In the Moment
Scottsville 10th July: The fastest of the three 1200m races in Pietermaritzburg on Sunday was the MR80 Handicap in which JASON ARGO was first past the post. At the head of affairs throughout, the son of Argonaut was shifting around, and as a result he lost the race in the steward’s room to the always handy PANZA.
The faster of the two 1000m races that got proceeding’s underway was not surprisingly the MR84 Handicap in which ELEPHANT MATRIARCH gained a well overdue second victory. Another to lead from pillar to post, Dennis Bosch’s charge kept on determinedly at the business end of the race and with the rest comfortably beaten, she held on by a neck from the always handy SHEZALEADER.
Quickest home in the two 1600m events was VIENTO when getting off the mark in the maiden plate. Freely available at 33/1 on the off, the Silvano gelding was soon up handy. He ran on strongly over the final 400m and under a strong ride from jockey Doctor Lembethe, he got the verdict by three quarters over the 20/1 shot DALE HOUSE.
Titbits
The 3yo SEVENTH MOMENT won the MR66 Handicap over 1200m going away by a length and three quarters.
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Easy Does It
Flamingo Park 11th July: Three of the ten races in the Northern Cape on Monday were staged over 1000m and the fastest of these was the pinnacle stakes won by EASY TO PLEASE. Sent off fourth in the betting market at 11/2, Duncan McKenzie’s charge was soon positioned up with the speed. He began to assert his authority going through the 400m and ran out a very easy winner by two and three quarters.
Sharing top billing was the pinnacle stakes over 1800m and in what proved to be the faster of the two races over that distance LEBEOANA registered his eighth career victory. Confidently ridden by Ryan Munger, the A P Arrow gelding sat sixth for most of the journey. He made his move early in the straight and easily accounted for the more fancied JAGUAR after striking the front 260m from home.
They also ran two races over 1200m and stopping the clock in the fastest time in these was WHITE FEATHER when causing an upset in the MR74 Handicap. Freely available at 14/1 on the off, the daughter of Grey’s Inn was soon up handy. She ran on stoutly over the final 400m and in what proved to be a real thriller she got up in the very last stride to deny the 7/1 shot LADY CASEY.
Titbits
Having her first outing since relocating to the Northern Cape, ROZENNA found heavy outside support prior to running on well from the backend of midfield when winning the MR68 Handicap over 1400m.
The 5yo KALIDAR was finishing best of all when runner up in the MR78 Handicap over 1600m.
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Chequered Flag
Vaal 12th July: They raced on the inside track on Tuesday where quickest home in the opening two maiden juvenile plates over 1000m was HALLO MR in the boy’s affair. Gavin Van Zyl’s charge got away well when the gates opened and soon at the head of affairs, led throughout. He began to assert his authority going through the 400m and ran out a very comfortable winner over the running on newcomer MATADOR MAN. The heavily supported runner up (28/10 into 13/10) lost three lengths at the start and was running on nicely at the finish.
Marginally the faster of the two 1400m events was the MR91 Handicap won by the Elusive Quality colt TORO ROSSO. On leaving the stalls it was ZORTZIKO who elected to make the running whilst Mike De Kock’s charge raced close up in second. He put his head in front shortly after passing the 300m marker and won well from the running on KINGS ARCHER by a length and a quarter.
By far the faster of the two 1800m races on the card was the MR63 Handicap in which SHANKLY GATES caused an upset. Nibbled at on course into 25/1 from 33’s, the 3yo daughter of Latino Magic was soon positioned close to the speed. The much more fancied POLAR SECRET made the first move and after striking the front 400m out kept on determinedly. Shankly Gates ran on stoutly below the distance though and in what proved to be a real thriller she got up late.
Titbits
After being a little slow into stride, the newcomer CAPTAIN’S GIRL ran on well from the rear when runner up to her speedy stable companion HASHTAG STRAT in the girl’s division of the maiden juvenile plate over 1000m.
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Classes Above
Greyville 13th July: Wednesday’s action took place on the poly track where victory in the opening maiden juvenile Plate over 1000m went to the favourite ROYAL ROSE. Frank Robinson’s charge got away well when the gates opened and soon up handy raced prominent throughout. She ran on strongly in the short home straight and comfortably accounted for the pacemaker BUBBLY NIGHT by a length and a half.
Four of the afternoon’s nine races were run over 1400m and quickest home in these was PURPLE MOUNTAINS in the bill topping MR95 Handicap. Initially priced up as favourite (3/1 out to 9/2) Glen Puller’s charge was always in touch with the leaders. He ran on strongly over the final 400m and in a race where less than half a length separated the first four home, he got the verdict over STOLEN DESTINY. Cramped 150m out, CATKIN was finishing best of all in this race.
