Rain Or Shine
Kenilworth 13th June: The going was good in Cape Town on Saturday where we saw a comfortable victory in the 1000m maiden plate for BOOMTOWN BELTER. Sent off a joint second favourite at 9/2, the daughter of King’s Apostle was always handy. She was ridden to lead as they approached the 200m marker and won well from the running on ENTRECHAT by a length and three quarters.
Two of the eight races were run over 2000m and the fastest of these was the MR96 Handicap won by FRIENDLY TIBBS. On leaving the stalls it was SURRUPTITIOUS who somewhat predictably set the pace whilst Piet Steyn’s charge sat close up in third. He put his head in front shortly after passing the 200m pole and won comfortably from the running on PAOLO by three quarters.
The faster of the two maiden juvenile plates over 1200m was the boy’s affair won narrowly by CUBAN EMERALD. Always handy, the well supported second favourite (14/1 into 4/1) ran on strongly at the business end of the race and got the verdict in a three way finish by a short head.
A pinnacle stakes over 1400m topped the bill and here it was nice to see the ultra-consistent veteran CASTLETHORPE register his ninth career victory. Usually one to run on stoutly from off the pace, Mike Bass’ 7yo was always in touch with the leaders here. He was produced with his usual strong finish over the final 300m and in a race where just a length and a quarter separated the first four home, he won by a neck from WAITING FOR RAIN. The runner up came from the rear and was finishing best of all.
Titbits
The 3yo THREE BALLOONS came from the rear when comfortably opening his account in the maiden plate over 2000m.
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Dan’s The Man
Turffontein 16th June: They raced on the old stand side track on Tuesday afternoon where we saw a smart performance from WARGAMES in the fastest of the three 1600m races. Backed into favouritism to win this maiden event (3/1 into 2/1), the son of Silvano quickly overcame a wide draw and raced handy. He put his head in front early in the home straight and won with authority by five and three quarters.
There were three races run over 1400m and fastest against the clock here was AMBER ORCHID in the pinnacle stakes. She commenced battle with the well-supported FEATHERFOOT (12/1 into 11/2) 300m out and with the rest well beaten Sean Tarry’s charge won a thrilling tussle by a neck.
Race three on the card was a fillies Juvenile Plate over 1400m and here a bit of an upset was to be had when the 1/3 favourite MADAME DUBOIS was beaten. A two and a quarter length third in the Gr1 Allan Robertson over 1200m at Scottsville last time out, the daughter of Count Dubois made the first move after racing handy and struck the front 450m out. The well-supported second favourite NEGROAMARO quickened very nicely at that point though, and won well by two after she in turn put her head in front 260m or so later.
DOING IT FOR DAN was sent off a strong favourite to win the pinnacle stakes over 1100m and he didn’t let down his supporters. He got away well when the gates opened and nicely positioned in second was always poised to strike. He did so going through the 200m and eased down late, he comfortably accounted for the running on WHITELINE FEVER by a length and a quarter.
Titbits
Sent off as the lesser fancied of Sean Tarry’s three runners (the first three in the betting) MALAK EL MOOLOOK was eased late when winning the boy’s division of the maiden juvenile plate over 1400m.
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Sparkling Princess
Scottsville 17th June: A maiden juvenile plate over 1200m got proceedings underway on Wednesday and here we saw a comfortable victory for the newcomer DRAGON FLAME. Nibbled at throughout the morning into 14/1 from 33’s, Glen Kotzen’s charge led throughout. He kept on strongly at the business end of the race and despite losing a shoe won well by a length and a half.
There were three maiden juvenile plates run over 1200m in total and the fastest of these was the third division won by TRINI’S COLATERAL. Freely available at 9/1 on the off, the daughter of Lateral raced in midfield early on. She made her move passing halfway and after striking the front 400m out, she cruised clear in the latter stages of the race to score by six.
The faster of the two 1000m maiden plates was the boy’s affair won by FRISKET. Making only his second racecourse appearance here, Michael Roberts’ charge was a little slow into stride. Despite that though he was soon up handy, and won well by a length and a quarter after taking up the running 220m or so from home.
A pinnacle stakes over 1100m topped the bill and here we saw a smart performance from the 3yo REAL PRINCESS. She raced in the rear for most of the journey, but the pace was a steady one and the twelve runners were always very tightly bunched. She quickened best of all from halfway and won going away by three and three quarters after putting her head in front 250m out.
