Two From Two
Scottsville 4th February: A juvenile plate over 1000m got proceedings underway in Pietermaritzburg on Sunday and here we saw a smart performance from the second favourite VAL-LA-REE. An easy four length winner of her only previous racecourse appearance, the daughter of Var was taken straight to the front by apprentice Dennis Schwarz and led throughout. She was always in command and won going away by three and three quarters.
A MR88 Handicap topped the bill and in what was by far the faster of the two 1950m events we saw a comfortable victory for HEAD HONCHO. Adopting a change of tactics here, Andre Nel’s charge set the pace. He raced two lengths clear for most of the journey and won without any anxious moments by a length and a quarter. Well weighted SONAR ACTIVE caught the eye running on strongly late to fill third position in this race.
The faster of the two maiden plates over 1200m was the boy’s affair in which GOLDEN PHEASANT got off the mark. He got away well when the gates opened and soon up handy raced prominent throughout. He was ridden to lead as they approached the 200m marker and with the rest some five lengths adrift he comfortably accounted for the front running SOCRATES by a length and a quarter.
Titbits
A very easy winner of all three starts since relocating to KZN, REDEEMER won the MR81 Handicap over 1600m going away by six and three quarters.
Sealed With A Kiss
Vaal 6th February: Four of the eight races on the classic track on Tuesday were run over 1000m and finding her form in the fastest of these was KISSABLE in the MR78 Handicap. Racing off a mark some 16 points below that of her earlier best, Paul Matchett’s charge was soon at the head of affairs. She kept on determinedly at the business end of the race and beat the always handy ILLEGAL fair and square.
The only other distance to stage more than one race was 1600m where surprisingly the faster of the two handicaps was the MR63 affair won by SILVER DUCHESS. Nibbled at throughout the day into 67/20 from 20/1, Terry Lowe’s charge raced in midfield for most of the journey. She was ridden to lead shortly after passing the 300m marker and kept on strongly in the closing stages of the race to beat the running on WHITEOUT by a half.
In terms of distance the easiest victory on the card was registered by SAVITAR in the opening work rider’s maiden event over 1000m. Having his first run after being gelded Weiho Marwing’s charge was sporting blinkers for the first time and found good support in the betting market. Soon up handy, Savitar put his head in front 300m out and won well by two and a quarter.
Titbits
TANDAVA fairly flew below the distance when coming from the rear to win the MR86 Handicap over 1000m.
Newcomer MADEMOISELLE won the maiden plate for the girls over 1000m going away by a length and a half.
Chances To Shine
Greyville 7th February: Wednesday’s fare on the poly track was a moderate one as could be seen by the MR73 Handicap being the feature. Just eight went to post and a in time some 2,61 seconds faster than the barrier trial, the well handicapped JE SUIS SILVER registered her fourth career victory. A few lengths off the pace going through the 400m, Tony Rivalland’s charge ran on stoutly in the closing stages of the race and in a classic finish she got up in the very last stride.
The three 1400m races were all qualified maiden plates and in the quickest of these (they were all comparatively slow) the 18/10 favourite PARALLELOGRAM got off the mark. Always handy, the 3yo daughter of Lateral put her head in front 300m out and won comfortably by two and three quarters.
The only other distance to stage more than one race was 1800m where in the slower of the two maiden events the well exposed MUTAWAARY scored a well overdue first success. Another to race handy, Kom Naidoo’s charge took command early in the straight and kept on strongly over the final 400m to keep the running on FIRE SONG at bay.
Titbits
The 3yo LADY LI LAY gained her second win in eleven days over the course and distance when comfortably accounting for her ten rivals in the MR68 Handicap over 2000m.
Rising Fast
Vaal 8th February: The Gavin Van Zyl trained newcomer BOLD EAGLE was all the rage to win the opening maiden juvenile plate over 1000m on the outside track on Thursday and the son of Bold Silvano didn’t let down his supporters. Soon up handy in what was always a wide open affair, Bold Eagle took up the running 400m out and went on to score comfortably from the only filly in the race RUNNING BRAVE.
In terms of prize money a Progress Plate topped the bill and in what proved to be the fastest of the six 1200m events on my clock, we saw an eye catching performance from the once very highly regarded AFRICA RISING. Positioned in midfield when the race began in earnest, Sean Tarry’s charge fairly flew below the distance and got up very late to deny the front running PERA PALACE.
The best bet on the card for many was NAUTIC SPIRIT in the girl’s division of the maiden 1200m and the daughter of Your Song didn’t let down her supporters. Backed into the red at the track, Paul Peter’s charge made all. She was always in command and drew clear easily over the final 300m to score by five and a quarter.
Titbits
Backed into favouritism, the newcomer RIVER RAFTING had the rest well beaten when getting the better of the fancied DANCING QUEEN in the maiden juvenile plate for fillies over 1000m.
