Quick Tour
Turffontein 17th July: A maiden juvenile plate for the boys got proceedings underway on the old stand side track on Sunday and in what proved to be the fastest of the three 1160m races we saw a very comfortable victory for the favourite TOUR OF DUTY. Quick into stride Roy Magner’s charge soon put daylight between himself and his fourteen rivals and was three lengths clear going through the 400m. He kept on strongly from there onwards and went on to score without any anxious moments by four and a quarter.
They also ran three races over 1600m where fastest against the clock was HATFIELD SQUARE (reported lame near hind) when winning the MR69 Handicap. Returning from a 20 week layoff here, the daughter of Mambo In Seattle raced in midfield for most of the journey. She ran on stoutly over the final 400m and in a thrilling three way finish she got up late to score by a half.
The remaining two races were both run over 1400m where the friendless LIKE A BOSS recorded the fastest time. Priced up as the rank outsider at 40/1 in the MR84 Handicap, Candice Dawson’s charge was always handy. He put his head in front approaching the 100m marker and with the rest well beaten he kept on strongly late to beat the staying on pacemaker CUMBERLAND by a length.
Titbits
Poorly drawn SHINE BRIGHT ran on well from the back when getting off the mark in the maiden plate for the girls over 1400m.
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Preparing For The Mile
Flamingo Park 18th July: Four of the ten races in the Northern Cape on Monday were staged over 1400m where fastest against the clock was STONE PINE in the bill topping pinnacle stakes. Freely available at 12/1, in this only his second outing following a ten month layoff, the 7yo son of Spectrum was soon up handy. He was ridden to lead early in the straight and went on to score with authority from the running on IL PALIO. Stone Pine won the non-black type Flamingo Mile last year and should now be cherry ripe if taking his place in that event again next time out.
The faster of the two 1800m races was the MR66 Handicap won by ARTIC ROUTE. Freely available at 50/1 on the off, the friendless Solskjaer mare was always handy. She ran on strongly at the business end of the race and won going away by a length and three quarters after striking the front 50m from home.
If acting on the surface HARMSTON HERALD was always going to be a very serious runner in the MR68 Handicap over 1000m and so it proved to be. One of just two market leaders to arrive on the card, the former Eastern Cape campaigner raced in midfield during the early part of the race. He quickened best of all when given rein and won going away by a length from the always handy VARIETY SPIRIT.
Titbits
Having only his second outing in Kimberley, JAMROCK ran on well from the rear when a two lengths third in the maiden plate over 1400m.
After running on from midfield, TEAGAN’S BOY cruised clear below the distance when winning the MR66 Handicap over 1400m going away.
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Enjoying The Trip
Vaal 19th July: They raced on the inside track on Tuesday where surprisingly the faster of the two 2000m races was the MR65 Handicap (the other was a MR89 Handicap) won by the 8/1 shot AZA ARROW. On leaving the stalls it was the recent course and distance winner SHOT who elected to make the running, and he soon had the field well strung out. Indeed, Chris Erasmus’ charge raced sixth and was easily twelve lengths adrift. As they approached the 400m marker though, the early effort began to take its toll on the front runner and Aza Arrow was quickly thrust into contention. He ran on strongly in the closing stages of the race and got up late to beat the luckless ROYAL MASTER. Although always handy, the runner up was baulked for a run between the 200m-100m poles and only got going very late.
The only other distance to stage more than one race was 1200m and quickest home here was TRIP TO PARADISE in the MR66 Handicap. Backed into 9/2 second favourite from 7/1 at the track, Coenie De Beer’s charge raced in midfield during the early part of the race. He was baulked for a run when making his move 300m out, but once seeing daylight he fairly flew. He struck the front 200m later and won going away by a length and a quarter.
Race three on the card was a maiden plate over 1800m and in what proved to be a false paced affair we saw a smart performance from the well supported outsider WOODY CAPE. Nibbled at all the way in to 9/1 from 25’s, the Silvano gelding was a little slow into stride, but despite that was soon up handy. He took up the running going through the 200m and although the favourite SILVER SAGE ran on strongly late, he won comfortably by two and a quarter.
Titbits
As short as even money at one point, the well supported newcomer PUBLIC PROTECTOR only really got going when the race was over when fourth in the maiden plate over 1200m.
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Hearty Breakfast
Greyville 20th July: Favourite backers got off to a nice start on Wednesday afternoon when PERPETUAL SILENCE did the business in the opening maiden plate over 1200m. Returning from a nine month break here, the son of Trippi got away well when the gates opened and raced at the head of what quickly became a very strung out field. He was three lengths clear going through the 300m and that proved to be just enough to hold on from the gaining WINTER IS COMING by a half.
Four of the afternoon’s nine races were run over 1400m and considerably quicker than the other three was the MR66 Handicap in which BREAKFAST CLUB scored for the second time in just four outings. Always handy, Dennis Drier’s charge quickened nicely after having to switch 250m out and won well by two. ARGO’S JET ran on well from midfield to finish third in this race.
The faster of the two maiden plates over 1600m was the boy’s affair won by TRINITY HALL. Drawn wide and a little slow into stride to boot, Paul Gadsby’s charge was guarding the rear as the twelve runners turned for home. Once in the straight though he quickened best of all and finding a dream run down the inside rail he got up late to deny the limited COURAGEOUS KING.