Titbits
The uneasy favourite POLAR TRIP cruised clear below the distance when opening her account in the maiden 1000m very easily by six and three quarters.
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C&D 7 From 8
Vaal 18th June: Thursday’s action took place on the sand where not surprisingly the faster of the two 1000m events was the pinnacle stakes won by TRIP TEASE. The best bet on the card for many, the heavily supported 11/20 favourite (op 12/10) led throughout. He was always in command and won without any anxious moments by a length and three quarters. Trip Tease has now won seven of his eight starts over this trip.
The faster of the two 1450m races was the MR68 Handicap won by another heavily supported runner in AMERICAN TIGER. Backed throughout the day into 2/1 favourite from 7’s, Spike Lerena’s charge was soon up handy. She was ridden to lead going through the 400m and although the pacemaker TACITUS kept on determinedly once headed, he won comfortably by a length.
In terms of distance the easiest victory on the card was recorded by AHLAAM in the faster of the two 1600m events, a MR87 Handicap. Swiftly guided over from the widest draw by Johnny Geroudis, the daughter of Asiatic Boy made virtually all. She was always clear and won very well by four.
Titbits
After racing handy BRIGTNUMBERFOUR won the MR68 Handicap over 1000m with authority by three and three quarters.
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Top speedratings for this weekend include:-
Fairview (fri)
Race 1: (3) Nottinghamshire 19
Race 2: (5) Memphis Mafia 16
Race 3: (5) Al-Amadi 12
Race 4: (5) Sun Never Sets 8
Race 5: (1) Copper Parade 98 (NAP**)
Race 6: (4) Current Event 76
Race 7: (13) Ruby Sunset 53
Race 8: (2) Hello Polly 38 (EW)
Turffontein (sat)
Race 1: (13) Youcanrockme 10
Race 2: (8) Hypothermic 15 (NAP*)
Race 3: (5) The Midnight Train 15
Race 4: (8) Woody Glow 16
Race 5: (9) Arkansas 52
Race 6: (11) Bambino 45
Race 7: (9) Pennington Sands 65
Race 8: (7) Frikkie 60
Race 9: (3) Coby 72
Kenilworth (sat)
Race 1: (10) Nyangan 10 (NAP*)
Race 2: (8) Perpetua 67
Race 3: (8) Sublime Lady 50
Race 4: (9) The Stone Thrower 50
Race 5: (3) Moonsong Magic 65
Race 6: (1) Lanner Falcon 79
Race 7: (2) Liquid Mercury 59
Race 8: (1) Readytogorightnow 83
Greyville (sun)
Race 1: (3) Harvest Queen 23
Race 2: (2) Chosen Dash 26
Race 3: (1) Virgo’s Babe 77 (NAP*)
Race 4: (5) Approval Rating 79
Race 5: (7) Swanee River 71
Race 6: (6) His Approval 71
Race 7: (3) No Worries 90
Race 8: (2) Form Up 70
Race 9: (11) Nights On Broadway 66
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Top rated winners last week included
Shamal won 12/1
Roy’s Marciano won 6/1
Castlethorpe won 4/1
Vauclair won 33/10
Polar Trip won 17/10
Beautiful Shay won 16/10
Dusk To Dawn won 11/10
Muwaary won 11/20
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Notebook:-
Negroamaro (JJ Van Vuuren, Gauteng)
Waiting For Rain (E Steyn, 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) 13th June
Penetrometer 23 – Going Good
1000m (1) Boomtown Belter 61,85*
1200m (2) Cuban Emerald 72,60
1400m (2) Castlethorpe 86,20
1600m (1) Just Rock ‘n Roll 102,02
2000m (2) Friendly Tibbs 127,14
Turffontein (old) 16th June
Penetrometer 20 – Going Good
1100m (1) Doing It For Dan 63,16
1400m (3) Amber Orchid 86,17
1600m (3) Wargames 96,85
2450m (1) Dusk To Dawn 157,10
Scottsville (inside) 17th June
Penetrometer 22 – Going Good
1000m (2) Frisket 60,11
1100m (1) Real Princess 64,07
1200m (3) Trini’s Colateral 71,86
1600m (1) I See Thunder 97,53
1950m (1) Sun On Africa 118,77
Vaal (sand) 18th June
Going Standard
1000m (2) Trip Tease 58,44
1200m (1) Beautiful Shay 75,97
1450m (2) American Tiger 92,92
1600m (2) Ahlaam 101,54
1800m (1) Colonel Rockjaw 113,23
