Country Mile
Durbanville 6th August: There were a number of very easy victories in the heavy going at the country course on Wednesday, but none more so than that of CLEAN CUT in the opening maiden plate over 1000m. Allowed to flirt with 15/4 at one stage after opening up 18/10 jtfav, Paddy Kruyer’s charge led throughout. He was three lengths clear coming off the bend and drew clear easily in the straight to score by nine.
Another to come home smoking in the maiden ranks was LADY GRACA in the 1500m event. On leaving the stalls it was the well-supported JUDD’S GIRL who elected to make the running whilst Mike Bass’ charge was content to sit in the rear. Once in the straight though, she quickly worked her way through the field and cruised clear to score by five after striking the front 220m from home.
A MR83 Handicap over 1400m topped the bill and here we saw a comfortable victory for the Joey Ramsden trained PRINCESS SALME. Positioned in midfield early on, the Silvano mare took up the running going through the 400m and won with authority by two and three quarters.
Titbits
WALTON HEATH came from the rear when winning the MR70 Handicap over 1600m going away. LANE FROST (lost three lengths at the start) was full of running when badly hampered against the inside running rail 150m out in this race.
Although always handy, the fancied SUNSET TRIPP only really got going 150m out and was flying late when a one and three quarter length fourth in the MR76 Handicap over 1000m.
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Rebel With A Cause
Turffontein 7th August: They raced on the inside track on Thursday where victory in the opening maiden plate over 1200m went to the 3yo CARLA THE REBEL. Despite losing two lengths at the start, the daughter of Rebel King was soon up handy. She was ridden to lead shortly after passing the 300m pole and drew clear easily in the closing stages of the race to beat the fancied newcomer SMART CALL by four.
Four of the afternoon’s eight races were run over 1600m and the fastest of these was the MR67 Handicap won by PRINCE OF DARKNESS. Freely available at 20/1 on the off Chris Erasmus’ poorly drawn charge raced in the rear for most of the journey. He quickened best of all in the short home straight and did well to reel in the free striding pacemaker MICROSTATE close home.
The faster of the two 1450m races on the card was not surprisingly the bill topping MR92 Handicap won by MEISSA. The nibbled at EMPEROR AUGUSTUS was the first to make a move in the short home straight and he did quickly have the remainder well beaten. The year younger son of Jallad steadily wore him down at the business end of the race though, and in what proved to be a real thriller he got the verdict by a short head.
Titbits
In touch throughout the well supported SYMBOLIK only got going very late when a length and three quarter second in the MR72 Handicap over 1200m.
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Too Much Speed
Fairview 8th August: Friday’s action took place on the poly track where we saw a comfortable victory in the opening maiden plate over 1600m for the favourite SEACLIPPER. Positioned in midfield early on, Dorrie Sham’s charge was cramped when starting his run, but despite that he went on to win in good style by two and a quarter.
Another to win well from off the pace, albeit by a very narrow margin, was the newcomer REVEALED in the maiden event for 3yo’s over 1400m. On leaving the stalls it was TAYLINLEE who elected to make the running and three lengths clear turning for home she soon had the rest beaten. Alan Greeff’s charge quickened well over the final 300m though and won going away by three quarters.
The non-black type Speedsters Stakes over 1000m topped the bill and here a major upset was to be had when the bottom weight NILE SYMPHONY landed the spoils. Badly out at the weights with all, the 5yo son of Nacht Musiek led from pillar to post. He kept on surprisingly well at the business end of the race and comfortably accounted for TETELESTAI by three quarters.
Titbits
GOGETTHESHERIFF ran on well from towards the rear when getting up very late to land the MR72 Handicap over 1200m.
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Priceless Weight
Kenilworth 9th August: By far the easiest victory in the soft going in Cape Town on Saturday was that of the newcomer HEARTLAND in the first division of the maiden 1200m. Backed throughout the day into 5/10, the son of Dynasty was soon up handy. He was ridden to lead going through the 300m and drew clear easily in the closing stages of the race to score by nine and three quarters.
