15989/1 Treble
Vaal 21st August: The fastest of the three 1000m events on the Vaal’s sand track on Thursday was the opening maiden plate over 1000m in which the heavily supported debutante SARVE did the business. Backed through all rates into 3/1jtfav from 25’s, Corne Spies’ charge was soon positioned close to the speed. She took up the running going through the 400m and kept on strongly in the latter stages of the race to beat the easy to back STAY AMAZED (4/1 out to 8/1) by three.
A maiden plate over 1800m was next up and in what proved to be the faster of the two events over that distance the Mike De Kock trained OLYMPIC BOLT ran out a very easy winner. Sent off a strong favourite at 2/1 the son of Asiatic Boy also raced second. He took up the running at the halfway mark and still being worked upon when already four lengths clear passing the 400m pole, he went on to score by nine and a half.
Another to win with authority on this card was ALL THE BIDS in the MR80 Handicap over 1800m. The third of three winners on the nine race program for trainer Corne Spies, the 14/1 shot led from pillar to post. He held a two lengths lead for most of the journey and despite the efforts of the more fancied DELAMERE he extended his advantage to four in the closing stages.
The afternoon’s feature race was a pinnacle stakes over 1450m and in a time some 4,88 seconds faster than the only other race over the same distance on the card (a MR68 Handicap), the Emerald Cup hopeful JET JAMBOREE completed a very smart hat-trick. Backed into favouritism at the track (3/1 into 17/10), Dominic Zaki’s charge led throughout. He was always in command and although the original favourite UNCLE TOMMY (drifted as if a win was out of the question – 22/10 out to 13/2) chased hard over the final 300m, he kept on strongly to win by a length and a quarter.
Titbits
Soon at the helm the 3yo ISPHAN won the MR80 Handicap over 1000m with plenty in hand by two.
The front running RAISE THE RED was headed twice over the final 400m before landing the MR68 Handicap over 1450m by a half.
The 1/3 favourite ALVERTA (finished last beaten 33 lengths) was found by the vet to be not striding out both front in the maiden 1600m.
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Early Money
Fairview 22nd August: A maiden plate over 1300m got proceedings underway at the poly track on Friday and here we saw a comfortable victory for the supported RAVISHING JEWEL. Nibbled at into 5/1 from 7’s, Dorrie Sham’s charge was always handy. She took up the running as they approached the 200m marker and won well by a length and a quarter.
The easiest victory on the card was recorded by WESTERN WONDER when winning the maiden 2200m. Another to race close to the speed the former Cape Town campaigner quickened well in the short home straight. He struck the front 150m out and won going away by four.
Two of the afternoon’s eight races were run over 1600m and the fastest of these was the MR63 Handicap won by RUBY SUNSET. On leaving the stalls it was STROKE ONE who elected to make the running whilst the 10/1 shot raced well within striking distance in fourth. She was ridden to lead going through the 300m and went on to score very comfortably from the running on LADY SILVIA by two and a quarter.
Titbits
PEREGRINE KING came from the backend of midfield when easily accounting for his fifteen rivals in the not so lucky last, a MR61 Handicap over 1200m.
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Piere’s Big Five
Turffontein 23rd August: They raced on the inside track on Saturday where backed as if unbeatable in the opening maiden plate over 1600m was the 3yo HYAKU. The first of five winners on the card for former champion jockey Piere Strydom, the son of Admire Main was soon up handy. He moved through to take up the running as they approached the 300m pole and kept on strongly in the closing stages of the race to beat the running on CONFABULATE by a length. Having only his second career outing here, the poorly drawn COOL CHARDONNAY ran on well from the rear to fill fourth position in this race.
Three of the afternoon’s nine races were run over 1800m and the fastest of these was the bill topping MR86 Handicap won by the grey NORGAY. The second of three winners on the card for trainer St John Gray (he only took three runners to the track), Norgay raced third for most of the journey, just a couple of lengths off the front running TIGER PLAY (55/1). He quickly went two clear after striking the front coming off the strip, and under a clever ride from Piere Strydom he kept on strongly late to beat the faster finishing AUGUSTINUS by a half.
The faster of the two 1450m races was the MR68 Handicap won by the St John Gray trained DON VITO. Freely available at 7/1 on the off the 4yo son of Sronghold also raced handy. He ran on best of all in the straight and with the rest well beaten he got up late to deny the 5yo NATIONAL BOUNTY (raced 2nd – led 400m).
In terms of distance the easiest victory on the card was recorded by LONDON in the maiden plate over 1450m. Nibbled at on course into 8/1 from 12’s, Paul Peter’s charge was always handy. One of the joint favourites GOLD CUP GIRL was the first to make a move and she did finish 6,25 lengths clear of the remainder, after taking it up 400m out. London was already at her heels at that point though, and cruised clear to score by four and a half after striking the front 150m later.
