Scottsville 5th December
On Target
The easiest victory in Natal on Sunday was undoubtedly that of the 3yo BELLE (43) who came home smoking in the maiden event for the girls over 1200m. Freely available at 5/1 on the off, Duncan Howells’ charge was taken straight to the front by Sean Veale and led throughout. She began to assert her authority going through halfway and despite the efforts of the most experienced runner in the race TWO TONE ROCKA, she went on to score unchallenged by eight and a half.
Another to win well on this card was TAKE OVER TARGET (84) who completed a very smart hattrick in the 1200m KZN Chapter Final. Another winner for the in form Sean Veale, Take Over Target raced in midfield during the early part of the race. Once given rein though, the son of Copperbelt quickened best of all and after striking the front 200m from home, he easily drew clear. Take Over Target has now won six of his sixteen starts and is clearly one to keep tabs on.
Also worthy of note on this card was the performance of ORBIT WAR (79) who gained a well overdue third career victory in the 1600m final. Drawn widest of all at sixteen, Adam Kethro’s charge not surprisingly found himself in the rear during the early part of the race. The picture began to change rapidly once in the straight though and confidently ridden by Kevin Shea, he soon began to make headway. He struck the front shortly after passing the 200m marker and comfortably accounted for the 16/1 shot DOUBLE DASH by a length.
Flamingo Park 6th December
Flying Luca
There were some rough results in Kimberley on Monday. Indeed, the only market leader to arrive was MILVAGO (16) in the maiden event over 1600m and she was sent off a joint favourite. Allowed to ease out to 7/2 from 5/2 on course as money came for both MY GIRL (4/1 into 7/2 joint favourite) and ZABINA (14/1 into 8/1), the former Gauteng campaigner was soon up handy. She was asked to take up the running 500m out and with nothing else running on in the latter stages of the race, she came home lonely by eleven.
A MR72 Handicap over 1200m topped the bill and here an upset was to be had when SYCO’S STAR (20) opened his account in the province. Freely available at 25/1 in this his fourth run since relocating from the Eastern Cape, Cliffie Miller’s charge was always handy. He was ridden to lead as they approached the 400m marker and kept on strongly in the closing stages of the race to beat the much more fancied RICHINSTYLE by a length and three quarters.
The final event on the card was a MR66 Handicap over 1000m and here we saw a smart performance from the Corne Spies trained LUCKY LUCA (27). Racing for the first time since breaking a bloodvessel in August, Lucky Luca was positioned at the back early on. The field was always tightly bunched though and when the race began in earnest passing halfway, he was only five lengths off the pace. Lucky Luca fairly flew in the closing stages of the race and is clearly much better than the official winning margin of just a half length will reflect.
Kenilworth 7th December
16/1 Bar One
The 3yo JUST TIGER (6/10 into 7/20) was backed as if unbeatable in the opening maiden event over 1600m at Kenilworth on Tuesday, where, amazingly, the bookmakers were calling 16/1 Bar! The field was soon very strung out and although racing in fifth the favourite was easily eleven lengths adrift of the leader. KYBER CROSSING who had raced second was the first to make a move in the straight and struck the front 200m out. Just Tiger was running on at that point, but he failed to make any impression on Khyber Crossing below the distance and finished fifth beaten 3,4 lengths.
One who did make up ground from off the pace to score on this card was PEONIE PARADISE who gained her third career victory in the MR90 Handicap over 1400m. Positioned seventh of the eight for most of the journey, Peonie Paradise looked to have plenty to do as they came off the bend. Once in the straight though, she quickened best of all and after striking the front 200m from home, she easily accounted for the favourite TICK TOCK by a length and three quarters.
Race six on the card was a MR79 Handicap over 1200m and here it was nice to see the 5yo KAYHALADIN gain just reward for his recent consistency. Usually one to run on from off the pace, Kayhaladin was always handy. He was ridden to lead as they approached the 200m marker and kept on strongly in the closing stages of the race to beat the nibbled at SIX TO SIX (14/1 into 9/1) by three and a quarter. One to look out for next time from this race is the third horse INSURGENT. Dean Kannemeyer’s charge was running on nicely after being slow away and looks sure to improve.
The final event on the card was a maiden plate over 2000m and here Glen Hatt posted his third winner of the afternoon when the well supported outsider VENGENCE (20/1 into 11/1) caused an upset. Nicely positioned in sixth as the sixteen runners turned for home, Vengence was always in contention. He ran on stoutly over the final 500m and in what proved to be a real thriller, he got up in the very last stride to deny the more fancied WING MAN.
Turffontein 7th December
Aptly Named
The season’s first 2yo race in Gauteng got proceedings underway on Tuesday evening and here victory went to the heavily supported favourite ASTRO NEWS (22). Backed throughout the afternoon into 14/10 from 5/1, Paul Matchett’s charge raced some three lengths away in third during the early part of the race. The two leaders kept on determinedly at the business end of the race and Astro News did very well indeed to get the better of both close home.
The evenings’ feature event was a MR89 Handicap over 2450m and in what proved to be a real thriller, victory here went to the top weight SALUTATION (77). Sent off a joint second favourite at 33/10, Stuart Pettigrew’s charge was content to sit in the rear for most of the journey. The well supported DUNCTON QUEST (9/2 into 7/2) was the first to make a move in the long home straight and struck the front 400m out. Duncton Quest ran on stoutly from there onwards and with the rest some six lengths adrift, it was only in the dying strides that Salutation got her measure.
