Well Weighted
Clairwood 22nd December
On The Beaches
Perhaps the most interesting of the five maiden races at the garden course on Wednesday was the 1200m event in which the well supported favourite CATALECTRIC (44) did the business. On leaving the stalls it was the regular place getter ALAN’S PRIDE who elected to make the running whilst Catalectric, after being a little slow into stride, raced some three lengths away in sixth. Alan’s Pride kept on surprisingly well at the business end of the race and soon had the rest headed by the original joint favourite WIELAND well beaten. Catalectric (5/2 into 17/10) was always travelling well though and when he loomed alongside 150m from home, Alan’s Pride couldn’t go with him.
A novice event over 1200m was next up and here it was nice to see the 4yo daughter of Toreador TARRAGON (60) bounce back to best. Having only her second start here since returning from a four month layoff, Tarragon was soon up with the speed. She began to assert her authority going through the 300m and although the in form RAISE THE RENT gave her all in the closing stages of the race, she went on to score comfortably by two and a quarter.
The easiest victory on the card was undoubtedly that of BEACHES (73) who came home smoking in the graduation event over 1600m. Despite being troublesome at the start and a little slow into stride to boot, Kom Naidoo’s charge was soon in touch with the leaders. He was asked to take up the running as they approached the 300m marker and went on to beat the in form MAROPENG very easily by three and a quarter. Beaches beat a decent field in good style here, and is clearly one to keep tabs on.
Turffontein 23rd December
On The Upgrade
Thursday’s action took place on the inner track where favourite backers got off to a good start when COLOUR SUPPLEMENT (25) did the business in the opening workriders’ maiden event over 1600m. The best bet on the card for most, Sean Tarry’s charge was always well positioned to strike. He ran on best of all in the short home straight and under a confident ride from the very able workrider Mukhubo, he got up late to beat the most experienced runner in the field, TONGABEZI by a length.
Another favourite to win well on this card was END OF SEASON (54) who gained her fifth career victory from just eleven starts in the MR76 affair over 1800m. On leaving the stalls it was the fancied AU FOND who elected to make the running whilst End Of Season raced close up in sixth. Quite a few runners ran on nicely in the short home straight and none more so than GUNNER GIRL who did well to get up for fourth having raced in the rear. End Of Season was always travelling well though and under a well judged ride from Fanie Chambers, she got up nicely late to score by three quarters. End Of Season completed a hattrick here and looking to have a bit in hand, could well extend her winning sequence if kept in similar company next time out.
Although worthy of note on this card was the performance of MR BLACK TOM (67) in winning the graduation event over 1000m. Heavily supported into 11/20 from 9/10 during the afternoon, Brian Wiid’s charge was soon up handy. He was ridden to lead shortly after passing the 300m marker and easily accounted for the running on BENBOW by two and a half. Mr Black Tom has now won three of his four starts since returning from an eleven month layoff and is clearly still improving.
Arlington 24th December
Social Hattrick
Racing on Christmas Eve took place in the Eastern Cape where victory in the opening maiden event over 2000m went to the Alan Greeff trained SEVEN OF HEARTS. Nibbled at on course to go off a joint second favourite at 5/1, the daughter of Lundy’s Liability was soon up handy. She was ridden to lead as they approached the 200m marker and went on to score comfortably from BULLION SPOT PRICE by two and a quarter.
Another Alan Greeff runner to win well in the maiden ranks on this card was MISS LOPEZ who opened her account in the 1600m event. Freely available at 10/1 on the off, Miss Lopez raced towards the back end of midfield during the early part of the race. She ran on stoutly in the home straight and although the much more fancied AIR IN MOTION also finished well from off the pace, she went on to win in good style by two and three quarters.
The afternoon’s feature event was a MR86 affair over 1600m and here victory went to the rapidly improving SOCIAL MASTER. Sent off a strong favourite at 15/10, the hattrick seeking Social Master was content to race seventh of the nine for most of the journey. He was asked to take closer order early in the straight and after a thrilling tussle with the two former Natal campaigners MAKZOOS and SHIPWRECK, he got up late to win fair and square by a half. Social Master has now won six of his sixteen starts to date and clearly has more to come.
Clairwood 26th December
Royal Blood
Boxing Day’s action in Natal took place at Clairwood where we saw another smart performance from the improving ROMANTIC MOON. Rock solid in the betting market at 7/10, Duncan Howells’ charge raced up with the speed throughout. The improving BELLAGIO raced with her and going through the 400m it looked as if she might give the favourite a race. When given rein at the 200m marker though, Romantic Moon responded quickly and drew clear nicely in the latter stages of the race to win by two and a quarter. Romantic Moon has now won four of her six career starts to date and is clearly still improving.
