Wind Assisted
Fairview 26th August: They raced on the turf on Friday where victory in the fastest of the two 1200m races, a MR76 Handicap, went to FAVOUR’S PRIDE. Easy to back at 9/1 on the off, the daughter of Harry Hall was soon positioned close to the speed. She put her head in front going through the 200m and comfortably accounted for the 28/10 favourite JETS-A-BLAZING by two and a quarter.
The only other distance to stage more than one race was 1600m and quickest home in these two events was FOREST LAWN when opening her account in the maiden plate. Sent off a strong favourite at 16/10, Justin Snaith’s charge was always well positioned to strike. She did so as they approached the 200m marker and won well by a length and three quarters from the running on LOOKAMEE.
There was a 35k tailwind on the afternoon and so it was no surprise to see a good time posted by JO MALONE when winning the non-black type Speedsters Stakes over 1000m. The 10/1 shot got away well when the gates opened and taken straight to the front by Chase Maujean led throughout. She kept on strongly at the business end of the race and won without any anxious moments from the always handy HARRY LIME by two and a half.
Titbits
The Silvano gelding SCENT completed a smart double when running on from midfield to win the MR66 Handicap over 2400m.
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Elegant Swimmer
Turffontein 27th August: Stopping the clock in the fastest of the three 1450m events at the inner track on Saturday was BELENOS when registering his second career victory in the MR80 Handicap. On leaving the stalls it was the nibbled at outsider STREET PARTY who elected to make the running whilst Alec Laird’s charge raced close up in fourth. The second favourite CASHIN was the first to make a move and struck the front 400m out. He kept on determinedly from there onwards and it was only on the nod that Belenos got the verdict.
The faster of the two 1200m races was the bill topping MR86 Handicap won by MIRACLE BUREAU. Just six went to post and Joey Soma’s charge was content to race at the back for most of the journey. LE CLOS made the running and in a race where less than half a length separated the first three home, Miracle Bureau only got up to deny that one in the dying strides.
Backed into favouritism to win the lucky last was DOLPHIN (7/2 into 18/10) and the 4yo son of Trippi didn’t let down his supporters. He got away well when the gates opened and soon up handy raced prominent throughout. He was ridden to lead shortly after passing the 200m pole and with a ton in hand won very cosily by two and a quarter.
Titbits
The 3yo TURN BACK TIME was gaining at the finish when running on strongly from midfield to finish second in the maiden plate for the girls over 1450m.
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Quickening Down The Lane
Kenilworth 27th August: A MR87 Handicap was the feature event in Cape Town on Saturday and in what proved to be the faster of the two 1200m races on the card victory went to the 4yo CUBAN EMERALD. Confidently ridden by apprentice Bantam, the son of Trippi raced in midfield for most of the journey. He quickened best of all when the race began in earnest and won going away by three quarters.
Another to win well on this card was PRIMROSE LANE in the faster of the two 1000m events, a MR68 Handicap. Always top of the boards, the daughter of Gimmethegreenlight was sighted guarding the rear early on. Once given rein though she ran on very nicely, and under a well-judged ride from Grant Van Niekerk she got up late to deny the second favourite HARAKIRI.
A work rider’s maiden plate over 1000m had opened up proceedings and here we saw a very comfortable victory for the Vaughan Marshall trained THE GREAT VICTORY. Always handy, the Great Britain colt put his head in front 150m out and after quickly drawing clear won easing down by a length and a half.
Titbits
LITTLE MO and IMPERIAL GUARD both ran on well from the rear when 1st & 2nd respectively in the MR71 Handicap over 1200m.
SILVER BOUQUET ran on well from the backend of midfield when third in the maiden plate for 3yo fillies over 1400m.
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Answering The Call
Scottsville 28th August: There were eleven races in Pietermaritzburg on Sunday, four of which were run over 1200m. The fastest of these not surprisingly, was the bill topping pinnacle stakes won by the lightly raced 6yo LONDON CALL. Backed into 5/1 second favourite from 8’s at the track, the son of Kahal was soon up handy. He was ridden to lead approaching the 400m marker and comfortably accounted for the running on 40/1 shot PROMISSORY by two and a quarter.
