Way Clear On Time
Fairview 4th September: Favourite backers got off to a nice start at Friday’s poly track meeting when PATAUDI did the business in the opening maiden plate over 1600m. The best bet on the card for many, the son of Tiger Ridge was soon positioned close to the speed. He put his head in front early in the straight and with the remainder a minimum of five lengths adrift, he beat the all-out SKY FULL OF STARS by a half with plenty in hand.
There were five races run over 1600m in total and by far the fastest of these was the bill topping MR91 Handicap won by the top weight WAY CLEAR. Freely available at 7/1 on the off, Dorrie Sham’s charge headed a very tightly bunched field throughout. He kept on strongly at the business end of the race and just held on by a short head from HE’S A NADOE.
The faster of the two 1000m races was the MR64 Handicap, in which the former Gauteng campaigner LEODOCUS registered his third victory since relocating to the province. Another to race from the front, the Argonaut gelding was allowed a two length advantage for most of the journey. He ran on well over the final 400m and although WAR TRAIL did close that margin to half a length close home, he never looked like being caught.
The biggest winning margin on the card was just the length and a quarter recorded by ROYAL LECTURE in the MR84 Handicap over 1600m. Well supported on course into 9/2 from 7’s, the daughter of Lecture ran on strongly from her handy position and got up late.
Titbits
The 25/1 shot CASSIA was flying late when only beaten a short head in the MR67 Handicap over 1600m.
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Budapest A Hit
Greyville 4th September: Friday evening’s action also took place on the poly surface where the fastest of the five 1200m races was the MR80 Handicap in which the 3yo MAIN SUBMISSION registered his second career victory from just three starts. Nicely positioned in third turning for home, Charlie Laird’s charge struck the front 250m out, and challenged strongly by the always handy THUNDERWOOD below the distance, he only got the verdict by a neck.
The biggest winning margin on the night also came over 1600m when the lightly raced BUDAPEST opened his account. Taken straight to the front by Warren Kennedy, the 3yo son of Lithuanian led throughout. He drew clear with ease off his length and a half advantage turning for home, and despite being eased down late he cruised in by six and three quarters.
The faster of the two 1600m events was the MR82 Handicap in which ROYAL COLOURS registered his seventh career victory. Allowed to ease out to 8/1 from 5’s at the track, the Bezrin gelding raced in the rear for most of the journey. He quickened well at the top of the straight and won fair and square from the once highly regarded SILVA HAWK (led 250m) by a half.
Race six on the card was a novice plate over 1400m and here we saw a smart performance from the Dennis Drier trained THE TRIPSTER. On leaving the stalls it was the strongly fancied Gauteng raider AL AZRAQ who elected to make the running whilst the son of Trippi sat third. He was ridden to lead shortly after passing the 200m marker and although Al Azraq kept on strongly after being headed, he won well by a length and a quarter.
Titbits
After being a little slow into stride, the lightly raced 3yo MUSIC WORLD ran on well from off the pace when getting off the mark in maiden company over 1600m.
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Topsy Turvy
Kenilworth 5th September: The going was good to soft in Cape Town on Saturday where the fastest of the three 1000m races, a fillies and mares novice plate, was won by VICTORIA LAVELLE (7/2 out to 8/1). In a time 0,4 seconds faster than that of the MR96 Handicap, Justin Snaith’s charge was soon positioned up with the speed. She asserted her authority going through the 300m and won well from the uneasy VARUMBA (11/10 out to 18/10jtfav) by three and a quarter.
Even easier a winner over the distance was OLYMPIAN in the aforementioned MR96 Handicap. Soon at the helm, Vaughan Marshall’s charge made all. He stepped on the gas 400m out and won with authority by four.
Surprisingly the faster of the two 1400m races was the maiden plate (the other was an allowance plate) won by the deposed second favourite NABISCO. Allowed to ease out to 5/1 from 3’s at the track, the Western Winter colt was always handy. He put his head in front shortly after passing the 100m pole and won comfortably by a half.
Titbits
DEEP SECRET ran on well from the rear when getting up late to open her account in the maiden plate over 1600m.
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Top speedratings for this weekend include:-
Flamingo Park (mon)
Race 1: (4) Misty Power 13
Race 2: (2) Evercell 35
Race 3: (2) His Approval 43
Race 4: (15) Supreme Leader 26
Race 5: (7) First Answer 30
Race 6: (5) Kalidar 39
Race 7: (9) New Spring 34
Race 8: (5) Jet Swinger 26
Race 9: (3) Devious Tiger 38 (NAP*)
Vaal (tues)
Race 1: (2) Roxy Lady 17
Race 2: (6) Brazuca 48 (NAP**)
Race 3: (1) Honeybush Tea 19
Race 4: (1) Teagan’s Boy 15
Race 5: (3) Antonius Charm 35
Race 6: (7) Suedette 62
Race 7: (12) Dalalaat 40
Race 8: (2) Isphan 84
Race 9: (1) Little Genie 61
Race 10: (1) Matilda’s Daughter 14
Greyville (wed)
Race 1: (13) Swiss Note 11 (EW)
Race 2: (1) Lecture D 8
Race 3: (1) Guilty As Charged 23
Race 4: (6) Alessia 28 (NAP*)
Race 5: (12) West Coast Star 43
Race 6: (4) Military Leader 42
Race 7: (8) Max The Man 51
Race 8: (5) Sutherfeni 45
Vaal (thur)
Race 1: (6) Magic 22 (NAP*)
Race 2: (1) Beaufort Sea 24
Race 3: (1) Carole Bouquet 18
Race 4: (5) Woodrose 39
Race 5: (6) Formal Request 50
Race 6: (4) Rough Justice 54
Race 7: (6) Beautiful Shay 34
Race 8: (6) Perigrine 69
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Top rated winners last week included
Georgeous Gaby won 5/1
Guy From Dubai won 5/1
Whatawondafulworld won 5/1
Commodore Al won 9/2
Runaway Time won 9/2
Grape Vine won 2/1
Roy’s Gul Gul Ha won 16/10
Leodocus won 15/10
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Notebook:-
Pataudi (J Snaith, E-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 (poly) 4th September
Going Standard
1000m (2) Leodocus 57,44
1200m (1) Runaway Time 71,83
1600m (5) Way Clear 96,93
Greyville (poly) 4th September
Going Standard
1200m (5) Main Submission 70,46
1400m (1) The Tripster 82,99
1600m (2) Royal Colours 96,18
Kenilworth (old) 5th September
Penetrometer 25 – G/Soft
1000m (3) Victoria Lavelle 60,09
1200m (1) Sails Set 74,97
1400m (2) Nabisco 88,46
1600m (1) Deep Secret 104,69
1800m (1) Belcourt Castle 113,83
