Just Chilling
Fairview 21st August: A maiden plate over 2000m got proceedings underway at Friday’s poly track meeting and here victory went to the easy to back TIME SHARE. Freely available at 13/2 on the off, the 4yo son of Judpot led at a steady pace throughout. He was always a length or so clear and although the well-supported 18/10 favourite FORT KALIMENTA chased hard, he won without any anxious moments.
There were a number of easy victories on the card and none more so than that of OH SO MODUS in the MR66 Handicap over 2200m. Nicely positioned in fifth rounding the home turn, the former Cape Town campaigner took up the running early in the short straight and won going away by five.
The faster of the two 1300m races was the MR63 affair in which CRUZCAMPO kept his unbeaten record intact. A fluent winner over 1200m on the poly in his only previous start, Yvette Bremner’s charge was soon prominent. He put his head in front as they approached the 100m marker and won well from the fancied ROSSLYN CHAPEL by three quarters.
The only other distance to stage more than one race on Friday was 1600m and the faster of the two events here was the MR72 Handicap won by the 7yo SOLEIL ROYAL. Content to race in midfield for most of the journey, Dorrie Sham’s charge quickened well when given rein, and in what proved to be a real thriller he got up in the very last stride to deny the more fancied IMPERIAL VELVET.
Titbits
Positioned in the rear early on, the friendless ETERNAL JET (8/1 out to 20/1) was flying at the finish when runner up in the MR80 Handicap over 1200m.
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What A Steal
Turffontein 22nd August: They raced on the inner track on Saturday where five of the afternoon’s nine races were run over 1600m. The fastest of these was the MR80 Handicap in which the 9yo MIRAGE DRIVE committed daylight robbery. Taken straight to the front by Karl Zechner, the Kahal gelding soon had the field well strung out. He was six lengths clear coming off the strip and although TORA TORA was making good headway from fourth position (ten lengths off the pace) at the finish, he still had two and a half lengths to spare at the wire.
A maiden plate for 3yo’s over 1450m had gotten proceedings underway and here we saw a comfortable victory for ARTICA. Sporting blinkers for the first time, Michael Azzie’s charge only had to be pushed out to score by a half after taking up the running 400m out.
Another to win with some in hand in the maiden ranks was BAJAN FANTASY in the event for 3yo’s over 1600m. At the helm from pillar to post the lightly raced daughter of Mullins Bay was just asked to do the necessary over the final 400m, and won with some in hand by two and a quarter.
Race six on the card was a MR76 Handicap over 2600m and here we saw a very easy victory for the top weight MARMALADY. One of just two runners in the field who were not in under sufferance, Ormond Ferraris’ charge was always in touch with the leaders. She put her head in front going through the 400m and after quickly going clear she was eased late to score by just two and a quarter.
Titbits
The 4yo COUNTERSTROKE looked to win the MR72 Handicap over 1800m a tad more cosily than the official winning margin of half a length would suggest.
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Stables In Form
Kenilworth 22nd August: The going was still soft in Cape Town on Saturday where the easiest victory on the eight race program was just the two lengths recorded by the well weighted ALBARAKAH in the MR78 Handicap over 1200m. Racing off a mark some 15 points below that of his former best, the 7yo Almushtarak gelding was content to sit in midfield for most of the journey. He was ridden to lead as they approached the 100m marker and drew clear nicely late on.
There were four races run over 1200m in total and the fastest of these was the bill topping MR95 Handicap won by EXELERO. Freely available at 7/1 on the off, Vaughan Marshall’s charge was soon positioned close to the speed. He took up the running shortly after passing the 400m pole and kept on strongly late to beat the running on PRINCE JAZEEM (at the back 400m out) by a length and a quarter.
The not so lucky last was a MR72 Handicap over 1200m and here we saw a comfortable victory for the 6yo RUSH FOR ROSES. A winner in similar company over the course and distance last time out, Ronnie Sheehan’s charge raced in midfield during the early part of the race. She didn’t find the clearest of passages at the business end of the race, but despite that she won well by a length and a quarter after striking the front 100m from home.
Titbits
BABY BE MINE and ELUSIVE STARS both ran on well from midfield when 1st & 3rd respectively in the MR86 Handicap over 1200m.
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Top speedratings for this weekend include:-
Flamingo Park (mon)
Race 1: (3) My Silver Fox 7
Race 2: (9) Guest Lodge 4
Race 3: (9) Cherish Rivers 8
Race 4: (3) Trade Emblem 57
Race 5: (5) Matadoras El Toros 21
Race 6: (2) Evercell 35
Race 7: (5) Lebeoana 35
Race 8: (2) Birkins Best 19
Race 9: (1) Careless Love 44
Kenilworth (tues)
Race 1: (11) Overshadow 13
Race 2: (1) Cape Cutter 50
Race 3: (2) Winter Trade 50 (NAP*)
Race 4: (3) Supercilious 31
Race 5: (7) Georgeous Gaby 42 (EW)
Race 6: (4) Topless 62
Race 7: (5) Magical Bet 53
Race 8: (5) Imperial Dancer 20
Scottsville (wed)
Race 1: (6) Ice Run 28
Race 2: (1) Roy’s Guardian 20
Race 3: (2) Goodnight Seattle 9
Race 4: (1) Rikitikitana 38 (NAP**)
Race 5: (9) Rehoboth Beach 39
Race 6: (7) Proper Posh 41
Race 7: (12) Pilgovan Star 50
Race 8: (1) Burrwood 42
Vaal (thur)
Race 1: (6) Rose Of Castille 18
Race 2: (2) Where’s My Chop 29
Race 3: (1) First Sign 8
Race 4: (2) Lizzie’s Legs 33
Race 5: (3) Wild Thing 46
Race 6: (5) Guy From Dubai 71
Race 7: (8) Lord Windsor 53
Race 8: (4) Commodore Al 38
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Top rated winners last week included
Mirage Drive won 14/1
Exelero won 7/1
Happy Lion won 4/1
The Queen won 28/10
Matadoras El Toros won 5/2
Solar Night won 2/1
Seek The Summit won 9/10
Beautiful Bird won 15/20
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Notebook:-
Eternal Jet (Y Bremner, 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 (poly) 21st August
Going Standard
1200m (1) Happy Lion 69,81
1300m (2) Cruzcampo 75,96
1600m (2) Soleil Royal 96,49
1900m (1) Crackpot 118,85
2000m (1) Time Share 125,58
2200m (1) Oh So Modus 136,38
Turffontein (inner) 22nd August
Penetrometer 22 – Going Good
1200m (1) Woodrose 73,01
1450m (1) Artica 89,40
1600m (5) Mirage Drive 99,01
1800m (1) Counterstroke 112,51
2600m (1) Marmalady 167,31
Kenilworth (old) 23rd August
Penetrometer 27 – Going Soft
1000m (1) Spanish King 62,14
1200m (4) Exelero 75,17
1400m (1) Even Better 89,74
1600m (1) Beautiful Bird 101,97
1800m (1) Paladin 115,13
