Fever Too Hot
Scottsville 1st February: Four of the eight races in Pietermaritzburg on Sunday were run over 1200m and the fastest of these was the MR74 Apprentice Handicap won by RAINIER. Despite being a little slow into stride the 5yo Qui Danzig gelding was soon at the head of affairs. He kept on strongly in the closing stages of the race and just had enough in hand to deny the running on ROYAL ROY by a neck.
The other three 1200m races were all maiden plates and fastest against the clock amongst these was SEA FEVER in the first division for the boys. Nicely positioned in fourth in what was a very tightly bunched field early on, Dennis Drier’s charge struck the front going through the 300m. Sean Cormack had barely moved a muscle at that stage and without ever really being asked to race Sea Fever drew clear with ease from there onwards and won going away by three.
The faster of the two 1000m races was the MR83 Handicap won by ROCKABERRY LANE. Just six went to post, and after losing two lengths at the start Mike De Kock’s charge very quickly found herself positioned at the back. Once given rein though, she quickened well and won going away by a length and three quarters after striking the front 150m out.
The lucky last was a maiden plate over 2000m and here the locals were sent home happy when the heavily supported PATCHIT UP BABY (16/10 into 7/10) did the business. One of just two females in the race, the daughter of Ideal World raced towards the backend of midfield early on. The deposed favourite YOUR WORSHIP (15/10 out to 7/2) was the first to make a move and quickly going a couple clear after putting his head in front 300m out, it looked as if he would finally reward his near bankrupt followers. Patchit Up Baby steadily wore him down below the distance though and with the rest some six lengths adrift she got up late to score by a length and a quarter. This race was originally scheduled to take place over 1950m on the inside track. It was moved along with the 2400m event to the old stand side track.
Titbits
Having only his second outing following a six month break here RAAEES came from the backend of midfield when winning the pinnacle stakes over 2400m going away.
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Work Rider’s Day
Vaal 3rd February: They raced on the inside track on Tuesday where all of the races were for work riders.
A maiden plate over 1200m got proceedings underway and here we saw a very easy victory for the well supported favourite DANGEROUS DIVA. Backed into even money from 14/10 at the track, Lucky Houdalakis’ charge raced in midfield during the early part of the race. She made up the ground quickly when asked for her effort and cruised clear to score by eight and a quarter after striking the front 350m from home.
Another to win with lengths to spare was ALEUT in the slower of the two maiden plates over 1200m. Having only his second career outing here, Sean Tarry’s charge led throughout. He was always in command and won without any anxious moments by three and a quarter.
The trend continued in race three, a maiden plate over 1400m, when the heavily supported newcomer ELIZA DOOLITTLE came home smoking. Eventually sent off at 18/10 after opening up at 7/2, Paul Peter’s charge also made all. She led by just three quarters passing the 400m marker, but then given rein, she bolted clear to score by seven.
The faster of the two 2000m maiden plates was the boy’s division won by AL COUTURE. On leaving the stalls it was the more fancied GRAND OPERA who elected to make the running whilst Weiho Marwing’s charge sat close up in third. He put his head in front passing the 100m pole and comfortably accounted for the running on 50/1 shot DUSK TO DAWN by a length.
Titbits
Reported as not striding out, MAMASITA was flying late when only failing by the narrowest of margins to open her account in the girls’ division of the maiden 2000m.
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Beautiful Sunshine
Kenilworth 4th February: A maiden juvenile plate for the girls was first up in Cape Town on Wednesday and in what proved to be the fastest of the afternoon’s four 1200m events we saw a smart performance from JUST FELICITY. Backed into favouritism during the morning Greg Ennion’s charge was soon up handy. She was ridden to lead as they approached the 300m marker and with the rest well beaten she comfortably accounted for NORDIC WIND by three quarters.
The faster of the two 1000m races was the MR68 Handicap won by GOGREASELIGHTNING. Always handy in a race where the runners raced on both sides of the track, the daughter of Jet Master kept on strongly over the final 400m and won by three quarters from the improving PROMICING POLLY. Four lengths clear of the remainder at the wire, the runner up finished well from the backend of midfield.
There was also two races run over 1600m (both maiden plates) and fastest against the clock here was WAITING FOR RAIN. Confidently ridden by Aldo Domeyer, the son of Black Minnaloushe sat fifth for most of the journey. He made his move early in the straight and won going away by three and a half after taking up the running 230m or so from home.
Titbits
I AM THE LAW came from the rear when getting up late to win the MR68 Handicap over 1200m.
After running on from midfield ZANTE won the MR68 Handicap over 2000m going away.
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On The Prowl
Vaal 5th February: Thursday’s action took place on the sand where four of the events on the nine race program were run over 1200m, and the fastest of these was the MR90 Handicap won by PINOT NOIR. The focus of strong support throughout the day (12/1 into 33/10), the 6yo Black Minnaloushe gelding made all. He was a length clear at the halfway mark and didn’t relinquish and inch of his advantage over the final 600m.
