Whirlwind Finish
Fairview 26th July: Aiming for 200 winners this season the stable of Justin Snaith got off to a good start in Port Elizabeth on Friday when the well supported PRINCESS OF TROY did the business in the opening maiden juvenile plate over 1200m. Always handy, the daughter of Seul Amour gave her all over the final 300m and in what proved to be a real thriller she only got the better of another runner in ARROW HEART by a neck.
At the other end of the scale by far the biggest winning margin on the card was that of SILVAN SPIRIT when winning the non-black type Wedgewood Handicap over 2400m. Prominent throughout, Alan Greeff’s charge cruised clear after striking the front 400m out and won with authority by six and a half.
The listed East Cape Paddock Stakes over 1600m topped the bill and here the stable of Alan Greeff were again on the mark when the rejuvenated STORMY COAST landed the spoils. Drawn widest of the thirteen, the grey daughter of Fort Wood raced in the rear early on. Once in the long home straight though she quickened best of all and did well to collar the improving DAFFODIL DAY in the very last stride. Running on from the back in this race, third placed SHOW TIME had to switch out for a run 400m from home and she too finished very well.
Six of the afternoon’s nine races were run over 1200m and the fastest of these was the MR90 Handicap won by the former Cape Town campaigner VAUCLAIR. Sent off a rather uneasy favourite at 33/10, Tara Laing’s charge was soon up handy. He was ridden to lead going through the 200m and just had enough in hand to hold off the running on THE FORD by the narrowest of margins.
Titbits
MATURIN ran on well from the backend of midfield when winning the maiden plate over 1400m.
PAX AFRICANA and DIAMOND TIGER both ran on well from the rear when 3rd & 4th respectively in the maiden juvenile plate over 1200m.
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Gold Cup Day
Greyville 27th July: It was Gold Cup Day at Greyville on Saturday and landing first prize in this prestigious Gr1 event was the Mike Bass trained JEPPE’S REEF. Partnered by Robbie Fradd, the 5yo son of Jallad raced handy throughout. He kicked on well at the top of the straight and won comfortably by a length and a quarter after striking the front 250m out.
The Gr1 Champions Cup over 1800m followed and here it was nice to see the talented JACKSON bounce right back to best. More often than not seen running on stoutly from off the pace, Brett Crawford’s charge was positioned close to the pace throughout here. He took up the running shortly after passing the 300m pole and won well from the improving SILVANO’S JET by a length and a half.
By the far the fastest of the two Gr1 events over 1600m for the juveniles was the Premier’s Champion Stakes won by KOCHKA. Drawn widest of the fifteen Kochka raced in the rear early on alongside his Golden Horse conqueror FOREST INDIGO. Kochka had looked to have been a little unlucky in that race and so it was no surprise that he got the better of Forest Indigo by three quarters here after they both ran on extremely well.
The faster of the two 1000m events on the card was the listed Umngeni Handicap won by the speedy JADE BAY. Always sure to be suited this sharp Greyville circuit, Dominic Zaki’s charge led throughout. The uneasy second favourite SHARP DESIGN was steadily gaining at the finish and he only failed to get up by the narrowest of margins.
Titbits
Runner up COUNTESS OF RHYNIE was steadily gaining at the finish when only beaten half a length in the MR86 Handicap.
LAKE ARTHUR won the MR102 Handicap over 1300m with authority.
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Just The Four
Kenilworth 27th July: The going was initially posted as soft in Cape Town on Saturday, but with the weather steadily deteriorating throughout the day the meeting was abandoned after just four races.
A workrider’s maiden event over 1200m got proceedings underway and here victory went to the uneasy second favourite AMBER HEARD. As consistent as they come, the daughter of Windrush was soon up handy. She was ridden to lead going through the 400m and kept on strongly late to beat the running on STARGAZER PINK by a half.
Amazing given the conditions, the three following maiden juvenile events were all won by just a short head. As was the case when fourth on debut, CRUZWITHMECAPTAIN was all the rage in the 1200m event. Sent off favourite at 22/10, Glen Kotzen’s charge quickened well at the business end of the race and in what proved to be a real thriller he just held on from the well supported second favourite ZACHARIAS.
Free Verse won the 1600m event. At the head of affairs throughout, the 36/1 shot kept on strongly below the distance and scraped home from the faster finishing TITUS.
Titbits
The newcomer SAIL SOUTH ran on well from the rear when third in the maiden juvenile plate over 1000m.
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Top speedratings for this weekend include:-
Vaal Race 1: (3) Dis’llbetheday 12 Race 2: (5) Dual Alliance 93 Race 3: (2) Swift Bow 19 Race 4: (5) Cookie Monster 57 Race 5: (7) Princess Lily 75 Race 6: (6) Comission Due 56 Race 7: (3) Cape Winter 72 Race 8: (9) Genuine Leather 81 Scottsville Race 1: (7) Apple ‘n Spice 16 Race 2: (1) Saqharan Heights 10 Race 3: (4) Cadillac Palace 32 Race 4: (1) High Arrow 21 Race 5: (7) Tennessee Strategy 68 Race 6: (1) Alibaba’s Jewel 45 (NAP*) Race 7: (9) Mystical jet 63 Race 8: (9) Infinite Wisdom 51 Durbanville Race 1: (1) Nightside 20 Race 2: (4) Royal Folly 49 Race 3: (2) Liquification 9 Race 4: (1) Scarlet Witch 12 Race 5: (1) Beulah 42 (EW) Race 6: (2) Cosmic Flower 42 Race 7: (16) Kukama 47 Race 8: (16) I’m Yours 20 Turffontein Race 1: (14) Roman Express 25 Race 2: (6) Bluebell Glade 17 Race 3: (4) In Tune Too 20 Race 4: (2) Rand Club 45 Race 5: (5) Storm Warning 84 Race 6: (2) Great Fox 61 Race 7: (12) Silent Angel 65 Race 8: (16) Wounded Knee 45 .
Top rated winners last week included
Eastern Cobbler won 11/1 Yukon Gold won 8/1 Pink Martini won 11/2 Dubois City won 9/2 Stormy Coast won 9/2 Kingston Boy won 22/10 Rocket Lady won 8/10 Duly Ordained won 7/10 .
Notebook:-
Jackson (B Crawford, KZN) Kochka (A Wright, KZN) Stormy Coast (A Greeff, E-Cape) .
FASTEST TIMES
The number of races run over each distance is shown in brackets *Denotes – Times taken by ClockwatcherFairview 26th July Penetrometer 23 – Going Good 1200m (6) Vauclair 71,26 1400m (1) Maturin 86,29 1600m (1) Stormy Coast 99,21 2400m (1) Silvan Spirit 154,63 .
Greyville 27th July Penetrometer 22 – Good 1000m (2) Jade Bay 56,68 1300m (2) Kingston Boy 76,25 1400m (1) Reflective Image 83,57 1600m (3) Distinguished 94,36 1800m (1) Jackson 108,99 2000m (1) Razzle Dazzle Rose 121,39 2400m (1) Storm Dancer 145,80 3200m (1) Jeppe’s Reef 204,32 .
Kenilworth (old) 27th July Penetrometer 28 – Going Soft 1000m (1) Daring Dave 64,43 1200m (2) Cruzwithmecaptain 79,68 1600m (1) Free Verse 108,07
