Friendless
Clairwood 6th February: The easiest victory in the maiden ranks at the garden course on Sunday was undoubtedly that of the uneasy second favourite ICE AXE (45) who came home smoking in the 1450m event. Allowed to ease out to 7/2 from 28/10 at the track, the newcomer was always in touch with the leaders. He quickened well at the top of the long home straight and after striking the front at 200m marker he easily drew clear. Ice Axe won well and is clearly one to keep tabs on.
An Allowance Plate over 1600m was next up and in what proved to be a real thriller victory here went to the top weight JO PIPER (82). There was no pace on during the early part of the race and nicely positioned in fifth, Dennis Drier’s charge was always well positioned to strike. She ran on nicely when the race developed into a sprint 500m out, but it was only in the very last stride that she managed to get the better of the very lightly weighted WINGS OVER SKYE.
The non-black type Umthombothi Stakes over 2000m topped the bill and here an upset was to be had when the friendless WHITE HOUSE (69) landed the spoils. Initially priced up at 14/1, Joey Ramsden’s charge was allowed to drift right out to 33/1 at the track. On leaving the stalls it was another drifter ALIF (16/1 out to 33/1) who elected to set the pace, whilst White House as per usual was content to sit towards the back end of midfield. White House quickened best of all in the straight and in what proved to be another thriller, he got up in the very last stride to deny the much more fancied SAFWAN (11/2 into 4/1).
Titbits
Recent maiden winner PHANTOM FIGHTER was running on nicely in the latter stages when finishing third in the MR77 Handicap over 1200m and can still improve plenty.
Pillar To Post
Clairwood 8th February: Race four at the garden course on Tuesday was a maiden event over 1450m and here we saw a nice performance from the newcomer FORGED ANEW (34). Sent off a joint second favourite at 7/2, Mike De Kock’s charge was soon up handy. She quickened nicely when asked for her effort 400m out and only having to be pushed out hands and heels from there onwards, she went on to score very comfortably by a length and a quarter. Forged Anew won well and is clearly much better than this bare form would suggest.
The only favourite on the nine card program to oblige was SILENT NIGHTS (72) who did the business in the MR88 Handicap over 1450m. Beaten just a length and a half by the promising ROMANTIC MOON in her latest outing, Silent Night raced some four lengths off the pace in fifth during the early part of the race. Once given rein though, the daughter of Catbird quickened well and after striking the front 200m from home, she easily drew clear.
The easiest victory on the card was recorded by WISHFUL EYE (70) who gained her second career win from just three starts in the MR86 affair over 1000m. Nibbled at on course to go off at 15/2, Alyson Wright’s charge fairly flew when the gates opened and was soon at the head of affairs. She raced clear throughout and although the pack headed by ROYAL CRUISE chased hard over the final 400m, she went on to score very comfortably by three and a quarter.
Titbits
ELIZA MARIA was running on nicely when taking third in the MR88 Handicap over 1450m and clearly appreciated the longer straight at this circuit.
Lightly raced DADEWETHU had to switch twice in the latter stages of the MR71 affair over 1450m.
Ready For War
Kenilworth 9th February: A Juvenile Plate over 1000m got proceedings underway in the Western Cape on Wednesday and here we saw a smart performance from the Carl Burger trained DARK JOURNEY. Allowed to drift right out to 9/2 from 5/2 at the track as money in the main came for the newcomer FULL REGALIA, Dark Journey was taken straight to the front by Morne Winnaar and led throughout. She was always in command and despite the efforts of the unfancied SPLENDID SUN, who ran on to take second, she went on to score very comfortably by two and a half.
Another to win very comfortably on this card was WINDS OF WAR who kept his unbeaten record in tact in the MR72 Handicap over 1200m. Known to be very temperamental, the ante post board topper was allowed to ease right out to 33/10 joint second favourite at the track. On leaving the stalls it was the rank outsider of the party BLACK BANDANA who elected to make the running whilst Winds Of War raced close up in fourth. He was asked to take up the running shortly after passing halfway and after quickening nicely when the challengers came 200m out, he went on to win going away. A fluent winner of both starts, Winds Of War is clearly one to follow.
