Racing Alone
Scottsville 17th April: Five of the nine races in Pietermaritzburg on Sunday were run over 1400m and the fastest of these was the first division of the MR70 Handicap won by the visiting GAMBOL. Soon up handy, the son of Stronghold raced prominent throughout. He was ridden to lead as they approached the 200m marker and comfortably accounted for ROY’S AMBASSADOR by two. Poorly drawn PYRENEES IN SPAIN ran on from the rear to fill third position in this race.
The faster of the two maiden juvenile events over the distance was the girls’ affair won by FINAL JUDGEMENT. Sent off a strong favourite at 11/10, Glen Kotzen’s charge made all. She was always clear and won without any anxious moments from DAWN CALLING.
Quickest home in the two 1200m races was EXELERO when registering his sixth career victory in the pinnacle stakes. Another to make all, Vaughan Marshall’s charge raced alone on the outside and won comfortably by a length and a quarter.
Titbits
The 4yo ROY’S TWILIGHT completed a hat-trick when winning the MR65 Handicap over 1400m.
After racing handy, POIVRE won the second division of the MR70 Handicap over 1400m going away.
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Sheriff In Command
Fairview 18th April: They raced on the poly track on Monday where the highlight was the second leg of the non-black type East Cape Poly Challenge in which the winner of the first leg over 1200m GOGETTHESHERIFF kept himself in line for a very healthy bonus. Never the quickest into stride, the top weighted son of Go Deputy was as per usual positioned in the rear early on. In command of a very nice turn of foot though, Jacque Strydom’s charge quickened in good style at the top of the home straight and won going away by a length after striking the front 60m or so from home.
Two of the afternoon’s eight races were run over 1900m and surprisingly the faster of these was the MR64 Handicap won by BIG BUCKS. Allowed to ease a little on course out to 7/1 from 5’s, Alan Greeff’s charge was soon in touch with the leaders. She took up the running going through the 200m and went on to score by a length and three quarters with some in hand.
The only other distance to feature more than one event was 1000m where the faster of the two races was the MR68 Handicap won by WOLVERINA. Always top of the boards in what looked to be a very competitive affair (5/1 into 7/2), Corne Spies’ charge was soon positioned close to the speed. She put her head in front at the 100m pole and with the rest some four lengths adrift, she kept on strongly late to beat the pacemaker PIPETTE by a half. Although never a threat to the winner, third placed BROOKE’S MONTANA made up many lengths from the rear to fill third position in this race.
Titbits
Lightly raced LAKE OF LIGHT showed good improvement when winning the maiden plate over 1600m going away.
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Progressive Bureau
Turffontein 19th April: The fastest of the three 1200m races at the inner track on Tuesday afternoon was the MR71 Handicap in which the recent maiden winner MIRACLE BUREAU completed a quick double. Sent off a well-supported favourite at 22/10, Joey Soma’s charge was soon up handy. He was ridden to lead shortly after passing the 300m marker and with the rest well beaten he comfortably accounted for TIGER’S LEGACY by a length and a quarter.
A MR89 Handicap over 1450m topped the bill and in what proved to be the faster of the two events over the distance FIRSTIMESACHARM registered her third career victory. Always likely to be suited by the inner track, the front running daughter of Antonius Pius was soon at the head of affairs. She kept up a healthy gallop throughout and just held on from the always handy MISS TWEEDY by a neck.
The easiest victory on the eight race program was recorded by ONE YESTERDAY in the MR70 Handicap over 1450m. Well supported on course into 11/2 from 8’s, Grant Maroun’s charge raced sixth for most of the journey. She quickened well coming off the strip and won going away by four.
Titbits
The 3yo KAHLUA ROSE ran on well from midfield when comfortably accounting for her ten rivals in the opening maiden plate over 1200m.
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No Brawling Needed
Greyville 20th April: They raced on both surfaces on Wednesday. The four races on the poly track all took place over 1200m and the quickest home in these was YOU BOLT in the MR66 Handicap. Freely available at 16/1 (op 8/1) on the off, the always handy Miesque’s Approval mare ran on strongly in the short home straight and got up in the very last stride to deny ROY’S FOLLY (raced handy – led 150m).
Three of the four races on the turf were staged over 1600m and by far the quickest of these was the boy’s division of the progress plate won by BROOKLYN BRAWLER. Nicely positioned in fourth turning for home, the improving son of Dynasty struck the front 300m from home and despite hanging badly at one stage won with authority by two and a half.
The one remaining race was a maiden plate over 2400m on the turf and here we saw a very easy victory for the favourite SOUTH PAW. Always in the red, the 3yo son of Spectrum was content to amble along in midfield for most of the journey. He made his move early in the straight and won going away by four and a quarter after striking the front 200m from home.
Titbits
Deep in the red at 11/20 on the off, MISS MINVER won the opening maiden juvenile plate over 1200m going away by a length.
The 3yo MAYFAIR was gaining at the finish when only beaten by the narrowest of margins in the progress plate for fillies over 1600m.
