Always Close Up
Turffontein 3rd June: Sunday’s action took place on the inner track where victory in the faster of just two sprint races on the card went to the top weight FREDERICO’S DREAM. She got away well when the gates opened and was soon up handy. She ran on strongly in the short home straight and under a well-judged ride from the 4kg claimer Luke Ferraris, she put her head in front 70m from home.
The two 1600m races were both maiden juvenile plates and quickest home here was RUSSIAN BEAT in the boy’s affair. Another to race close to the speed, Sean Tarry’s charge struck the front 250m out and comfortably accounted for the running on DROP KICK by just over a length.
The only other distance on the eight race program to stage more than one race was 1450m and the faster of these two events was once again the boy’s division. IMPERIAL QUEST was sent off a strong favourite to open his account and he didn’t let down his supporters. Well positioned in fifth as they came off the strip, the Silvano gelding ran on strongly over the final 450m, and in what proved to be a real thriller, he only collared the front running THE BARRY BURN close home.
Titbits
Now a winner of three from five, the progressive 3yo THE RISING LEGEND came from the back when winning the MR80 Handicap over 1800m.
Easy For Silvez
Vaal 5th June: They raced on the classic track on Tuesday where four of the afternoon’s eight races were staged over 1600m. The MR78 Handicap was the fastest of these and in a thrilling three way finish victory went to the 3yo INFAMOUS FOX. Easy to back at 8/1 on the off the Foxwedge gelding raced in midfield for most of the journey. He ran on best of all over the final 400m and got up late to deny JIKA (led 180m).
The only other distance to stage more than one race was 1000m where the faster of the two maiden plates was the boy’s division won by MOON WARRIOR. Freely available at 50/1 on the off, Dorrie Sham’s charge also came from midfield. He put his head in front shortly after passing the 300m marker and kept on strongly late to beat the always handy PEARL OF SIBERIA (led 400m) by a length and a quarter.
In terms of distance, the easiest victory on the card was recorded by SILVEZ when getting off the mark in the girl’s division of the maiden 1600m. Positioned on the heels of the leader in what soon became a strung out field, the 8/10 favourite was always poised to strike. She did so going through the 400m and won going away by three and a half.
Titbits
A winner with some in hand, GOA came from the rear when opening her account in the maiden plate over 1000m.
Highlighting The Winners
Scottsville 6th June: The best bet on the card for many in Pietermaritzburg on Wednesday was Sporting Post’s top bet JARDIN in the opening juvenile plate over 1200m. Sent off at the generous odds of 2/1, Vaughan Marshall’s charge was soon positioned close to the speed. He put his head in front 300m out and kept on strongly late to beat the consistent GOOD BUDDY by a half.
Three of the afternoon’s eight races were staged over 1200m and stopping the clock in the fastest time amongst these was ISINGAMOYA in the bill topping MR96 Handicap. Just five went to post and along with the 18/1 outsider of the party TOP FORM, the Muhtafal mare set the pace. She kept on determinedly at the business end of the race and with the rest well beaten she held on by a neck from the running on SCRABBLE.
The faster of the two 1400m events was not surprisingly the MR81 Handicap won by the Sporting Post’s each way value bet TRIPPI’S GIRL. Nibbled at throughout the day into 8/1 from 14’s Glen Kotzen’s charge raced sixth during the early part of the race. She ran on strongly in the straight and won well by three quarters from the poorly drawn CAMPHORATUS.
Titbits
Money didn’t stop coming for SILVER RAISIN prior to the girl’s division of the maiden 1400m, and just as it had suggested, the 3yo daughter of Byword cruised in by five and three quarters.
From The Front
Vaal 7th June: Backed into favouritism for a brief period after opening up at 9/1, the Toby Spies trained BASILIUS duly rewarded his supporters when getting off the mark at the first time of asking in the maiden juvenile plate over 1200m. Taken straight to the front by Jarryd Penny, the son of Potala Palace led throughout. He was always in command and although the very green favourite WHITEHAVEN chased hard, he kept on strongly to score by two and a quarter.
Three of the five remaining races were run over 1000m and quickest home here was REBEL’S IDOL in the MR64 Handicap. A winner of just three from 39 in the Western Cape prior to this outing the Rebel King mare also led throughout. She kept on strongly at the business end of the race and comfortably accounted for ILHA DA VAR by a length and a quarter.
Another to win from the front on this card was the 3yo HUYSSTEEN when landing the MR86 Handicap over 1400m. Briefly headed going through the 400m by the favourite PURPLE DIAMOND, the 3yo son of Hard Spun ran on stoutly after regaining the lead 100m later and although only winning by 0,3 of a length, he did look to have the runner up DANZA held.
Titbits
The heavily supported newcomer LA LUCIA won the opening maiden juvenile plate over 1200m with authority by two and three quarters.
Vintage De Kock
Turffontein 10th June: A very easy winner of his only previous racecourse appearance, the Epaulette colt SOQRAT was heavily supported to win the opening juvenile plate over 1400m and had no problems in landing the odds. The first of five winners on the card for trainer Mike De Kock, Soqrat raced seventh of the eight for most of the journey. He quickened well 600m out, and after taking up the running approaching the 300m pole, won going away by four and a quarter.
