The Wheel Turns
Turffontein 16th May: They raced on the inner track on Saturday where five of the nine races were run over 1600m. The fastest of these was the bill topping MR76 Handicap won by the Sporting Post’s top bet FIRE WHEEL. Racing off a mark some 16 points lower than that of her former best, the daughter of Black Minnaloushe was always in touch with the leaders. She put her head in front shortly after passing the 300m marker and comfortably accounted for the second favourite WALKING ON AIR (led 400m) by two and three quarters.
In terms of distance the easiest victory on the card was recorded by FRIKKIE when opening his account in the slower of the two 2600m maiden events. Positioned in midfield in what was a race devoid of any real pace, Weiho Marwing’s charge made his move travelling down the strip. He struck the front as they approached the 400m marker and cruised clear in the short home straight to score by six.
Another to win well on this card was NINIVAH in the MR64 Handicap over 1000m. Allowed to ease out to 8/1 from 6’s, in this her first outing since relocating from KZN, Janse Van Vuuren’s charge raced in midfield for most of the journey. Once given rein though she quickened well, and comfortably got the better of the 7/2 favourite PANCHATANTA by a length and a half.
Titbits
Cramped en-route from midfield, MAIN SUNDAY was gaining quickly at the finish when only failing by a short head to land the MR64 Handicap over 1600m.
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Looking For Trouble
Kenilworth 16th May: In Cape Town on Saturday most of the action took place over sprint distances. Indeed, five of the eight races were run over 1000m, and quickest against the clock amongst these was MAYORAL DECREE in the boy’s division of the maiden plate. Soon up handy the uneasy second favourite took up the running 350m out and ran on strongly in the closing stages of the race to win with authority by three and three quarters.
Two of the remaining three races were run over 1600m and fastest against the clock here was SHEER TROUBLE in the bill topping MR99 Handicap. On leaving the stalls it was SURRUPTITIOUS who somewhat predictably set the pace whilst Mike Bass’ charge raced close up in second. Surruptitious rallied gamely after the son of Silvano put his head in front going through the 200m, and in what proved to be a real thriller only the shortest of short heads could separate them at the wire.
The final race on the card was a maiden plate over 1600m and here we saw a very comfortable victory for the 5/2 second favourite GUEST OF HONOUR. Positioned in midfield as the nine runners swung for home, the daughter of Western Winter ran on best of all and won with plenty in hand by three.
Titbits
CANDALEEYAH ran on well from midfield when winning the maiden plate over 1000m going away.
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Sprint Finish
Greyville 17th May: They raced on both surfaces on Sunday where surprisingly the fastest of the three 1600m (turf) events was the maiden plate won by BIG SI. Soon up handy, the 3yo son of Mogok raced prominent throughout. He was ridden to lead as they approached the 100m marker and kept on strongly late to beat the always handy GROOVY NEWS by a neck.
All eyes were on the very well weighted FUTURA in the pinnacle stakes over 1600m (turf) and in what proved to be a very false paced affair the Met winner did get the verdict. There was no real pace throughout and what developed into a 500m sprint, the always handy Futura only got the verdict by a neck.
The listed East Coast Cup over 2000m topped the bill and here we saw a smart performance from the visiting GALLICA ROSE. Freely available at 20/1 on the off (op 12’s), Joey Ramsden’s charge was content to sit in the backend of midfield for most of the journey. She quickened well when the field began to concertina early in the straight and under a well-judged ride from Bernard Fayd’herbe she got up late to beat BILATERAL by three quarters.
Titbits
GOLD BANK came from the rear when winning the twelve runner MR74 Handicap over 1800m.
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Smart Double
Vaal 19th May: Tuesday’s action took place on the inside track where the faster of the two maiden juvenile plates over 1200m was the boy’s affair won by the newcomer BULL VALLEY. Always top of the boards, Dominic Zaki’s charge raced in midfield during the early part of the race. He responded gamely when asked to quicken by Craig Zackey, and won with plenty in hand by two and a half after striking the front 150m from home.
A MR91 Handicap over the same distance topped the bill and in a time marginally slower than that of Bull Valley, his stable companion SHEPARD ONE landed the spoils. Allowed to ease a little on course out to 6/1 from 9/2, the sparingly raced daughter of Toreador was soon prominent. She put her head in front 300m out and although the pacemaker FIRE DANCING kept on strongly, she won well by three quarters.
Five of the remaining six races were run over 1400m and fastest against the clock amongst these was PLATINUM JET. In the rear early, one might have thought that the son of Jet Master’s chance had gone when he was baulked for a run 400m out. Once seeing daylight though, he fairly flew and cruised clear to win by two after striking the front 120m or so from home.
Titbits
SHE’S A DRAGON, NESSPRESSO and MISRISTOCRAT all ran on well from off the pace when 1st, 2nd & 5th respectively in the girl’s division of the maiden juvenile plate over 1200m.