The afternoon’s feature event was a MR90 Handicap over 1600m and in what proved to be a real thriller victory here went to favourite MOMBASA. The second of just two market leaders on the card to oblige, Mike Bass’ charge was content to guard the rear for most of the journey. Mombasa was still a number of lengths adrift turning for home and with the pacemaker LASSITER staying on gamely in the straight, it looked at one stage as if she would have to settle for a place. She quickened well over the final 500m though and under a determined ride from the evergreen Glen Hatt, she got up in the dying strides.
Titbits
RIGHT AND READY ran on very well from the back of the thirteen horse field and won the maiden event over 2000m going away.
JEPPE’S REEF had the rest well beaten when a runner up to the rapidly improving COASTING AVALANCHE in the MR77 Handicap over 1800m and would surely have challenged strongly had he been positioned closer to the pace.
Poetry In Motion
Turffontein 9th February: This was the meeting originally scheduled to take place on Tuesday 8th. Promising 2yo’s won the opening two races at the stand side track on Wednesday evening, the most notable of which being the victory of CARLITO BRIGANTE (40) in the Juvenile Plate over 1000m. Out of the pens in a flash, Paul Peter’s charge was soon at the head of affairs. He was always a length and a half to the good and only having to be pushed out hands and heels at the business end of the race, he had no problems in maintaining his advantage. Carlito Brigante has now won both starts with some in hand and is clearly one to keep tabs on.
The stable of St John Gray has been in great form of late and they were again on the mark here when the promising Modus Vivendi filly DANCEWITHTHEDEVIL (79) landed the spoils. Many lengths adrift at the back of the field as the thirteen runners turned for home, Dancewiththedevil looked to have plenty to do. She quickened well when the field began to concertina in the long home straight though, and after striking the front 150m from home, she fairly bolted clear to score by five and a half. Dancewiththedevil has caught the eye running on stoutly in most of her racecourse appearances. She’s now won three from seven and is clearly very useful.
Another totally unphased by the soft underfoot conditions was KAVANAGH (85) who won the Conditions Plate over 1400m a lot more easily than the official margin of a length and a half would suggest. Confidently ridden by Randal Simons, Mike De Kock’s charge was content to amble along at the back of the seven for most of the journey. Once given rein though, he cut through the field under just hands and heels and after coasting to the front 200m out, he was eased down late. Kavanagh was weighted to win, but the manner of his victory was impressive.
Titbits
Racing for the first time since May, the Sean Tarry trained GOURMET GURU ran on stoutly in the latter stages of the MR91 Handicap over 1160m and is sure to come on plenty for the run.
3 from 3
Vaal 10th February: They raced on the turf on Thursday where six of the eleven races were maiden events. The most notable of the six was the performance of CYBER SHOT (37) who opened her account over 1200m. Allowed to ease out to 28/10 from 2/1 at the track as money came in for the costly to follow LET IT BE, Cyber Shot broke well and was soon at the head of affairs. She kept on strongly at the business end of the race and although Mike De Kock’s charge did try her best to make a race of it, she went on to score very comfortably by two and three quarters.
The easiest victory in the maiden ranks though was undoubtedly that of the well tried ASK JACKIE (22), also over 1200m. Another to lead from pillar to post, Lucky Houdalakis’ charge was soon two lengths clear. She quickened well when given more rein 400m out and despite the efforts of the nibbled at WINNING WILD (7/2 into 28/10) on the run to the line, she extended her lead to four and a half.
The afternoon’s feature event was a MR94 Handicap over 1200m and here we saw another smart performance from the unbeaten STING OPERATION (69). Sent off a well supported favourite at 15/20 (opened even money), Charlie Laird’s charge raced close to the speed throughout. She was asked to take up the running shortly after passing the 300m marker and finding extra when challenged at the distance, she went on to beat the useful ONEHUNDREDACREWOOD fair and square by a length. Still improving, Charlie Laird’s charge has now won all three starts and is clearly one to follow.
