Gutsy Four-timer
Greyville 11th March: The opening four races on Sunday’s turf card were all run over 1200m and by far the fastest time amongst these was recorded by SUNSET EYES in the pinnacle stakes. Marginally the lessor fancied of Brett Crawford’s two runners, the four-timer seeking Western Winter gelding was soon positioned close to the speed. He put his head in front early in the short home straight and showing real guts and determination over the final 400m he got the verdict by a half over the running on TRIBAL FUSION.
The MR80 Handicap was the faster of the two 1600m events and here the lightly raced bottom weight FRANCESCO registered his second career victory. Drawn widest of the thirteen, Paul Lafferty’s charge raced in midfield during the early part of the race. He ran on stoutly over the final 400m, and in a race where less than a length separated the first five home, he got the verdict by a half over the always handy BALTIC AMBER.
A juvenile plate over 1200m had opened up proceedings and taking everything into account DRUNKEN SAILOR did well to land the spoils. Backed into joint favouritism at the track, the son of Irish Flame was hampered going through the 1000m, and then later carried out at the top of the straight. He was always handy despite that though and won well by a length and a half after taking up the running 200m out.
Titbits
At the head of affairs throughout, ANTONY HOTSPUR only had to be pushed out when getting off the mark in the maiden plate over 1200m.
Race 8, the final race on the program, was abandoned due to an electrical storm.
Thwarted Late
Fairview 12th March: FIRE IN THE BELLY was sent off favourite to win the MR85 Handicap at Monday’s poly track meeting and in what proved to be by far the fastest of the afternoon’s three 1600m events he did the business in good style. Confidently ridden by Greg Cheyne, the son of Tiger Dance raced eighth of the nine for most of the journey. He cut through the field like a knife when given rein at the top of the straight and cruised clear to score by three and three quarters after striking the front 200m from home.
The only other distance to stage more than one race was 1200m where the faster of the two was not surprisingly the bill topping East Cape Poly Challenge (non-black type) won by CAPE REBEL. Easy to back at 22/1 on the off, Corne Spies’ charge sat on the heels of the front running favourite JUAN TWO THREE for the majority of the trip. Racing for the first time since landing this event last year, Juan Two Three had the rest well beaten, but perhaps just in need of the outing was run out of it late.
A maiden plate over 1000m had gotten proceedings underway and here we saw a very comfortable victory for the former KZN campaigner AL’S BELLS. Racing for the first time since relocating to the Eastern Cape, the 3yo was taken straight to the front and led throughout. He was always in command and won without any anxious moments by two and three quarters.
Titbits
Having his fourth outing since relocating from KZN, KING DJANGO won the MR66 Handicap over 1900m going away.
Gorgeous Islands
Durbanville 13th March: A maiden plate for the girls over 1000m was first up at the country course on Tuesday and here it was nice to see the well exposed REBEL’S BURST finally open her account. Making her 36th racecourse appearance here, the 4yo daughter of Rebel King was soon positioned up with the speed. She ran on strongly down the 600m straight and comfortably accounted for the more fancied CAPAIL by two and a quarter.
A MR96 Handicap over 1400m topped the bill and in what proved to be by far the fastest of the two races over the distance, we saw a smart performance from the 5yo NEW CALEDONIA. Content to sit detached at the rear during the early part of the race, Geoff Woodruff’s charge ran on by far the best in the straight and won going away after striking the front 70m or so from home.
Another to win well from off the pace on this card was SUMMER MOON in the faster of the two maiden plates over 1800m. Positioned second to last as the eleven runners turned for home Justin Snaith’s charge quickened nicely in the straight, and after striking the front 160m out, won going away by two.
Titbits
After having to switch right out 300m from home, MIND BLOWING was finishing best of all when a length and a quarter runner up in the maiden plate over 1600m.
Early Gains
Greyville 14th March: Wednesday’s action took place on the poly track where four of the eight races were staged over 1200m. The not so lucky last, a MR68 Handicap, was the fastest of these and here victory went to the 5yo Husson mare ZINZARA. Hampered going through the 1000m, Paul Lafferty’s charge raced sixth during the early part of the race. She ran on strongly over the final 400m and in a thrilling three way finish she only got the verdict by the narrowest of margins.
The faster of the two maiden plates over 1600m that got proceedings underway was the boy’s affair won by BLUEMOONRISING. Sent off a strong favourite at 17/10, Garth Puller’s charge was soon up handy. He was ridden to lead as they approached the 300m marker and kept on strongly in the closing stages of the race to beat his nearest rival in the betting market DR HENRY by a length and three quarters.
The two remaining races were handicaps over 2000m and quickest home here was SKYFIRE in the MR67 affair. Easy to back at 147/20 on the off the well exposed Dynasty mare raced in midfield for most of the journey. She quickened well when the race developed into a sprint 400m out, and under a well-judged ride from apprentice De Gouveia, she got up late.
Titbits
At the back 400m out, AIM FOR THE STARS was finishing best of all when a length and a half runner up in the girl’s division of the maiden 1600m.
