Full Of Promise
Vaal 18th December: Eleven races took place on the outside track on Thursday and five of them were run over 1600m. The fastest of these was the MR72 Handicap in which we saw a very smart performance from the 3yo KARRAAR. Sent off favourite at 5/2 the best bet on the card for Sporting Post was always handy. He was ridden to lead shortly after passing the 400m marker and comfortably accounted for another useful looking 3yo in GREEK LEGEND by two and a half.
The fastest of the four races run over 1200m was the MR84 Handicap in which WHATALADY registered her second career victory. On leaving the stalls it was SARVE who elected to make the running whilst Stanley Ferreira’s charge sat fifth. The nibbled at DRIFTING DUSK was the first to make a move and running on strongly after taking up the running 400m out, she looked to have done everything right. Whatalady ran on stoutly at the business end of the race though and in what proved to be a real thriller she got up in the dying strides.
The only race to be run over 1000m was a MR72 Handicap and here victory went to the well supported 16/10 favourite DOING IT FOR DAN. Always handy, the son of Windrush put his head in front approaching the 100m pole and won going away by a length and a half. Detached at the rear early on, fourth placed TIGER STORM ran on well over the final 400m and did well to get within three and a quarter lengths.
In terms of distance the easiest victory on the card was recorded by the newcomer AMSTERDAM in the boy’s division of the maiden 1600m. He got away well when the gates opened and was soon up handy. He was asked to take up the running 150m out and drew clear in good style below the distance to score by three and a half.
Titbits
CEDARWOOD (maiden 1600m) and AZANIAH (MR68 Handicap 1400m) both ran on well from off the pace in their respective races to finish third.
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Roll Out The Barrel
Fairview 19th December: Port Elizabeth’s first juvenile race of the season was first up on Friday and in what proved to be a real thriller victory here went to the Trippi colt PARADISE COVE. The even money favourite (op 5/10) ROCK OF VICTORY set the pace and a very good one it was too. Indeed, only COXSWAIN could go with him. On hitting the distance though, the early effort began to take its toll on the front runners and their four length advantage quickly began to evaporate. Paradise Cove had raced third and got up in the dying strides.
The listed Memorial Mile topped the bill and in what was the only race over the distance on the day victory here went to the easy to back RED BARREL. Allowed to ease right out to 12/1 from 7’s at the track, Tara Laing’s charge raced in midfield for most of the journey. He quickened well at the top of the long home straight and went on to win well by two after striking the front 200m from home.
Surprisingly the faster of the two 1200m races was the maiden plate won by BLACK BELLAMY. In the rear early on, Mike McLachlan’s charge ran on best of all and did well to collar the ultra-consistent DESTINY DRIVEN (raced midfield – led 300m) in the very last stride.
Titbits
The Daylami mare DONA DATIA won the MR63 Handicap over 2400m going away.
Now unbeaten in two starts, SHAUNTREL only had to be pushed out when winning the novice plate over 1200m with plenty in hand.
ENDEARMENT (midfield – baulked 300m) and FOREST NYMPH (raced detached at the rear) both ran on very well when 1st & 4th respectively in the MR74 Handicap over 1400m.
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As Well As Ever
Greyville 19th December: The easiest victory on Friday evening’s poly track card was recorded by CAGE FIGHTER when winning the MR78 Handicap over 1600m. Having only his second outing following an eight month layoff, Sean Tarry’s charge was soon up handy. He was ridden to lead shortly after passing the 300m pole and then quickly going clear he went on to score by three.
There were three races run over 1600m in total and the fastest of these was the MR75 affair won by the 7/2 favourite TIME MARCHES ON. Nicely positioned in fifth early on, the daughter of Overlord took up the running early in the straight and won comfortably by a length.
The faster of the two 1400m maiden plates on the card was the girl’s affair won by the lightly raced 3yo SPANGLE. Another to race close to the speed, the daughter of Trippi took up the running 100m out and won by a half from the always handy DIANA’S JET.
Titbits
BEAUTIFUL JET ran on strongly from towards the rear when only beaten a neck by the in-form LADY OF KILDARE in the MR66 Handicap over 1600m.
ROYAL ROY won the MR74 Handicap going away by a length and three quarters.
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Top speedratings for this weekend include:-
Fairview
Race 1: (7) Family Fortune 14
Race 2: (2) In Accordance 5
Race 3: (4) Sartorius 54
Race 4: (10) Properzio 49
Race 5: (6) Kono 80
Race 6: (8) Commanche Moon 60
Race 7: (1) Ikati 62
Race 8: (8) Shake And Bake 42 (EW)
Turffontein
Race 1: (6) Mambonick 8
Race 2: (12) River Empress 14
Race 3: (1) Unparalleled 75 (NAP*)
Race 4: (1) Pretty Special 11
Race 5: (1) Heart Of A Lion 71
Race 6: (4) Flame Cat 77
Race 7: (7) Bichett 58
Race 8: (13) Double Bind 60
Scottsville
Race 1: (7) Roy’s Goddess 10
Race 2: (2) Salander 12
Race 3: (3) Callandor 14
Race 4: (1) Burra Boy 20
Race 5: (5) Many A Summer 17
Race 6: (8) Forestry Law 57
Race 7: (7) Panama Man 74 (EW)
Race 8: (3) Lizard’s Passion 49
Race 9: (11) Kaji 38
Race 10: (1) Your Worship 28
Kenilworth
Race 1: (1) Stem In Die Bos 21
Race 2: (4) Playing The Enemy 48 (EW)
Race 3: (2) Evoke Emotion 14
Race 4: (2) Arezzo 11
Race 5: (4) Queens Music 51
Race 6: (7) Lebombo Breeze 47
Race 7: (10) Belcourt Castle 49
Race 8: (6) Be At Peace 15
Turffontein
Race 1: (1) Strictlycumdancin 2
Race 2: (2) Flaming Ace 32
Race 3: (4) Vino Veritas 67
Race 4: (10) Rocky Stallone 61
Race 5: (8) Glenshee 67
Race 6: (13) Seattle Trade 47
Race 7: (4) Azaniah 55 (EW)
Race 8: (6) Power Jet 60
Race 9: (6) Frikkie 23
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Top rated winners last week included
Mr Mulliner won 16/1
Big Bucks won 13/2
Djembe Jamming won 11/2
Feels Like Heaven won 5/1
Sail South won 7/2
Battle In Seattle won 3/1
Liquid Mercury won 3/1
Fort Meyers won 22/10
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Notebook:-
Amsterdam (P Peter, Gauteng)
Karraar (M De Kock, Gauteng)
Shauntrel (A Greeff, E-Cape)
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FASTEST TIMES
The number of races run over each distance is shown in brackets
*Denotes – Times taken by Clockwatcher
Vaal (outside) 18th December
Penetrometer 20 – Going Good
1000m (1) Doing It For Dan 56,36
1200m (4) Whatalady 68,43
1400m (1) China Beach 81,67
1600m (5) Karraar 93,75
Fairview 19th December
Penetrometer
800m (1) Paradise Cove 46/10
1200m (2) Black Bellamy 70,27
1400m (4) Symbolik 84,73
1600m (1) Red Barrel 96,88
2400m (1) Dona Datia 153,00
Greyville (poly) 19th December
Going
1000m (1) Scrum Half 58,57
1200m (1) Royal Roy 70,78
1400m (2) Spangle 85,79
1600m (3) Time Marches On 95,62
1900m (1) Call The C
