Borrowdale Park 23rd January
Just Two
A Novice 1200m got proceedings underway in Zimbabwe on Sunday where because of surface water and poor visibility, the meeting had to be abandoned after just two races. Favourite for the opener was WHAT A BOY and always handy in a six runner field, he held every chance. Five of them were virtually in a line going the 400m and with the backmarker DREAM AFRICA just three lengths away the race looked wide open. The 4/1 shot AGENT CRUSH (18) found the best finish and drew clear very easily in the latter stages to score by two and three quarters.
What turned out to be the final event on the card was a MR58 Handicap over 1600m and here an upset was to be had when the rank outsider of the eight horse party MUFASA CREEK (11) landed the spoils. Freely available at 20/1 on the off, the former South African campaigner raced fifth during the early part of the race. He made his move early in the home straight and after striking the front 200m out, he went on to score very easily by four.
Clairwood 25th January
One More
The costly to follow ALLOCATION was sent off a strong favourite to win the opening maiden event over 1000m at the garden course on Tuesday, but once again this son of Captain Al found one better. Taken straight to the front by Warren Kennedy, Allocation attempted to lead throughout. He was three lengths clear going through the 200m and at that stage he looked to have the race sewn up. The lightly raced SENSE OF SPEED (39) fairly flew below the distance though and in what proved to be a real thriller, that one got up in the dying strides. Don’t give up on Allocation. He could well have bumped a very good sort here.
Favourite backers were on the mark in the next though, a maiden event over 1450m, when ISLAND COURT (31) did the business. Confidently ridden by Raymond Danielson, Gavin Van Zyl’s charge raced in midfield during the early part of the race. The nibbled at IMPERIAL IMAGE was the first to make a move in the straight and struck the front 450m out. Island Court ran on best of all at the business end of the race though, and with the rest well beaten, he got up nicely late to win by three quarters.
The second division of the maiden 1450m proved to be the final event on the card and here victory went to the easy to back WARRIOR’S WALK. Freely available at 15/1 on the off, Colin Scott’s charge was soon up handy. He was ridden to lead as they approached the 200m marker and although the 19/10 favourite SUGARFORMYHONEY kept on strongly after being headed, he went on to score very easily by three and a quarter.
The remainder of the meeting was abandoned due to poor visibility and unsafe underfoot conditions.
Titbits
A running on second to the useful ANTIOUS last time out, SENSE OF SPEED produced a nice turn of foot to win on his return from a five month break here.
Turffontein 25th January
Newcomers To The Fore
They raced on the old stand side track on Tuesday evening where victory in the opening maiden event over 1160m when to the newcomer ALWAYSAHUMMER (17). Nibbled at on course into 15/2 from 10/1, Geoff Woodruff’s charge raced towards the back end of midfield during the early part of the race. He began to take closer order shortly after passing halfway and under a well judged ride from Derek David, he got up nicely late to beat fellow newcomer BOEING BOEING by a length.
A newcomer was also on the mark in the next, the girls division of the maiden 1160m when the Michael Azzie trained TALLY BLUE (23) did the business. Sent off a well supported favourite at 11/10, the daughter of Dixieland Band was soon at the head of affairs. She kept up a healthy gallop throughout and although another newcomer HURRICANE JEN finished well from off the pace, she went on to score comfortably by a length.
A MR90 Handicap over 1160m topped the bill and in a time much faster than the aforementioned maiden events, victory here went to the 5yo OFFICER CLASS (67). Well supported at the track, the 22/10 favourite was taken straight to the front by Piere Strydom and led throughout. She was always in command and went on to score comfortably by a length and a half from the running on GOLD GAME.
The final event on the card was a MR74 Handicap over 1160m and here we saw a very comfortable victory for the former Natal campaigner DAYS OF YORE (53). Soon up handy, the son of Jet Master raced prominent throughout. He 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 CALPURNIUS by two and a quarter.
Titbits
Only finding top gear late, KAPOW was gaining quickly in the graduation event over 1160m.
HURRICANE JEN ran on nicely on debut in the maiden event over 1160m and can improve plenty.
Arlington 26th January
Steeplechase Margin
The best bet on the card for many in Port Elizabeth on Wednesday was OZZIE DUDE in the novice event over 1800m and he didn’t let down his supporters. Racing over a suitable distance for the first time since relocating to the Eastern Cape, Alan Greeff’s charge was sent off a well supported favourite at even money. Positioned closer to the pace than he has been in recent starts, Ozzie Dude was always handy. He quickened nicely at the top of the short home straight and after striking the front 200m from home, he easily drew clear.
The easiest victory on the card was undoubtedly that of DANCING KIWI who won the bill topping MR87 Handicap over 1600m by a steeplechase margin. Allowed a soft lead early on, Gavin Smith’s charge steadily edged clear and turning for home he held an eight lengths advantage. At his best from the front, Dancing Kiwi kept on strongly over the final 400m and despite the efforts of the chasing pack, he extended his lead to ten on the run to the line.
Another to win very comfortably on this card was MANGALISO who gained a well overdue second career victory in the MR73 affair over 1600m. On leaving the stalls it was the former Gauteng campaigner BIG JOHN who elected to make the running whilst the Requiem gelding Mangaliso raced some six lengths away in sixth. He made his move early in the home straight and after striking the front 250m from home, he went on to score easily from the staying on LUCKY FLAG.
