Durbanville 19th October
Useful Youngsters
A maiden event over 1200m got proceedings underway at the country course on Tuesday and here we saw a nice performance from the newcomer ROSE ROYCE (21). Freely available at 10/1 on the off, Darryl Hodgson’s charge raced towards the rear during the early part of the race. Once in the straight though she quickened well and under a well judged ride from Gerrit Schlechter, she got up close home to beat the heavily supported second favourite CAMDEN QUEEN (8/1 into 22/10) by a length and a quarter. Rose Royce won well and is clearly one to keep tabs on.
Another to win very well on this card was AZAPEL (51) who gained his second career victory from just five starts in the novice 1200m. Well supported into 33/10 from 5’s, Brett Crawford’s charge raced fifth for most of the journey and he didn’t get the clearest of runs when the race began in earnest 400m out. Once seeing daylight though, the son of Doowaley fairly flew and drew clear in good style late to beat THEATRE CAT by two and a quarter. Keep an eye on Azapel. He would surely have come home lonely given a clear passage.
The afternoons’ feature event was a MR87 Handicap over 1400m and here victory went to the favourite SCHOOL CAPTAIN (55). The only 3yo in the race, School Captain was always in touch with the leaders. She quickened nicely at the top of the straight and after striking the front 200m from home, she kept on strongly late to beat the running on CAROL’S TRIUMPH by a half.
Clairwood 20th October
Mixed Fortunes
First up at the garden course on Wednesday was a maiden event for the girls over 1200m and in what proved to be a real thriller, victory here went to the well supported second favourite CAPTAIN’S DANCER (31). On leaving the stalls it was the favourite SWEET SILVANO who elected to make the running whilst the Anton Marcus ridden Captain’s Dancer raced well within striking distance in fifth. He began to take closer order passing halfway and when he came together with the market leader 300m out battle quickly commenced. Both gave their all on the run to the line and with the rest well beaten it was only by the narrowest of margins that Captain’s Dancer got the verdict.
Favourite backers were on the mark in the next though when the newcomer STING OPERATION (45) did the business. Allowed to ease right out to 2/1 at one stage from 12/10, as money came in buckets for another newcomer RESTRAINT (7/1 into 28/10), Sting Operation was soon at the head of affairs. She kept up a healthy gallop throughout and although the money horse chased hard, and did have the rest some five lengths in arrears, she went on to score comfortably by two. Sting Operation won well, but sadly for her connections, she broke a bloodvessel in the process.
Race eight on the card was a MR78 Handicap over 1000m and here it was nice to see the ultra consistent BOLD ALLIANCE (57) post his third career victory. The pacemaker KRACKERJACK ACE was soon in command of a two lengths lead, but other than that the field was very tightly bunched. Krackerjack Ace kept on determinedly at the business end of the race and did manage to hold off the rest. Bold Alliance quickened very nicely from his handy position though and after striking the front 200m from home, he drew clear easily in the closing stages to win by two.
The easiest victory on the card was recorded by MEEZAH who opened her account at just the third time of asking in the third division of the maiden 1200m. Allowed to drift right out to 9/2 from 15/10 at the track as money in the main came for both BEZABELLE (7/1 into 9/2) and FRENCH MISS (12/1 into 15/2), Meezah was taken straight to the front by Anthony Delpech and led throughout. She was always in command and although one of the money horses French Miss tried her best to make a race of it over the final 400m, she went on to score very comfortably by four.
Turffontein 20th October
Smart Start
This was the meeting originally scheduled to take place on Tuesday 19th October.
They raced on the old stand side track on Wednesday evening where the easiest victory on the card was recorded by PIMPINELLA (43) in the opening maiden event over 1160m. Sent off a joint favourite at 5/2, the daughter of Fort Wood got away well when the gates opened and was soon up handy. She was ridden to lead shortly after passing the 500m marker and kept on strongly in the closing stages of the race to beat the running on BEST IN THE WEST by four and a quarter. Pimpinella won well and clearly has more to come.
A Pinnacle Stakes over 1400m topped the bill and in what proved to be a real thriller, victory here went to the easy to back ZORBA’S TALE (87). Freely available at 15/2 on the off, Lucky Houdalakis’ charge raced in midfield for most of the journey. He quickened well when the field began to concertina 500m out and in a race where only three and a quarter lengths separated the first nine home, he got up late to deny the well supported DON’T TELL TITCH (16/1 into 7/1).
The lucky last was a Conditions Plate over 1000m and all the rage here was the hattrick seeking MARY LOU (79). Backed into even money from 22/10 at the track, Paul Matchett’s charge was always handy. She ran on well from halfway and under a well judged ride from Marthinus Mienie, she put her head in front close home. One to look out for next time from this race is the 4yo ONEHUNDREDACREWOOD. After being baulked for a run at a cruicial stage, Gavin Van Zyl’s charge caught the eye running on strongly.
Vaal 21st October
Lucky 21st
Thursday’s action took place on the turf where we saw a very easy victory in the maiden event over 1400m for the Leon Erasmus trained RUNNING ROGUE (34). She quickened well when the race began in earnest 400m out and although the well supported favourite LIZZIE ARDEN was given every chance by Andrew Fortune, she went on to score very easily by four.
A maiden event over 1600m was next up and here it was nice to see the most experienced runner in the field SPICE CLUB (34) finally open her account. Making her 21st racecourse appearance here, Spice Club lost two lengths at the start, but despite that, she was soon at the head of affairs. The newcomer IRISH MAY quickened nicely after passing halfway and when that one struck the front 400m out, she looked to have the race at her mercy. Undeterred though, Piere Strydom kept Spice Club up to her work and in what proved to be a real thriller, she fought her way back to lead 100m from home.
