Plenty Of Chaos
Kenilworth 7th June: Favourite backers got off to a nice start in Cape Town on Sunday when the heavily supported SCHACHAR (2/1 into 7/10) did the business in the opening maiden juvenile plate over 1600m. Soon up handy, the son of Kahal was ridden to lead going through the 400m and comfortably accounted for IMPERIAL DANCER by two and three quarters.
Three of the afternoon’s eight races were run over 1000m and the fastest of these was the MR96 Handicap won by VINCENTE. Allowed to drift right out to 16/1 from 7’s at the track, Vaughan Marshall’s charge raced in the rear early on. The field was always tightly bunched though, and running on best of all he got up late to beat the rank outsider of the seven horse party OLYMPIAN (7/1 out to 20/1) by a half.
There were also three races run over 1200m and the fastest of these was the Gr3 Cape Of Good Hope Nursery won by CAPTAIN CHAOS. Freely available at 9/1 on the off, Ronnie Sheehan’s charge took up the running 150m out and drew clear easily in the closing stages of the race to score by three and a half.
The 2yo girls contested the Gr3 Kenilworth Fillies Nursery and in a time just two one hundredth’s of a second slower than that of Captain Chaos victory here went to PETALA. Always handy in what was a wide open affair going through the 200m, Petala ran on stoutly below the distance to get the better of SUBLIME LADY by a half.
Titbits
The 2yo RED REX ran on well from midfield when winning the maiden plate over 1000m going away.
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Gutsy Frontrunner
Vaal 9th June: They raced on the sand on Tuesday where the first of the customary easy victories on the card was recorded by VICTORY SILKS in the maiden plate over 1000m. Sent off a rather uneasy favourite at 2/1, Roy Magner’s charge was soon in command of a one and a quarter length advantage. He kept up a healthy gallop throughout and drew clear with ease when given rein to score by five and a half.
The biggest winning margin on the card was recorded by MADAM ALEXIS when opening her account in the maiden plate over 1450m. Another to make all, the daughter of Dynasty asserted her authority going through the 400m and came home lonely by six and a half.
Three of the afternoon’s eight races were run over 1200m and quickest home amongst these was YUKON GOLD when winning the MR80 Handicap over 1200m. Available at 33/1 at one stage during the morning, the top weight raced a handy sixth for most of the journey. He quickened best of all over the final 300m and in what proved to be a real thriller he got the better of WISHFUL HEART (led 400m) close home.
The 4yo LAVENDER LANDSCAPE showed real guts and determination when making virtually all to win in handicap company over the course and distance last time out, and he repeated the dose in the conditions plate over 1600m here. Two lengths clear for most of the trip, Dominic Zaki’s charge fought off a determined challenge from the well-supported favourite THE ROYAL RUMBA over the final 100m to score by a neck.
Titbits
The newcomer LENA LAPTEV beat the boys in the maiden juvenile plate over 1000m with some in hand by a length and a quarter.
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Promising First Win
Scottsville 10th June: The faster of the two 1400m events in Pietermaritzburg on Wednesday was the opening maiden juvenile plate won by NEPHRITE. Sent off a joint favourite at 2/1, the Gauteng raider was always handy. He was ridden to lead as they approached the 200m marker and won well by two and a quarter from the newcomer RAP ATTACK.
Three of the afternoon’s eight races were run over 1200m and quickest home amongst these was DON’T MENTION IT in the MR70 apprentice handicap. Up with the speed throughout in what was always a very open race, the daughter of Tobe Or Nottobe only got the verdict by the narrowest of margins.
A MR86 Handicap topped the bill and in what proved to be the faster of the two 1600m events victory here went to the heavily supported DYNASTIC. Allowed to flirt with 11/20 (sent off 17/20) for a while after opening up at 14/10, Dean Kannemeyer’s charge raced fifth for most of the journey. He was asked to take up the running shortly after passing the 300m marker and kept on to score by a half from the running on NITRO NORI.
In terms of distance the easiest victory on the card was recorded by CORKER STALKER in the maiden plate over 1200m. Ridden by replacement rider Anthony Delpech, the 3yo son of Albert Hall was always handy. He took command going through the 200m and won well by two and a half.
Titbits
The unfancied newcomer MARK MY CARD won the maiden plate over 1200m going away by a length.
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Heading For Durban
Vaal 11th June: Thursday’s action took place on the inner track where unusually four of the nine races were run over 2000m. The fastest of these was the MR85 Handicap won by EVA TIBBS. Sent off second in the betting market at 5/1, Sean Tarry’s charge was always handy. She put her head in front going through the 100m and kept on strongly late to beat the running on MISS RAMBO by a neck.
