Not On My Clock
Vaal 27th December:
This was the meeting originally scheduled to take place on the Turffontein inner track. Three of the afternoon’s ten races were maiden plates over 1800m and the fastest of these was the second division of the boys’events won by RAMPANT ICE. Sent off second in the betting market at 3/1,Weiho Marwing’s charge was soon up handy. The favourite DOWN UNDER made the first move and ran on stoutly after striking the front 300m out. Rampant Ice gave his all in the closing stages of the race though and with the rest comfortably beaten he got up late to score by a neck.
There were also three races run over 1400m and fastest against the clock here was VICTORY CRUISE in the bill topping MR88 Handicap. Nine runners went to post and in what was always a very tightly bunched field, the 7/1 shot sat second. He moved through to take up the running going through the 400m and although LEEULOOP JET finished well from the rear, he did have that one held by a length and three quarters at the wire.
The faster of the two 1200m races was the MR80 Handicap won by the former Eastern Cape campaigner MOD BARLEY. He got away well when the gates opened and set a brisk pace throughout. He was always clear and despite the efforts of the chasing MOOFEED he won comfortably by two and a quarter. The effort did clearly take its toll though as Mod Barley was reported to be distressed post-race. This race was officially run in course record time, but not on my clock.
Titbits
SHADOW OFHIS SMILE ran on well from towards the rear when winning the graduation plate over 1600m in good style.
The 3yo LOCK HIM UP ran on well from the rear when third in the MR72 Handicap over 1400m.
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Playing It Cool
Kenilworth 27th December:
A maiden juvenile plate over 800m was first up in Cape Town on Saturday and here we saw a comfortable victory for the easy to back newcomer WAITY KATIE. Freely available at 7/1 on the off, the daughter of Jay Peg was soon positioned up with the speed. She began to assert her authority going through the 200m and won well by a length and a quarter.
The Gr2 Diadem Stakes topped the bill and in what not surprisingly turned out to be the faster of the two 1200m events the visiting CAPTAIN OF ALL landed the spoils. Nibbled at on course into 15/2 from 12/1, Dennis Drier’s charge raced third for most of the journey. He took up the running shortly after passing the 300m marker and kept on strongly late to beat the running on veteran COPPER PARADE by a half.
The supporting act was the listed Laisserfaire Stakes for fillies and mares over 1100m and here we saw another smart performance from the up and coming 3yo COLD AS ICE. Backed as if unbeatable at the track (9/10 into 9/20), the daughter of Western Winter was soon at the head of affairs. She kept on strongly at the business end of the race and with the rest well beaten she comfortably accounted for the running on ROSIER by a length and three quarters. Rosier finished well from the rear and did have to switch for a run 300m out.
Titbits
SPIRIT OF HAMILTON won the maiden plate over 1400m going away by six and three quarters.
SOLAR STAR ran best of all when winning the false paced MR92 Handicap over 1800m.
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Changing Gear
Greyville 28th December: They raced on both surfaces at this meeting. Two of the four races on the poly track were maiden plates over 1000m and the fastest of these was the boy’s affair won by PANZA. Absolutely friendless on course, Chris Erasmus’ charge (14/1 out to 40/1), was swiftly guided over from a wide draw by Billy Jacobson and raced close up in second. He took up the running as they approached the 300m pole and comfortably accounted for the much more fancied SHRIK VIR NIKS by a length.
The only other distance where more than one race took place on the afternoon was 1900m (turf) and the faster of these two events was the MR88 Handicap won by DOUBLE CLUTCH. In what proved to be a real thriller Double Clutch and the runner up AUCTION KING ran on together from midfield and after flying past the leaders 100m out only a short head could separate them.
In terms of prize money a MR88 Handicap over 1000m topped the bill and here we saw a nice performance from FLYING LOOT. Sent off third in the betting market at 4/1, the daughter of Flying Spur raced fourth of the six for most of the journey. She was ridden to lead as they approached the 400m marker and won well from the early pacemaker CHERRY TRIPPER by a length and a quarter.
Titbits
Poorly drawn HUNGER GAMES (4/1 out to 13/2) won the opening maiden plate over 1600m going away by four and a half.
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Doing It In Style
Scottsville 30th December: Six of the ten races in Pietermaritzburg on Tuesday were run over 1200m and the fastest of these was the bill topping MR92 Handicap won by the top weight FLYFIRSTCLASS. On leaving the stalls it was the easy to back veteran COFFEE SHEIK who elected to make the running whilst the 3/1 favourite sat close up in second. He put his head in front shortly after passing the 400m marker and despite hanging won comfortably from the 16/1 shot ECHUKA.
In terms of distance the easiest victories on the ten race program was just the length and a quarter registered by both DYNASTY’S LEGACY and FIREWOOD in their respective maiden plates over 1200m. Freely available at 10/1 on the off Dynasty’s Legacy made all and always around a length and a half to the good won without any anxious moments.
Firewood on the other hand ran on stoutly from midfield and won going away after striking the front 300m out.
Titbits
After being a little slow into stride the friendless newcomer SABAHA (12/1 out to 33/1) ran on well from midfield when getting up in the very last stride to win the girl’s maiden plate over 1200m.
The lightly raced 3yo SNOWMAN was baulked for a run twice en-route from midfield when only beaten a neck in the MR82 Handicap over 1600m.