The faster of the two 1400m maiden plates on the card was the boy’s affair won by GREAT VALUE. Freely available at 16/1 on the off, Dennis Drier’s charge was momentarily cramped 1000m out, but despite that still raced handy. He got the better of RAMAAS the second favourite 100m out and kept on strongly below the distance to beat that one by a length.
The only other distance to stage more than one race was 1600m and quickest home here was the veteran ARGYLE BAY when registering his fourth career victory in the MR73 affair. Racing off a mark some 18 points below that of his former best here, the Silvano gelding was always handy. He took up the running at the 200m pole and comfortably accounted for the running on AIR CHIEF MARSHAL by a length and a quarter.
Titbits
Poorly drawn and slow into stride to boot, the 14/1 shot DRESS FOR SUCCESS ran on well from the rear when getting up in the very last stride to win the maiden plate over 1750m.
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Top speedratings for this weekend include:-
Fairview (mon)
Race 1: (4) Shining Through 11
Race 2: (4) Sweetchild O Mine 39
Race 3: (1) Paratus 7
Race 4: (6) Pataudi 54
Race 5: (9) Elegent Gent 44
Race 6: (10) Auto Pilot 57
Race 7: (10) Love Everlasting 63
Race 8: (10) Diamond Dynasty 46
Vaal (tues)
Race 1: (9) Secret Vision 20
Race 2: (1) Rubybay 9
Race 3: (1) Holy Joe 11
Race 4: (10) Jackman 25 (NAP**)
Race 5: (1) Master’s Spirit 69
Race 6: (3) Kostya Zu 46
Race 7: (5) Noah’s Ark 69
Race 8: (15) Sleepinseattle 48
Scottsville (wed)
Race 1: (6) Inyati 20 (NAP*)
Race 2: (8) Jay Jay’s Girl 23
Race 3: (7) Angel Landing 21
Race 4: (4) Monte Christo 64
Race 5: (13) Ramaas 33
Race 6: (7) Miss Tee 47
Race 7: (1) Kapitan 63
Race 8: (14) Air Service 40
Vaal (thur)
Race 1: (1) Vogue’s Wood 12
Race 2: (11) Stairway To Heaven 27
Race 3: (6) Levi Lady 15
Race 4: (12) Buster Posy 40
Race 5: (2) Riverine Forest 27
Race 6: (8) Arpad 57 (EW)
Race 7: (13) Beaufort Sea 5
Race 8: (17) Rose Of Castille 35
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Top rated winners last week included
Polar Secret won 6/1
Lakahal won 33/10
Zeal And Zest won 28/10
Flying Dream won 5/2
Online won 2/1
Forest Lawn won 16/10
Silver Class won 11/10
Refuge won 1/3
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Notebook:-
Primrose Lane (D Hodgson, 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
Fairview (turf) 26th August
Penetrometer 22 – Going Good
Course Variant: 0,44 seconds fast
1000m (1) Jo Malone 55,93
1200m (2) Favour’s Pride 69,30
1400m (1) The Cat 84,04
1600m (2) Forest Lawn 99,36
2000m (1) Acrostar 126,27
2400m (1) Scent 153,84
Turffontein (inner) 27th August
Penetrometer 21 – Going Good
Course Variant: 0,36 fast
1000m (1) Dolphin 57,57
1200m (2) Miracle Bureau 71,58*
1450m (3) Belenos 88,33
1800m (1) Victorious Royal 111,27
2200m (1) Flying Dream 142,26*
2600m (1) Penteliko 169,87*
Kenilworth (old) 27th August
Penetrometer 26 – Going G/Soft
Course Variant: 1,49 slow
1000m (2) Primrose Lane 60,71
1200m (2) Cuban Emerald 74,49
1400m (1) Lady Of The House 89,80
1600m (1) Belle Of Croom 100,53
1800m (1) King Of The Corn 114,62
2400m (1) Captain Splendid 156,79
Scottsville (inside) 28th August
Penetrometer 23 – Good
Course Variant: 0,42 slow
1000m (1) Exclusively Trendy 57,63
1200m (4) London Call 68,20
1400m (2) Great Value 86,64
1600m (2) Argyle Bay 98,07
1750m (1) Dress For Success 110,61
2400m (1) Wealthy 153,30
