On The Right Road
Scottsville 1st May: Three of the nine races in Pietermaritzburg on Sunday were run over 1100m and the fastest of these was the listed In Full Flight Handicap won by CAPTAIN ALFREDO. Sent off second in the betting market at 7/1, Dean Kannemeyer’s charge was soon up handy. He was ridden to lead as they approached the 300m marker and with the rest well beaten, he comfortably accounted for the well supported favourite CAPTAIN’S CAUSEWAY by a length and three quarters.
The faster of the two Gr3 juvenile events over the trip was the Godolphin Barb Stakes contested by the boys. The Pathfork colt RED CHESNUT ROAD impressed when cruising in on debut, and heavily supported into 13/20 from 11/10 here, he repeated the dose. Nicely positioned in second for most of the journey, Robbie Hill’s charge put his head in front going through the 200m and showing a very nice turn of foot won going away by six and a quarter.
The 3yo ROY’S ROLL’S ROYCE was the best bet on the card for many and in what proved to be the faster of the two 1400m maiden events he didn’t let down his supporters. Backed through all rates into 5/10 from 13/10, the son of Choisir was always handy. He was asked to take up the running at the 300m pole and easily accounted for the uneasy joint second favourite REBEL CIRCUS by three.
Titbits
THE SECRET IS OUT ran on very well from midfield when winning the Gr3 Strelitzia Stakes over 1100m going away by a length and three quarters.
Front running SHE’S A FORTRESS was always in command when winning the MR70 Handicap over 1000m with authority by four and a quarter.
.
The Signs Were There
Fairview 2nd May: They raced on the poly track on Monday where the fastest of the three 1200m races was the MR68 Handicap won by TYPHOON TESS. Freely available at 8/1 on the off, the Sail From Seattle mare raced seventh early on. She had moved up to fifth coming off the bend and under a well-judged ride from Karl Zechner, she got up late to deny the more fancied GILL’S FANCY.
The biggest upset on the card occurred in the faster of the two 1900m events, a MR64 Handicap when the 6yo MULAAZEM registered his fourth career victory. Positioned in the rear early on, Hekkie Strydom’s charge ran on best of all in the straight and got up late to beat the front running ALL THE BIDS by a half.
The faster of the two 1600m races was the bill topping MR80 Handicap won by NAVAL INTELLIGENCE. Nibbled at on course into 9/2 from 11/2, the 5yo son of Trippi led throughout. He kept on strongly at the business end of the race and got the verdict by a half from the running on GRAPE VINE. Third placed CREVASSE ran on well from the rear in this race.
Titbits
After making all of the running QUANTITY only had to be pushed out to win the opening maiden plate over 1300m.
The 4yo FIRE HORSE was gaining at the finish when running on from midfield to fill second position in the MR71 Handicap over 1000m.
.
A Walk In The Park
Vaal 3rd May: Tuesday’s action took place on the outside track where five of the afternoon’s eight races were staged over 1200m. The fastest of these was the MR88 Handicap in which the nibbled at outsider ZORTZIKO registered his fourth career victory. Eventually sent off at 14/1 after opening up at 25’s, the Jet Master gelding was soon positioned close to the speed. He put his head in front at the halfway mark and rallied gamely after being headed 200m out to beat the 14/10 favourite DONNY G by a neck.
Race two on the card was a maiden juvenile plate over 1200m and here we saw an impressive debut from the newcomer ZAAKHIRA. Backed throughout the morning into even money from 28/10, the daughter of Redoute’s Choice broke well and was soon up handy. She was ridden to lead as they approached the 300m marker and cruised in by seven and a half despite being eased down late.
Racing in open company the 2yo ANNOUNCING RAIN was sent off in the red to win the maiden plate over 1000m and she didn’t let down her supporters. Taken straight to the front by Karl Zechner the 6/10 favourite led throughout. She was always in command and with the rest some five and three quarter lengths adrift she beat the friendless newcomer (another 2yo) FAVOUR’S PRIDE by a length and a half.
Titbits
The 4yo RIVERINE FOREST ran on well from the rear when getting up late to win the MR64 Handicap over 1200m. She was racing off a mark some 24 points below that of her former best here and is sure to be well handicapped again next time.
.
A Big Hit Again
Greyville 4th May: The Dean Kannemeyer trained PAPERBACK WRITER was all the rage to win the opener on the poly track on Wednesday afternoon and in what proved to be the faster of the two maiden juvenile events over 1400m he did the business. Backed all the way in to 9/10 from 33/10, the son of Var was soon at the head of affairs. He kept up a healthy gallop throughout and although the very green second favourite QEYAADAH was running on strongly late, he went on to score comfortably by a length and three quarters.
There were three races run over 1400m in total and fastest of all was BROWN SUGAR when winning the MR84 Handicap. On leaving the stalls it was VICTORY TAKEOVER who somewhat predictably set the pace whilst Gavin Van Zyl’s charge raced close up in second. She took up the running coming off the bend and although the pacemaker kept on determinedly in the straight to hold second position, she won with authority by a length and three quarters.
Quickest home in the three 1200m events was ROY’S MARCIANO in the MR70 Handicap. Always handy, the 15/2 shot ran on stoutly in the straight and in a race where only a length separated the first four home, he got the verdict over the ill-fated LANCAT by a neck. The runner up broke down after passing the post and was Euthanased on humane grounds.