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Two From Two
Turffontein 30th December: The 2yo MAMBONICK had run on stoutly over 800m in her only previous outing and so it was no surprise to see her priced up as favourite to win the opening maiden juvenile plate over 1000m. Allowed to ease out to 9/10 from 5/10 at the track as money came for the newcomer NOMVULA (5/1 into 22/10), Mambonick once again came from off the pace. She struck the front shortly after passing the 400m pole and won well by two and a quarter from the easy to back SAPSAN.
The faster of the evening’s two 1000m races was the conditions plate won by FLAME CAT. Always handy, Michael Azzie’s charge took up the running 150m out and just had enough in hand to beat the flying TZIGANE by 0,35. Tzigane was easily seven lengths adrift of the leaders going through the 400m and did very well indeed to get as close as she did.
Despite reverting to sprinting the recent Dingaans winner UNPARALLELED was not surprisingly all the rage to win the graduation plate over 1160m and he didn’t let down his supporters. There were some anxious moments though. Thrown in at the weights Unparalleled took up a bump at the start and as a result raced seventh of the eight for most of the trip. He had plenty to do passing the halfway mark, but once given reign he fairly flew. He struck the front going through the 200m and won going away by two.
Titbits
The newcomer SENSIBLE LOVER ran on well from midfield when third in the maiden plate over 1160m.
ROCKIN THE DAISIES won the maiden plate over 1600m very comfortably by two and a quarter.
Unbeaten MAC DE LAGO won the MR79 Handicap going away by four and a quarter.
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Top speedratings for this weekend include:-
Fairview
Race 1: (2) J P’s Prince 10
Race 2: (3) Fuhgedaboudit 14
Race 3: (2) Judge Judy 11 (EW)
Race 4: (2) Scarlet Berry 54
Race 5: (2) Deepo 32
Race 6: (6) Laurie’s Dancer 80
Race 7: (5) Commanche Moon 56
Race 8: (1) Ikati 58
Race 9: (6) New Spring 39
Greyville
Race 1: (1) Ginger Biscuit 18
Race 2: (5) Dark Liability 22
Race 3: (5) Shezamatador 23
Race 4: (7) On My Wits Alone 21 (NAP*)
Race 5: (10) Battle Hammer 56
Race 6: (3) Cunning Fox 62
Race 7: (5) Acapulco 74
Race 8: (5) Chill 46
Kenilworth
Race 1: (7) Ashram 30
Race 2: (4) Lovar 8
Race 3: (9) Sister Act 18
Race 4: (11) Master James 46
Race 5: (2) Castlethorpe 92
Race 6: (16) Gone Baby Gone 88
Race 7: (1) Act Of War 90 (NAP***)
Race 8: (1) Hammie’s Hooker 88
Race 9: (2) Louis The King 96
Race 10: (2) Wavin’ Flag 73
Race 11: (7) Smiling Mistress 37
Race 12: (11) My Precious 40
Turffontein
Race 1: (9) The Bellman 32
Race 2: (12) Captainofmyheart 20 (NAP*)
Race 3: (8) River Empress 14
Race 4: (12) Ostentation 52
Race 5: (8) Bags Of Boodle 32
Race 6: (1) Killua Castle 85
Race 7: (2) French Navy 80
Race 8: (12) Sarge In Charge 49
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Top rated winners last week included
Hunger Games won 13/2
Solar Star won 6/1
Littleblacknumber won 4/1
Kara won 3/1
Shadow Ofhis Smile won 22/10
Bichett won 18/10
Flame Cat won 18/10
The Poet won 13/10
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Notebook:-
Cold As Ice (J Ramsden, W-Cape)
Lock Him Up (S Tarry, Gauteng)
Unparalleled (JJ v Vuuren, Gauteng)
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FASTEST TIMES
The number of races run over each distance is shown in brackets
*Denotes – Times taken by Clockwatcher
Vaal (inside) 27th December
Penetrometer 22 – Going Good
1200m (2) Mod Barley 67,10
1400m (3) Victory Cruise 81,36
1600m (2) Wisdom Stone 94,71
1800m (3) Rampant Ice 110,63
Kenilworth (new) 27th December
Penetrometer 23 – Going Good
800m (1) Jo’s Bond 50,32
1000m (1) Varlo 59,31
1100m (1) Cold As Ice 66,12
1200m (2) Captain Of All 73,30
1400m (2) Spirit Of Hamilton 88,82
1800m (2) The Conglomerate 113,85
Greyville 28th December
Poly (1-4) Good – Turf (5-9) Good
1000m (2) Panza 58,33P
1000m (1) Flying Loot 57,49T
1200m (1) Littleblacknumber 71,18T
1400m (1) The Poet 82,19P
1400m (1) Se Agabor 83,14T
1600m (1) Hunger Games 96,97P
1900m (2) Double Clutch 115,49T
Scottsville (new) 30th December
Penetrometer 21 – Going Good
1000m (1) It Must Be My Aura 59,04
1200m (6) Flyfirstclass 69,02
1400m (1) Sainte Camille 84,70
1600m (1) Vienna Wood 95,70
1950m (1) Gangnam Style 120,40
Turffontein (old) 30th December
Penetrometer 26 – Going G/Soft
1000m (2) Flame Cat 56,17
1160m (2) Unparalleled 66,46
1400m (1) Bichet 85,03
1600m (2) Mac De Lago 96,81
2450m (1) S’il Vous Plait 154,42