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Tactical Double
Greyville 20th May: Trainer Dean Kannemeyer has been in devastating form since he arrived in Natal and so it was no surprise to see him land the opener (a maiden juvenile plate over 1200m) on the poly track on Wednesday with the even money favourite NEVER SETTLE. Not the quickest into stride, the son of Western Winter raced seventh of the ten early on. Once in the straight though he quickened best of all and won with some in hand after striking the front 100m from home.
Six of the afternoon’s other eight races were run over 1000m and fastest against the clock here was the visiting MOD BARLEY in the MR80 Handicap. Taken straight to the front by Bernard Fayd’Herbe, the Gauteng raider led throughout. Paul Peter’s charge answered every call in the straight and won gamely by a length and a quarter.
The only other race was staged over 1800m and here the combination of Paul Peter and Bernard Fayd’Herbe were again on the mark when MYSTIC EXPRESS registered her fourth career victory. There was no pace on for most of the journey and having raced in the rear Fayd’Herbe cleverly circled runners rounding the final bend. The Mambo In Seattle filly struck the front at the top of the straight and kept on doggedly over the final 400m to score by a half. Hampered 500m out, the well-supported favourite BULLETEER (the runner up) was finishing strongly late on.
Titbits
Despite being hampered at the start, and then baulked 300m out, HERE WE ARE got up from the rear to win the MR70 Handicap over 1000m.
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Top speedratings for this weekend include:-
Fairview (mon)
Race 1: (1) Dynamic Speed 25
Race 2: (7) Pretty Flamingo 15
Race 3: (3) Jay Belle 11
Race 4: (9) Rare Stone 68
Race 5: (1) Gogetthesheriff 75
Race 6: (4) Taarish 82
Race 7: (1) Saint Angelique 45 (EW)
Race 8: (7) Ruby Sunset 48
Turffontein (sat)
Race 1: (1) Tempest 5
Race 2: (3) Cervantes 17
Race 3: (2) Outa My Way 18
Race 4: (1) Arabian Beat 54 (NAP***)
Race 5: (1) Vulcan 73
Race 6: (14) Excalivar 51
Race 7: (13) Klondike River 66
Race 8: (4) Night Editor 41
Race 9: (5) Sambo Serenade 38
Race 10: (15) Tullynally 46
Greyville (sat)
Race 1: (6) Grey’s A Rockin 2
Race 2: (2) Lady Lago 8
Race 3: (1) Let It Rip 6 (nb)
Race 4: (5) Kilarney House 20
Race 5: (11) Raaees 93
Race 6: (1) Majmu 81 (NAP**)
Race 7: (16) Siren’s Call 83
Race 8: (4) Shellys Connection 50
Race 9: (10) Sebueng 56
Race 10: (8) Pimpernel 55
Kenilworth (sun)
Race 1: (1) Glamour Gal 13
Race 2: (3) Nordic Wind 19
Race 3: (5) Prince Of Thieves 17
Race 4: (6) Black Kitten 73
Race 5: (3) Moonsong Magic 65
Race 6: (1) Liquid Mercury 55
Race 7: (1) Lanner Falcon 76
Race 8: (4) Sir Henry 12
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Scottsville 23rd May
5 Top Rated Winners
Billy Boy Blues won 40/1
Entisaar won 7/1
Fade To Grey won 5/1
Captain Of All won 7/2
Seventh Plain won 22/10
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Notebook:-
Bull Valley (D Zaki, Gauteng)
Fire Wheel (S Tarry, Gauteng)
Futura (J Snaith, KZN)
Never Settle (D Kannemeyer, KZN)
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FASTEST TIMES
The number of races run over each distance is shown in brackets
*Denotes – Times taken by Clockwatcher
Turffontein (inner) 16th May
Penetrometer 22 – Going Good
1000m (1) Ninivah 58,94
1600m (5) Fire Wheel 97,77
2200m (1) Rockin The Daisies 140,05
2600m (2) Uletide 169,42
Kenilworth (new) 16th May
Penetrometer 22 – Going Good
1000m (5) Mayoral Decree 59,10
1200m (1) Aliysa’s Prize 73,38
1600m (2) Sheer Trouble 100,94
Greyville (turf/poly) 17th May
Turf Good – Poly Standard
1000m (1) Portelinha Samba 58,68P
1200m (1) Out My Way70,36P
1600m (3) Big Si 101,40T
1800m (1) Gold Bank 108,41P
2000m (2) Ever Dear 121,14T
Vaal (inside) 19th May
Penetrometer 20 – Going Good
1200m (3) Bull Valley 70,14
1400m (5) Platinum Jet 82,20
2000m (1) Arabian World 123,34
Greyville (poly) 20th May
Going Standard
1000m (6) Mod Barley 57,62
1200m (1) Never Settle 70,68
1800m (1) Mystic Express 111,50
