Who Shot The Sheriff
Fairview 13th May: They raced on the poly track on Friday where the fastest of the three 1300m events was the MR84 Handicap won by CAPTAINS SLIPPER. Sent off third in the betting market at 11/2, Tara Laing’s charge was always handy. He was ridden to lead shortly after passing the 200m marker and kept on strongly below the distance to beat the running on CARDINAL (4/1 into 33/10 fav) by three quarters.
The afternoon’s feature event was the final leg of the East Cape poly challenge over 1600m and here the winner of the first two legs GOGETTHESHERIFF was not surprisingly sent off a strong favourite. As per usual positioned towards the rear early on, Jacque Strydom’s charge fairly flew down the short home straight, but despite making up a good three and a half lengths on the eventual winner JET EXPLORER over the final 400m, that one still had a half-length to spare at the wire.
The faster of the two 1000m maiden plates was the girl’s affair in which LADY WILLOW and FIESTY FIESTA dead-heated. Both raced handy with Fiesty Fiesta making the first move and striking the front 300m out. The newcomer Lady Willow quickened nicely over the final 150m though, and in what proved to be a real thriller she got up to share in the very last stride.
Titbits
The 16/10 favourite HURRICANE SHELLEY won the opening maiden juvenile plate over 1200m with some in hand.
The 3yo ASPEN FIRE ran on well from the rear when runner up in the maiden plate for the girls over 1300m.
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Brave Fighters
Greyville 13th May: The poly track was also the chosen surface for Friday night’s fare where four of the seven races were run over 1600m. The fastest of these was the MR74 Handicap in which the Sean Tarry trained LONELY ARETHEBRAVE registered his fourth career victory. Sent off a well-supported second favourite at 5/2, the 4yo son of Jet Master was a little slow into stride, but despite that was soon in touch with the leaders. He ran on strongly in the short home straight and with the rest comfortably beaten he got the better of the 18/10 favourite DESERT FIGHTER by a half.
The faster of the two maiden juvenile plates over 1600m was the boy’s affair won by the 7/10 favourite STEP UP. Vaughan Marshall’s charge got away well when the gates opened and was soon positioned close to the speed. He put his head in front approaching the 300m pole and with the rest some eight lengths adrift he comfortably accounted for the running on HIGHWAY EIGHTYFIVE by three.
A MR82 Handicap over 1000m topped the bill and here victory went to the Rebel King gelding BIG KING. Always top of the boards, Charlie Laird’s charge raced fifth for most of the journey. He 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 SISTER COSMOS by a length. The runner up finished well.
Titbits
Flying at the finish, runner up HONEYSUCKLE ROSE would surely have opened her account in the maiden 1200m in another stride.
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Work Rider’s Day
Turffontein 14th May: All of the races on the old stand side track on Saturday were maiden plates for work riders and stealing the show on an afternoon where rain fell throughout was Samuel Mosia. He rode four winners which included the victory of CRY OFTHE TOREADOR in the faster of the two maiden plates over 1160m. Soon nicely positioned in second, Chris Erasmus’ charge struck the front shortly after passing halfway and comfortably accounted for the 25/1 shot MAN THE FORT by three and a quarter.
Mosia was also aboard ARPAD, quickest home in the two maiden plates over 1400m. In a race where rain fell heavily throughout the son of Indigo Magic also raced handy. He took up the running approaching the 400m marker and in a thrilling three way finish he got the verdict by a neck.
The easiest victory on the card was recorded by JUST A REMINDER when getting off the mark in the maiden plate over 1160m. Well supported on course into 4/1 from 6’s, Geoff Woodruff’s charge raced prominent throughout. She was ridden to lead going through the 400m and drew clear easily in the closing stages of the race to beat the similarly priced FAVOUR’S PRIDE by four.
Titbits
The 10/1 shot GRAND JURY had to switch en-route from the rear when winning the girl’s division of the maiden 1600m going away.
