Three Days Later
Fairview 4th July: Three of the eight races on the poly track on Monday were run over 1300m and stopping the clock in the fastest time amongst these was DRAGON LI in the novice plate. The focus of good outside support (25/1 into 12’s) Grant Paddock’s charge was always in touch with the leaders. He ran on strongly in the short home straight and with the rest well beaten he got up 60m from home to deny the strongly fancied favourite ROMAN CALAMITY.
The faster of the two 1000m races on the card was the bill topping MR80 Handicap won by the Corne Spies trained SCANDAL. An eye catching runner up on turf just three days earlier, the poorly drawn daughter of Muhtafal raced in midfield during the early part of the race. She cut through the field like a knife in the straight and eased late won by a length and a quarter after striking the front 100m out.
They also ran two races over 1600m and quickest home here was BRAVE VISION when registering his third career victory in the MR72 Handicap. Always handy, George Uren’s charge was ridden to lead 100m from home and won comfortably by a half. Third placed LAWS OF SUCCESSION ran on well from the rear and was finishing best of all.
Titbits
A good second on debut just three days earlier, OKLAHOMA SKY won the maiden plate over 1000m with some in hand.
.
Four For Grant
Kenilworth 5th July: The going was initially posted as good in Cape Town on Tuesday, but with rain falling throughout the afternoon that more than likely changed. A maiden juvenile plate over 1400m got proceedings underway and here a major upset was to be had when the 33/1 shot AMATORI thwarted the gamble on ROCK ON WOOD. Unable to get within 7,75 lengths of a winner in her three previous outings, the daughter of SAIL FROM SEATTLE led throughout. She had to work hard to hold off the determined challenge of the money horse at the business end of the race, but answering every call from Grant Van Niekerk, she held on by a neck.
By far the faster of the two 1800m events on the scheduled eight race program was the MR79 Handicap won by Amatori’s stable companion PRINCE OF EDEN. Backed into favouritism at the track (6/1 into 7/2), Mike Bass’ charge was soon up handy. He took up the running as they approached the 300m marker and after fending off the challenge of the regular place getter WAITING FOR RAIN, he won comfortably by two and a quarter.
The faster of the two maiden events over 1200m was that for the juveniles in which we saw a smart performance from the newcomer CAPE QUARTER. Freely available at 25/1 on the off, Vaughan Marshall’s charge sat in midfield during the early part of the race. He quickened well when asked for his effort and beat the running on EDICT OF NANTES by three quarters.
Due to the deteriorating weather conditions and poor visibility the last two races were abandoned.
Titbits
Four of the six races that were run were won by jockey Grant Van Niekerk.
The 4yo OVAR won the bill topping MR90 Handicap going away by a length and a half.
Gambles Landed
Scottsville 6th July: The newcomer AFRICA RISING was all the rage to win the opening maiden juvenile plate in Pietermaritzburg on Wednesday and the son of Visionaire didn’t let down his supporters. Backed into 2/1 from 7’s at the track, Sean Tarry’s charge raced in midfield during the early part of the race. He moved up to challenge ROCK OF AFRICA passing the 200m pole and after a thrilling tussle he got the verdict by three quarters.
The followers of the Sean Tarry stable also got the money when WANDIE’S (14/1 into 5/2) landed a gamble in the fastest of the three 1600m races, a MR70 Handicap. Soon nicely positioned in fifth, the daughter of Dynasty was always poised to strike. She did so early in the straight and kept on strongly in the latter stages of the race to beat the running on OFF RAMP by two. These were Sean’s only two runners at the meeting.
The easiest victory on the nine race program was recorded by ANIME when winning the maiden plate over 1000m. Soon up handy, Dennis Drier’s charge took up the running as they approached the 200m marker and drew clear easily in the closing stages of the race to beat the running on JUST VOGUE by four and three quarters.
Titbits
The 3yo BANNER HILL made it three from seven when winning the MR80 Handicap over 2400m a little bit easier than the official winning margin of a neck would suggest.
.
In Full Bloom
Vaal 7th July: They raced on the new classic track at the Vaal on Thursday where the faster of the two 1200m races was the MR68 Handicap won by the 3yo NOAH’S ARK. The Ideal World gelding got away well when the gates opened and was soon sharing the lead. He ran on strongly at the business end of the race and went on to score by three quarters from PISTOLERO. The runner up had raced in the rear and was gaining quickly at the finish.
