Scenic Sunset
Fairview 4th November
The faster of the two 1000m races at Friday’s poly track meeting was the lucky last, a MR64 Handicap won by the 3yo PONT DU GARD. Backed into 18/10 from 3/1 at the track, Alan Greeff’s charge was always handy. He took up the running 150m out and won going away by two and a quarter.
Quickest home in the two 1200m races was SOUTHERN SUNSET in the MR60 affair. In the rear as the eleven runners swung for home, the top weighted daughter of Greys Inn ran on best of all in the short home straight and won with authority by a length and three quarters.
They also ran two races over 1600m and stopping the clock in the fastest time here was ROYAL UNION JET in the MR72 Handicap. In touch throughout, Grant Paddock’s charge ran on strongly at the business end of the race and comfortably accounted for the more fancied ROSSLYN CHAPEL by a length. Third in this race was HENRY OF YORK. Dropped 12 points by the official handicapper in just three starts, this 6yo ran on well from the rear and was only a short head behind the runner up.
Titbits
At the helm from pillar to post, the 3yo LORD WINDERMERE won the maiden plate over 1200m with authority by five and a quarter.
Dean’s Delight
Greyville 4th November
Racing also took place on the poly surface on Friday evening where four of the eight races were run over 1400m. The fastest of these was the bill topping MR86 Handicap won by PEACH DELIGHT. In what was one of a number of races run in the rain, Dean Kannemeyer’s charge was content to sit eighth of the ten early on. She made her move early in the straight and won well by a length and a quarter after striking the front 200m from home.
The only other distance to stage more than one race was 1200m where the quicker of the two maiden plates was the boy’s affair won by ANANDA. Soon up handy despite being drawn wide, and a little slow into stride, the nibbled at outsider took up the running 400m out. He was challenged strongly by the favourite PRINCE MYSHKIN below the distance, but kept on determinedly to score by a neck.
The last race on the card was a maiden plate over 1900m and here it was nice to see the costly to follow AVAST finally get off the mark. Making her twenty first racecourse appearance here, the daughter of Jay Peg raced prominent throughout. She put her head in front approaching the 100m marker and comfortably accounted for the 9/10 favourite MATRESSE by a length and a quarter. In the rear after taking a bump at the start, the runner up didn’t find the clearest of passages in the home straight and did well to get as close as she did.
Titbits
As has been the case on several occasions in recent starts, BIG SI was finishing best of all when a length and a quarter runner up in the MR70 Handicap over 1400m.
Beaten just three quarters of a length, the runner up WELL DRESSED was baulked for a run 350m out, and then hampered 100m later, when running on from the backend of midfield in the MR69 Handicap over 1400m.
She’s Smart
Turffontein 5th April
There were a number of smart performances on the old stand side track on Saturday and none more so than that of SHE’S A GIVER when winning the fastest of the three 1400m races, the Gr3 Starling Stakes. Freely available at 15/1 on the off, the daughter of Philanthropist was soon up handy. She was ridden to lead shortly after passing the 400m pole and after quickly going clear won impressively by three and three quarters.
The Charity Mile was not surprisingly the quickest of the three 1600m races and here victory went to She’s a Giver’s stable companion NEW PREDATOR. The third of four winners on the card for trainer Johan Janse Van Vuuren, this son of New Approach was also always positioned close to the speed. He put his head in front going through the 300m and although SARATOGA DANCER and DEO JUVENETE challenged strongly in the closing stages of the race, he did have both held at the wire.
ROMI’S BOY in the opening maiden plate over 1160m was the best bet on the card for many and the son of Querari didn’t let down his supporters. Deep in the red at 3/10 on the off Alec Laird’s charge led throughout. He was always in command, and won without any anxious moments by a length and a half.
Titbits
Previously unbeaten HEAVENLY BLUE ran on well from midfield and gaining at the finish only failed by the narrowest of margins to reel in the always handy DOOSRA when runner up in the Gr3 Graham Beck Stakes over 1400m.
Always In Command
Kenilworth 6th April
They were still racing on the old course on Saturday where the fastest of the three 1400m races was the MR86 Handicap won by MUTZI. Sent off favourite at 28/10, Justin Snaith’s charge led throughout. He appeared to be just doing the necessary and probably won a little more easily than the official winning margin of 0,4 lengths would suggest.