There were four races run over 1400m in total and the fastest of these was the pinnacle stakes won by WILL PAYS. Sent off favourite at 47/20, the ultra-consistent 6yo wasn’t the quickest into stride and as a result he raced at the back early on. Once given rein though he quickened well, and in a classic finish he got the verdict by a neck over the improving ZOUAVES.
The Gr3 Jubilee Handicap over 1800m topped the bill and here the well supported 3yo YAKEEN gained his fourth career victory from just six starts. Ridden to lead 300m out, Mike De Kock’s charge was forced to give his all below the distance and only held on by the narrowest of margins from the running on TILBURY FORT.
Titbits
The 3yo MAMBO MODEL won the girl’s division of the maiden 1600m going away by two and three quarters.
Top speedratings for this weekend include:-
Fairview (fri)
Race 1: (1) European Roller 8
Race 2: (1) Perfect Peace 18
Race 3: (4) Libra 48 (EW)
Race 4: (1) Young Hopeful 9
Race 5: (11) Angelus Bell 27
Race 6: (1) Juan Two Three 75 (NAP**)
Race 7: (5) Arcsign 46
Race 8: (11) Come On Inn 31
Race 9: (5) Perfect Tale 28
Greyville (fri)
Race 1: (2) Prince Ponti 13
Race 2: (12) Roy Royale 32
Race 3: (1) Professor Brian 55
Race 4: (10) Lunar Tide 29
Race 5: (9) Eddie Sweat 39
Race 6: (4) Summer Sky 80
Race 7: (11) Wynkelder 102 (EW)
Race 8: (11) Liverpool Lass 49
Race 9: (9) Son Of Silver 31
Turffontein (sat)
Race 1: (11) Whitehaven 14
Race 2: (12) Ulla 7
Race 3: (10) Silken Prince 17
Race 4: (6) Pachanga 7
Race 5: (8) Excalibur’s Return 49
Race 6: (3) Ali Bon Dubai 53
Race 7: (7) Macadamia 28
Race 8: (1) Glider Pilot 71
Race 9: (7) Urgent Fury 61
Race 10: (10) Pretty Popular 27
Kenilworth (sat)
Race 1: (7) Shadowing 14 (NAP**)
Race 2: (10) Winter Five 22
Race 3: (8) Clouded Hill 17
Race 4: (1) Hammie’s Fan 16
Race 5: (10) Potawatomi 26
Race 6: (14) Symphony 47
Race 7: (8) Power Grid 82
Race 8: (15) Sunday Falls 49
Scottsville (sun)
Race 1: (10) Master Thief 14
Race 2: (2) Two Stroke 17
Race 3: (11) Karatage 57
Race 4: (1) American Captain 5
Race 5: (7) Anime 80
Race 6: (4) Schwanky 62
Race 7: (14) Salsa Queen 29 (EW)
Race 8: (3) Waywood 56
Race 9: (1) Holy Flame 8
Top rated winners last week included
Kissmeinmydreams won 13/1
Trippi’s Girl won 8/1
Palace Mystery won 5/1
J J’s Captain won 57/20
Jardin won 2/1
Silver Raisin won 17/10
Imperial Quest won 21/20
Silvez won 8/10
Notebook:-
Huyssteen (M Houdalakis, Gauteng)
Soqrat (M De Kock, Gauteng)
The Rising Legend (G Woodruff, Gauteng)
FASTEST TIMES
The number of races run over each distance is shown in brackets
*Denotes – Times taken by Clockwatcher
Turffontein (inner) 3rd June
Penetrometer 20 – Going Good
Course Variant: 0,02s slow
1000m (1) Frederico’s Dream 57,14
1200m (1) Wild Curve 71,49
1450m (2) Imperial Quest 89,68*
1600m (2) Russian Beat 99,08*
1800m (1) The Rising Legend 111,11
2600m (1) Cool Chardonnay 166,55
Vaal (classic) 5th June
Penetrometer 22 – Going Good
Course Variant: 0,35s fast
1000m (2) Moon Warrior 57,07
1200m (1) Snow In Seattle 69,14
1600m (4) Infamous Fox 95,38
2400m (1) War Legend 149,17
Scottsville (inside) 6th June
Penetrometer 23 – Going Good
Course Variant: 1,21s slow
1000m (1) J J’s Captain 57,17
1200m (3) Isingamoya 68,93
1400m (2) Trippi’s Girl 83,87
1750m (1) Meryl 105,91
1950m (1) Palace Mystery 122,33
Vaal (inside) 7th June
Penetrometer 22 – Going Good
1000m (3) Rebel’s Idol 56,46*
1200m (4) Basilius 69,06*
1400m (1) Huyssteen 81,60*
1700m (1) Lady Val 102,59
Turffontein (stand side) 10th June
Penetrometer 20 – Going Good
Course Variant 0,39s fast
1160m (1) Down To Zero 66,93
1400m (4) Will Pays 83,42
1600m (2) Go Ballistic 99,18
1800m (1) Yakeen 110,32
2400m (1) Arte 156,20
