Doing The Business
Fairview 15 January: With the runners having to contend with a 50km/h cross wind on Monday the times were slow. A pinnacle stakes topped the bill and in what not surprisingly proved to be the faster of the two 1400m events, MIRACLE BUREAU registered his sixth career victory. Just five went to post and nicely positioned in third, the son of Trippi was always well positioned to strike. He did so shortly after passing the 200m marker and comfortably accounted for the staying on pacemaker DRAGON FLAME by a length and a quarter.
The faster of the two 1200m races was the graduation plate won by the 4yo OVER DRIVE. Always handy, Justin Snaith’s charge ran on strongly at the business end of the race and got the verdict by a quarter from the running on ARMSTRONG’S BOY (came from the rear).
By far the quicker of the two handicaps over 1900m was the MR91 affair won by the ultra-consistent OLYMPIC POWER. Easy to back at 13/2 on the off, Alan Greeff’s charge was soon positioned close to the pace. He quickened well early in the short home straight and won fair and square from the always handy ROAD TO INDY.
Titbits
Having his first outing since relocating to the Eastern Cape, the heavily supported ROBYN-JACK-TWIGG won the maiden plate over 1400m with authority by a length and a quarter.
Straight To The Point
Vaal 16 January: They raced on the outside track on Tuesday which meant that all of the races were run down the straight. Three of these took place over 1600m and stopping the clock in the fastest time was EMILY JAY when landing the MR83 Handicap. She got away well when the gates opened and soon up handy raced prominent throughout. She was ridden to lead approaching the 400m pole and just had enough in hand to hold off the gaining COSTA DA SOL. The runner up came from the back and was only beaten a neck.
They also ran three races over 1400m and quickest home here was PRETTY BALLERINA in the MR64 Handicap. Not the quickest into stride when the gates opened, the lightly raced 3yo was positioned in midfield for most of the journey. Once given rein though she ran on best of all and went on to score with authority from the more fancied ALL OVER THE WORLD.
The faster of the two handicaps over 1000m was the MR80 affair in which BRIGNUMBERTEN registered his third career victory. Freely available at 11/1 on the off, Roy Magner’s charge raced prominent throughout. He ran on strongly over the final 400m and after a thrilling tussle with the hat-trick seeking pacemaker HE’S GREAT (lost whip late), he got the verdict by a neck.
Titbits
The 3yo GOLD DAWN ran on well from midfield when winning the second division of the girls’ maiden 1200m going away by two and a half.
Quick Gains
Vaal 17 January: They again raced at the Vaal on Wednesday, only this time the action took place on the new classic track. A work rider’s maiden plate over 1200m opened up proceedings and here we saw a very easy victory for the supported TERRONCITO. Making only his sixth racecourse appearance here, the 6yo was soon positioned close to the speed. He put his head in front going through the 400m and after quickly drawing clear won well by four and three quarters.
The MR72 Handicap was the faster of the two 1450m events and here we saw a smart performance from another supported runner in REBUKED. Confidently ridden by replacement jockey Fanie Chambers, the top weight raced ninth of the twelve early on. He ran on best of all over the final 400m and won going away after striking the front 100m from home.The only other distance to stage more than one race was 2400m where SHEET WEAVER was the quickest home. Sent off favourite at 4/1, Alec Laird’s charge was always in touch with the leaders. He ran on well over the final 300m and after a thrilling tussle with both JUST CRUISED IN and SAVE THE RHINO, he only got the verdict by the narrowest of margins.
Titbits
An impressive winner of her latest outing coming into the race, ICE ART again quickened in good style when winning the MR84 Handicap going away.
Let It Rain
Kenilworth 18 January: Four of the nine races in Cape Town on Thursday were run over 1400m and the quickest home in these was TROJAN QUEST in the MR64 Handicap. Freely available at 10/1 on the off, the confirmed frontrunner was over four lengths clear coming off the bend. He kept on strongly over the final 600m and although the always handy CREAM SODA GREEN did make some headway in the closing stages of the race, he still had a length and a quarter to spare at the wire.
The opening maiden plate for the girls was the faster of the two 1000m races and here we saw a smart performance from the Dennis Drier trained SUNSHINE MIST. Always in the red, the 3yo daughter of Dawn Approach struck the front 600m out. She just did the necessary from there onwards, and with the rest some four and three quarter lengths adrift, she comfortably accounted for the running on LADYSMITH by a length and a quarter.
The MR89 Handicap was the faster of the two 1800m races on the card and in what proved to be a real thriller, the aptly named 6yo WAITING FOR RAIN registered his sixth career victory. Positioned fourth of the six when the race began in earnest, Piet Steyn’s charge ran on best of all and with just a neck covering the first four home, he got up in the very last stride.
Titbits
The 3yo PERFECT PROPORTIONS won the girls’ division of the maiden 1400m going away with some in hand.
Sequences Extended
Fairview 19 January: The midweek ended as it had begun with racing in the Eastern Cape. They raced on the turf this time though and in the afternoon’s feature event, a MR79 Handicap over 1800m, the progressive WIDOW’S LAMP completed a hat-trick. Sent off a well-supported favourite at 15/10, the daughter of Go Deputy was always in touch with the leaders. She was ridden to lead shortly after passing the 300m pole and although TIFFINDELL chased hard in the closing stages of the race, she did have that one held by a length at the wire.
