Fairview 29th October
Easy For Tanzania
The easiest victory in Port Elizabeth on Friday was undoubtedly that of the filly TANZANIA (64) who came home smoking in the graduation event over 1200m. Heavily supported during the morning into 4/1 from 8/1, Alan Greeff’s charge was soon up handy. She was ridden to lead as they approached the 300m marker and although the useful WAGING WAR chased hard in the closing stages of the race, she went on to score in good style by four and a quarter. Tanzania won well and is clearly one to keep tabs on.
Another to win well on this card was the Gavin Smith trained KASLEE (37) who gained her second career victory from just six starts in the MR66 affair over 1600m. Allowed to drift right out to 16/1 from 8/1 at the track, the daughter of Requiem raced in midfield during the early part of the race. She was asked to take closer order early in the long home straight and after striking the front 200m from home, she very comfortably accounted for the running on LAURA’S GIFT by three.
A MR94 Handicap over 2400m topped the bill and here it was nice to see the 6yo OCTOBER CLUB post his sixth career victory. Sent off second favourite at 7/2, Alan Greeff’s charge was nicely positioned in fifth during the early part of the race. He was asked to take up the running early in the straight and kept on strongly at the business end of the race to beat LOUIE’S PRIDE by three quarters.
Greyville 29th October
Unbeaten In Two
Race four in Natal on Friday evening was a Conditions Plate over 1000m and here a bit of an upset was to be had when the easy to back SHARE THE SILVER (68) landed the spoils. Freely available at 12/1 on the off, Tony Rivalland’s charge sat a few lengths off them during the early part of the race. Once given rein though she quickened well and in what proved to be a real thriller, she only got the verdict by a short head over both WEST END and CANDY TUFT.
A MR89 Handicap over 1600m was next up and here victory went to the Sean Tarry trained PALERMO ROSA (56). Nibbled at on course to go off at 9/2, Palermo Rosa was always handy. She was ridden to lead shortly after passing the 300m marker and kept on strongly in the closing stages of the race to beat the running on CLARKIES PROMISE by two and a quarter.
The highlight of the evening was the listed KZN Guineas Trial over 1600m and here we saw a smart performance from the Joey Ramsden trained IL SAGGIATORE (74). Allowed to drift right out to 18/1 from 8/1 on course as money came in the main for SILENT CALL (8/1 into 9/2) and LEGAL MAXIM (6/1 into 9/2), Il Saggiatore lost two lengths at the start and as a result he soon found himself positioned towards the rear. Once in the straight though, he quickened nicely and did very well indeed to get up in the latter stages to beat NOT LIABLE by a length. Now unbeaten in two starts, this son of Galileo beat a useful field in good style here and is clearly very useful.
Turffontein 30th October
Improving Nicely
The first of the two feature events to take place on the old stand side track on Saturday was the Java Handicap over 2450m in which the Mike De Kock trained ILSANPIETRO was successful. Freely available at 6/1 to win this 2450m event, Ilsanpietro was always handy. First to make a move in the home straight was MIRAGE DRIVE. He ran on from behind Ilsanpietro and struck the front 400m out. The son of Mark Of Esteem quickened well when given rein though and after getting the better of Mirage Drive 100m from home, he went on to score comfortably by a length.
The Gr3 Yellowwood Handicap over 1800m topped the bill and here the stable of Mike De Kock were again on the mark when FLIRTATION (80) landed the spoils. Allowed to ease right out to 16/1 from 8/1 at the track, Flirtation got away well from her very wide draw and nicely positioned in sixth turning for home, was well positioned to strike. She ran on stoutly in the straight and after getting the better of the favourite QUICK SINGLE 150m out, she went on to score comfortably by a length.
Race eight on the card was a MR90 Handicap over 1600m and here we saw another smart performance from the unbeaten SNOWDON. On leaving the stalls it was the poorly drawn OZYMANDIAS who elected to set the pace, whilst Snowdon, also swiftly guided over from a widish draw by Anthony Delpech, raced close up in second. Ozymandias kept on determinedly in the home straight and at the line had the remainder some three and a quarter lengths in arrears. The 3yo Snowdon quickened well when asked for his effort though and under a well judged ride, he asserted his authority close home. Now unbeaten in three starts, Ormond Ferraris’ charge is improving with every run and is clearly one to keep tabs on.
