Tamaanee Reigns
Turffontein 3rd December: Race six was abandoned due to unsafe conditions around the bend following torrential rain.
Three of the eight races that were run on the old stand side track on Saturday took place over 1000m and not surprisingly the fastest of these (taking into account the rain that fell prior to the other two races over the distance being run) was the opening maiden juvenile plate won by PURE BLONDE. The time nonetheless was a very good one, and the easy 2,5 length winner made all. He was very quickly a length and a half to the good when the gates opened, and won with some in hand.
The best bet on the card for many was TAMAANEE in the conditions plate over 1600m and despite heavy rain falling throughout the race she didn’t let down her supporters. Usually one to run on stoutly from off the pace, Sean Tarry’s charge adopted a change of tactics here and raced third. She took up the running shortly after passing the 400m marker and went on to score comfortably from the pacemaker ELUSIVE SPIRIT by three and a quarter.
By far the faster of the two maiden plates over 1400m (both run before the rain) was the boy’s affair won by the Geoff Woodruff trained newcomer DEO JUVENTE. Allowed to ease out to 11/2 from 4/1 at the track, the son of Trippi sat in midfield for most of the journey. He was ridden to lead passing the 100m pole and comfortably accounted for the similarly fancied SCOTSNOG by two and a half. The poorly drawn runner up also finished well and would surely have made a race of it had he not been baulked for a run on two separate occasions.
Titbits
After making all the 3yo THE CAPTAIN’S TUNE won the MR86 Handicap over 1600m easing down by three and a quarter.
CAPTAIN’S DIVA made up over four lengths on the first two over the final 400m when third beaten half a length in the MR76 Handicap over 1000m.
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Two From Two
Scottsville 4th December: The going was soft at Scottsville on Sunday where the two races around the bend were moved from the inside track to the stand side track. Because of this race 3 was adjusted to 2000m from 1950m.
A maiden juvenile plate over 1000m got proceedings underway and in an event where all were newcomers we saw a smart performance from BEAT THE RETREAT. Backed into favouritism at the track, the son of Argonaut wasn’t the quickest into stride, but despite that was soon up handy. He struck the front at the halfway mark and only had to be pushed out over the final 500m to score by three and a half.
There were four races run over 1000m in total and the fastest of these was the non-black type African Holly Handicap won by SHEIK’S BRASHEE. Freely available at 12/1 in a race where just five went to post, the 4yo gelding by The Sheik sat second. He put his head in front shortly after passing the 300m pole and easily accounted for the hat-trick seeking ROYALSECURITYPOWER by two and three quarters.
The fastest of the three 1200m races was the MR86 Handicap won by the recent maiden winner ELOQUENCE. Now a winner of two from two Sean Tarry’s charge was a little slow into stride. Despite that though she was soon up handy and won going away by two and a quarter after striking the front 300m out.
Titbits
Lightly raced FIERY GODDESS, and the newcomer NOOR DUBAI, both ran on well from midfield when 1st & 2nd respectively in the maiden plate over 1200m.
Making only her second racecourse appearance here, the 66/1 shot PATCHIT UP BABY was at the back of the thirteen turning for home in the maiden 2000m, and did very well indeed to get within three quarters of a length of the winner.
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Giving A Bit Back
Vaal 6th December: They raced on the outside track on Tuesday where victory in the fastest of the four 1600m races went to the costly to follow WILD DANCER. Sent off a well-supported favourite at 11/10, Mike De Kock’s charge was always handy. She was ridden to lead going through the 500m and after quickly going clear she easily accounted for POLAR SECRET by five.
The stable of Mike De Kock also saddled the fastest runner over 1400m on the afternoon (three races), MOOFEED in the MR92 Handicap. Soon up handy the son of Duke Of Marmalade was already at the front before reaching halfway. He kept on strongly at the business end of the race and although the nibbled at PRINCE JAZEEM made up over three lengths over the final 400m, he still had three quarters of a length to spare at the wire.
Backed as if unbeatable to win what proved to be the fastest of the three 1200m races was LUMYA in the girl’s maiden plate. Backed through all rates into 4/10 from 16/10, Dominic Zaki’s charge led throughout. She was always a couple clear and easily extended her advantage to six when given reign.
Titbits
Third placed CEDAR WOOD was finishing best of all when only beaten a neck in the work rider’s maiden plate over 1600m.
Lightly raced SILVER GODDESS was flying late when only failing to reel in the 9/10 favourite Muskogee in the maiden plate over 1600m.
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Mercury Rising
Kenilworth 7th December: Stopping the clock in the fastest time over 1400m in Cape Town on Wednesday was ELITE JET when winning the MR70 Handicap. Taken straight to the front by Xavier Carstens the Jet Master gelding led throughout. He kept on strongly over the final 400m and just had enough in hand to beat the much faster finishing SHEPHERDS PURSE by the narrowest of margins. The runner up had to weave through traffic en-route from the rear and would surely have gotten up in another stride.
The faster of the two 1600m maiden plates was the boy’s affair won by the heavily supported favourite SAIL FOR GOLD. Eventually sent off at 11/10 after opening up at 5/2, the 3yo son of Sail From Seattle also made all. He was a length and a quarter clear coming off the bend and didn’t relinquish an inch of his advantage in the 600m new course straight.
AZARENKA in the MR81 Handicap was the fastest of those competing in the two 1200m races on the card. Allowed to drift as if a win was out of the question at the track (6/1 out to 14’s), Justin Snaith’s charge was soon positioned close up in second. She ran on stoutly over the final 200m and after a thrilling tussle with the pacemaker CHESTNUT DANCER she only got the verdict by a neck.
Titbits
The 3yo LIQUID MERCURY made it four wins from six starts when completing a four-timer in the MR80 Handicap over 1800m.
