Silently Progressing
Turffontein 17th April: A pinnacle stakes topped the bill on Tuesday evening’s card and in what proved to be by far the fastest of the three 1000m races, the 4yo ROCK VALLEY caused a major upset. In under sufferance with most, the 18/1 shot was soon at the head of affairs. Three lengths covered all and his advantage was just that of a neck going through the 400m. Answering every call at the business end of the race through, the Seventh Rock gelding ran on strongly and went on to win fair and square by a length. Rock Valley has now won five from twelve and is silently progressing very nicely.
Sharing top billing in terms of prize money was a MR104 Handicap over 2000m and here the St John Gray trained DAWN ASSAULT completed a smart double. Soon positioned close to the speed, the son of Call To Combat asserted his authority over the final 200m and won well by a length.
Two 1400m handicaps brought the evening’s fare to a close and not surprisingly the faster of these was the MR98 affair won by FINCHATTON. Nibbled at on course into 13/1 from 20’s, the 6yo RIGHT APPROACH gelding made all. He was a length and a quarter clear going through the 400m and didn’t surrender an inch of his advantage on the run to the line. Runner up COUNT TASSILO didn’t find the clearest of passages before running on late.
Titbits
A running on third in his only previous racecourse appearance less than three weeks ago, ALBACORE again finished well from off the pace when winning the maiden plate over 1600m going away by four.
Diamonds Are Forever
Greyville 18th April: This was the meeting originally scheduled to be run at Scottsville on 15th April. The afternoon’s feature event was the listed Kwazulu Natal Stakes over 1000m and in what proved marginally to be the fastest of the three races over the distance we saw a smart performance from NEPTUNE’S RAIN. Confidently ridden by Anton Marcus, the 3yo daughter of Antonius Pius raced in midfield for most of the journey. She ran on best of all in the short home straight and won going away after striking the front 60m from home.
The MR82 Handicap was not surprisingly the faster of the two 1200m races and here victory went to the easy to back MOON SHADOW. Freely available at 71/10 on the off, the Sporting Post’s Roving Banker was soon up handy. He was ridden to lead going through the 400m and comfortably accounted for the regular place getter PANZA by two.
The only other distance to stage more than one race was 2000m where the faster of the two handicaps was the MR63 affair won by PAMPAS. Well weighted on his earlier form, Michael Roberts’ charge was always handy. He put his head in front shortly after passing the 200m marker and won well from the running on NIGHT LOCK by two.
Titbits
Racing in the rear after being squeezed at the start, PERCIVAL was finishing best of all when a 0,55 length third in the MR90 Handicap over 1000m.
Lives To Spare
Vaal 19th April: They raced on the outside track on Thursday where five of the afternoon’s nine races were staged over 1200m. The MR93 Handicap for the girls was the fastest of these and here PENNY ROYAL registered her second career victory. Sent off a rather uneasy favourite at 113/20, this lightly weighted daughter of Captain Al was soon up handy. She ran on strongly in the closing stages of the race and with the rest well beaten, she got the better of LILY THERESA by a neck.
The MR95 Handicap was the faster of the two 1200m races and here we saw a smart performance from the progressive 3yo SEVEN LIVES. Now a winner of three from five, Paul Peter’s charge raced prominent throughout. He put his head in front as they approached the 100m marker and after quickly drawing clear he won well by two and a quarter.
The two remaining races were both handicaps over 1600m and in by far the fastest of these (the MR90 affair) the Jay Peg filly EMILY JAY registered her fifth career success. Always handy in a race devoid of speed early on, Brian Wiid’s charge took up the running shortly after passing the 200m marker. She kept on strongly in the latter stages and beat the running on KILLUA CASTLE by a neck.
Titbits
In the rear going through the 400m, ESPLORATORE was flying at the finish when only beaten 0,3 lengths in the MR76 Handicap over 1200m.
A Walk In The Park
Greyville 20th April: This was the meeting originally scheduled to take place on Wednesday 18th April. As tends to be the norm nowadays at Greyville, a barrier trial over 1000m got proceedings underway. In what proved to be a very typical barrier trial in terms of effort, the form horse (Princess Vicky) cruised in by nine and a quarter without ever really being asked to race.
Four of the evening’s eight races were run over 1400m and in what proved to be by far the fastest of these COLLABRO registered his second career victory. Always handy, Collabro ran on strongly over the final 400m and beat the 3yo HEART OF A LEGEND fair and square. Running on stoutly from midfield, the eventual third placed runner, SEA URCHIN was hampered 150m out.
A maiden plate for the girls over 1400m brought proceedings to a close and here we saw a smart performance from the lightly raced ESCAPE CLUB. Sent off a strong favourite at even money, Dennis Drier’s charge ran on well from midfield and won going away after taking it up 100m out.
Titbits
Backed into odds on at the track, CLIFTON CRUSHER won the maiden juvenile plate over 1400m going away by seven.
From Russia With Love
Turffontein 21st April: The Gr1 Empress Club Stakes topped the bill on the old stand side track on Saturday and in what not surprisingly proved to be the faster of the two 1600m events, the favourite NOTHER RUSSIA did the business. Nicely positioned in fifth in what was a very strung out field turning for home, Mike De Kock’s charge was always perfectly placed to strike. The hat-trick seeking 55/1 shot AL DANZA was the first to make a move and on striking the front 350m out, she looked to have done everything right. Nother Russia quickened nicely below the distance though and just as if scripted she got up late to score by almost a half.
