Up In Trip
Kenilworth 16th January: With the bookmakers calling 7/1 bar the favourite one might have expected CARRY ON ALICE to be a good thing in the bill topping Gr2 Sceptre Stakes over 1200m on Saturday, but running on from the rear she was never a threat. Victory instead went to the 8/1 shot PRINCESS ROYAL. Positioned in the middle in what was always a very tightly bunched field, Glen Kotzen’s charge ran on stoutly at the business end of the race, and in a blanket finish she got up late to score by a half.
Three of the afternoon’s eight races were run over 2000m and quickest home amongst these was GATHERING FAME in the listed Jamaica Handicap. Allowed to ease out to 8/1 from 11/2 at the track, Dennis Drier’s charge raced in midfield for most of the journey. She quickened well at the top of the long new course straight and won going away from the similarly unfancied MORNING LIGHT.
The faster of the two 1600m races was the maiden plate in which we saw an impressive performance from SEARCH PARTY. Trying the distance for the first time, and winning in a time almost 1,5 seconds faster than that recorded by the MR74 Handicap winner ELUSIVE SILVA, Brett Crawford’s charge sat seventh of the ten early on. He was asked to take up the running as they approached the 300m marker and only having to be pushed out won going away by four and a quarter.
Titbits
Always handy, the recent maiden winner ELUSIVE SILVA won the MR74 Handicap over 1600m going away by a length.
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7 x 1200m
Scottsville 17th January: The going was soft in Pietermaritzburg on Sunday where seven of the eight races were run over 1200m. A MR78 Handicap topped a rather moderate bill and in what proved to be the fastest of the 1200m races the 6yo Aldric found the winner’s enclosure. Soon up with the speed, James Goodman’s charge took command 250m out and won with authority by a length and three quarters.
The fastest of the four maiden events over 1200m was the first division for the boys won by the well-supported favourite DESERT FIGHTER. The son of Toreador wasn’t the quickest into stride when the gates opened and as a result he raced in midfield early on. He put his head in front shortly after passing the 400m marker and won going away by three and a quarter.
The one remaining race was a MR70 Handicap over 1000m and here victory went to the easy to back GINGER BISCUIT. Freely available at 10/1 on the off, the daughter of Admire Main raced in the rear during the early part of the race. She was ridden to lead as they approached the 200m marker and kept on strongly late to beat the running on favourite SISTER COSMOS by a length.
Titbits
The 5yo BETWEEN THE SHEETS won the second division of the girl’s maiden 1200m going away by four.
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Let It Rain
Turffontein 19th January: They raced on the inside track on Tuesday afternoon where a half of the races were run over 1450m. The fastest of these was the bill topping MR88 Handicap won by JOLIE ROGER. Content to sit in the rear for most of the journey, Alec Laird’s charge quickened well early in the short home straight and got up late to score by a length.
The faster of the two 1800m races was the MR68 Handicap won by the well-supported SISTERS OF MERCY. Backed in to 5/1 from 8’s at the track, the well handicapped daughter of Greys Inn raced in midfield during the early part of the race. She made her move coming off the strip and won well by a length after striking the front 100m or so from home. A little slow into stride, the runner up RUBY RUBY (10/1 into 9/2) was flying at the finish and did well to get as close as she did.
Another to find the winner’s enclosure after finding good support on this card was RAINY DAY BLUES in the graduation plate over 1600m. Eventually sent off at 5/1 after opening up at 10’s, the stable companion to the favourite (BUCKLAND 5/2) raced sixth of the eight for most of the journey. He produced a nice turn of foot below the distance and in what proved to be a real thriller he got up in the very last stride.
Titbits
The 3yo Western Winter filly FROSTY FRIDAY completed a very smart hat-trick when winning the graduation event over 1450m.
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Early Domination
Kenilworth 20th January: The stable of Justin Snaith have been dominating the 2yo events in Cape Town so far this season and they were again on the mark on Wednesday when the supported newcomer SOWETO MOON did the business in the opening maiden juvenile plate over 1000m. Positioned fourth of the five early on, the son of Zoffany struck the front 400m out and won with authority by a length and three quarters from IN YOUR FACE.
There were three races run over 1000m in total and comfortably the fastest of these was the MR68 Handicap won by SAILS SET. Allowed to ease out to 15/4 from 5/2 at track, Brett Crawford’s charge raced up with the speed throughout. She kept on strongly at the business end of the race and won well from the running on favourite BOOMTOWN BELTER.
The only other distance to stage more than one race was 1400m and in the faster of these, CECIL JOHN got off the mark. Freely available at 22/1 to win the not so lucky last, a maiden plate, the well-tried Seventh Rock gelding was always in touch with the leaders. He ran on strongly in the straight and in a race where less than a length covered the first four home, he scored by 0,4 lengths from the running on STORM FRONT.
Titbits
The lightly raced 3yo SOLANA won the maiden plate over 1600m with some in hand.