304000 for 1
Vaal 15th March: A MR100 Handicap topped the bill at the Vaal’s classic track on Thursday and in what proved marginally (on my clock) to be the slower of the two 1500m events, the lessor fancied of JAJ v Vuuren’s runners DOOSRA registered his fifth career victory. Freely available at 13/1 on the off the son of Captain Al took over the running from his stable companion 150m out and went on to score by a half.
Three of the afternoon’s nine races were staged over 1600m and stopping the clock in the fastest time amongst these was CURBSTONE SHUFFLE in the MR85 Handicap for 3yo fillies. Freely available at 13/1 on the off the Sporting Post’s best handicapped runner raced in midfield during the early part of the race. She put her head in front shortly after passing the 200m marker and kept on strongly late to beat the much more fancied DRESS TO IMPRESS by a length and a quarter.
Race two on the card was a maiden plate over 1600m and here it was nice to see the limited, but ultra-consistent DANCING REBEL finally chalk up his first career victory. Making his 53rd racecourse appearance here Leon Erasmus’ charge was soon prominent. He was asked to take up the running going through the 400m and after quickly drawing clear he went on to score with authority by four and a half. Dancing Rebel has now earned over R304000 in prize money.
Titbits
TRIP TO PARADISE ran on well from midfield when winning the MR65 Handicap over 1500m a little more easily than the official winning margin of three quarters of a length would suggest.
Top speedratings for this weekend include:-
Fairview (fri)
Race 1: (2) Aloysius 32
Race 2: (2) Bonne Vie 48
Race 3: (2) The Goon Show 8
Race 4: (7) Big Jay’s 7
Race 5: (4) Mocha To Go 2
Race 6: (4) Rush In 54
Race 7: (1) Carlita 26
Race 8: (9) Divar 50
Vaal (sat)
Race 1: (1) Quick Glimpse 11
Race 2: (1) What A Story 11
Race 3: (7) Diamonds Forever 24 (EW)
Race 4: (1) Nother Russia 78
Race 5: (8) Tora Tora 37
Race 6: (10) Quebec Queen 29
Race 7: (10) Charter Jet 28
Race 8: (7) Yer-Maan 42
Race 9: (11) Exclusivity 24
Durbanville (sat)
Race 1: (4) European Roller 18
Race 2: (2) Vincente 67
Race 3: (1) Miss Smarty Pants 18 (NAP*)
Race 4: (5) Wedgwood 44
Race 5: (11) Zanadu 19
Race 6: (9) Floating On Water 49
Race 7: (1) Love Of My Life 12
Race 8: (13) I Touch The Sky 49
Greyville (sun)
Race 1: (11) Wild Rendezvous 4
Race 2: (10) Aldo’s Chase 40
Race 3: (1) It’s My Way 13
Race 4: (11) Root Beer 30
Race 5: (12) Vilette 42
Race 6: (5) Social Order 92
Race 7: (12) Celestial Gold 43
Race 8: (3) Dr Henry 7
Top rated winners last week included
Arabian Beat won 9/2
Rebel’s Burst won 4/1
Stockade won 4/1
Symphony won 61/20
Bluemoonrising won 17/10
Collegiate won 13/10
Sand Path won 13/10
Antony Hotspur won 5/10
Notebook:-
Fire In The Belly (A Greeff, E-Cape)
New Caledonia (G Woodruff, W-Cape)
Summer Moon (J Snaith, W-Cape)
FASTEST TIMES
The number of races run over each distance is shown in brackets
*Denotes – Times taken by Clockwatcher
Greyville (turf) 11th March
Penetrometer 23 – Going Good
Course Variant: 0,64s slow
1000m (2) Saratoga Dancer 58,00
1200m (4) Sunset Eyes 70,60
1400m (1) Dawn Calling 84,88
1600m (2) Francesco 97,20
Fairview (poly) 12th March
Going Standard
Course Variant: 0,70s slow
1000m (1) Al’s Bells 58,73
1200m (2) Cape Rebel 69,62
1300m (1) Ricketee 76,90
1600m (3) Fire In The Belly 96,98
1900m (1) King Django 117,37
Durbanville 13th March
Penetrometer 20 – Going Good
Course Variant: 0,97s fast
1000m (2) Regal Ruby 57,67
1250m (1) Teutonic Knight 74,52
1400m (2) New Caledonia 82,85
1600m (1) Comfortably Numb 97,35
1800m (2) Summer Moon 111,72
Greyville (poly) 14th March
Going Standard
Course Variant: 1,38s slow
1000m (1) Dame Commander 61,02
1200m (4) Zinzara 71,17
1600m (2) Bluemoonrising 98,14
2000m (2) Skyfire 125,26
Vaal (classic) 15th March
Penetrometer 22 – God
Course Variant: 0,58s slow
1000m (1) Pillaroftheearth 57,16
1200m (1) Arabian Beat 69,40
1500m (2) Trip To Paradise 90,64
1600m (3) Curbstone Shuffle 97,13
2000m (1) My Favourite Brown 123,46
2400m (1) Collegiate 154,17
