Calming The Storm
Fairview 27th May: They raced on the turf on Friday where the fastest of the three 1200m races was the MR72 Handicap won by ARMORIAL. Nibbled at on course into 10/1 from 14’s, Dorrie Sham’s charge raced in midfield during the early part of the race. He quickened well from halfway and comfortably accounted for RUSHING LARK who also ran on well from off the pace.
The faster of the two 1400m events was the bill topping Fairview 1400 (non-black type) won by the visiting ASHTON PARK. Sent off a well-supported favourite at 2/1, Mike Bass’ charge was soon positioned close to the speed. He put his head in front as they approached the 300m marker and kept on strongly late to beat the useful RED BARREL by a neck. The runner up came from the back and was gaining quickly at the finish.
The easiest victory on the eight race program was recorded by BLIZZARD KING when getting off the mark in the maiden juvenile plate over 1400m. An eye catching runner up in his only previous outing, the Sail From Seattle gelding was always handy. He took the helm going through the 300m, and drew clear easily from there onwards to score by three and a half.
Race three on the card was a MR58 Handicap over 1600m and here we saw a comfortable victory for the easy to back VITORIA. Freely available at 14/1 on the off, Yvette Bremner’s charge raced in midfield for most of the journey. Once in the long home straight though she quickly made headway, and won going away by a length and a half after striking the front 100m out.
Titbits
Running on stoutly from the rear, MIRROR THE MOON was gaining quickly at the finish when a neck runner up in the conditions plate over 1800m.
Improving With Every Run
Greyville 28th May: Topping the bill at Greyville on Saturday afternoon was the Gr1 Daily News over 2000m (turf) where victory went to the 3/1 favourite RABADA. He got away well when the gates opened and in what proved to be a slowly run affair, raced prominent throughout. Jockey Anton Marcus dropped his whip shortly after Rabada struck the front 350m out, but despite that the Brave Tin Soldier colt ran on strongly and beat the always handy IT’S MY TURN fair and square by a neck. 3rd & 5th respectively, MAMBO MIME and TEN GUN SALUTE both ran on well from the backend of midfield in this race.
The supporting act was the Gr1 Woolavington (turf) over the same distance and in another false paced affair victory here went to the classy BELA-BELA. Confidently ridden by Anthony Delpech, the even money favourite was positioned in eighth coming off the bend. She ran on best of all over the final 400m and under a well-judged ride, got up late to win going away by a length and three quarters.
Four of the afternoon’s ten races were run over 1400m on the poly track and quickest home amongst these was GAMBOL when registering his fourth career victory in the MR74 Handicap. On leaving the stalls it was BAGGER VANCE who elected to make the running whilst Tony Nassif’s charge raced close up in third. He was ridden to lead approaching the 300m marker and although the pacemaker kept on strongly once headed, he went on to score with authority by a length and three quarters.
Two maiden juvenile plates over 1400m (turf) had opened up proceedings and the faster of these was the girls’ affair won by ORIENTAL OAK. Positioned sixth of the ten at the top of the straight, the 20/1 shot quickened well and won comfortably by a length and three quarters from the running on JOY TO JOY (came from the rear).
Titbits
After having to switch out for a run 300m from home, HELDERBERG BLUE ran on strongly in the latter stages when only beaten a neck in the Gr3 Lonsdale Stirrup Cup over 2400m (turf).
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Best Of Five
Kenilworth 28th May: Gr3 events for 2yo’s over 1200m were top of the bill in Cape Town on Saturday and by far the quickest home in these was SERGEANT HARDY when winning the Cape of Good Hope Nursery contested by the boys. Taken straight to the front by Francois Herholdt, the son of Captain Al led throughout. He kept on strongly at the business end of the race and won well by a length and a half from the 15/10 favourite ATTENBOROUGH.
There were five races run over 1200m in total and comfortably the fastest of these was the MR88 Handicap won by SEARCH PARTY. Freely available at 6/1 on the off, Brett Crawford’s charge was soon up handy. He was ridden to lead shortly after passing the 300m pole and went on to score with authority by three and three quarters.
Another to win with authority on this card was RED PERIL in the not so lucky last, a MR78 Handicap over 2400m. Sent off as one of the outsiders of the fifteen horse party at 66/1, the Western Winter gelding led throughout. He was three lengths clear at the top of the home straight and didn’t relinquish an inch of his advantage on the run to the line.
Titbits
The recent maiden winner PLAYBOY BUDDY completed a double when winning the MR67 Handicap over 2000m going away.
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Top speedratings for this weekend include:-
Fairview (mon)
Race 1: (7) Soviet Cosmonaut 1
Race 2: (2) Ashwal 19
Race 3: (9) Marcelle 19
Race 4: (2) Seattle Light 16
Race 5: (4) Cruzcampo 72
Race 6: (12) Impressionist 58
Race 7: (11) I Will Be 57
Race 8: (2) Juan Two Three 75 (NAP*)
Race 9: (7) The Captain’s Cat 50
Vaal (tues)
Race 1: (3) Carve The Turkey 3
Race 2: (15) Favour’s Pride 20
Race 3: (1) Streetwear 17
Race 4: (2) Delamere 40
Race 5: (7) Summit 39
Race 6: (8) King’s Summit 44
Race 7: (5) Just Africa 60
Race 8: (6) Leila’s Charger 65
Race 9: (13) Ladies Club 45
Scottsville (wed)
Race 1: (8) Tesla 1
Race 2: (7) Moon Shadow 5
Race 3: (16) Vine Street Star 7
Race 4: (4) Straw Man 19
Race 5: (2) Queens Diamond 17
Race 6: (4) Budapest 96
Race 7: (8) Spirit Of Dover 64
Race 8: (11) Groovy News 49
Vaal (thur)
Race 1: (4) Le Tigre 8
Race 2: (2) Babbling Brooke 7
Race 3: (7) Relish 29
Race 4: (1) Isolde 16 (NAP*)
Race 5: (12) Scotland 42
Race 6: (8) National Key 70
Race 7: (4) Golden Man 52
Race 8: (4) Regal Rose 35
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Top rated winners last week included
Dreamforest won 20/1
Pachuco won 15/4
Rabada won 3/1
Roy’s Sailor won 28/10
Tribal Fusion won 5/2
Judicial won 17/10
Bela-Bela won 1/1
Peonie Rock won 9/20
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Notebook:-
Bela-Bela (J Snaith, KZN)
Blizzard King (Y Bremner, E-Cape)
Search Party (B Crawford, W-Cape)
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FASTEST TIMES
The number of races run over each distance is shown in brackets
*Denotes – Times taken by Clockwatcher
Fairview (turf) 27th May
Penetrometer 23 – Going Good
1000m (1) Zanzibar Bar 57,45
1200m (3) Armorial 69,26
1400m (2) Ashton Park 84,16
1600m (1) Vitoria 98,39
1800m (1) Kumiko 110,82
2000m (1) Shawl 125,27
2400m (1) Dreamforest 151,54
Greyville (mixed) 28th May
Turf Good/Poly Standard
1000m (1) Ilanga 58,47P
1400m (2) Oriental Oak 86,50T
1400m (4) Gambol 82,86P
2000m (2) Rabada 125,07T
2400m (1) Balance Sheet 149,91T
Kenilworth (old) 28th May
Penetrometer 22 – Going Good
1000m (1) Argo Solo 60,33
1200m (5) Search Party 71,51
1600m (1) Sublime Lady 99,44
2000m (1) Playboy Buddy 126,90
2400m (1) Red Peril 150,69