Titbits
ANITA made up many lengths in the straight when running on from the rear to take second position in the maiden 1800m.
LIONS EMBLEM won the slowly run MR64 Handicap over 3000m with plenty in hand.
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Ton In Hand
Greyville 24th August: Sunday’s action took place on the poly track where four of the afternoon’s nine races were run over 1400m and the fastest of these was the MR88 Handicap won by SAKANIA. Taken straight to the front by Sean Cormack, the 4yo daughter of Mon Sang led throughout. The more fancied CAPTAIN’S DAUGHTER ran on strongly in the straight, but try as she might she couldn’t get closer than three quarters at the wire.
The fastest of the three 1600m events was the bill topping MR89 Handicap won by the 9yo HENCHMAN. Winning for the seventh time in 79 starts the veteran ran on stoutly over the final 400m and did well to reel in the regular place getter CHILL close home.
The easiest victory on the card was recorded by MARCHELINE in the opening maiden plate for 3yo’s over 1200m. Deep in the red at 1/5 on the off, the Anthony Delpech ridden daughter of Western Winter broke well and was soon positioned on the heels of the speed. She put her head in front shortly after passing the 300m marker and with a ton in hand she cruised clear to score by four and three quarters.
Titbits
After losing three lengths at the start and then having to race wide to boot, the newcomer DYNASTIC ran on stoutly in the short home straight and gaining quickly at the finish only lost out on the nod in the maiden plate over 1200m.
Beaten just three quarters of a length the recent winner BLACK JAGUAR was continually baulked for a run over the final 250m when third in the MR72 Handicap over 1600m.
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Top speedratings for this weekend include:-
Fairview (fri)
Race 1: (1) Family Fortune 23
Race 2: (2) Destiny Driven 18
Race 3: (2) Vivalda 66
Race 4: (17) Quick Delivery 47
Race 5: (8) Albarakah 74
Race 6: (13) Jupiter Symphony 65
Race 7: (2) Petara 60 (NAP*)
Race 8: (14) Polo Warrior 60
Race 9: (13) Dancinginthedesert 53
Vaal (sat)
Race 1: (2) Spiaggia 10
Race 2: (2) Toughnuttocrack 18
Race 3: (1) In Tune Too 23
Race 4: (2) Precursor 77 (NAP*)
Race 5: (8) Breathless 47
Race 6: (1) Shattered Image 59
Race 7: (3) Killua Castle 90
Race 8: (7) Samogan 59
Race 9: (11) Terra Marianna 74
Race 10: (7) Arctic Hooligan 44
Kenilworth (sat)
Race 1: (1) Pigeon Flyer 6
Race 2: (1) Ready To Rock 20
Race 3: (10) Seize The Throne 22 (NAP*)
Race 4: (4) Belle Juliette 20
Race 5: (8) Saxony 53
Race 6: (7) Mysterio 61
Race 7: (4) Harvard Crimson 43
Race 8: (15) Pistacchio 41
Greyville (sun)
Race 1: (3) The Lonsdale 14
Race 2: (2) Destined For Dawn 4
Race 3: (1) Bluebaygirl 18
Race 4: (4) Eternal Jet 40
Race 5: (7) King’s Affair 40
Race 6: (8) Maria Theresa 31
Race 7: (1) Sacred Jewel 38
Race 8: (2) Double Clutch 43
Race 9: (1) Mercurial Brave 58
Race 10: (3) Nottingham Forest 30
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Top rated winners last week included
Opah Latino won 28/1
Storm Coast won 7/2
Ruby Ruby won 3/1
Ethylene won 2/1
Olympic Bolt won 2/1
Winter Glory won 14/10
Hyaku won 5/10
Marcheline won 1/5
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Notebook:-
Dynastic (D Kannemeyer, KZN)
Jet Jamboree (D Zaki, 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 (sand) 21st August
Going – Standard
1000m (3) Sarve 59,21
1450m (2) Jet Jamboree 89,88
1600m (2) The Angelus 102,57
1800m (2) Olympic Bolt 115,10
Fairview (poly) 22nd August
Going Standard
1200m (1) Peregrine King 69,88
1300m (2) Lord Kelly 77,11
1600m (2) Ruby Sunset 95,72
2000m (1) Storm Lily 127,03
2200m (2) Red Silvano 138,17
Turffontein (inner) 23rd August
Penetrometer 20 – Going Good
1200m (1) Castle Keep 75,33
1450m (2) Don Vito 90,88
1600m (1) Hyaku 102,16
1800m (3) Norgay 114,79
2600m (1) Opah Latino 175,68
3000m (1) Lions Emblem 199,07
Greyville (poly) 24th August
Going Standard
1200m (2) Semonkong 71,23*
1400m (4) Sakania 82,90
1600m (3) Henchman 95,72