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Appreciating The Extra
Vaal 21st January: The biggest winning margin at Thursday’s outside track meeting was that of ENDHARR when opening his account in the boy’s division of the maiden 1600m. Always handy, Mike De Kock’s charge took up the running as they approached the 400m marker and kept up to his work all the way to the wire, he came home lonely by six and three quarters.
There were five races run over 1600m in total and the fastest of these was the MR86 Handicap won by the Stronghold mare FORTITUDE. Sent off third in the betting market (11/2) after opening up a joint favourite (4/1), Lucky Houdalakis’ charge wasn’t the quickest into stride and raced in midfield early on. She ran on stoutly over the final 400m and with the rest well beaten she got up very late to deny the front running CASSIE O’MALLEY (5/1 into 4/1 favourite).
Three of the remaining four races were run over 1000m and fastest against the clock in these was MAGIC in the MR76 affair. On leaving the stalls MANX PARK and BRIGTNUMBERFOUR who disputed the lead, whilst Leon Erasmus’ charge raced close up in fourth. He ran on strongly at the business end of the race and no doubt aided by Manx Park hanging and shifting around, he got up late to score by a neck.
Titbits
The 3yo GAINS TAX won the girls’ division of the maiden 1600m by two and a quarter with some in hand.
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Top speedratings for this weekend include:-
Fairview (fri)
Race 1: (1) Taketotask 7
Race 2: (6) Witchery 68
Race 3: (6) Rave King 12 (EW)
Race 4: (1) Eternal Winter 9
Race 5: (6) Sensuous Sally 69
Race 6: (7) Silvane Spring 41
Race 7: (1) Al Don Cumarco 83 (NAP*)
Race 8: (13) Pepe 46
Race 9: (15) Spectacular Jet 58
Greyville (fri)
Race 1: (2) Brave Knight 27
Race 2: (1) Ho’oponopono 46
Race 3: (1) Zavaroni 2
Race 4: (8) Strategic’s Pride 52
Race 5: (8) Machaan 55
Race 6: (9) The King’s Hand 63
Race 7: (9) Semonkong 39 (EW)
Race 8: (10) Ethylene 42
Turffontein (sat)
Race 1: (7) Cat’s Whiskers 23 (NAP*)
Race 2: (5) Span Die Seile 21
Race 3: (4) Schillaci 33
Race 4: (4) Dublin Rebel 44
Race 5: (2) Sharp Princess 47
Race 6: (5) Hawaiian Sun 69
Race 7: (7) Crimson Magic 37
Race 8: (15) Smart Call 107
Race 9: (2) Be Mine Tonight 66
Race 10: (9) Delighted 40
Kenilworth (sat)
Race 1: (5) Oriental Tiger 66 (EW)
Race 2: (3) Morning Light 64
Race 3: (2) Acaciawood 58
Race 4: (3) Felicity Flyer 20
Race 5: (17) Three Blue Cranes 58
Race 6: (1) Mister Matchett 74
Race 7: (1) Trip Tease 97
Race 8: (15) Smart Call 107
Race 9: (5) Solid Speed 86 (NAP**)
Race 10: (4) Francia 44
Race 11: (8) Mr Wise Guy 57 (EW)
Race 12: (14) Baritone 78
Greyville (sun)
Race 1: (6) Zigzagonal 1
Race 2: (14) Wind Singer 17
Race 3: (13) Giveuwings 19 (nb)
Race 4: (16) Ghaliya 18
Race 5: (1) Miss Varlicious 54
Race 6: (1) Ice Machine 102
Race 7: (13) Ten Gun Salute 87
Race 8: (3) Lala 53 (NAP**)
Race 9: (7) Executive Power 81
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Top rated winners last week included
Hilaria won 20/1
Man’s Inn won 9/1
Bilateral won 3/1
Minnesota won 5/2
Orange Tractor won 5/2
Search Party won 13/10
Profit Ratio won 11/10
Abashiri won 7/10
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Notebook:-
Desert Fighter (D Drier, KZN)
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
Kenilworth (new) 16th January
Penetrometer 21 – Going Good
1000m (1) La Favourari 59,05
1200m (1) Princess Royal 72,21
1400m (1) Hilaria 88,56
1600m (2) Search Party 101,67
2000m (3) Gathering Fame 126,65
Scottsville 17th January
Penetrometer 26 – Going Soft
1000m (1) Ginger Biscuit 58,59
1200m (7) Aldric 70,73*
Turffontein (inner) 19th January
Penetrometer 20 – Going Good
1000m (1) Dragon Var 59,51
1450m (4) Jolly Roger 88,02
1600m (1) Rainy Day Blues 97,79
1800m (2) Sisters Of Mercy 112,78
Kenilworth (new)20th January
Penetrometer 21 Going Good
1000m (3) Sails Set 59,59
1200m (1) Queen At War 74,14
1400m (2) Cecil John 88,65
1600m (1) Solana 102,13
2000m (1) Orange Tractor 127,08
Vaal (outside) 21st January
Penetrometer 21 – Going Good
1000m (3) Magic 57,05
1200m (1) Minnesota 71,48
1600m (5) Fortitude 95,04