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Generously Priced Considering
Kenilworth 14th May: Topping the bill in Cape Town on Saturday was a pinnacle stakes over 1000m and not surprisingly we saw a very comfortable victory for the top weight TEVEZ (sent off even money). Thrown in at the weights, Mike Bass’ generously priced 6yo raced in midfield early on. He made his way to the front quickly when given rein and won with authority by a length and a half.
Three of the afternoon’s eight races were staged over 1200m and quickest home in these was TABLE BAY when getting off the mark in the boy’s division of the maiden juvenile plate. Backed into favouritism during the morning, the son of Redoute’s Choice was soon prominently positioned. He took up the running as they approached the 300m marker and only having to be pushed out won well by a length and a quarter.
The faster of the two 2000m races was the MR84 Handicap won by the improving JETANO. Freely available at 6/1 on the off, Joey Ramsden’s charge sat fifth for most of the journey. She quickened well at the top of the straight and after getting the better of the pacemaker 200m out, she drew clear easily to score by three and three quarters.
Titbits
The 3yo OLYMPIC POWER ran on well from midfield when comfortably accounting for his eleven rivals in the maiden plate over 2000m.
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Top speedratings for this weekend include:-
Flamingo Park (mon)
Race 1: (1) Morrie 8
Race 2: (2) Flying Peg 19
Race 3: (8) Ginger Sioux 12
Race 4: (8) Jay Boy 39
Race 5: (6) First Sea Lord 34
Race 6: (7) Artic Route 44
Race 7: (1) Trade Emblem 35
Race 8: (10) Jet Swinger 38
Race 9: (13) Tour De Var 41
Vaal (tues)
Race 1: (9) Levi Lady 12
Race 2: (2) Air Force Legend 17
Race 3: (5) Relish 29
Race 4: (1) Winter Breeze 12
Race 5: (2) Tahini 65 (NAP*)
Race 6: (10) Magic 62
Race 7: (7) Woody Glow 37
Race 8: (8) Champions Cup 45
Race 9: (17) Lisnoble 40
Greyville (wed)
Race 1: (3) Hejira 26
Race 2: (11) Hungry Heart 16
Race 3: (6) French Revolution 82
Race 4: (15) Devon Blue 14
Race 5: (9) Delirious Nomad 54
Race 6: (11) Our Destiny 69
Race 7: (13) Nanojet 42
Race 8: (15) Academy Princess 43
Race 9: (5) Portman Square 10
Vaal (thur)
Race 1: (10) Missibaba 23 (NAP*)
Race 2: (12) Sameeha 10
Race 3: (1) Time To Be Great 20
Race 4: (5) Enticer 11
Race 5: (2) Streetwear 17
Race 6: (6) Seven Single 68
Race 7: (8) Noble Star 70
Race 8: (2) Barbel Run 44
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Top rated winners last week included
Cry Ofthe Toreador won 9/2
Big King won 28/10
Sun Power won 22/10
Eden Gardens Glitz won 18/10
Tevez won 1/1
China Pearl won 11/20
O Tamara won 11/20
Aventurine won 1/4
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Notebook:-
Tevez (M Bass, W-Cape)
FASTEST TIMES
The number of races run over each distance is shown in brackets
*Denotes – Times taken by Clockwatcher
Fairview (poly) 13th May
Going Standard
1000m (2) Fiesty Fiesta/Lady Willow 57,74
1200m (1) Hurricane Shelley 70,39
1300m (3) Captains Slipper 74,31
1600m (2) Jet Explorer 94,97
Greyville (poly) 13th May
Going Standard
1000m (1) Big King 57,84
1200m (1) Fashion Fusion 71,26
1600m (4) Lonely Arethebrave 95,87
1800m (1) Liege 109,86
Turffontein (old) 14th May
Penetrometer 24 – Going G/Soft
1000m (1) Hever Castle 57,83
1160m (2) Cry Ofthe Toreador 69,16
1400m (2) Arpad 89,83
1600m (1) Grand Jury 101,15
2000m (2) Patang 130,85
Kenilworth (new) 14th May
Penetrometer 22 – Going Good
1000m (2) Tevez 57,47
1200m (3) Table Bay 71,45
1400m (1) Kryptonite 87,47
2000m (2) Jetano 126,91