The faster of the two 1600m events was the MR76 Handicap in which CAPE MARIGOLD registered her fourth career victory. Freely available at 33/1 on the off, Lucky Houdalakis’ charge was content to sit in the backend of midfield during the early part of the race. She quickened well from halfway and under a well-judged ride from Ian Sturgeon, she got up late to deny the front running ELUSIVE SPIRIT.
A MR93 Handicap over 1000m topped the bill and here we saw a very comfortable victory for the top weighted CROWN OF ROSES. Confidently ridden by Andrew Fortune, the Tiger Ridge mare could be found in the rear early on. Once given rein though she ran on best of all, and won going away by a length with some in hand.
Titbits
Progressive SILVER PEG completed a smart hat-trick when winning the MR86 Handicap over 1800m with some in hand.
The 2yo newcomer BONNE VIE cut through the field like a knife when running on from the rear to win the maiden plate over 1450m going away.
.
Top speedratings for this weekend include:-
Fairview (fri)
Race 1: (5) Favour’s Pride 40 (NAP**)
Race 2: (10) Timedtoperfection 18
Race 3: (2) Aspen Fire 12
Race 4: (16) Blue Bay Doll 47
Race 5: (3) Oriental Tiger 66
Race 6: (18) Just Lucky 44
Race 7: (17) Parade Council 61
Race 8: (10) New Orleans Shine 36
Greyville (sat)
Race 1: (6) Zelig 21
Race 2: (2) Intriguing Lady 28
Race 3: (1) Hejira 24
Race 4: (5) Battle In Seattle 51
Race 5: (1) In Other Words 71
Race 6: (1) Deputy Ryder 65
Race 7: (1) Talktothestars 108
Race 8: (2) Vous Et Var 65
Race 9: (2) Easy Street 51
Kenilworth (sat)
Race 1: (2) Cape Horn 17
Race 2: (12) Red Light Girl 18
Race 3: (5) Trippvilia 17
Race 4: (1) Dontknowhy 14
Race 5: (8) Our Jet 82 (EW)
Race 6: (5) Half Moon Hotel 54
Race 7: (8) Ntombe 64
Race 8: (18) Hilaria 47
Turffontein (sun)
Race 1: (14) Tour Of Duty 9
Race 2: (8) Levi Lady 12
Race 3: (9) Takamaka 8
Race 4: (1) Shine Bright 14
Race 5: (10) Like A Boss 67
Race 6: (6) Angelic Appeal 61
Race 7: (9) Secret Angel 40
Race 8: (1) Amber Flash 22
.
Top rated winners last week included
Keep On Flying won 7/1
Viking Castle won 7/1
Tell My Star won 9/2
Princess Ida won 4/1
Banner Hill won 5/2
Drop The Pilot won 14/10
Intisara won 14/10
Babbling Brooke won 1/5
.
Notebook:-
Africa Rising (S Tarry, KZN)
Silver Peg (G Alexander, Gauteng)
.
FASTEST TIMES
The number of races run over each distance is shown in brackets
*Denotes – Times taken by Clockwatcher
Fairview (poly) 4th July
Going Standard
1000m (2) Scandal 56,40
1300m (3) Dragon Li 74,96
1600m (2) Brave Vision 95,40
2200m (1) Matador In Red 136,25
Kenilworth (old) 5th July
Penetrometer 23 – Going Good
1000m (1) Ovar 58,72
1200m (2) Cape Quarter 73,52
1400m (1) Amatori 91,92
1800m (2) Prince Of Eden 115,33
Scottsville (inside) 6th July
Penetrometer 22 – Going Good
1000m (1) Anime 57,27
1200m (3) Africa Rising 69,24
1400m (1) Fellow Traveller 85,10
1600m (3) Wandie’s 94,44
2400m (1) Banner Hill 151,52
Vaal (classic) 7th July
Penetrometer 20 – Going Good
1000m (1) Crown Of Roses 56,65
1200m (2) Noah’s Ark 69,99
1450m (1) Bonne Vie 88,67
1600m (2) Cape Marigold 96,53
1800m (1) Silver Peg 108,62
2000m (1) Keep On Flying 124,11