The final three races on the card were all staged over 1900m and stopping the clock in the fastest time here was the best bet on the card for most, SAMBORA in the maiden plate. He wasn’t the quickest into stride when the gates opened and very quickly found himself positioned in the rear. Once given rein though, he quickly made his way through the field and went on to score very cosily by a length and three quarters after striking the front 250m from home.
Titbits
Positioned eleven of twelve coming off the bend, THE MORRIGAN ran on best of all when winning the MR66 Handicap over 1900m going away.
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7 From 22
Vaal 14th July: Three of the eight races staged on the outside track on Thursday were over 1000m and fastest against the clock in these was MANX PARK when registering his seventh career victory from just 22 starts in the bill topping MR90 Handicap. Soon positioned close to the speed, Clinton Binda’s charge put his head in front going through the 400m and went on to score with authority from the more fancied RAFA.
They also ran three races over 1600m and quickest home here was ANALYSE THIS in the MR69 Handicap. Another to race handy, the Lithuanian gelding struck the front 300m out and won well by a length and a quarter from the costly to follow PACIFIC G.
The faster of the two remaining races, both over 1200m, was the MR87 affair in which INYANGA landed the spoils. Freely available at 8/1 on the off, Michael Azzie’s charge raced fifth for most of the journey. She quickened well at the business end of the race and comfortably accounted for SHIVERING SEA by three quarters.
Titbits
The 2yo SHWANKY won the opening maiden plate for the girls over 1000m with authority by two and a half.
The well supported 2yo LAST OUTLAW won the maiden plate over 1600m very easily by three and three quarters.
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Top speedratings for this weekend include:-
Fairview (fri)
Race 1: (3) Scribo 9
Race 2: (5) Prairie Rose 22
Race 3: (5) Forest Lawn 22 (NAP*)
Race 4: (11) Wonder Worker 12
Race 5: (4) Scent 46
Race 6: (5) Normanz 83
Race 7: (14) Flaming Ace 57
Race 8: (1) Sunset Tripp 60
Race 9: (11) Laws Of Succession 66
Race 10: (15) White Christmas 43
Scottsville (sat)
Race 1: (5) Captain At Sea 14
Race 2: (2) Dusk Beauty 14
Race 3: (9) Lucky Barb 24
Race 4: (16) Warm Night Alice 21 (NAP**)
Race 5: (6) Elusivenchantment 74
Race 6: (9) Oh Boy 77
Race 7: (4) Pirogue 45
Race 8: (14) De Sol A Sol 64
Kenilworth (sat)
Race 1: (1) Flying Monarch 19
Race 2: (6) Mount Keith 20
Race 3: (4) Northern Ballet 15 (NAP*)
Race 4: (11) Cream Soda Green 23
Race 5: (3) Buckinghampshire 58
Race 6: (10) Boomtown Belter 47
Race 7: (3) Fear Not 75
Race 8: (15) Storm Faerie 50
Turffontein (sun)
Race 1: (3) Blazing Winter 19 (NAP*)
Race 2: (1) Sao Paulo 12
Race 3: (2) Elevenses 23
Race 4: (10) Island Bliss 20
Race 5: (9) Scare Tactics 42
Race 6: (10) Viking Castle 49
Race 7: (1) Duke Nukem 60
Race 8: (7) Jewel Of Gibraltar 38
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Top rated winners last week included
Rozenna won 11/2
Sign Your Name won 7/2
O Tamara won 3/1
Coby won 5/2
Qeyaadah won 5/2
Baron Bellet won 2/1
Rebel Rose won 2/1
Sambora won 11/20
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Notebook:-
Catkin (J Ramsden, KZN)
Rozenna (C Lensley, N-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) 10th July
Penetrometer 22 – Going Good
1000m (2) Elephant Matriarch 57,10
1200m (3) Jason Argo 69,67
1400m (1) Gordon’s Cungee 86,56
1600m (2) Viento 97,71
1950m (1) Wealthy 121,48*
Flamingo Park 11th July
Going Standard
1000m (3) Easy To Please 57,03
1200m (2) White Feather 73,58
1400m (1) Rozenna 87,91*
1600m (2) Kingofmountain 100,82
1800m (2) Lebeoana 113,61
Vaal (inside) 12th July
Penetrometer 20 – Going Good
1000m (2) Hallo Mr 56,59
1400m (2) Toro Rosso 81,64
1600m (1) A Greater Power 96,18
1800m (2) Shankly Gates 108,87
2000m (1) Shot 122,08
Greyville (poly) 13th July
Going Standard
1000m (1) Royal Rose 59,20
1200m (1) Icy Spirit 71,41
1400m (4) Purple Mountains 82,49
1900m (3) Sambora 116,54
Vaal (outside) 14th July
Penetrometer 20 – Going Good
1000m (3) Manx Park 56,51
1200m (2) Inyanga 69,28
1600m (3) Analyse This 94,25