The faster of the two 1600m races on the card was the graduation plate won by ICY FIRE. Soon up handy, the daughter of Western Winter took up the running 300m out and kept on strongly late to fend off a determined challenge from MOONLIGHT ‘N ROSES by three quarters.
In terms of distance the biggest winning margin on the card was recorded by LLOYD’S LEGACY when getting off the mark at just the second time of asking in the maiden plate over 1200m. Backed into even money from 16/10 before the off, Dennis Drier’s charge was soon at the head of affairs. He raced a length and a half clear for most of the journey and went on to score going away by four and a quarter with some in hand.
Titbits
Now a winner of three from four, WILLIAM LONGSWORD completed a hat-trick when very easily accounting for his ten rivals in the MR72 Handicap over 1600m.
Top speedratings for this weekend include:-
Flamingo Park (mon)
Race 1: (11) Queen Chloe 5
Race 2: (6) Klondike River 39
Race 3: (3) Seattle Wolf 12
Race 4: (1) L’Attitude 13
Race 5: (4) Elegant Gent 42
Race 6: (8) So Suspect 47
Race 7: (7) Premier Chance 28
Race 8: (8) Bonfire Heart 54
Race 9: (15) Ravishing Lily 50
Vaal (tues)
Race 1: (6) Lively Debate 13
Race 2: (4) Approval Mode 37
Race 3: (4) Tilbury Fort 23
Race 4: (6) Rouge Allure 21
Race 5: (5) Caitlin’s Answer 19
Race 6: (11) Jet Fever 48
Race 7: (8) Star Of Caesour 24
Race 8: (15) Midnight Racer 42
Kenilworth (wed)
Race 1: (3) It’s Complicated 12
Race 2: (9) Juddering Angel 84
Race 3: (6) Sandy Bay 21
Race 4: (11) Mr Lover Boy 43
Race 5: (4) All Mine 51
Race 6: (8) Viking Voyage 62
Race 7: (1) Nightingale 71
Race 8: (15) Celtic Charm 39
Vaal (thur)
Race 1: (6) Flying Russian 18
Race 2: (1) Brazuca 68 (NAP**)
Race 3: (4) September Bloom 12
Race 4: (1) Chapati 27
Race 5: (11) Rajen’s Babe 40
Race 6: (10) Victor’s Castle 34
Race 7: (9) Rafa 76
Race 8: (2) Speedy Suzy 50
Race 9: (4) Invincible Flame 37
Top rated winners last week included
Temple Rock won 13/1
Dance In The Woods won 11/2
Arabian Party won 4/1
Peach Delight won 4/1
Honest Ally won 7/2
Doosra won 13/10
Lord Windermere won 11/10
Romi’s Boy won 3/10
Notebook:-
Heavenly Blue (M De Kock, Gauteng)
Lloyd’s Legacy (D Drier, W-Cape)
She’s A Giver (JJ Van Vuuren, Gauteng)
FASTEST TIMES
The number of races run over each distance is shown in brackets
*Denotes – Times taken by Clockwatcher
Fairview (poly) 4th November
Going Standard
Course Variant: 0,52s slow
1000m (2) Pont Du Gard 57,06
1200m (2) Southern Sunset 70,00
1300m (1) Dance In The Woods 75,18
1600m (2) Royal Union Jet 95,86
1900m (1) Conquering Queen 116,55
Greyville (poly) 4th November
Going Standard
Course Variant: 0,13s slow
1200m (2) Ananda 68,80
1400m (4) Peach Delight 82,24
1600m (1) Miss Minver 96,52
1900m (1) Avast 117,96
Turffontein (old) 5th November
Penetrometer 20 – Going Good
Course Variant: 0,53s fast
1000m (1) Bull Valley 55,71
1160m (1) Romi’s Boy 66,72
1400m (3) She’s A Giver 84,31
1600m (3) New Predator 97,44
1800m (1) Girl On The Run 110,75
2450m (1) The Elmo Effect 155,72
Kenilworth (old) 5th November
Penetrometer 21 – Going Good
Course Variant: 0,51s slow
1000m (1) Starflash 72,50
1400m (3) Mutzi 86,79
1600m (2) Icy Fire 99,15
2400m (1) Paddington 152,46