Two of the nine races were run over 1000m and by far the fastest of these was the MR62 Handicap in which the veteran ESS EL KAY completed a double. Easy to back at 11/1 on the off, George Uren’s charge raced second last early on. He ran on best of all at the business end of the race and won going away from the always handy KINGSTON WARREN (led 250m).
They also ran two races over 1200m and quickest home here was LA REBEL in the MR76 Handicap. Another to run on stoutly from off the pace, the Rebel King mare got up in the dying strides to deny the front running HOT N HAZY.
Titbits
The newcomer AFRICAN VICTORY couldn’t have been more impressive when cruising clear over the final 250m to score by nine in the maiden plate over 1200m.
Top speedratings for this weekend include:-
Fairview (fri)
Race 1: (1) Seattle Lily 10
Race 2: (6) Lateral’s Flash 5
Race 3: (11) Valentine’s Girl 15
Race 4: (6) Anglet 84
Race 5: (2) Bollemakiesie 40
Race 6: (2) Exelero 80
Race 7: (7) Laters Baby 33
Race 8: (8) Shady World 48
Greyville (fri)
Race 1: (10) Special Force 9 (nb)
Race 2: (2) Free State 67
Race 3: (1) Prince Ponti 14 (NAP*)
Race 4: (1) Fonteyn 26
Race 5: (14) Trip Queens 53
Race 6: (7) Sitia 44
Race 7: (4) Waltzed Home 56
Race 8: (11) Marriot 46
Kenilworth (sat)
Race 1: (7) Favola 68
Race 2: (1) Royal Italian 22
Race 3: (18) Urban Oasis 16
Race 4: (1) Dutch Philip 81
Race 5: (4) Rocket Countdown 68
Race 6: (2) Search Party 97
Race 7: (2) Tap O’Noth 70 (nb)
Race 8: (12) Snowdance 91 (NAP*)
Race 9: (1) Legal Eagle 101
Race 10: (11) Fortissima 72
Race 11: (11) Para Handy 60
Race 12: (2) Power Grid 69
Race 13: (2) Hoist The Mast 73
Greyville (sat)
Race 1: (14) Roy’s Barbel 15
Race 2: (1) Bravo Zulu 15
Race 3: (1) Legal Eagle 101
Race 4: (12) Tropical Blow 35
Race 5: (1) Princess Analia 35
Race 6: (11) Maybe 39
Race 7: (5) Arianos Bagofgold 50
Race 8: (11) High Altar 43
Turffontein (sat)
Race 1: (4) Aquila Warrior 5
Race 2: (6) Cop Shop 17 (NAP*)
Race 3: (1) Imperial Ounce 29
Race 4: (14) Saragon 22
Race 5: (7) Mario Lanza 21
Race 6: (14) Fantasy View 55
Race 7: (8) Rushmore River 89
Race 8: (11) Sammi Moosa 35
Race 9: (1) Legal Eagle 101
Race 10: (6) Before Noon 43
Race 11: (5) Bush Pilot 51
Scottsville (sun)
Race 1: (7) Wild Rendezvous 6
Race 2: (15) Playlist 17
Race 3: (6) Electropop 14
Race 4: (1) Eccellerate 9
Race 5: (4) Amazon King 73
Race 6: (6) Cumulus 55
Race 7: (1) London Call 94
Race 8: (5) Wild Wicket 88
Race 9: (3) Sherman 11
Top rated winners last week included
Trojan Quest won 10/1
Candy Crush won 8/1
Olympic Power won 13/2
Waiting For Rain won 61/10
Royal Ginger won 5/1
Perfect Proportions won 57/20
Regal Graduation won 26/10
Empress Rock won 16/10
Notebook:-
African Victory (T Laing, E-Cape)
Sunshine Mist (D Drier, KZN)
FASTEST TIMES
The number of races run over each distance is shown in brackets
*Denotes – Times taken by Clockwatcher
Fairview (poly) 15th January
Going Standard
Course Variant: 2,45s slow
1000m (1) Candy Crush 58,97
1200m (2) Over Drive 71,95
1400m (2) Miracle Bureau 85,14
1600m (1) No Doubt 98,29
1900m (2) Olympic Power 119,55
Vaal (outside) 16th January
Penetrometer 22 – Going Good
Course Variant: 0,34s slow
1000m (2) Brignumberten 57,16
1200m (2) Gold Dawn 71,26
1400m (3) Pretty Ballerina 83,29
1600m (3) Emily Jay 95,84
Vaal (classic) 17th January
Penetrometer 22 – Going Good
Course Variant: 1,38s fast
1000m (1) Ice Art 56,22
1200m (1) Terroncito 68,89
1450m (2) Rebuked 85,34
1600m (1) Jubilee Line 94,83
2000m (1) Florentino 123,30
2400m (2) Sheet Weaver 148,15
Kenilworth (new) 18th January
Penetrometer 21 – Going Good
Course Variant: 0,25s slow
1000m (1) Northern Corner 59,14
1200m (2) Sunshine Mist 72,92
1400m (4) Trojan Quest 87,71
1800m (2) Waiting For Rain 112,23
Fairview (turf) 19th January
Penetrometer 22 – Going Good
1000m (2) Ess El Kay 56,80
1200m (2) La Rebel 69,09
1400m (1) Paper Town 84,27
1600m (1) Grizabell 99,26
1800m (1) Widow’s Lamp 109,61
2000m (2) Mamba Mania 126,23
