Weighted To Score

Another Powerful King

Kenilworth 4th May: Until the end of the month they will still be racing on the new course at Kenilworth. The Gr3 Tekkie Town Winter Guineas over 1600m topped the bill on Sunday and here we saw a smart performance from the favourite POWER KING. On leaving the stalls it was the 25/1 shot GLOBAL DESTINY who elected to make the running whilst Dean Kannemeyer’s charge was content to race in midfield. He was asked to take closer order at the top of the straight and won well by a length and a half after striking the front 100m out.
The supporting act was the listed Sweet Chestnut Stakes for 3yo fillies over 1400m and here a bit of an upset was to be had when ACROSTAR landed the spoils. Freely available at 18/1 on the off, the daughter of Danehill Dancer was positioned at the back early on. Once in the home straight though, she finished best of all and under a well-judged ride from Glen Hatt she got up late to deny the much more fancied SOUK.
Four of the afternoon’s nine races were run over 1200m and the fastest of these was the opening maiden plate won by CREDIBILITY. Sent off a strong favourite at 18/10, the Rebel King filly was soon up handy. She was ridden to lead shortly after passing the 300m marker and although KING’S SUMMIT (running on from the rear) was gaining at the finish, she had a length to spare at the wire.
Although not in terms of distance, the easiest victory on the card was undoubtedly that of HEART WARMING when winning the girl’s division of the maiden juvenile plate over 1200m. Another to race close to the action, the daughter of Miesque’s Approval took up the running as they approached the 300m marker and with Grant Van Niekerk barely having to move a muscle throughout, she cruised in by two and three quarters. Impressive.
Titbits
Beaten just 0,35 of a length, third placed GOGREASELIGHTNING had to switch out for a run en-route from the rear in the MR68 Handicap over 1000m.
JOHNNY ROCKETS won the MR94 Handicap over 1800m with some in hand.

.

Still Climbing

Vaal 6th May: They raced on the outside track on Tuesday where victory in the opening maiden juvenile plate over 1000m went to one of the three original co-favourites MISS DECEMBER. Confidently ridden by Gavin Lerena, the daughter of Var raced in the rear early on. She moved up to challenge shortly after MISSMASALA struck the front 300m out and after a thrilling tussle with that one below the distance she only got the verdict by the narrowest of margins.
At the other end of the scale the easiest victory on the card was recorded by PRECURSOR in the boy’s division of the maiden juvenile 1000m. Allowed to ease right out to 13/10 from 6/10 at the track as money in the main came for the lightly raced RON, Dominic Zaki’s newcomer was soon positioned close to the speed. He took up the running as they approached the 400m marker and after quickly going clear he went on to score with authority by five and a quarter.
A half of the afternoon’s eight races were run over 1600m and the fastest of these was the MR79 Handicap won by the 4yo son of Western Winter ZANZIBAR MAN. Another to race handy, Leon Erasmus’ charge ran on strongly at the business end of the race and just got the better of the more fancied NOBLE STAR by a neck.
A pinnacle stakes over 1200m topped the bill and here it was nice to see another of Western Winter’s progeny SNOWDON back in the winner’s enclosure. Winning for the ninth time in 32 outings here, Ormond Ferraris’ charge raced at the back of the five early on. The field was always very closely grouped though and in what proved to be a real thriller the 6yo got the verdict by a neck.
Titbits
NAHOON BEACH and FORM UP were both baulked for a run 350m out when 4th & 5th respectively in the MR67 Handicap over 1600m.
After battling to find a clear passage between the 400m and 100m poles, the 12/10 favourite MONEYBALL won the maiden plate over 1600m going away with some in hand.

.

Mixed Feelings

Vaal 8th May: The easiest victory at the Vaal’s sand meeting on Thursday was undoubtedly that of SHADOW LINE in the MR87 Handicap over 1450m. Confidently ridden by Chase Maujean the son of Toreador sat in midfield for the first half of the race. He moved through to take up the running as they approached the 400m pole and cruised clear from there onwards to score by ten and a quarter. Now a winner of five of his twelve outings, the talented Shadow Line was only having his third run following a seven month layoff and sadly for connections was reported as lame on the off fore.
Another to win with authority on this card and most noticeably on the clock was TRIP TEASE in the bill topping MR96 Handicap over 1000m. In a time more than two and a quarter seconds faster than the better of the two maiden events over the same distance, Louis Goosen’s charge was soon up with the speed. He began to assert his authority going through the 200m and although SUGAR AND SHAKE chased hard, he did have that one held by two at the wire.
The easiest victory in the maiden ranks was recorded by BUFFALO DANCE when opening her account in the girl’s 1000m event. Taken straight to the front by Sherman Brown, the daughter of First American led throughout. She was always in command and beat what has to be said was a very moderate field, very easily by three and a half.
Titbits
Well exposed ZENA’S OWN ran on well from midfield when easily accounting for her eleven rivals in the MR64 Handicap over 1200m.

.

Joe’s Back

Fairview 9th May: Friday’s action took place on the turf where victory in the opening maiden juvenile plate over 1200m went to the Alan Greeff trained DANCING NATASHA. Allowed to drift right out to 6/1 from 7/2 at the track the daughter of Sail From Sattle raced in midfield early on. She ran on strongly from halfway and in what proved to be a real thriller she only got the verdict on the nod from CAT AND THE MOON who also finished well.
At the other end of the scale the easiest victory on the card was recorded by SPECK OF LIGHT in the false paced MR74 Handicap over 2700m. Easily ten lengths clear of the third horse turning for home, the spectrum gelding took command from the tiring pacemaker 500m out. From then on he had the race at his mercy and although VERTICAL DRIFT did make some headway he still had six and a half to spare at the wire.
The listed Dahlia Plate for 2yo’s over 1200m topped the bill and here the stable of Alan Greeff (3 winners on the card) were again on the mark when Seattle Joe landed the spoils. The field was always tightly bunched and going through the 400m just three lengths covered all. He ran on stoutly at the business end of the race and just got the verdict by a neck from the visiting SUNSET TRIPP.
Titbits
KING’S SUMMIT came from the rear when easily winning the girl’s maiden 1200m by three and a quarter.
The three quarter length winner BISHOP’S CHOICE also came from the rear when landing the MR64 Handicap over 1600m.

.

Top speedratings for this weekend include:-

Top rated winners last week included

Notebook:-

FASTEST TIMES