Perfect Double
Arlington 15th February: Favourite backers got off to a nice start in Port Elizabeth on Friday when PRETTY CADDY did the business in the opening maiden event over 1600m. She got away well when the gates opened and soon up handy raced prominent throughout. She ran on strongly over the final 400m and in what proved to be a real thriller she got the verdict in a three finish by the narrowest of margins.
The easiest victory on the card was recorded by GOLLYWOG in the boy’s division of the maiden 1600m. He too raced handy and after making his move at the top of the short home straight was soon at the head affairs. He quickened well in the closing stages of the race and easily accounted for the more fancied AFTER THE CARNIVAL by three. Although never near enough to mount a challenge, the runner up ran on well and was continually baulked for a run over the final 200m.
There were five 1600m races in total and the fastest of these was the novice plate in which Khetha registered his second career victory. He quickened well from his position in midfield and comfortably accounted for the well supported outsider RUM AND RAISIN (16/1 into 15/2) by a length and a quarter.
The 4yo son of Muhtafal LONDON PERFECT won with authority in a similar event last time out and so it was no surprise to see him follow up in the MR73 Handicap over 1200m here. Positioned close to the speed in second during the early part of the race Des Mclachlan’s charge struck the front early in the straight and quickly went clear. The unfancied SPORTING ROONEY did make some headway over the final 200m, but London Perfect still had a length and a quarter to spare at the wire. Interestingly, this race was run in a faster time than the MR90 Handicap won by Arctic Jet.
Titbits
Runner up in the MR90 Handicap over 1200m, HAIL THE DUKE ran on well from the rear and only went down by a neck
The poorly drawn DARESAY also ran on well from the rear when only going down by a similar margin in the girl’s maiden event over 1600m.
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Overdue Captain
Turffontein 16th February: They raced on the inner track on Saturday where proceedings got underway with a workrider’s maiden event over 1600m. PARTY MAGIC was nibbled at into favouritism at the track and the daughter of Indigo Magic comfortably landed the odds. Always handy, Party Magic took up the running shortly after passing the 200m pole and drew clear easily from there onwards to score by three and a quarter.
Another to win well in the maiden ranks on this card was BATTLE FLAME in the 1800m event. One of four runners finishing strongly from off the pace at the death, Battle Flame struck the front 150m from home and won well by two and a quarter.
The fastest of the three 1600m races on the card was the MR94 Handicap in which CAPTAIN HADDOCK registered his second career victory. On leaving the stalls it was the prestigious Ready To Run Cup winner ROCK OF ARTS who elected to make the running whilst Ormond Ferraris’ charge sat close up in second. Rock Of Arts kept on strongly in the short home straight and did have the rest well beaten. Captain Haddock was always poised to strike though and won well after doing so 200m out.
There were also three 1450m events on the card was the fastest of these was the MR72 Handicap won by LADY CALUMET. Confidently ridden by the current national jockey’s log leader Pierre Strydom, the daughter of Lundy’s Liability led throughout. She was always in command and won without any anxious moments.
Titbits
Eased down late, TEQUILA SUNRISE won the MR69 Handicap over 2200m more easily than the official winning margin of a length and a quarter would suggest.
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Late Arrivals
Scottsville 17th February: Six of the ten races in Pietermaritzburg on Sunday were run over 1200m and the fastest of these was the bill topping MR93 Handicap in which MONSIEUR DUPONT prevailed. Winning for the first time since Aug ’11 here, Mike Bass’ charge was content to sit at the back of the eight for most of the journey. Once given rein though he quickened best of all and won going away after striking the front 100m out.
Another to win with authority on this card was MAJESTIC EMBLEM when opening his account in the maiden 1000m. Taken straight to the front by apprentice Mandla Ntuli the son of National Emblem led throughout. He was always in command and won unchallenged by two and a quarter.
The fastest of the three 1600m races on the card was the MR76 Handicap in which ATAMASCO completed a quick hattrick. Winning for the third time in just 36 days here, Glen Kotzen’s charge was soon up handy. He was ridden to lead going through the 100m and finding extra late on, he just had enough in hand to hold off the running on NOTHING COMPARES.
Also worthy of note on this card was the performance of ORANGE BLOSSOM in winning the graduation event over 1600m. Positioned in the rear turning for home, the improving 3yo ran on best of all in the straight and won going away by a half.
Titbits
In the rear after being slow into stride, MODERN SPOT ran on well in the latter stages when third in the maiden event over 1600m.
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Top speedratings for this weekend include:-
Flamingo Park Race 1: (3) Sharp Emotions 11 Race 2: (2) Yes No Maybe So 13 Race 3: (14) Tamarack 22 Race 4: (7) Tiger’s Charm 27 Race 5: (3) Sudden Surprise 37 Race 6: (1) Zaafiel 13 Race 7: (3) Great Smokey 68 Race 8: (4) Heyouneverknow 34 Race 9: (2) Woodland Fire 23 Scottsville Race 1: (9) Izora 23 Race 2: (2) My Sanctuary 21 Race 3: (1) So Sweet 16 Race 4: (1) Genuine Silver 18 Race 5: (8) Scoop The Pool 72 Race 6: (1) Showmetheway 78 Race 7: (2) Sky Marshal 61 Race 8: (11) Al Sayaaf 16 (NAP**) Turffontein Race 1: No Qualifiers Race 2: No Qualifiers Race 3: (1) Hello Polly 17 Race 4: (2) Commodore Al 18 Race 5: (5) Vulcan 55 (EW) Race 6: (12) Anka Man 60 Race 7: (8) Ilha Bela 89 (NAP*) Race 8: (5) Elodie 68 Race 9: (6) Lucky Gambler 21 Durbanville Race 1: (12) Tsotsoma 19 Race 2: (2) Babazeka 11 Race 3: (9) Wanda 22 Race 4: (1) Sir Robert 12 Race 5: (11) Abbey Creek 40 Race 6: (12) Happy Horatio 43 Race 7: (3) Hijacked 67 Race 8: (11) Crystal Glitter 14 Vaal Race 1: (1) National Lady 8 (EW) Race 2: (4) Pylon 90 Race 3: (9) Eight Forty Four 7 Race 4: (7) Richard’s Grace 25 Race 5: (8) Hurricane Velvet 38 Race 6: (2) Ohiki Bay 44 Race 7: (5) Mythical Palace 80 Race 8: (5) Tally Blue 68 Race 9: (13) Black And White 59 .
Top rated winners last week included
Covariance won 20/1 Daffodil Day won 20/1 Slew The Bold won 6/1 Where’s My Chop won 9/2 Captain Haddock won 7/2 Henry Higgins won 7/2 Party Magic won 5/2 Alareef won 1/3 .
Notebook:-
Orange Blossom (D Howells, KZN) .
FASTEST TIMES
The number of races run over each distance is shown in brackets *Denotes – Times taken by ClockwatcherArlington 15th February Penetrometer 21 – Going Good 1200m (2) London Perfect 72,60 1400m (1) Scented Ash 84,39 1600m (5) Khetha 96,89 .
Turffontein (inner) 16th February Penetrometer 21 – Going Good 1000m (1) Weather Report 58,76 1450m (3) Lady Calumet 86,94 1600m (3) Captain Haddock 96,26 1800m (1) Battle Flame 112,31 2200m (2) Sky Pirate 138,59 .
Scottsville (new) 17th February Penetrometer 27 – Going Soft 1000m (1) Majestic Emblem 59,38 1200m (6) Monsieur Dupont 71,70 1600m (3) Atamasco 99,82
