Still Going Strong
Fairview 6th November: Favourite backers got off to a nice start in Port Elizabeth on Friday when WELSH EMPEROR did the business in the opening maiden plate over 1200m. Always in the red, the Go Deputy colt raced in midfield during the early part of the race. He began to take closer order passing halfway and drew clear easily to score by four and a half after striking the front 350m from home.
There were three races run over 1200m in total and the fastest of these was the novice plate won by FIRTH OF CLYDE. Freely available at 7/1 on the off, Yvette Bremner’s charge also came from midfield. He ran on stoutly over the final 400m, and under a well-judged ride from S’manga Khumalo he got up late to deny the 20/1 shot REM.
A pinnacle stakes over 1600m topped the bill and here victory went to the veteran STRAW MARKET. On leaving the stalls it was WAY CLEAR who elected to make the running whilst the former Gauteng campaigner sat handy in fifth. He was ridden to lead as they approached the 300m marker and kept on strongly in the closing stages of the race to beat the 15/10 favourite RED BARREL by two and a quarter.
Titbits
Third placed KANARA ran on well from midfield when only beaten a neck in the Guineas Plate for 3yo fillies over 1400m.
FORT KALIMENTA won the maiden plate over 2000m very easily by five and a quarter.
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Well Weighted
Greyville 6th November: The only race to be run on turf on Friday evening was the opening maiden plate over 1600m in which BLACK CASHMERE opened her account. Swiftly guided over from a wide draw by Anton Marcus the lightly raced daughter of Dupont made virtually all. She was always a length or so clear and won without any anxious moments by that margin.
Three of the seven races run on the poly were staged over 1200m and quickest home amongst these was SILENCE DESCENDS in the MR78 Handicap. Racing off a mark some ten points lower than that of his earlier best, the 4yo son of Captain Al. was always handy. He ran on strongly in the short home straight and with the rest well beaten he got up late to beat the front running SURREY by three quarters.
The best bet on the card for most was ICE RUN in the maiden plate over 1200m and the 3yo didn’t let down his supporters. Another to win from the front under Anton Marcus, the 1/3 favourite was challenged strongly as they approached the 300m pole by the easy to back COLONEL BLING. Once given rein though, he found another gear and won going away by two and three quarters.
Titbits
The easy maiden winner FREE STATE again impressed when winning the MR76 Handicap over 1000m with authority by two and three quarters.
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Coming Along Nicely
Vaal 7th November: They raced on the inside track on Saturday where there was a major upset in the fastest of the three 1400m races. Freely available at 20/1 to win the MR68 Handicap, YAWAYLA ALAYLA was soon positioned close to the speed. She put her head in front going through the 400m and kept on strongly late to beat the running on NKOMO by a half.
There were also three races run over 1000m and quickest home here was CLEAN CUT in the MR69 affair. In the rear at the halfway stage, Clinton Binda’s charge finished best of all and got up in the dying strides to deny the fancied BLAZING BRAVE.
The faster of the two 1700m events was the bill topping MR86 Handicap won by CANDY ROCK. On leaving the stalls it was SAMURAI BLADE who somewhat surprisingly elected to set the pace whilst Mike De Kock’s charge raced close up in fifth. Samurai Blade kept on strongly all the way to the wire, but could find no extra when the son of Fastnet Rock went past 100m from home. Having only his second outing here following a six month layoff, Candy Rock won well and can only improve next time.
Titbits
MOVIE AWARD ran on well from midfield when getting up late to win the maiden plate over 1000m.
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Climb Every Mountain
Kenilworth 7th November: The action again took place on the old course in Cape Town on Saturday where victory in the bill topping Gr2 Choice Carriers Championship over 1400m went to the poorly drawn SILVER MOUNTAIN. Nibbled at on course into 7/1 from 10’s, Mike Bass’ charge, not surprisingly, found herself positioned towards the rear early on. Once in the short home straight though, she quickly began to work her way through the field. She struck the front some 60m from home and won going away by a length and a half from the 2/1 favourite ENTISAAR.
