Shocking Opener
Flamingo Park 27th June: As often is the case in the Northern Cape there were a few upsets on Monday, and none more so than the victory of ROCK A BYE BABY in the opening maiden juvenile plate over 1000m. Unable to get within 25 lengths of a winner in her two previous outings, the 50/1 shot was always handy. She was ridden to lead as they approached the 100m marker and went on to win by three and a quarter easing down.
There were four races run over 1000m in total and the fastest of these was the MR72 Handicap won by the visiting CANNES. Soon prominent, Clinton Binda’s charge took up the running at the halfway mark and kept on strongly over the final 400m to beat the equally well fancied SPEED LIGHTNING by two and a quarter.
A MR78 Handicap topped the bill and in what proved to be the faster of the two 1400m events victory here went to the 5yo YESAN STAR. Swiftly guided over from a wide draw by apprentice Ngcobo, the 45/1 shot was soon up handy. He ran on strongly in the straight and with the rest well beaten he got the verdict by the narrowest of margins over the running on TRIUMVIRATE.
Titbits
The 3yo Variety Spirit was always a length and a half clear when getting off the mark in the maiden plate over 1000m.
.
A Rock And A Hard Place
Vaal 28th June: They raced on the outside track on Tuesday where the fastest of the four 1000m races was the MR86 Handicap won by SPEEDY GONVARLEZ. She got away well when the gates opened and soon up handy raced prominent throughout. She was ridden to lead as they approached the 200m pole and kept on strongly in the closing stages of the race to beat the 2yo RED ROCK by a short head. Squeezed out at the start, the runner up would surely have gotten up in another stride.
Three of the four remaining races were staged over 1400m and quickest home in these was CASHIN in the MR72 Handicap. He too was always handy, and only held on by the narrowest of margins after taking up the running 300m out.
Successful in the only event over 1600m, a maiden plate, was the 28/10 second favourite AQUABOY. Taken straight to the front by Craig Zackey, the well exposed son of Sail From Seattle led throughout. The always handy favourite AIR FORCE LEGEND (reported not striding out) chased hard over the final 300m, but try as he might he couldn’t get closer than a length and a quarter at the wire.
Titbits
The heavily supported 2yo FLAMING MAD (9/10 into 1/3) won the maiden plate over 1000m by a length and three quarters with some in hand.
.
Always An Advantage
Durbanville 29th June: Racing returned to the country course on Wednesday where the going was good to soft. Being quick into stride is always an advantage at this course and so it proved to be in the opening maiden juvenile plate over 1000m where victory went to the newcomer BLAZING REBEL. Taken straight to the front by Grant Van Niekerk the 20/1 shot led throughout. He kept on strongly over the final 400m and in a race where less than a length covered the first five home, he just held on by the narrowest of margins.
Two of the eight races were run over 1400m and quickest against the clock here was the aptly named IMPRESSED. Another to lead from pillar to post, the Silvano gelding was always clear. He was kept up to his work all the way to the wire and won with complete authority by six and a quarter.
A MR88 Handicap over 1600m topped the bill and here we saw a smart performance from the 3yo ICY TRAIL. Nibbled at on course into 6/1 from 10’s, Mike Bass’ charge raced in midfield for most of the journey. He quickest well when the race began in earnest at the top of the home straight, and won going away by two and a quarter.
Titbits
The 5yo RED PERIL ran on well from the backend of midfield when a half-length runner up in the MR74 Handicap over 2400m.
.
Against All Odds
Vaal 30th June: Three of the eight races at the Vaal’s new classic track on Thursday were run over 1200m and the fastest of these was the MR74 Handicap in which NATION BUILDER registered his third career victory. Sent off second in the betting market at 6/1, the son of Toreador took a bump at the start and as a result he raced at the back early on. The 6/10 favourite HIDDEN AGENDA was the first to make a move and on striking the front 150m out, he looked to have done everything right. Running on stoutly after switching out for a run 250m from home though, Nation Builder mowed him down quickly at the business end of the race and won going away after hitting the front close home.
