Lighting The Way
Scottsville 24th April: The faster of the two listed events over 1750m in Pietermaritzburg on Sunday was the Sledgehammer won by the Mogok gelding WAY OF LIGHT. Sent off as one of the rank outsiders of the eleven horse party at 30/1 (op 12’s), Garth Puller’s charge raced in midfield for most of the journey. He quickened well at the top of the inside track straight, and in a race where only a neck separated the first four home, he got up late. Second placed IT IS WRITTEN and fifth placed BIG CAT also ran on well from midfield in this race
The faster of the two 1400m races on the card was the MR70 Handicap won by another unfancied runner in PEARL EMBLEM. Freely available at 20/1 on the off, the daughter of National Emblem broke well and despite being poorly drawn was soon at the head of affairs. She raced a length and a half clear for most of the trip and kept on strongly over the final 400m to beat the running on WANDIES by a half.
Supporting the two listed events was the non-black type Highland Night Cup over 2400m and here it was nice to see the 6yo NO WORRIES register his fifth career victory. Sent off fourth in the betting market at 11/2, Gavin Van Zyl’s charge was always handy. He ran on strongly in the short home straight and comfortably accounted for the front running SOLAR STAR by three quarters.
Titbits
After being a little slow into stride, the newcomer SECRET CAPTAIN ran on well from the rear when getting up late in the opening maiden juvenile plate over 1200m.
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Amazing Price
Vaal 26th April: Four of the eight races at Tuesday’s inside track meeting were run over 1600m and quickest against the clock in these was the 5yo LEEULOOP JET in the not so lucky last, a MR72 Handicap. Racing off a mark some 14 points below that of his former best here, the joint top weight (before apprentice allowance) adopted a change of tactics here and made the running. He was always a couple clear and with the rest some five lengths adrift, he comfortably accounted for the always second positioned GREY’S A ROCKIN by a length and a half.
The faster of the two 1200m races on the card was the MR88 Handicap won by AMAZING STRIKE. Freely available at 14/1 in what always looked to be a very competitive affair, the son of Ideal World initially took up the running 600m out. He regained the lead going through the 200m after being headed and following a good battle with the hat trick seeking 3yo RAFEEF, he got the verdict by a half.
In terms of distance the easiest victory on the card was recorded by POLYPHONIC in the bill topping MR84 Handicap over 1700m. Always top of the boards despite being allowed to ease considerably at the track, the 3yo daughter of Judpot was always handy. She was ridden to lead as they approached the 200m marker and won well by four from the unfancied GAINS TAX.
Titbits
Initially priced up second favourite at 16/10, the always handy 7/2 shot IN THE LOOP won the opening work rider’s maiden plate over 1000m with authority by three and a half.
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Top Of The Bill
Scottsville 27th April: There was a number of easy victories back at Scottsville on Wednesday afternoon, but none more so than that of SAIL in the opening maiden juvenile plate for fillies over 1200m. Backed as if unbeatable at the track (evens into 1/3), Dennis Drier’s charge was soon up handy. She was ridden to lead going through the 300m and with plenty in hand won going away by four and three quarters.
There were five races run over 1200m in total and the fastest of these was the MR80 Handicap won by BUNKER BILL. Sent off a well-supported second favourite at 33/10, Alistair Gordon’s charge was soon positioned close to the speed. He took up the running approaching the 200m pole and went on to score with authority from the easy to back EL GALLO.
The only other distance to stage more than one event on the eight race program was 1600m and stopping the clock in the fastest time here was CAUSE CELEBRE when winning the boy’s division of the maiden plate. Soon up handy in a race where all of the runners were ridden by apprentices, the 2/1 favourite raced prominent throughout. She was ridden to lead shortly after passing the 200m marker and comfortably accounted for ENTICER by three quarters.
Titbits
The deposed second favourite ONE O WON showed considerable improvement when coming from the rear to win the maiden plate over 1200m with authority by three and a half.
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Proving A Point
Vaal 28th April: They raced on the outside track on Thursday where we saw a very easy victory in the opening maiden juvenile plate over 1200m for the newcomer SPORTING MONARCH. Nibbled at on course into 16/1 from 33’s, Brett Warren’s charge made all. He kept on strongly at the business end of the race and went on to score with authority by three.