The supporting act was the listed Spook Express Handicap over 2450m and here victory went to the 5yo mare PARISIENNE CHIC. For an event of this nature the race was run at a fair clip early on and nicely positioned in fifth turning for home, St John Gray’s charge was always going to have a say. She put her head in front shortly after passing the 300m marker and although PATCHIT UP BABY finished well from second last, she still had a length and a quarter to spare at the wire.
Four of the afternoon’s ten races were staged over 1400m and stopping the clock in the fastest of these was the 3yo STAR OF JOBURG in the MR82 Handicap. Soon up handy despite being a little slow into stride, Erico Verdonese’s charge took up the running 200m out and kept on strongly late to fend off a determined challenge from SHOGUN by three quarters.
Titbits
Well-supported HAFLA won the maiden plate over 1400m going away by five and three quarters.
Top speedratings for this weekend include:-
Fairview (fri)
Race 1: (7) Super Socks 12
Race 2: (4) Ohsobright 6
Race 3: (3) Valentine’s Girl 7
Race 4: (6) Caballo Blanco 63
Race 5: (11) Jungle Fairy 33
Race 6: (1) True Master 67
Race 7: (3) Aloysius 32
Race 8: (9) Captain Marooned 71
Race 9: (13) Arcsign 46
Greyville (fri)
Race 1: (7) Second To None 3
Race 2: (1) Lucara 19
Race 3: (1) Suzi Woo 8
Race 4: (1) Bravo Zulu 14
Race 5: (12) Russian Girl 28
Race 6: (11) Expresso Martini 26
Race 7: (6) Karatage 45
Race 8: (12) Got Your Back 43
Turffontein (sat)
Race 1: (10) Queen Of The Dance 13
Race 2: (1) King Of The Delta 23
Race 3: (2) Hurricane Lass 14
Race 4: (3) Spring Breeze 54
Race 5: (15) Casino 35
Race 6: (8) Dressed To Impress 62 (EW)
Race 7: (9) Serendipity 37
Race 8: (1) Movie Show 45
Race 9: (15) Terroncito 32 (EW)
Kenilworth (sat)
Race 1: (6) Machiavelli 7
Race 2: (1) Love Of My Life 16
Race 3: (1) Crème De Menthe 8
Race 4: (7) Deepston 17
Race 5: (5) Royal Chian 36
Race 6: (8) Ahoy Me Matey 56
Race 7: (3) Platinum Class 67
Race 8: (11) Fresnaye 69 (EW)
Race 9: (9) Zanadu 22
Scottsville (sun)
Race 1: (1) The Grey Crusader 17
Race 2: (11) Sweet Preserve 2
Race 3: (1) Dr Henry 7
Race 4: (8) World Mission 49
Race 5: (14) Wynkelder 98
Race 6: (3) Canukeepitsecret 25 (NAP*)
Race 7: (5) Traces 36
Race 8: (5) Sommerlied 88
Race 9: (14) Myelisha 47
Top rated winners last week included
Jet Start won 113/20
Roy’s Taxi won 61/20
Albacore won 26/10
Great Shaka won 26/10
Hafla won 21/10
Sunny Bill Du-Toy won 21/20
Royal Italian won 9/10
Exquisite Touch won 5/10
Notebook:-
Clifton Crusher (D Kannemeyer, KZN)
FASTEST TIMES
The number of races run over each distance is shown in brackets
*Denotes – Times taken by Clockwatcher
Turffontein (old) 17th April
Penetrometer 23 – Going Good
Course Variant: 1,37s slow
1000m (3) Rock Valley 57,55
1160m (1) Royal Italian 69,64
1400m (2) Finchatton 85,31
1600m (2) Albacore 101,29
2000m (1) Dawn Assault 125,87
Greyville (poly) 18th April
Going Standard
Course Variant: 0,46s slow
1000m (3) Neptune’s Rain 57,50
1200m (2) Moon Shadow 69,80
1400m (1) Piaget Prince 84,40
1600m (1) Laat Lammetjie 96,90
2000m (2) Pampas 120,00
Vaal (outside) 19th April
Penetrometer 22 – Going Good
Course Variant: 0,27s slow
1000m (2) Seven Lives 57,04
1200m (5) Penny Royal 69,93
1600m (2) Emily Jay 94,63
Greyville (poly) 20th April
Going Standard
Course Variant: 0,78s slow
1000m (2) Princess Vicky 58,77
1200m (1) Roy’s Taxi 70,20
1400m (4) Collabro 82,80
1600m (1) Agencefrancepresse 96,48
1800m (1) Sunny Bill Du-Toy 110,24
Turffontein (old) 21st April
Penetrometer 22 – Going Good
Course Variant: 0,73s slow
1000m (1) Exquisite Touch 57,33
1160m (1) Louis The Seventh 68,88
1400m (4) Star Of Joburg 85,75
1600m (2) Nother Russia 98,94
1800m (1) Jet Start 112,17
2450m (1) Parisienne Chic 154,50
