin Snaith’s 3yo was always well positioned to strike. He did so going through the 200m and kept on strongly in the closing stages of the race to beat the staying on pacemaker SILVER SNAFFLES by three quarters.
The faster of the two maiden juvenile plates that opened up proceedings was the fillies’ affair won by RED LIGHT GIRL. Sent off second in the betting market at 18/10, the daughter of Captain Al made all. She was just a length clear at halfway and despite the efforts of the chasing pack headed by SCANDOLA, she extended her advantage to three and a half before crossing the line.
It was a similar story in the boy’s affair where NEWSMAN showed good improvement. Freely available at 20/1 on the off, the unfancied Announce gelding also made all, off just a slender lead. He began to assert his authority going through the 400m and won going away by three and a half.
Titbits
GALLA PLACIDIA (midfield) and ELUSIVE STARS (rear) both ran on well from off the pace when 1st & 3rd respectively in the MR74 Handicap over 1400m.
.
Top speedratings for this weekend include:-
Flamingo Park (mon)
Race 1: (6) Afgas 7
Race 2: (1) Dynamite 31 (NAP*)
Race 3: (13) Next World 8
Race 4: (2) Dragon’s Den 14
Race 5: (8) Artic Route 37
Race 6: (11) Inca Silver 42
Race 7: (8) Tayaar 41
Race 8: (9) Rock A Bye Baby 12
Race 9: (1) Thrill Factor 34
Race 10: (16) Harmston Herald 60
Durbanville (tues)
Race 1: (12) Whispering Light 15
Race 2: (6) Kenny Trix 16
Race 3: (8) Sandy Bay 13
Race 4: (6) Figure Of Grey 27
Race 5: (1) Imperial Dancer 31
Race 6: (1) Kirumbo 54
Race 7: (13) Valerio 47
Race 8: (12) Moika Dancer 48
Scottsville (wed)
Race 1: (5) Maple Story 6
Race 2: (11) Rock Of Africa 32 (NAP*)
Race 3: (7) Kimberley 20
Race 4: (15) White Rose 19
Race 5: (18) Gio Ponti’s Legacy 25
Race 6: (13) Pitts Special 24
Race 7: (5) Regardstobroadway 55
Race 8: (9) Piano Man 85
Race 9: (12) Letdagoodtimesroll 52
Vaal (thur)
Race 1: (14) Levi Lady 17
Race 2: (14) Var Agtig 7
Race 3: (11) Captain’s Girl 14
Race 4: (11) Sail For Joy 26
Race 5: (3) Moofeed 82
Race 6: (8) Lock Him Up 69
Race 7: (8) Allegorical 48
Race 8: (16) Queen Of Arts 46
.
Top rated winners last week included
Easy Street won 10/1
Trippvilia won 10/1
Nebra won 7/2
Harrison won 3/1
Red Light Girl won 18/10
Harmston Herald won 14/10
Hejira won 9/20
Favour’s Pride won 1/3
.
Notebook:-
Red Ray (J Ramsden, KZN)
Talktothestars (FC de Beer, KZN)
.
FASTEST TIMES
The number of races run over each distance is shown in brackets
*Denotes – Times taken by Clockwatcher
Fairview (poly) 15th July
Going Standard
1200m (4) Shine Like A Star 76,07
1300m (2) Folk Law 69,76
1600m (1) Liberal Sally 96,64*
1900m (1) Velvet Orchid 116,94
Greyville (mixed) 16th July
Turf Good/ Poly Standard
1000m (1) Royalsecuritypower 56,80P
1200m (1) Red Ray 68,96T
1200m (1) Easy Street 68,56P
1400m (1) Hejira 82,55P
1600m (2) Step Up 95,73T
1600m (2) Soldier’s Code 94,38P
2400m (1) Zante 149,31T
Kenilworth (old) 16th July
Penetrometer 26 – Going G/Soft
1000m (1) Trippvilia 61,20
1200m (2) Red Light Girl 74,33
1400m (4) Ready To Attack 89,32
1600m (1) Charisma 104,00