Gutsy Dream
Vaal 10th February: The Vaal staged its third meeting in the space of just five days on Thursday, with the action on this occasion taking place on the classic track. Three of the nine races were run over 1500m and stopping the clock in the fastest time amongst these was the well weighted WAITY KATIE in the MR68 Handicap. Racing off a mark some 22 points below that of her earlier best, despite winning last time out, the former Cape Town campaigner was always handy. She ran on strongly at the business end of the race and after a thrilling tussle with the more fancied REDBERRY WOOD she only got the verdict by the narrowest of margins.
The faster of the two 2000m races was the MR76 affair in which the favourite SECRET POTION did the business. Positioned in the rear early on, Geoff Woodruff’s charge was ridden to lead 400m out by Gavin Lerena and just had enough in hand to beat the four timer seeking SUBTLE FORCE (finished best) by a neck.
A MR92 Handicap over 1000m topped the bill and here victory went to the grey FREDERICO’S DREAM. A model of consistency, the Gimmethegreenlight filly raced up with the speed throughout. She ran on strongly over the final 400m and held off a wall of horses by three quarters.
Titbits
GREENWOOD DRIVE came from the back when winning the maiden plate over 2000m going away by three and three quarters.
Top speedratings for this weekend include:-
Fairview (fri)
Race 1: (1) Seattle Splendour 3
Race 2: (7) King Django 58
Race 3: (5) Counting Stars 7
Race 4: (8) Sao Paulo 55
Race 5: (5) Graf Spee 42
Race 6: (1) Cloud Atlas 34
Race 7: (10) Bruce’s Beauty 45
Race 8: (3) Grazia 34
Race 9: (1) Candy Crush 38 (NAP*)
Turffontein (sat)
Race 1: (2) Van Halen 24 (nb)
Race 2: (2) Written 5 (NAP*)
Race 3: (2) Free And Easy 20
Race 4: (4) Corrido 11
Race 5: (5) Pennington Sands 60
Race 6: (5) Inn A Million 51
Race 7: (2) Talktothestars 90
Race 8: (10) She’s Foxy 49
Kenilworth (sat)
Race 1: No Qualifiers
Race 2: (2) Carioca 8
Race 3: (12) Selailai 16 (NAP*)
Race 4: (1) Tally-Ho 12
Race 5: (7) Bridal Party 46
Race 6: (7) Sunshine Lady 34
Race 7: (11) Wind River 48
Race 8: (13) Trojan Quest 45
Scottsville (sun)
Race 1: (12) Special Force 11
Race 2: (8) To Woo 14
Race 3: (6) Constantine 55
Race 4: (4) Elusive Wolf 33
Race 5: (6) Free State 75
Race 6: (17) Miss Brody 36
Race 7: (6) Red Chesnut Road 102 (NAP**)
Race 8: (2) O’reilly 21
Top rated winners last week included
Stopthinkingofme won 6/1
Head Honcho won 9/2
Golden Shamrock won 61/20
Destiny Duchess won 47/20
Val-La-Ree won 2/1
Mighty Valdie won 15/10
Nautic Spirit won 3/4
Golden Pheasant won 13/20
Notebook:-
Africa Rising (S Tarry, Gauteng)
Mademoiselle (JAJ v Vuuren, Gauteng)
Val-La-Ree (D Campbell, KZN)
FASTEST TIMES
The number of races run over each distance is shown in brackets
*Denotes – Times taken by Clockwatcher
Scottsville (inside) 4th February
Penetrometer 29 – Going Soft
Course Variant: 0,39s slow
1000m (2) London Knight 57,41
1200m (2) Golden Pheasant 69,86
1600m (1) Redeemer 96,17
1950m (2) Head Honcho 120,23
2400m (1) Malartic 153,76
Vaal (classic) 6th February
Penetrometer 21 – Going Good
Course Variant: 0,48s fast
1000m (4) Kissable 56,16
1200m (1) Zouaves 67,90*
1600m (2) Silver Duchess 96,04
1800m (1) West Coast Warrior 107,82
Greyville (poly) 7th February
Going Standard
Course Variant: 0,59s fast
1000m (2) Je Suis Silver 57,40
1200m (1) Putchini 69,20
1400m (3) Parallelogram 83,30
1600m (1) Big Si 95,10
1800m (2) Secret Service 109,30
2000m (1) Lady Li Lay 122,60
Vaal (outside) 8th February
Penetrometer 26 – Going G/Soft
1000m (2) Bold Eagle 58,83
1200m (6) Shortstop 69,81
1400m (1) Blazing Winter 82,91
Vaal (classic) 10th February
Penetrometer 22 – Going Good
Course Variant: 0,23s fast
1000m (1) Frederico’s Dream 56,07
1400m (1) Captain Aldo 82,47
1500m (3) Waity Katie 89,82
1600m (2) Noble Secret 95,67
2000m (2) Secret Potion 122,67