Titbits
Backed as if unbeatable (11/10 into 1/3), DAWN CALLING won the girl’s division of the maiden juvenile plate over 1400m going away by five and a half. When interviewed after the race trainer Duncan Howells said that Dawn Calling had been showing some phenomenal work at home.
According to my clock LAST TIGER broke the course record when winning the MR94 Handicap over 1600m.
.
Bang On Target
Vaal 5th May: They again raced on the outside track on Thursday where the fastest of five 1400m events on my clock was the MR68 Handicap won by the uneasy favourite MUSICAL MAN. Allowed to ease out to 5/2 from 16/10 at the track, Barend Botes’ charge was soon up handy. He was ridden to lead shortly after passing the 200m marker and comfortably accounted for the rank outsider of the twelve horse party MENDOZA’S MELODY by two and a half.
Two of the remaining four races were run over 1600m quickest home in these was KINGS ARCHER when winning the bill topping MR83 Handicap. Just three and a half lengths covered all 400m from home and finishing best of all he got up late to beat the returning to form EL MAESTRO by three quarters. Third placed HAWAIIAN SUN also ran on well from off the pace in this race.
Race four on the card was a maiden plate over 1400m and here we saw a nice performance from the 2yo in open company HIDEAWAY. Making his debut here against what has to be said looked to be a very moderate bunch, the son of Starcraft made all. He was just a half-length to the good going through the 400m and cruised clear at the business end of the race to score by four and a quarter.
Titbits
The progressive 3yo FIDELIO completed a hat-trick when winning the MR80 Handicap over 1000m going away.
.
Top speedratings for this weekend include:-
Fairview (fri)
Race 1: (5) Killala 14
Race 2: (7) Alpha Girl 20 (NAP*)
Race 3: (2) Lego House 11
Race 4: (1) Aspen Fire 12
Race 5: (7) Fashion Scout 68
Race 6: (10) The Stones 50 (EW)
Race 7: (1) Gogetthesheriff 74
Race 8: (13) Refrain 43
Greyville (fri)
Race 1: (4) Eden Gardens Glitz 6
Race 2: (2) Highway Eightyfive 8
Race 3: (8) Wandie’s 48
Race 4: (10) Variety Romp 53
Race 5: (8) What A Poet 50
Race 6: (2) Big King 55
Race 7: (3) Le Monde 13
Turffontein (sat)
Race 1: (1) Time To Be Great 20
Race 2: (2) Cry Of the Toreador 21
Race 3: (3) Relish 25
Race 4: (1) Rain In Africa 12 (NAP*)
Race 5: (1) Aventurine 15 (nb)
Race 6: (1) Sheet Weaver 13
Race 7: (2) Night On The Hill 11
Race 8: (14) Favour’s Pride 20
Kenilworth (sat)
Race 1: (3) Dark Force 4
Race 2: (4) China Pearl 14
Race 3: (4) Oli Miranda 20
Race 4: (11) Gypsy Beauty 21
Race 5: (1) Tevez 91 (NAP)
Race 6: (5) Sea Glass 61
Race 7: (5) Arctic Teon 12
Race 8: (16) Caprice Des Dieux 46
Fairview (sun)
Race 1: (1) Sun Power 22 (NAP**)
Race 2: (9) Maverick Girl 12
Race 3: (3) O Tamara 25
Race 4: (1) Blizzard Belle 73
Race 5: (1) Kirkby Ninja 37
Race 6: (13) Love Everlasting 61
Race 7: (2) Oomph 40 (nb)
Race 8: (4) Happy Lion 68
Race 9: (15) Fire Horse 50 (EW)
.
Top rated winners last week included
Riverine Forest won 10/1
Kumiko won 11/2
Starflash won 5/2
Al Wahed won 22/10
Announcing Rain won 6/10
Catherineofaragon won 19/20
Red Chesnut Road won 13/20
Roy’s Roll’s Royce won 5/10
.
Notebook:-
Dawn Calling (D Howells, KZN)
Red Chesnut Road (R Hill, KZN)
Zaakhira (M De Kock, Gauteng)
.
FASTEST TIMES
The number of races run over each distance is shown in brackets
*Denotes – Times taken by Clockwatcher
Scottsville (inside) 1st May
Penetrometer 25 – Going G/Soft
1000m (1) She’s A Fortress 57,15
1100m (3) Captain Alfredo 61,90
1200m (1) Real Princess 68,52
1400m (2) Roy’s Roll’s Royce 85,72
1950m (2) Fashion Dancer 122,67
Fairview (poly) 2nd May
Going Standard
1000m (1) Bonfire Heart 57,44
1200m (3) Typhoon Tess 70,20
1300m (1) Quantity 76,45
1600m (2) Naval Intelligence 95,01
1900m (2) Mulaazem 115,32
Vaal (outside) 3rd May
Penetrometer 20 – Going Good
1000m (1) Announcing Rain 57,15
1200m (5) Zortziko 69,41
1400m (1) Bateleur Again 83,86
1600m (1) Flying Silver 95,39
Greyville (poly) 4th May
Going Standard
1200m (3) Roy’s Marciano 69,62
1400m (3) Brown Sugar 82,24
1600m (2) Last Tiger 93,10
Vaal (outside) 5th May
Penetrometer 20 – Going Good
1000m (1) Fidelio 56,67
1200m (1) Invincible Flame 71,41
1400m (5) Musical Man 82,08*
1600m (2) Kings Archer 94,31