Easy to back COME TO DADDY and the newcomer GOOD GRACE both ran on well from the backend of midfield when 1st & 2nd respectively in the maiden plate over 1200m.
WINTER TRADE impressed when winning the maiden plate over 1000m going away.
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Fastest Tiger
Vaal 8th December: Thursday’s action took place on the sand where we saw a very smart performance in the fastest of the four 1000m events (a pinnacle stakes) from the well-supported favourite TIGER TERRITORY. Backed into 12/10 from 2/1 at the track, Mike De Kock’s charge was soon up handy. He was ridden to lead as they approached the 400m marker and only had to be pushed out with hands and heels in the closing stages of the race to beat his all-out stable companion MOOTAHADEE by four and a quarter.
The faster of the two races over 1450m was the MR89 Handicap won by SOLAR TRIPTYCH. Another to sit handy, the progressive son of Trippi struck the front shortly after passing the 200m pole and comfortably accounted for the running on BRAD’S SURGE by two.
In terms of distance the easiest victory on the nine race program was the 4,75 lengths recorded by WELLESLEY when winning the maiden plate over 1800m. Freely available at 16/1 on the off (op 25’s), the well exposed son of Spanish Harlem was always in touch with the leaders. He quickened best of all when the 9/20 favourite (op 3/10) AWESOME ADAM (set the pace) exited the back door 400m out and went on to score very easily. Awesome Adam was reported as making a respiratory noise and fatigued.
Titbits
The 5/10 favourite MAGIC TRIP won the maiden plate over 1000m a little more easily than the official winning margin of three quarters of a length would suggest.
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Top speedratings for this weekend include:-
Fairview (fri)
Race 1: (2) Zakumi 21
Race 2: (1) Soul Sacrifice 38 (NAP*)
Race 3: (5) King’s Blog 8
Race 4: (3) Vivarani 16
Race 5: (9) Lemon Fizz 57
Race 6: (8) New Spring 39
Race 7: (7) Princess Renegade 50
Race 8: (2) Five Moons 41
Race 9: (6) Diesel Engine 40
Greyville (fri)
Race 1: (5) Golden Answer 7
Race 2: (4) Coco Love 12
Race 3: (1) D’vash 23
Race 4: (3) Moi Power 29
Race 5: (8) Noor Dubai 21 (NAP**)
Race 6: (8) Royal Roy 45
Race 7: (4) Winter Glory 47
Race 8: (9) Preamble 73
Race 9: (9) Sutherfeni 47
Turffontein (sat)
Race 1: (9) Eurozone 18
Race 2: (11) Special Announce 18
Race 3: (7) Silver Goddess 23
Race 4: (9) Oriental Blue 60
Race 5: (4) Kayhaladin 68
Race 6: (3) Belong To Me 77
Race 7: (1) Lazer Star 71 (NAP**)
Race 8: (2) Captain’s Diva 36
Race 9: (15) Rite Site 54
Race 10: (11) Gypsey Myth 58
Kenilworth (sat)
Race 1: (6) Royal Chian 5
Race 2: (1) Saint Donan 20
Race 3: (3) Marchant 68
Race 4: (3) Black Belvedere 20
Race 5: (5) Playingtheenemy 49
Race 6: (1) Priceless Jewel 82
Race 7: (8) Varster 69
Race 8: (7) Cat And The Moon 66
Race 9: (7) Peace Pact 66 (EW)
Race 10: (2) Harryhopeithappens 18
Scottsville (sun)
Race 1: (11) Roy’s Goddess 7
Race 2: (3) Panama Man 60
Race 3: (5) Glinka 11 (NAP*)
Race 4: (2) Ivanovich 13
Race 5: (1) Texas Cowboy 16
Race 6: (9) The King’s Hand 53 (EW)
Race 7: (13) Royal Zulu Guard 86
Race 8: (12) Top Command 59
Race 9: (10) Merits Conceded 46
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Top rated winners last week included
Command Chi won 5/1
Trip Tease won 5/2
Ahlaam won 22/10
Limbo won 2/1
Sail For Gold won 11/10
Wild Dancer won 11/10
Muskogee won 9/10
Lumya won 4/10
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Notebook:-
Pure Blonde (A Laird, Gauteng)
Tamaanee (S Tarry, Gauteng)
Winter Trade (D Hodgson, W-Cape)
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FASTEST TIMES
The number of races run over each distance is shown in brackets
*Denotes – Times taken by Clockwatcher
Turffontein (old) 3rd December
Penetrometer 22 – Going Good
1000m (3) Pure Blonde 56,93
1160m (1) Silence Descends 70,28
1400m (2) Deo Juvente 84,98
1600m (2) Tamaanee 97,99
Scottsville (stand side) 4th December
Penetrometer 28 – Going Soft
1000m (4) Sheik’s Brashee 57,55
1200m (3) Eloquence 70,09
2000m (1) Ahlaam 125,87
2400m (1) The King’s Hand 159,50
Vaal (outside) 6th December
Penetrometer 20 – Going Good
1200m (3) Lumya 69,05
1400m (3) Moofeed 80,44
1600m (4) Wild Dancer 95,63
Kenilworth (new) 7th December
Penetrometer 23 – Going Good
1000m (1) Winter Trade 59,22
1200m (2) Azarenka 73,65
1400m (3) Elite Jet 87,09
1600m (2) Sail For Gold 101,06
1800m (1) Liquid Mercury 114,23
Vaal (sand) 8th December
Going Standard
1000m (4) Tiger Territory 57,40
1200m (1) Style Flash 74,52
1450m (2) Solar Triptych 90,10
1600m (1) Silent Force 101,58
1800m (1) Wellesley 115,82