The not so lucky last was a maiden event over 1160m and here we saw a very smart performance from the aptly named newcomer FORMIDABLE (31). Freely available at 9/1 on the off, Weiho Marwing’s charge sat well off the leaders during the early part of the race. Once given rein though, she quickened in good style and despite racing very green she cruised clear late to win by two and a quarter. Keep an eye on Formidable. She won impressively without having to be hard ridden and is clearly useful.
Clairwood 8th December
Impressive Beginning
Wednesday’s action took place at the garden course where we saw a very impressive performance in the opening maiden event over 1200m from the well supported newcomer ROYAL ZULU WARRIOR (73). Backed into joint favouritism at 22/10 (opened 7/2), Tony Rivalland’s charge was taken straight to the front by Karl Zechner and led throughout. He began to assert his authority going through halfway and with a ton in hand he easily accounted for his fellow joint favourite EXCUSE MY FRENCH by ten. Royal Zulu Warrior won in a good time and is clearly one for the notebook.
Another to win comfortably on this card was SHARKS BAY (94) who registered his seventh career victory from just twenty one starts in the Conditions Stakes over 1450m. Soon up handy, Dennis Drier’s charge raced prominent throughout. 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 THUNDER LAD by a length and three quarters.
Race six on the card was a MR96 Handicap over 1800m and here we saw a nice performance from the Mike De Kock trained SAFWAN (89). The lesser fancied of the stable’s two runners, Safwan was always in touch with the leaders. He quickened best of all down the long home straight and did well to get the better of his stable companion RICH STRIKE, who had taken it up 500m out.
Top speedratings for this weekend include:-
Arlington
Race 1: (4) Drummie 13
Race 2: (1) Soul Searcher 30
Race 3: (5) Taurus 21
Race 4: (3) Zili 70
Race 5: (5) Tanzania 78
Race 6: (2) Time And Love 94 (EW)
Race 7: (5) Proudly Perfect 75
Race 8: (13) Natasha’s Pride 52
Turffontein
Race 1: (5) Super Boy 32
Race 2: (6) Boujis 24
Race 3: (3) Syncopate 24 (NAP*)
Race 4: (1) Eldorado 42
Race 5: (5) Mirage Drive 81
Race 6: (7) Grisham 81
Race 7: (5) Sagrada 66
Race 8: (3) Lady Ameera 48
Race 9: (1) What A Winter 82
Kenilworth
Race 1: (1) Excellent Cove 11
Race 2: No Qualifiers
Race 3: (5) Dream River 42
Race 4: (8) Ulwandle 72
Race 5: (1) Comebackanddance 61 (EW)
Race 6: (4) Sunsational 88
Race 7: (1) Tropical Empire 110
Race 8: (1) What A Winter 82
Race 9: (5) Jean Roi 94
Race 10: (5) Spanish Affair 16
Clairwood
Race 1: (10) Elle Rassa 31
Race 2: (7) Dare To Be Grand 21
Race 3: (4) Sexy Salsa 16
Race 4: (9) Le Corsaire 29 (NAP*)
Race 5: (15) Royal Cruise 53
Race 6: (8) Chisler 44
Race 7: (8) Silent Call 49
Race 8: (5) Spirit Of Success 51
Race 9: (13) Public Scandal 13
Borrowdale Park
Race 1: No Qualifiers
Race 2: No Qualifiers
Race 3: (9) Subscribe 19
Race 4: (1) National Regent 45
Race 5: (3) Cydney’s Dawn 21
Race 6: (4) Balance Of Payment 39
Race 7: (16) Stormy River 5
Top rated winners last week included:-
Bull Dozer won 20/1
Sweet Talk won 7/1
Count Oliver won 6/1
Woman Of The Year won 33/10
Fernando Torres won 7/2
Milvago won 7/2
Sky Link won 28/10
Kayhaladin won 5/2
Notebook:-
Formidable (W Marwing, Gauteng)
Lucky Luca (C Spies, N-Cape)
Royal Zulu Warrior (A Rivalland, Natal)
FASTEST TIMES
(Shown in brackets is the number of races run in each category)
Scottsville 5th December
Fastest Sprint 1000-1300 (4) Indigo Princess
Fastest Middle 1400-1800 (4) Orbit War
Fastest Long 1900-3600 (1) King William
Flamingo Park 6th December
Fastest Sprint 1000-1300 (4) Lucky Luca
Fastest Middle 1400-1800 (5) Staying Alive
Fastest Long 1900-3600 (0) No Qualifiers
Kenilworth 7th December
Fastest Sprint 1000-1300 (2) Kayhaladin
Fastest Middle 1400-1800 (5) Peonie Paradise
Fastest Long 1900-3600 (1) Vengence
Turffontein 7th December
Fastest Sprint 1000-1300 (5) Vimy Ridge
Fastest Middle 1400-1800 (2) Princess Of Light
Fastest Long 1900-3600 (1) Salutation
Clairwood 8th December
Fastest Sprint 1000-1300 (4) Royal Zulu Warrior
Fastest Middle 1400-1800 (5) Golden Sled
Fastest Long 1900-3600 (1) Sweet Talk
Pics:-
Royal Zulu Warrior – Clairwood
The well supported newcomer Royal Zulu Warrior won impressively and in a good time.