The Gr3 Christmas Handicap topped the bill and in what looked to be an open contest victory here went to the 5/1 favourite RICH STRIKE. On leaving the stalls it was the most lightly raced runner in the field ROYAL ROCKER who elected to set the pace whilst Rich Strike sat some three lengths away in fourth. Royal Rocker kept on surprisingly strongly down the long home straight and as they approached the 200m marker, it was already clear that he had the rest beaten. Rich Strike had been very steadily reeling him in since turning for home though and under a well judged ride from Anthony Delpech, he got up late to score by a half.
The most impressive performance of the afternoon though was undoubtedly that of the recent ten length maiden winner ROYAL ZULU WARRIOR who again came home lonely in the MR77 affair over 1200m. Backed as if unbeatable on course, Tony Rivalland’s charge sat close up in fourth during the early part of the race. He was asked to take up the running shortly after passing halfway and looking to have plenty in hand he drew clear easily from there onwards to score by nine. Royal Zulu Warrior has now won both starts in very impressive fashion and clearly has a bright future ahead of him.
Top speedratings for this weekend include:-
Fairview
Race 1: (6) Taurus 21
Race 2: (8) Dance For Jess 13
Race 3: (14) Smart Play 30
Race 4: (1) Soul Searcher 30
Race 5: (8) Port Curtis 48
Race 6: (1) Harvest Day 59
Race 7: (2) West Wacker 60
Race 8: (5) Valdivar 47 (EW)
Vaal (Tues)
Race 1: (13) Regal Roxy 15
Race 2: (5) Skyblade 12
Race 3: (2) Turkey Shoot 19
Race 4: (7) Windmill Theatre 66
Race 5: (7) Single Minded 76
Race 6: (11) Polo 71 (NAP*)
Race 7: (9) Son Of The Burg 49
Race 8: (9) Delightful Diva 68
Greyville
Race 1: (4) Miss Diana 16
Race 2: (13) Satin Cruiser 16
Race 3: (2) French Miss 25
Race 4: (1) Silver Crest 11
Race 5: (12) Edwin Streeter 46
Race 6: (5) Tricia’s Spur 47 (NAP*)
Race 7: (5) Indecent Obsession 69
Race 8: (2) Travel Light 55
Kenilworth
Race 1: No Qualifiers
Race 2: No Qualifiers
Race 3: (5) Spanish Affair 16 (NAP*)
Race 4: (5) All Is Forgiven 63
Race 5: (6) Importantisimo 71
Race 6: (1) Fort Vogue 94
Race 7: (1) Lenton Grove 56
Race 8: (8) Six To Six 44
Vaal (Thur)
Race 1: (6) Target 16
Race 2: (1) Comical Guy 23
Race 3: (1) Soul Sister 18
Race 4: (3) Vanya 16
Race 5: (14) Kruger Boy 48
Race 6: (15) Arabian Glamour 50
Race 7: (7) Albatross 47
Race 8: (3) Subtle Beauty 45
Top rated winners last week included:-
Royal Captive won 33/10
Take Over Target won 19/10
Kayhaladin won 17/10
Karl Spruce won 11/10
Uncle Tommy won 17/20
Colour Supplement won 6/10
Part Des Anges won 6/10
Royal Zulu Warrior won 3/10
Notebook:-
Beaches (K Naidoo, Natal)
Romantic Moon (D Howells, Natal)
Royal Zulu Warrior (A Rivalland, Natal)
FASTEST TIMES
(Shown in brackets is the number of races run in each category)
Clairwood 22nd December
Fastest Sprint 1000-1300 (6) Hail Atlantis
Fastest Middle 1400-1800 (2) Magnanimous
Fastest Long 1900-3600 (2) Midnight Fox
Turffontein 23rd December
Fastest Sprint 1000-1300 (1) Mr Black Tom
Fastest Middle 1400-1800 (8) Blue Tooth
Fastest Long 1900-3600 (0) No Qualifiers
Arlington 24th December
Fastest Sprint 1000-1300 (2) Supreme Strike
Fastest Middle 1400-1800 (5) Social Master
Fastest Long 1900-3600 (1) Seven Of Hearts
Clairwood 26th December
Fastest Sprint 1000-1300 (5) Royal Zulu Warrior
Fastest Middle 1400-1800 (2) Rich Strike
Fastest Long 1900-3600 (3) Hunt The Jester