A pinnacle stakes over 2400m topped the bill and here we saw a smart performance from the recent Gold Bowl runner up LIONS EMBLEM. Confidently ridden by Piere Strydom, the top weight raced in midfield for most of the journey. He quickened well when asked for his effort in the home straight and only having to be pushed out in the latter stages he beat the front running SAVAGE WIND a lot more easily than the official winning margin of 0,6 lengths would suggest. Lions Emblem will now head to Durban for a crack at the countries’ top distance races.
The faster of the two MR68 Handicaps over 1000m was the second division won by the improving RAFA. The 3yo son of Parade Leader got away well when the gates opened and was soon up handy. He was ridden to lead as they approached the 200m marker and drew clear easily in the closing stages of the race to beat the well supported even money favourite CATALUGA by three and a quarter.
Titbits
KALAHARI QUEEN came from the rear when winning the girl’s division of the maiden 1200m going away by four.
Slow into stride and then continually baulked for a run from the 400m pole, ZAVARONI ran on strongly late when a two length third in the maiden plate over 2000m.
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Top speedratings for this weekend include:-
Fairview (fri)
Race 1: (2) Hera 9
Race 2: (11) Roman Garrison 12
Race 3: (7) Shake And Bake 50
Race 4: (2) Vauclair 74
Race 5: (5) Peregrine King 47
Race 6: (6) Vanishing Sails 48
Race 7: (7) Money Grubber 68
Race 8: (7) Five Moons 63
Race 9: (12) River Tyne 53
Greyville (fri)
Race 1: (8) Sharp Princess 27
Race 2: (3) Muwaary 33
Race 3: (1) The Lonsdale 18
Race 4: (1) Dark Rose 16 (NAP*)
Race 5: (1) Scots Party 24
Race 6: (1) Acrostar 73
Race 7: (9) Willow Magic 96
Race 8: (11) Melanchete 48
Race 9: (2) Queen Delta 15
Turffontein (sat)
Race 1: (3) Three G 9
Race 2: (1) Ashantee 12
Race 3: (8) Poderosa 30 (NAP**)
Race 4: (13) Roman Calamity 8
Race 5: (1) Fannalies Girl 6
Race 6: (8) Light The Way 72
Race 7: (11) Atso Time 62
Race 8: (5) Platinum Jet 65
Race 9: (17) Flaming Ace 55
Kenilworth (sat)
Race 1: (4) Happy Avenue 7
Race 2: (5) Cavallino 12
Race 3: (6) More Than Grand 14
Race 4: (1) Jam Tart 12
Race 5: (10) Victorious Jay 26
Race 6: (1) Queens Music 45
Race 7: (12) Reportoire 44
Race 8: (10) Beulah 52
Scottsville (sun)
Race 1: (2) Gain Ground 2
Race 2: (8) Richochet Flyer 7
Race 3: (13) Playful Time 16
Race 4: (6) Red Red Ruby 1
Race 5: (14) Glorious Moment 45
Race 6: (16) Emblem Royale 59
Race 7: (2) Vino Veritas 82
Race 8: (1) Hot Ticket 81 (NAP*)
Race 9: (11) Duchess Kate 18
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Top rated winners last week included
S’way won 12/1
Corker Stalker won 6/1
Miracle Rising won 9/2
Caughtinthedeep won 3/1
Nephrite won 2/1
Victory Silks won 2/1
Copper Parade won 1/1
Schachar won 7/10
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Notebook:-
Captain Chaos (R Sheehan, W-Cape)
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FASTEST TIMES
The number of races run over each distance is shown in brackets
*Denotes – Times taken by Clockwatcher
Kenilworth (old) 7th June
Penetrometer 23 – Going Good
1000m (3) Vincente 60,07
1200m (3) Captain Chaos 74,40
1600m (1) Schachar 100,80
2000m (1) Good Grace 129,72
Vaal (sand) 9th June
Going Standard
1000m (2) Lena Laptev 60,11
1200m (3) Yukon Gold 73,94
1450m (1) Madam Alexis 92,70
1600m (2) Lavender Landscape 101,24
Scottsville (inside) 10th June
Penetrometer 21 – Going Good
1200m (3) Don’t Mention It 69,59
1400m (2) Nephrite 83,83
1600m (2) Dynastic 96,26
2400m (1) Noble Star 151,35
Vaal (inside) 11th June
Penetrometer
1000m (2) Rafa 57,30
1200m (2) Caughtinthedeep 70,35
2000m (4) Eva Tibbs 123,66
2400m (1) Lions Emblem 150,08