In terms of distance the easiest victory on the card was recorded by WRECKING BALL in the opening juvenile plate over 1000m. Nibbled at on course into 2/1 from 5/2, the second favourite was soon at the head of affairs. She was two lengths clear of a strung out field going through halfway and extended her advantage to three and three quarters over the final 400m.
Another to win with authority on this card was FORT MEYERS in the faster of the two 1600m events, A MR88 Handicap. Always top of the boards, Sean Tarry’s charge raced third for most of the journey. He was ridden to lead as they approached the 200m marker and comfortably accounted for KINGS ARCHER (led 250m) by three.
Titbits
After racing handy the 2yo SKY HIGH FLYER won the maiden plate over 1200m going away by two and a quarter.
The 35/1 shot WORLD DOMINATION ran on well from the back when a 2,4 length runner up in the MR72 Handicap over 1800m.
.
Top speedratings for this weekend include:-
Fairview (fri)
Race 1: (4) Killala 16
Race 2: (7) Captain Courteous 21 (NAP***)
Race 3: (9) Foyle 53
Race 4: (4) Paratus 7
Race 5: (11) Fly Me Over 64
Race 6: (2) Drill Sargeant 77
Race 7: (12) O Tamara 52
Race 8: (4) Cruzcampo 70
Race 9: (11) Shine Like A Star 59
Turffontein (sat)
Race 1: (1) Amber Flash 22 (nb)
Race 2: (5) Shebang 18
Race 3: (5) Outshine 21
Race 4: (11) Sail For Joy 32 (NAP*)
Race 5: (2) Shadow Ofhis Smile 84
Race 6: (5) Coby 63
Race 7: (2) Reef Of Fortune 53
Race 8: (2) Sao Paulo 16
Race 9: (8) Over It 31
Kenilworth (sat)
Race 1: (7) Pride Rock 10
Race 2: (7) Sign Your Name 15
Race 3: (1) Imperial Dancer 27 (nb)
Race 4: (2) Prudence Prevails 17
Race 5: (13) Sea Spray 44 (EW)
Race 6: (3) Kilrain 75
Race 7: (1) Dixie Express 60
Race 8: (10) Glorious Goodwood 24 (NAP**)
Scottsville (sun)
Race 1: (1) Baron Bellet 15
Race 2: (4) Golden Mirabilis 65
Race 3: (16) Captain At Sea 30 (NAP*)
Race 4: (2) Power Horse 12
Race 5: (1) Escovich 27
Race 6: (10) Pirogue 65
Race 7: (11) Good Idea 33
Race 8: (8) Albert 56
Race 9: (8) Maria Estella 35
.
Top rated winners last week included
Nation Builder won 6/1
Cannes won 9/2
Impressed won 22/10
Table Bay won 22/10
Wrecking Ball won 2/1
Witchcraft won 18/10
Jewel Quest won 13/10
World In Union won 5/10
.
Notebook:-
Icy Trail (M Bass, W-Cape)
Red Rock (S Tarry, Gauteng)
.
FASTEST TIMES
The number of races run over each distance is shown in brackets
*Denotes – Times taken by Clockwatcher
Flamingo Park 27th June
Going Standard
1000m (4) Cannes 57,47
1200m (2) Pegged For Glory 73,09
1400m (2) Yesan Star 86,01
1600m (1) Kalidar 100,27
.
Vaal (outside) 28th June
Penetrometer 20 – Going Good
1000m (4) Speedy Gonvarlez 56,38
1400m (3) Cashin 81,97
1600m (1) Aquaboy 94,97
Durbanville 29th June
Penetrometer 26 – Going G/Soft
1000m (2) Indigo Storm 59,62
1200m (1) Tipping Point 74,62
1300m (1) Solar Night 77,77
1400m (2) Impressed 85,00
1600m (1) Icy Trail 97,16
2400m (1) Charlie Strong 156,19
Vaal (classic) 30th June
Penetrometer 20 – Going Good
1000m (1) Wrecking Ball 56,93*
1200m (3) Nation Builder 70,06
1600m (2) Fort Myers 94,90
1800m (2) Wild Horizon 108,36
