Salute The Hat-trick
Greyville 31st January: They raced on the turf on Sunday afternoon where the faster of the two 1200m races was the non-black type Marula Sprint won by the top weight ICE MACHINE. Sent off favourite at 22/10, the 7yo son of Silvano finished best of all and got up late to deny the second favourite BARBOSA (led 150m). Beaten less than a length, third placed JAYYAD didn’t find the clearest of passages when running on from the rear in this race.
The faster of the two 1800m races on the card was the bill topping Michael Roberts Handicap (L) and here the rapidly improving 3yo TEN GUN SALUTE completed a smart hat-trick. Sent off a strong favourite at 17/10, Duncan Howells’ charge raced in midfield for most of the journey. The easy to back SILVER SPRING was the first to make a move and three lengths clear going through the 300m, the veteran looked to have done everything right. Ten Gun Salute steadily reeled him in below the distance though, and under a well-judged ride from Musi Yeni, he got up late.
The 3yo LALA in the graduation plate over 1800m was the best bet on the card for most, and she didn’t let down her supporters. Deep in the red at 9/20 on the off, the daughter of Visionaire raced in midfield early on. She quickened well at the top of the straight and won easing down by a length after striking the front 200m out.
Titbits
The 3yo WIND SINGER ran on well from midfield when winning the maiden plate over 1400m going away by three and a half.
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Work Rider’s Day
Vaal 2nd February: They raced on the inside track on Tuesday where all of the races were for work riders. A maiden plate over 1400m got proceedings underway and in a time only marginally quicker than that of the girl’s division GYPSY’S INN opened his account. Freely available at 12/1 on the off, Brett Warren’s charge was soon up handy. He was ridden to lead shortly after passing the 500m marker and with the rest well beaten he comfortably accounted for CHOSEN AL by two and a quarter.
The only other distance to stage more than one race was 1200m and fastest against the clock in these two maiden events was NERUDA in the boy’s division. Sent off an uneasy favourite (evens out to 22/10), the son of Second Empire made all. He was always clear and won without any anxious moments by five.
Another to win well from the front was CATWALK TEASE in the girl’s division of the maiden 1400m. Soon a length and a quarter clear, despite having stumbled at the start, Erico Verdonese’s charge kept on strongly at the business end of the race and beat the 2/1 favourite JAY RIVER fair and square.
Titbits
The 3yo JUDITH didn’t find the clearest of passages from midfield when winning the girl’s division of the maiden 2000m with some in hand by two and a half.
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Thrilling Stuff
Durbanville 3rd February: Three of the eight races at the country course on Wednesday were run over 2000m and the fastest of these was the MR70 Handicap in which a dead-heat was declared between TIGER TOPS and GULL ROCK. Tiger Tops raced closest of the pair in second and put his head in front 250m out. The third placed horse NABISCO (beaten a short head) briefly put his head in front 100m from home, and in what proved to be a real thriller Gull Rock (running on from the rear) flew up late to share.
The faster of the two 1000m races was the MR70 Handicap won by the 5/2 favourite TELL ME MORE. Always handy, Darryl Hodgson’s charge ran on strongly in the straight and with the rest well beaten he got up late to deny the second favourite OVAR (led 300m).
A MR76 Handicap topped the rather moderate bill and here the recent maiden winner SUPERCILIOUS again found the number one box. Soon up handy in what was always a very tightly bunched field, Joey Ramsden’s charge got the verdict in a blanket finish by a neck. Fourth placed IMPALA LILY was baulked twice for a run en-route from midfield in this race.
Titbits
Racing very green and hanging in parts, the 3yo DOCTOROW only got going late, and was then hampered when fourth in the maiden plate over 1600m.
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On The Nod
Vaal 4th February: Thursday’s action took place on the outside track where four of the nine races took place over 1200m. The fastest of these was the MR72 Handicap won by ON THE NOD. Soon up handy, Lucky Houdalakis’ charge initially struck the front 400m out. He was headed by SIR CECIL 200m later and in what proved to be a real thriller he fought back to get the verdict “on the nod”.