Trainer Brett Warren was also on the mark in what was officially the faster of the two 1400m races, when CASCIANO landed the MR72 Handicap. Content to race fifth of the ten, the very well weighted Kahal gelding (racing off a mark 27 points below that of his former best) still had four lengths to find going through the 400m. He ran on strongly from there onwards though, and in a thrilling three way finish he got up very late to deny the well-supported even money favourite TABREEK.
There were five races run over 1200m in total and the quickest home in these was the 3yo OLD EM when winning the afternoon’s feature event, a MR87 Handicap. She got away well when the gates opened and soon up handy raced prominent throughout. She was ridden to lead going through the 400m and kept on strongly in the latter stages of the race to beat HOLLIE POINT (to whom she had lost the race in the steward’s room last time out) by a length.
Titbits
The 3yo YANKEE CAPTAIN won the MR71 Handicap over 1400m going away by two.
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Top speedratings for this weekend include:-
Fairview (fri)
Race 1: (4) Killala 14
Race 2: (6) Lemon Lily 15
Race 3: (1) Road To Indy 22
Race 4: (9) Kumiko 70
Race 5: (4) Paulus 39
Race 6: (11) Bizzy Peg 36
Race 7: (1) Al Don Cumarco 83
Race 8: (3) Oh So Modus 82
Race 9: (6) Eternal Winter 44
Race 10: (3) Sunday Seventh 34
Greyville (fri)
Race 1: (8) She’s A Giver 10
Race 2: (5) Rand Hedge 6
Race 3: (1) Destined For Dawn 20
Race 4: (1) Fly Peg Fly 42
Race 5: (2) Ice Machine 102
Race 6: (1) Silver Mountain 74
Race 7: (1) Rabada 79
Race 8: (2) Roy’s Amazing Ash 14
Turffontein (sat)
Race 1: (1) Aventurine 15
Race 2: (1) Russian Friend 15
Race 3: (6) Golden Man 62
Race 4: (9) Close Relative 65
Race 5: (5) Charanga 52
Race 6: (11) Cote De Pablo 34
Race 7: (9) Duke Nukem 80
Race 8: (1) Leila’s Charger 53
Race 9: (3) Relish 29
Kenilworth (sat)
Race 1: (6) Alpha Girl 20
Race 2: (10) Starflash 11
Race 3: (1) Al Wahed 50 (nb)
Race 4: (7) Catside Slew 80
Race 5: (1) Sergeant Hardy 35 (NAP**)
Race 6: (2) Miranda Frost 38
Race 7: (2) Prudence Prevails 1
Race 8: (14) Magical Bet 68
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Top rated winners last week included
Salute The Sun won 10/1
Bunker Bill won 33/10
Jay River won 3/1
Piano Man won 22/10
Cause Celebre won 2/1
Pepe Le Pew won 7/10
Plume Del Toro won 13/20
Sail won 1/3
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Notebook:-
Sail (D Drier, KZN)
Secret Captain (D Howells, KZN)
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FASTEST TIMES
The number of races run over each distance is shown in brackets
*Denotes – Times taken by Clockwatcher
Scottsville (inside) 24th April
Penetrometer 22 – Going Good
1000m (1) Piano Man 56,37
1200m (1) Secret Captain 69,62
1400m (2) Pearl Emblem 81,37*
1600m (1) First Apostle 96,40
1750m (2) Way Of Light 104,70
2400m (1) No Worries 148,30
Vaal (inside) 26th April
Penetrometer 21 – Going Good
1000m (1) In The Loop 56,94
1200m (2) Amazing Strike 67,57
1400m (1) Aramouse 82,28
1600m (4) Leeuloop Jet 101,41
Scottsville (inside) 27th April
Penetrometer 23 – Going Good
1200m (5) Bunker Bill 67,92
1400m (1) Misty Birnam 84,00
1600m (2) Cause Celebre 96,46
Vaal (outside) 28th April
Penetrometer 20 – Going Good
1000m (1) Salute The Sun 57,43
1200m (5) Old Em 69,63
1400m (2) Casciano 82,22
1600m (1) Resolute Captain 95,48