Titbits
INDIGO AMIGO ran on very well from the rear when getting up in the very last stride to win the MR88 Handicap over 2000m.
Heavily supported FIRST UP (7/1 into 33/10 favourite) looked to be finishing best of all when running on from the rear to take fourth in the MR76 affair over 1400m.
Top speedratings for this weekend include:-
Arlington
Race 1: (3) Shee’s Gone West 15
Race 2: (11) Crimson Tide 2
Race 3: (9) Texas Jack 92
Race 4: (8) Forenzic 51
Race 5: (1) Kaslee 62
Race 6: (2) Bandol 80
Race 7: (4) Another Mistral 52 (EW)
Race 8: (9) Beautiful Blue 47
Turffontein
Race 1: (4) Eldorado 26
Race 2: (1) Bearing Strait 13
Race 3: (1) D G’s Boy 16
Race 4: (9) Quick Single 91
Race 5: (1) Southern Lights 53
Race 6: (3) Swordsmith 79
Race 7: (5) Xilomante 84
Race 8: (10) Gunner Girl 77 (EW)
Race 9: (11) Supreme Lecture 50
Race 10: (9) Subtle Beauty 41
Kenilworth
Race 1: (3) Comtesse Dubois 11 (NAP*)
Race 2: No Qualifiers
Race 3: (6) Santorina 14
Race 4: (2) Fly Emirates 4
Race 5: (3) Varsity Belle 45
Race 6: (1) Captainoftheguard 54
Race 7: (4) Los Colmos 84
Race 8: (2) Croc Valley 90
Race 9: (3) Jet Into The Wind 16
Scottsville
Race 1: (2) Sweet Silvano 22
Race 2: (2) Perizim Joy 19
Race 3: (1) Rover T 23
Race 4: (4) Storm Vanidoso 52
Race 5: (4) Take Over Target 86
Race 6: (3) Lady Magpie 85 (NAP*)
Race 7: (8) Trail O’Gold 80
Race 8: (12) Gandolf The Great 50
Top rated winners last week included:-
Go Me Gal won 10/1
La Negrita won 15/2
Catview won 4/1
Almavira won 18/10
Strike Master won 17/10
Kwaaihoek won 7/10
Novello won 11/20
Allocation won 5/10
Notebook:-
Carlo Brigante (P Peter, Gauteng)
Dancewiththedevil (St John Gray, Gauteng)
Forged Anew (M De Kock, Natal)
Kavanagh (M De Kock, Gauteng)
Sting Operation (C Laird, Gauteng)
Winds Of War (J Ramsden, W-Cape)
FASTEST TIMES
(Shown in brackets is the number of races run in each category)
Clairwood 6th February
Fastest Sprint 1000-1300 (4) Jet Command
Fastest Middle 1400-1800 (2) Ice Axe
Fastest Long 1900-3600 (3) White House
Clairwood 8th February
Fastest Sprint 1000-1300 (3) Wishful Eye
Fastest Middle 1400-1800 (6) Silent Nights
Fastest Long 1900-3600 (0) No Qualifiers
Kenilworth 9th February
Fastest Sprint 1000-1300 (2) Dark Journey
Fastest Middle 1400-1800 (5) Mister Gone
Fastest Long 1900-3600 (1) Right And Ready
Turffontein 9th February
Fastest Sprint 1000-1300 (5) Carlo Brigante
Fastest Middle 1400-1800 (3) Kavanagh
Fastest Long 1900-3600 (0) No Qualifiers
Vaal 10th February
Fastest Sprint 1000-1300 (5) Sting Operation
Fastest Middle 1400-1800 (3) Oil Tycoon
Fastest Long 1900-3600 (3) Indigo Amigo