Also worthy of note on this card was the performance of Mangaliso’s stable companion HURRICANE KATRINA in winning the MR86 Handicap over 1600m. Positioned towards the rear during the early part of the race, Hurricane Katrina was still many lengths adrift as the ten runners turned for home. Once in the straight though, she ran on best of all and in what proved to be a real thriller, she got up in the very last stride to deny the Victory Moon filly ROYAL WAGER. Hurricane Katrina won very well here and is clearly much better than this bare form line would suggest.
Titbits
AUSTRALIAN JOLLY ran on very well after being badly baulked for a run in the MR69 Handicap over 1600m and was only beaten a length and a half.
Clairwood 27th January
Smart Double
The first of two very smart winners from the stable of Charles Laird on Thursday was the newcomer RUBY CARTEL (20) who opened her account in the maiden event over 1200m. Freely available at 5/1 on the off, the daughter of Mogok lost three lengths at the start, but despite that, she was soon in touch with the leaders. She moved through to take up the running as they approached the 200m marker and went on to score comfortably by two and a half. Ruby Cartel won well and is clearly one to keep tabs on.
The double was completed in the boys division of the maiden 1200m when the heavily supported WEST COAST SWING (29) did the business. Backed throughout the day into 7/10 from 16/10, West Coast Swing was soon up handy. She was ridden to lead shortly after passing the 400m marker and ridden just hands and heels on the run to the line, she went on to score very comfortably by two and three quarters.
The non black type African Holly Handicap over 1000m topped the bill and in what proved to be a real thriller, victory here went to the favourite JINZO (87). Confidently ridden by Ian Sturgeon, Jinzo raced in midfield during the early part of the race. He ran on best of all from halfway and just as if scripted he got up late to deny the four timer seeking MR MICKEY MOUSE.
Titbits
SYDNEY’S GIRL ran on nicely from the rear after being slow into stride in the maiden event for the girls over 1200m and in Ruby Cartel, she could well have bumped a very good sort.
Top speedratings for this weekend include:-
Fairview
Race 1: No Qualifiers
Race 2: (17) Tuska 9
Race 3: (15) Peggy Peyton Jones 12
Race 4: (5) Me ‘n You 55
Race 5: (6) Big Daddy 75
Race 6: (10) Crown Colony 55
Race 7: (8) Bulldozer 92
Race 8: (3) Another Mistral 50 (EW)
Turffontein
Race 1: (2) Westa 30
Race 2: (2) Headstrong 84
Race 3: (3) Hard Currency 25
Race 4: (4) Skirmish 45
Race 5: (4) Exclaim’n’exclude 94
Race 6: (10) Stella Mia 93
Race 7: (1) Hollywoodboulevard 90
Race 8: (1) Link Man 90
Race 9: (1) Woman Of The Year 66
Kenilworth
Race 1: No Qualifier
Race 2: (1) Money Surger 12
Race 3: (2) Hey Toro 13
Race 4: (2) Margaret Court 52
Race 5: (2) Grail Maiden 72
Race 6: (9) Princess Magic 53
Race 7: (1) Moonlight Gambler 70 (NAP*)
Race 8: (5) Crown Hill 57
Race 9: (3) Katsamba 13
Clairwood
Race 1: (1) Tijgerbeech 27
Race 2: No Qualifiers
Race 3: (1) Media Maker 15
Race 4: (8) Wings Over Skye 82
Race 5: (13) Royal Zulu Warrior 91 (NAP*)
Race 6: (12) National Chant 53
Race 7: (6) Safwan 103
Race 8: (2) Garrison 19
Race 9: (4) Sacred Saracen 22
Top rated winners last week included:-
Hobbit won 16/1
Past Master won 15/1
Covenant won 4/1
Ephraim won 3/1
Ireland won 28/10
Kimberley Gem won 5/2
Century Girl won 18/10
Micro Jet won 15/10
Notebook:-
Hurricane Katrina (J Snaith, E-Cape)
Ruby Cartel (C Laird, Natal)
Sense Of Speed (D Drier, Natal)
Sydney’s Girl (Y Govender, Natal)
West Coast Swing (C Laird, Gauteng)
FASTEST TIMES
(Shown in brackets is the number of races run in each category)
Borrowdale Park 23rd January
Fastest Sprint 1000-1300 (1) Agent Crush
Fastest Middle 1400-1800 (1) Mufasa Creek
Fastest Long 1900-3600 (0) No Qualifiers
Clairwood 25th January
Fastest Sprint 1000-1300 (1) Sense Of Speed
Fastest Middle 1400-1800 (2) Warrior’s Walk
Fastest Long 1900-3600 (0) No Qualifiers
Turffontein 25th January
Fastest Sprint 1000-1300 (6) Officer Class
Fastest Middle 1400-1800 (2) Super Trooper
Fastest Long 1900-3600 (0) No Qualifers
Arlington 26th January
Fastest Sprint 1000-1300 (2) Kimberley Gem
Fastest Middle 1400-1800 (6) Dancing Kiwi
Fastest Long 1900-3600 (0) No Qualifiers
Clairwood 27th January
Fastest Sprint 1000-1300 (4) Jinzo
Fastest Middle 1400-1800 (3) Tobin
Fastest Long 1900-3600 (1) Split Liaison