Three of the afternoon’s nine races were run over 1600m and quickest home in these was NEALA in the MR68 Handicap. Backed into favouritism during the afternoon, Shane Humby’s charge was soon up handy. She was ridden to lead as they approached the 100m marker and with some in hand won going away by a length and a half.
In terms of distance the easiest victory on the card was recorded by QING when opening her account in the maiden 1600m. Always handy, the daughter of Dynasty took up the running shortly after passing the 400m marker and won going away by three and three quarters.
Titbits
Running on strongly from the rear, THE STONE THROWER had to switch 250m out and only failed to land the 1200m graduation plate by the narrowest of margins.
CAPTAIN ALFREDO won the MR90 Handicap over 1000m with authority by a length and three quarters.
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Top speedratings for this weekend include:-
Flamingo Park (mon)
Race 1: (5) Jolene 6
Race 2: (4) Mister Potter 15
Race 3: (1) Maya The Bee 2
Race 4: (3) Blast 47 (NAP*)
Race 5: (2) Casey Novak 31
Race 6: (11) Careless Love 44
Race 7: (6) Balli Miracle 41
Race 8: (12) Noble Virtue 40
Race 9: (6) Raging Princess 34
Race 10: (4) Boarding Call 54
Vaal (tues)
Race 1: (9) Span Die Seile 21
Race 2: (3) Honolua Bay 15
Race 3: (12) Reef Of Fortune 35 (NAP**)
Race 4: (5) Peggy Jay 21
Race 5: (1) Jade Bay 84
Race 6: (1) Melliflora 40
Race 7: (1) Silver Class 62
Race 8: (13) Bah 62
Kenilworth (wed)
Race 1: (3) Psycho Syd 23
Race 2: (2) Tripinthemist 24
Race 3: (3) Come Fly With Me 83 (NAP*)
Race 4: (4) Nutbush 20
Race 5: (11) Playboy Buddy 18
Race 6: (8) Cape Speed 65
Race 7: (3) Stratocruiser 50
Race 8: (8) Sea Spray 39
Race 9: (8) Stem In Die Bos 50
Turffontein (thur)
Race 1: (6) Forever A Lady 9
Race 2: (4) Trophy Wife 77
Race 3: (1) Mississippi Rising 19
Race 4: (2) Koncealed 24
Race 5: (9) Lavish Gal 51
Race 6: (9) Lisnoble 51
Race 7: (5) Top Shot 57
Race 8: (6) Respectable Ruler 59
Race 9: (4) Shawl 29 (EW)
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Top rated winners last week included
Capel Top won 13/2
Movie Award won 9/2
Pyrenees In Spain won 4/1
Soul Of Spain won 28/10
Cup Cake won 5/2
Queen Delta won 5/2
Nebula won 16/10
Wishful Heart won 13/10
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Notebook:-
Candy Rock (M De Kock, Gauteng)
Free State (W Whitehead, KZN)
Silver Mountain (M Bass, W-Cape)
Welsh Emperor (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
Fairview (turf) 6th November
Penetrometer 24 – Going G/Soft
1000m (1) Simply Black 58,18*
1200m (3) Firth Of Clyde 71,56
1400m (2) Cup Cake 87,66*
1600m (1) Straw Market 100,16
2000m (1) Fort Kalimenta 128,47*
Greyville (turf/poly) 6th November
Turf Good – Poly Standard
1000m (1) Free State 58,29P
1200m (3) Silence Descends 70,49P
1400m (1) Max The Man 83,63P
1600m (1) Black Cashmere 100,94T
2000m (2) Duchess Kate 121,95P
Vaal (inside) 7th November
Penetrometer 21 – Going Good
1000m (3) Clean Cut 57,05
1200m (2) Amazing Strike 68,76
1400m (3) Yawayla Alayla 82,21
1700m (2) Candy Rock 102,00
Kenilworth (old) 7th November
Penetrometer 23 – Going Good
1000m (2) Captain Alfredo 57,55
1200m (2) Captain’s Flame 72,47
1400m (1) Silver Mountain 86,32
1600m (3) Neala 100,11
2400m (1) Three Balloons 152,08