There was also four races run over 1600m and quickest against the clock in these was MAN’S INN when completing a double over the course and distance in the MR72 affair. Four and a half lengths covered virtually all going through the 400m and in another classic finish he 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 COUNT TASSILO when getting off the mark at just the second time of asking in the boy’s division of the maiden 1600m. Sent off a strong favourite at 16/10, Sean Tarry’s charge was soon up handy. He was ridden to lead as they approached the 400m marker and drew clear easily in the closing stages of the race to beat IL DUCE by four and a half.
Titbits
The recent maiden winner EXTREME DUBAI won the MR72 Handicap over 1200m with authority by three and a quarter.
MIRACLE RISING ran on from the back when winning the MR72 Handicap over 1400m, but for the third race in a row she finished distressed.
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Top speedratings for this weekend include:-
Fairview (fri)
Race 1: (9) Vilanelle 5
Race 2: (2) New Deal 3
Race 3: (5) Gauteng 7
Race 4: (5) Tiger Tim 18
Race 5: (1) Drill Sargeant 68 (NAP**)
Race 6: (6) Silver Image 47
Race 7: (12) Stone Town 45
Race 8: (6) Brave Vision 56
Race 9: (12) All About The Dash 53
Greyville (fri)
Race 1: (1) Lord Luton 22
Race 2: (10) Whistling Wonder 51
Race 3: (8) Overly Impressed 12
Race 4: (11) Antwerp 52
Race 5: (9) Thanda 42
Race 6: (1) Jet Intombi 32 (NAP*)
Race 7: (6) Barcelona Babe 58
Race 8: (4) National Chimes 33
Turffontein (sat)
Race 1: (1) Ultimate Survival 15
Race 2: (2) Calapan 12
Race 3: (1) Drifting Dusk 56
Race 4: (5) Jay River 11
Race 5: (5) Mr Mulliner 78
Race 6: (9) Polly Wolly Doodle 53
Race 7: (6) Zrinski 70
Race 8: (12) Fort Eagle 54
Race 9: (16) Super Club 46
Kenilworth (sat)
Race 1: (4) Not On My Watch 1
Race 2: (9) Leisure Trip 22 (NAP*)
Race 3: (1) All Magic 14
Race 4: (5) Tide Is Turning 17
Race 5: (9) Rising Sunset 43
Race 6: (11) Al Wahed 66
Race 7: (6) Kilrain 51
Race 8: (1) Shall Be Free 17
Scottsville (sun)
Race 1: (1) Liberty Market 4
Race 2: (1) Portman Square 23 (EW)
Race 3: (4) Piano Man 71
Race 4: (3) Shine Up 25
Race 5: (13) Bermuda 48
Race 6: (17) Cape Jewel 45
Race 7: (12) What A Boytjie 49
Race 8: (1) Roy’s Monkey 7
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Top rated winners last week included
Like Janis won 28/10
Miss Varlicious won 5/2
Runalong won 5/2
Ice Machine won 22/10
Neruda won 22/10
Bora Bora won 19/10
Secunde’s Victor won 18/10
Ten Gun Salute won 17/10
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Notebook:-
Gull Rock (B Crawford, W-Cape)
Jayyed (M De Kock, KZN)
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FASTEST TIMES
The number of races run over each distance is shown in brackets
*Denotes – Times taken by Clockwatcher
Greyville (turf) 31st January
Penetrometer 21 – Going Good
1000m (1) Skip The Red 60,48
1200m (2) Ice Machine 70,61
1400m (2) Lancat 85,02
1600m (1) Ole Gunnar 96,20
1800m (2) Ten Gun Salute 107,67
2400m (1) Roy’s Horse 153,12
Vaal (inside) 2nd February
Penetrometer 20 – Going Good
1000m (1) Tropical’s Son 57,19
1200m (2) Neruda 69,98
1400m (2) Gypsy’s Inn 83,26
1700m (1) Scotland 103,37
2000m (1) Judith 124.10
2400m (1) Secunde’s Victor 155,31
Durbanville 3rd February
Penetrometer 22 – Going Good
1000m (2) Tell Me More 59,32
1300m (1) Supercilious 78,69
1400m (1) Elusive Empress 86,31
1600m (1) Bora Bora 98,88
2000m (3) Tiger Tops/Gull Rock 121,98
Vaal (outside) 4th February
Penetrometer 21 – going Good
1200m (4) On The Nod 69,65
1400m (1) Miracle Rising 82,65
1600m (4) Man’s Inn 94,95