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Raining Throughout
Vaal 21st April: They raced on the outside track on Thursday where four of the nine races were run over 1400m and the fastest of these was the bill topping MR91 Handicap won by DONNY G. Soon at the head of affairs, Sean Tarry’s charge enjoyed a two lengths advantage for most of the trip. Running on stoutly from fifth position in the closing stages though was WILL PAYS, and with the rest well beaten this one only went down by a neck.
Quickest home in the two 1000m races was FIDELIO when winning the MR80 Handicap. A winner over the distance in handicap company on the inside track last time out, the son of Argonaut was always handy. He ran on strongly in the closing stages of the race and comfortably accounted for the easy to back CHIEF SIOUX by a length.
With rain falling throughout the afternoon it was not surprising to see that the faster of the two 1200m events was the maiden plate in which PISTOLERO opened his account. Always top of the boards despite easing in the betting on course, Paul Matchett’s charge, in a tightly bunched field, raced handy. He was asked to take up the running as they approached the 200m marker and won going away by two and a quarter.
Titbits
Racing in open company the 2yo SHE’S A GIVER had the rest some six lengths adrift when runner up in the maiden plate over 1000m.
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Top speedratings for this weekend include:-
Fairview (fri)
Race 1: (7) Singita Sweni 8
Race 2: (6) Leventelhaan 5
Race 3: (3) Green Door 5
Race 4: (3) Bird Of War 9
Race 5: (12) Orcadian Forest 44
Race 6: (4) Masterly 69
Race 7: (7) Divine Invitation 32
Race 8: (7) Dreamforest 61
Race 9: (9) Agterskot 69
Race 10: (13) Jay Belle 47
Greyville (fri)
Race 1: (1) Desert Winter 12
Race 2: (2) Plume Del Toro 8
Race 3: (7) Heptagon 43
Race 4: (11) Roy’s Dollar 44
Race 5: (6) Peace Again 57
Race 6: (8) Soldier’s Code 37
Race 7: (1) Canigao 54
Race 8: (1) Avast 3
Turffontein (sat)
Race 1: (12) Majestic Bay 94
Race 2: (3) Arch Rival 85
Race 3: (4) Exquisite Touch 43
Race 4: (10) Cloth Of Cloud 51
Race 5: (1) Trophy Wife 78
Race 6: (1) Juxtapose 69
Race 7: (2) Talktothestars 100
Race 8: (1) Abashiri 89 (NAP**)
Race 9: (1) Legal Eagle (nb)
Race 10: (1) Lazer Star 94
Race 11: (12) Tangerine Lady 59
Kenilworth (sat)
Race 1: (1) A New Dawn 1
Race 2: (6) Rock On Wood 13
Race 3: (14) Hernando’s Promise 22
Race 4: (1) Baqueira 17
Race 5: (4) Fear Not 84
Race 6: (4) Aunty Carol 15
Race 7: (11) Sheltered 58
Race 8: (18) Kwassa Kwassa 44
Scottsville (sun)
Race 1: (1) Roy’s Roll’s Royce 20
Race 2: (1) Catherineofaragon 3
Race 3: (10) Grand Fantasy 40
Race 4: (11) Captain’s Causeway 90 (NAP*)
Race 5: (12) Seattle Singer 42
Race 6: (5) Red Chesnut Road 39
Race 7: (1) Lanner Falcon 93
Race 8: (7) Silverturnstogold 9
Race 9: (5) Makemyownluck 52
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Top rated winners last week included
Roy’s Gold won 10/1
Secret Angel won 15/2
Donny G won 4/1
Daffiq won 22/10
Gogetthesheriff won 18/10
Pistolero won 18/10
Omega Onslaught won 17/10
Eternal Fire won 16/10
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Notebook:-
Gogetthesheriff (J Strydom, 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
Scottsville (inside) 17th April
Penetrometer 22 – Going Good
1000m (1) Omega Onslaught 57,13
1200m (2) Exelero 67,78
1400m (5) Gambol 83,87
1950m (1) Roy’s Gold 121,20
Fairview (poly) 18th April
Going Standard
1000m (2) Wolverina 56,68
1200m (1) Fourteen 70,61
1400m (1) Gogetthesheriff 80,65*
1600m (1) Lake Of Light 96,79
1900m (2) Big Bucks 114,94
2200m (1) Badger Creek 137,21
Turffontein (inner) 19 April
Penetrometer 22 – Going Good
1200m (3) Miracle Bureau 72,32
1450m (2) Firsttimesacharm 88,87
1600m (1) Secret Angel 101,34
1800m (1) Cambridge Choir 111,81
2600m (1) Umthetho 169,09
Greyville (mixed) 20th April
Turf Good/Poly Good
1200m (4) You Bolt 69,50P
1600m (3) Brooklyn Brawler 96,70T
2400m (1) South Paw 152,90T
Vaal (outside) 21st April
Raining throughout – Going Soft
1000m (2) Fidelio 58,07
1200m (2) Pistolero 71,70
1400m (4) Donny G 83,15
1600m (1) Royal Honour 99,24