The faster of the three 1000m races somewhat predictably was the non-black type Lightning Stakes won by TIGER TERRITORY. The easy to back ANGER (20/1 into 16/1) elected to make the running whilst Mike De Kock’s charge sat in the box seat in second. Anger kept on determinedly at the business end of the race and did have the remainder comfortably beaten. Having to work hard though Tiger Territory steadily wore him down, and in what proved to be a real thriller he got up in the dying strides. Detached at the rear early on, the veteran BENBOW made up many lengths on the leaders over the final 400m in this race.
At the other end of the scale there were some very easy victories on the card and none more so than that of RAZZLE MY TAZZLE in the maiden plate over 1200m. Pitched in against what has to be said was a very moderate bunch, the well exposed daughter of Carpocrates made all. She was very quickly three lengths clear and despite being eased down before the line she came home lonely by ten and a half.
Titbits
Well exposed JIMMIJAGGA won the work rider’s maiden plate over 1000m very easily by six and a quarter.
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Top speedratings for this weekend include:-
Fairview (fri)
Race 1: (3) La Rebel 12
Race 2: (2) Destiny Driven 18
Race 3: (1) Door Of Deception 60 (NAP**)
Race 4: (10) Rashaad 53
Race 5: (9) Laurie’s Dancer 75
Race 6: (9) Power Wind 55
Race 7: (1) Princess Chloe 51 (nb)
Race 8: (8) Honey Bun 49
Race 9: (1) Jet Swinger 5
Greyville (fri)
Race 1: (7) De Nimes 25 (NAP*)
Race 2: (7) Black Jade 21
Race 3: (11) Royal Lance 59
Race 4: (1) Roy’s Flyer 2
Race 5: (1) Bev’s Baby 10
Race 6: (8) Mr Royal 46
Race 7: (10) Iswithi 25
Race 8: (9) Finding Neverland 41
Turffontein (sat)
Race 1: (7) Agile Combat 20
Race 2: (1) Tiger Sight 24
Race 3: (7) La Digue 16
Race 4: (10) Victorinox 54
Race 5: (14) Time Signal 53
Race 6: (8) Mai Thaiga 71
Race 7: (10) Miss Rambo 64
Race 8: (1) Anjaal 48 (NAP**)
Race 9: (12) Like The Willow 48
Race 10: (4) Brigtnumberfour 31
Kenilworth (sat)
Race 1: (4) Galaxy King 8
Race 2: (6) Swift Wonder 69
Race 3: (1) Saint Donan 24
Race 4: (2) Phoebus 16
Race 5: (10) Sassy Sal 12 (NAP*)
Race 6: (8) Arcsign 45
Race 7: (8) Hopeitsaprize 59
Race 8: (9) Study The Stars 34
Scottsville (sun)
Race 1: (1) Admiral’s Eye 71
Race 2: (6) Red Soldier 8
Race 3: (1) Burra Boy 27
Race 4: (4) Roy’s Ambassador 15
Race 5: (6) Night Lock 48
Race 6: (1) Showmetheway 80
Race 7: (8) Caribbean Day 70
Race 8: (1) Sempre Sempre 6 (NAP*)
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Top rated winners last week included
City Express won 22/10
Shirla won 18/10
Charles Lytton won 11/10
Dangerous Diva won 1/1
Razzle My Tazzle won 9/10
Taking Chances won 15/20
Around Not Across won 13/20
Jimmijagga won 4/10
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Notebook:-
Eliza Doolittle (P Peter, Gauteng)
Sea Fever (D Drier, KZN)
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FASTEST TIMES
The number of races run over each distance is shown in brackets
*Denotes – Times taken by Clockwatcher
Scottsville (inside) 1st February
Penetrometer 24 – Going G/Soft
1000m (2) Rockaberry Lane 58,24
1200m (4) Rainier 71,13
2000m (1) Patchit Up Baby 126,11
2400m (1) Raees 154,92
Vaal (inside) 3rd February
Penetrometer 21 – Going Good
1200m (2) Dangerous Diva 69,73
1400m (2) Apple Crumble 83,27
1700m (2) Netherby Hall 195,56
2000m (2) Al Couture 123,52
Kenilworth (new) 4th February
Penetrometer 23 – Going Good
1000m (2) Gogreaselightning 59,00
1200m (4) Just Felicity 72,02
1600m (2) Waiting For Rain 100,70
2000m (1) Zante 126,71
Vaal (sand) 5th February
Going Standard
1000m (3) Tiger Territory 58,88
1200m (4) Pinot Noir 72,57
1600m (1) Shirla 104,50
1800m (1) Oklahoma Trippi 117,09