The afternoons’ feature event was a MR90 Handicap over 1200m and here victory went to the Geoff Woodruff trained FLYBYME (86). The top weight IMALI made the running and going through the 300m it looked as if he would go on to score. Disadvantaged by a slipped saddle though, Imali shifted around 150 from home and taking full advantage of the situation, the running on Flybyme got up close home.
Fairview 22nd October
Scarper
The most impressive performance in the Eastern Cape on Friday was undoubtedly that of RUN FOR IT who did the business for followers of the money in the afternoons’ feature event, the listed Racing Association Stakes over 1600m. Backed throughout the day into 2/1, Justin Snaith’s charge raced in the rear during the early part of the race. The favourite THE PLUNDERER was only two lengths in front of him turning for home, but then taking off first, he had extended his advantage to four on striking the front 300m out. The Plunderer ran on stoutly from there onwards and with the rest well beaten, he looked to have the race in the bag. The 3yo son of Dynasty fairly flew over the final 200m though and in eyecatching style he got up very late to score by a half. Run For It impressed and is clearly one to follow.
Race five on the card was a MR73 affair over 1600m and here it was nice to see the 8yo EL RICHE post his sixth career victory. As per usual in the rear turning for home, El Riche looked to have a mountain to climb. He quickened well as the field began to concertina down the long home straight though and in a blanket finish (less than a length covered the first seven home), he got up in the dying strides to beat the eldest runner in the field J K’S BULLET (9yo) by a neck.
Also worthy of note on this card was the performance of CLASSIC LECTURE in winning the final event, a MR73 Handicap over 1200m. Always in touch with the leaders, the top weight quickened nicely at the business end of the race and after striking the front 200m from home, he went on to score very comfortably by two and quarter from the 5yo AL CARUSO.
Top speedratings for this weekend include:-
Fairview
Race 1: (2) Carte Blanche 17
Race 2: (2) Smart Play 20
Race 3: (1) Icemberg 64
Race 4: (7) Chariya 78 (EW)
Race 5: (12) Revealing Belle 45
Race 6: (4) Great Heart 96
Race 7: (5) Kwaito Queen 43
Race 8: (1) Illumiere 36
Greyville
Race 1: (10) Charlie Trimble 15
Race 2: (9) National Security 21
Race 3: (1) Modern Royal 12
Race 4: (1) Purple Lake 82
Race 5: (9) Palermo Rosa 73
Race 6: (8) Henchman 90
Race 7: (12) Silent Call 77
Race 8: (13) Aristically Done 53
Turffontein
Race 1: (1) Colour Supplement 26
Race 2: (16) Southern Lights 31
Race 3: (1) Westa 25
Race 4: (1) Fancy Some French 29
Race 5: (1) Earl Of Surrey 97 (NAP**)
Race 6: (14) Ilsanpietro 92
Race 7: (16) Africa’s Touch 85
Race 8: (6) Ozymandias 77 (EW)
Race 9: (3) Strike A Deal 56
Race 10: (8) Alteleker 33)
Kenilworth
Race 1: (2) Blue On Blue 13
Race 2: (1) Call The Nation 13
Race 3: (2) Humble King 13
Race 4: (6) Royal Laine 20
Race 5: (7) Naughty Girl 82
Race 6: (1) Pocket Power 93
Race 7: (3) What A Winter 93 (NAP**)
Race 8: (10) Sostanza 56
Race 9: (6) Sabatino 78
Race 10: (6) Howdoulikemenow 56 (EW)
Scottsville
Race 1: (1) Alan’s Pride 16
Race 2: (4) Turbo Friday 16
Race 3: (4) Success 13
Race 4: (1) Byculla 3
Race 5: (2) Water Nymph 57
Race 6: (8) Bold Alliance 65
Race 7: (1) Royal Day 69
Race 8: (1) Orbit War 64
Race 9: (12) Spirit Of Success 55
Top rated winners last week included:-
Bulldozer won 20/1
Eastern Parade won 12/1
Symbolist won 7/2
Tick Tock won 22/10
King Fahiem won 14/10
Vintage Royale won 11/10
Grammatica won 1/1
Power Flow 1/1
Notebook:-
Azapel (B Crawford, W-Cape)
Rose Royce (D Hodgson, W-Cape)
Run For It (J Snaith, W-Cape)
FASTEST TIMES
(Shown in brackets is the number of races run in each category)
Durbanville 19th October
Fastest Sprint 1000-1300 (2) Azapel
Fastest Middle 1400-1800 (5) School Captain
Fastest Long 1900-3600 (1) Atair
Clairwood 20th October
Fastest Sprint 1000-1300 (5) Bold Alliance
Fastest Middle 1400-1800 (3) Askari
Fastest Long 1900-3600 (2) Imvume
Turffontein 20th October
Fastest Sprint 1000-1300 (3) Mary Lou
Fastest Middle 1400-1800 (2) Zorba’s Tale
Fastest Long 1900-3600 (2) Geneva
Vaal 21st October
Fastest Sprint 1000-1300 (4) Flybyme
Fastest Middle 1400-1800 (4) Call Again Colleen
Fastest Long 1900-3600 (0) No Qualifiers
Fairview 22nd October
Fastest Sprint 1000-1300 (3) Bulldozer
Fastest Middle 1400-1800 (5) Run For It
Fastest Long 1900-3600 (0) No Qualifiers