Titbits
After losing two lengths at the start the poorly drawn SOUL OF SPAIN ran on well from the back when runner up in the MR70 Handicap over 1400m. She was racing off a mark 19 points below that of her former best here and should still be very well handicapped next time out.
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Just The Tonic
Vaal 21st July: The new classic track staged Thursday’s meeting where three of the afternoon’s eight races were run over 1600m. Stopping the clock in the fastest time in these was RAISE THE RED when landing the MR85 Handicap. Freely available at 8/1 on the off, Lucky Houdalakis’ charge was soon positioned close to the speed. He put his head in front going through the 100m and kept on strongly in the closing stages of the race to beat the well supported BELENOS by three quarters.
The faster of the two 1000m races on the card was the MR78 Handicap won by the 5yo CHIEF SIOUX run in a time just 0,07 seconds faster than that of the maiden plate won by the newcomer GREEN PEPPER, Roy Magner’s charge sat fifth for most of the journey. He quickened well 400m out and got the verdict by 0,4 from the running on RAFA.
Race six on the card was a MR75 Handicap over 1200m and here we saw a smart performance from the 3yo INYANGA. Always handy, the daughter of Elusive Fort took up the running as they approached the 100m marker and won going away from the well-supported HONOLUA BAY by two.
Titbits
IN THE LOOP (midfield) and TRIP TO PARADISE (rear) both ran on strongly from off the pace when 1st & 2nd respectively in the MR67 Handicap over 1450m.
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Top speedratings for this weekend include:-
Fairview (fri)
Race 1: (5) Story Of My Life 13
Race 2: (5) Happy Lion 68
Race 3: (12) Oswego 14
Race 4: (12) Another Night 24
Race 5: (14) Jay Belle 35
Race 6: (2) Readytogorightnow 85
Race 7: (13) The Captain’s Cat 54
Race 8: (3) A P Ikhaja 54
Race 9: (7) Cuveo 49
Kenilworth (sat)
Race 1: (11) Scandola 11
Race 2: (3) Edict Of Nantes 21 (NAP*)
Race 3: (1) Auditorium 27
Race 4: (9) Pure Logic 19
Race 5: (6) Londalozi 12
Race 6: (6) Victoria Lavelle 77
Race 7: (17) Three Balloons 88
Race 8: (4) Gifted For Glory 78
Race 9: (12) Seventh Sister 45
Turffontein (sat)
Race 1: (9) September Bloom 6
Race 2: (1) Just A Gigolo 15 (NAP*)
Race 3: (1) Gina Ballerina 11
Race 4: (3) Wall Of Ice 11
Race 5: (5) Angelic Appeal
Race 6: (10) Lisnoble 36
Race 7: (10) Icy Avalanche 30
Race 8: (8) King And Empire 43
Race 9: (7) Le Clos 79
Greyville (sun)
Race 1: (10) Brave And Bold 43
Race 2: (4) Crowd Pleaser 6
Race 3: (7) Mygirldownunder 43
Race 4: (11) Seattle Singer 49
Race 5: (5) Final Judgement 47
Race 6: (7) Rivarine 44
Race 7: (17) Three Balloons 88
Race 8: (2) Punta Arenas 97
Race 9: (1) Olma 82
Race 10: (1) Barbosa 93 (EW)
Race 11: (7) Tripandie 92
Race 12: (14) Lock Him Up 55
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Top rated winners last week included
Woody Cape won 9/1
Trinity Hall won 9/2
Shine Bright won 15/4
Nebra won 7/2
Dynamic Force won 33/10
Harrison won 3/1
Harmston Herald won 14/10
Tour Of Duty won 12/10
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Notebook:-
Breakfast Club (D Drier, KZN)
Trip To Paradise (F C De Beer, Gauteng)
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FASTEST TIMES
The number of races run over each distance is shown in brackets
*Denotes – Times taken by Clockwatcher
Turffontein (stand side) 17th July
Penetrometer 22 – Going Good
1160m (3) Tour Of Duty 68,31
1400m (2) Like A Boss 85,96
1600m (3) Hatfield Square 99,58*
Flamingo Park 18th July
Going Standard
1000m (1) Harmston Herald 58,64
1200m (1) Harrison 73,24
1400m (4) Stone Pine 85,80
1600m (1) Heart Flower 100,56
1800m (2) Artic Route 114,28
2200m (1) Nebra 149,14
Vaal (inside) 19th July
Penetrometer 21 – Good
1000m (1) Lady Thistle 56,93
1200m (2) Trip To Paradise 68,69
1400m (1) Shah’s Storm 82,32
1800m (1) Woody Cape 114,64
2000m (2) Aza Arrow 122,36
2400m (1) Main Sunday 149,41
Greyville (poly) 20th July
Going Standard
1000m (1) Ilanga 58,27
1200m (1) Perpetual Silence 70,67
1400m (4) Breakfast Club 83,31
1600m (2) Trinity Hall 96,48
2000m (1) Delilah 125,11
Vaal (classic) 21st July
Penetrometer 20 – Going Good
1000m (2) Chief Sioux 56,93
1200m (1) Inyanga 69,21
1450m (1) In The Loop 85,61
1600m (3) Raise The Red 95,91
2000m (1) Mighty Kahal 125,74
