Swiss ATM
Kenilworth 22nd March: Four of the eight races on Sunday were run over 1400m and fastest against the clock amongst these was WHAT A MISSION in the MR77 Handicap. Sent off a well-supported favourite at 13/10 (op 2/1) the top weight raced fifth during the early part of the race. He ran on strongly in the new course straight and did well to get the better of CATSIDE SLEW (led 200m) close home.
The faster of the two 1200m races was the bill topping MR95 Handicap won by MISTER MATCHETT. Another to find solid support at the track (4/1 into 28/10 2nd fav), Darryl Hodgson’s charge was always well positioned to strike. He did so going through the 200m and won well from the uneasy favourite HEARTLAND (8/10 out to 18/10) by a length and a half.
The biggest winning margin on the eight race program was the length and three quarters recorded by the newcomer CHAMPERY (12/1 into 5/2 fav) when winning the opening maiden juvenile plate over 1000m. On leaving the stalls it was another newcomer MOONBLANCHED who elected to make the running whilst the daughter of Querari raced close up in fifth. She quickened well from halfway and won comfortably from the easy to back JANE S PIDDY.
Another juvenile to win well on this card was JET AIR in the 1400m event. Soon up handy in what quickly became a strung out field, the uneasy favourite (17/20 out to 14/10) took up the running going through the 400m and only having to be pushed out in the closing stages of the race, won by a length and a quarter.
Titbits
Having only his second career outing here SILVER SNAFFLES ran on well from midfield when third in the maiden plate over 1400m.
FERDNAND THE BULL ran on strongly late when coming from the rear to fill third position in the MR77 Handicap over 1400m.
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Ten From Fifteen
Vaal 24th March: They raced on the sand on Tuesday where the fastest of the three 1450m events was the listed Riverside Handicap won by TAPTAP MAKHATINI. Sent off as the lesser fancied of Sean Tarry’s two runners, the 6/1 shot raced third for most of the trip. He put his head in front as they approached the 300m marker and kept on strongly late to beat the running on FORM UP by a half. The runner up came from the rear and did well to get as close as he did.
The best bet on the card for most was TRIP TEASE in what not surprisingly proved to be the faster of the two 1000m events. Always in the red to win this pinnacle stakes, Louis Goosen’s charge made all. He was always in command and won well from the running on ACROSS THE ICE. Trip Tease has now won ten times in just fifteen outings.
The faster of the two races over 1200m was the MR80 Handicap won by the veteran ROCKINGANDROLLING. Drawn in pole position Paul Matchett’s charge got away well and was soon very well placed in second. He took up the running going through the 300m and kept on strongly late to beat the 3yo CASCIANO by two and three quarters.
The lucky last was a maiden plate over 1450m and here we saw a very comfortable victory for the 12/10 favourite SAVE THE DAY. Pitched in against what has to be said was a very moderate bunch, the lightly raced daughter of Kahal was soon at the head of affairs. She raced two and a half lengths clear throughout and won without any anxious moments.
Titbits
In the rear turning for home RIVER TRIP made up many lengths in the straight when comfortably accounting for LADY CASEY in the listed Nkosazana Stakes over 1450m.
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Officer In Command
Kenilworth 25th March: A maiden juvenile plate over 1000m got proceedings underway in Cape Town on Wednesday and here victory went to the easy to back TAR HEEL. Eventually sent off at 7/1 after opening up at 5’s, Joey Ramsden’s charge was soon positioned close to the speed. He ran on strongly over the final 300m and just got the better of the only filly in the race VICTORIA LAVELLE.
Three of the afternoon’s nine races were run over 1400m and the fastest of these was the bill topping MR87 Handicap won by PETTY OFFICER. On leaving the stalls it was IMPERIAL ROSE who elected to make the running whilst Greg Ennion’s charge was content to sit in midfield. She quickened nicely at the top of the straight and won going away after striking the front 100m or so from home.
The faster of the two 1000m races on the card was the MR80 Handicap won by the top weight WESTERN MOVIE. The 5yo broke well when the gates opened and led throughout. The more fancied runner up BOLD VAR raced close up in second throughout, but try as he might he couldn’t make any headway when the race began in earnest.
Titbits
Lightly raced NOISETTE ran on well from the rear when third in the maiden juvenile plate over 1400m.
Easy to back MEGAMIND ran on very well from midfield when opening his account in the maiden plate over 1200m.
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Top speedratings for this weekend include:-
Flamingo Park (mon)
Race 1: (4) Je’taime Flamenco 14
Race 2: (1) Over Achiever 6
Race 3: (8) Supreme Leader 26
Race 4: (4) Wimoweh 32
Race 5: (3) Flying Galileo 43
Race 6: (1) All The Bids 58 (NAP**)
Race 7: (6) San Vicenzo 33
Race 8: (13) Spanish Tiger 32
Race 9: (11) On This Rock 62
Scottsville (tues)
Race 1: No Qualifiers
Race 2: (2) King’s Knight 7
Race 3: (8) Well Dressed 9
Race 4: (3) Captain Broadhurst 20
Race 5: (2) Captain’s Daughter 59
Race 6: (9) Here We Are 48
Race 7: (11) Big Bird 53
Race 8: (4) Sabaha 48
Turffontein (tues)
Race 1: (7) Planner 5
Race 2: (12) Shivering Sea 11
Race 3: (4) Fiesta De Espana 18
Race 4: (2) Golden Man 22
Race 5: (2) Kaplan 62
Race 6: (11) Divine Grace 63
Race 7: (12) Fair Deal 50
Race 8: (17) Bermuda Bowl 45
Race 9: (14) Odd Rob 30 (NAP*)
Durbanville (wed)
Race 1: (3) So Suspect 11
Race 2: (3) Tiger Tops 58
Race 3: (1) Arezzo 13 (NAP*)
Race 4: (8) Zakuska 41
Race 5: (3) Capel Top 45
Race 6: (8) Lane Frost 52
Race 7: (5) Fairy Maker 54
Race 8: (9) Exclusive Knight 12
Vaal (thur)
Race 1: (9) Silver Sniper 7
Race 2: (8) Magicalad 8
Race 3: (1) Princess Milo 19
Race 4: (2) Akii Bua 70
Race 5: (1) Celtic Heroine 39
Race 6: (4) Limbo 35
Race 7: (3) Winter Glory 50
Race 8: (4) On This Rock 62
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Top rated winners last week included
Mysterio won 18/1
Ballerini won 7/1
Taarish won 13/2
Shake And Bake won 4/1
The Centenary won 33/10
Pretty Special won 3/1
Arcetri Pink won 11/10
Trip Tease won 6/10
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Notebook:-
Trip Tease (L Goosen, Gauteng)
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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) 22nd March
Penetrometer 21 – Going Good
1000m (1) Champery 60,19*
1200m (2) Mister Matchett 72,92
1400m (4) What A Mission 87,87
1800m (1) Boston Celtic 113,22
Vaal (sand) 24th March
Going Standard
1000m (2) Trip Tease 57,42
1200m (2) Rockingandrolling 72,84
1450m (3) Taptap Makhatini 88,92
1800m (1) Quid Rides 114,23
Kenilworth (new) 25th March
Penetrometer 20 – Going Good
1000m (2) Western Movie 59,04
1200m (2) Megamind 74,36
1400m (3) Petty Officer 87,42
1600m (2) Henry Of York 101,48