Kenilworth 30th October
Very Smart Hattrick
Topping the bill in Cape Town on Saturday was the Gr3 Cape Classic over 1400m and here we saw a smart performance from the Justin Snaith trained SOLO TRAVELLER (24). Freely available at 14/1 on the off, Solo Traveller raced in midfield during the early part of the race just a length behind the 3/10 favourite WHAT A WINTER. He quickened well when the race began in earnest at the top of the straight and with the market leader surprisingly unable to go with him when the chips were down, he went on to score comfortably from a wall of horses by two and a quarter. Solo Traveller has now won his last three starts in good fashion and is clearly one to follow.
Another to win very well on this card was the 3yo THE SHARK (49) who gained his second career victory from just four starts in the MR78 affair over 1200m. Confidently ridden by Karl Neisius, The Shark sat towards the rear for most of the journey. Once given rein though, he cut through the field like a knife and after striking the front 150m from home, he drew clear easily in the closing stages to win by four.
Also worthy of note on this card was the performance of the recent Gr3 Matchem Stakes winner TALES OF BRAVERY (95) in winning the pinnacle event over 1500m. Nicely positioned in fourth as the eight runners turned for home, Tales Of Bravery moved through to take up the running shortly after passing the 300m marker. Our former champion racehorse POCKET POWER also ran on stoutly in the straight, but despite having the rest well beaten he couldn’t make any impression on the winner.
Top speedratings for this weekend include:-
Flamingo Park
Race 1: (2) Ishara 5
Race 2: (7) Gold Isle 4
Race 3: (8) Red October 34
Race 4: (10) Man Of Atlantis 65
Race 5: (8) Dinar 60
Race 6: (8) Giant’s Footprint 49
Race 7: (5) Bomtempo 36
Race 8: (2) Sound Of Silence 67
Race 9: (1) Final Contract 38
Vaal (Tues)
Race 1: (5) Legendary Vintage 24
Race 2: (1) Pecan Whistle 3
Race 3: (6) Victory Serenade 26 (NAP*)
Race 4: (1) Fenerbahce 61 (nb)
Race 5: (2) Raga Muffin 65
Race 6: (9) Single Minded 76
Race 7: (12) Compassion 57
Race 8: (9) Polo 69
Kenilworth
Race 1: (2) Outswinger 5
Race 2: No Qualifiers
Race 3: (3) Grey Rose 10
Race 4: (2) Mateus 16
Race 5: (7) Single Line 47
Race 6: (4) Pasadora 50 (EW)
Race 7: (8) Meringue 13 (NAP*)
Race 8: (6) Santorina 12
Vaal (Thur)
Race 1: (3) Place D’etoile 23
Race 2: (9) Head For Hilton 28
Race 3: (1) Sizzling Guy 25 (NAP*)
Race 4: (10) Rich Man’s Duel 34
Race 5: (16) Big John 52
Race 6: (3) Shuffles 45
Race 7: (8) Little Master 63
Race 8: (12) Another Schlepp 39
Greyville
Race 1: (1) Alan’s Pride 16
Race 2: (7) Infallible 12
Race 3: (7) Control Tower 23
Race 4: (7) Heligan 46
Race 5: (2) Mr. Premier 52
Race 6: (5) Chief Mambo 93
Race 7: (10) Eliza Maria 82
Race 8: (14) Rhode 59
Top rated winners last week included:-
Hospitality won 25/1
Modern Royal won 9/1
Lady In Pink won 7/1
Western Splash won 7/1
Ilsanpietro won 6/1
Palermo Rosa won 9/2
Beach Flight won 7/2
Cuve won 2/1
Notebook:-
Il Saggiatore (J Ramsden, Natal)
Kaslee (G Smith, E-Cape)
Snowdon (O Ferraris, Gauteng)
Solo Traveller (J Snaith, W-Cape)
FASTEST TIMES
(Shown in brackets is the number of races run in each category)
Fairview 29th October
Fastest Sprint 1000-1300 (5) Prime Directive
Fastest Middle 1400-1800 (2) Kaslee
Fastest Long 1900-3600 (1) October Club
Greyville 29th October
Fastest Sprint 1000-1300 (2) Share The Silver
Fastest Middle 1400-1800 (5) Palermo Rosa
Fastest Long 1900-3600 (1) Modern Royal
Turffontein 30th October
Fastest Sprint 1000-1300 (3) Blue Voyager
Fastest Middle 1400-1800 (5) Snowdon
Fastest Long 1900-3600 (2) Ilsanpietro
Kenilworth 30th October
Fastest Sprint 1000-1300 (5) Emmajo
Fastest Middle 1400-1800 (5) Tales Of Bravery
Fastest Long 1900-3600 (0) No Qualifiers