Another to win with authority on this card was PRICELESS JEWEL in the bill topping Gr3 Champagne Stakes over 1200m. Flung in at the weights, the Ashaawes mare was soon positioned close up in second. She struck the front 100m out and comfortably accounted for the easy to back THE WHICH DOCTER by three and a half.
The biggest upset on the card came in the second division of the maiden 1200m when the 1/3 favourite MASTER’S EYE got rolled. Always well positioned to strike, Justin Snaith’s charge failed to find extra when ZINGARO struck the front 300m out and had to settle for third beaten 2,45 lengths. Victory instead went to the newcomer PRINCE OF EDEN who got up late to beat Zingaro by a neck.
The not so lucky last was a maiden plate over 1600m and here victory went to the early second favourite THAT COWBOY KID. Allowed to drift alarmingly at the track (5/2 out to 7/1), Brett Crawford’s charge raced in the backend of midfield for most of the journey. Once in the short old course straight though, the Silvano gelding ran on best of all and under a well-judged ride from Corne Orffer he got up late to beat another drifter in GRIS CHEVAL (3/1 out to 6/1) by a half. The horse attracting most of the money in this race was SPECTACULAR JET who ran on from the rear to fill third position.
Titbits
TIGER TOPS came from the rear when getting up late to win the MR79 Handicap over 1800m with some in hand.
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Top speedratings for this weekend include:-
Fairview
Race 1: (1) Koldona 18
Race 2: (2) Iberian Express 13
Race 3: (7) Dubois City 42
Race 4: (4) Enchanting Smile 11
Race 5: (10) Laurie’s Dancer 72
Race 6: (16) Dancinginthedesert 52
Race 7: (14) Endless Joy 53
Race 8: (1) Imperial Velvet 30
Turffontein
Race 1: (2) Royal Consort 10
Race 2: (4) China Beach 15
Race 3: (1) Social Media 18
Race 4: (1) Deliver The Power 84
Race 5: (1) She’s A Stunner 65 (NAP*)
Race 6: (5) Wisdom Stone 48
Race 7: (8) Mr Mulliner 83
Race 8: (5) Due And Payable 55
Race 9: (8) Flight Risk 43
Kenilworth
Race 1: (5) Cold As Ice 23
Race 2: (9) Moonlight Runner 24
Race 3: (10) My World 30
Race 4: (1) Exotic Jet 10
Race 5: (5) Golden Dane 63
Race 6: (11) Sidecar 45
Race 7: (4) Smiling Mistress 37
Race 8: (2) Money Surger 46
Greyville
Race 1: (1) Girlfriend 38
Race 2: (7) Big King 26 (NAP*)
Race 3: (2) Windy Express 28
Race 4: (1) Excitement Seeker 24
Race 5: (6) Honey Bun 49
Race 6: (6) Africa 43
Race 7: (7) De La Danza 62
Race 8: (5) Wimoweh 42
Race 9: (4) Royal Colours 43
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Top rated winners last week included
Sparkling Saphir won 8/1
Ashton Park won 7/1
Lady Graca won 7/1
Double Whammy won 3/1
Future Leader won 22/10
She’s A Stunner won 16/10
Jet Supreme won 13/10
Priceless Jewel won 9/20
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Notebook:-
Heartland (J Snaith, W-Cape)
Revealed (A Greeff, E-Cape)
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FASTEST TIMES
The number of races run over each distance is shown in brackets
*Denotes – Times taken by Clockwatcher
Durbanville 6th August
Penetrometer 35 – Going Heavy
1000m (2) Mysterio 62,15
1300m (2) Corny Al 83,03
1400m (2) Princess Salme 89,98
1500m (1) Lady Graca 98,24
1600m (1) Walton Heath 104,82
Turffontein (inside) 7th August
Penetrometer 21 – Going Good
1200m (2) King’s Wild 72,83
1450m (2) Meissa 88,51
1600m (4) Prince Of Darkness 100,51
Fairview (poly) 8th August
Going Standard
1000m (1) Nile Symphony 57,40*
1200m (2) Gogetthesheriff 69,78*
1400m (3) President Of Pop 81,75*
1600m (1) Seaclipper 96,63*
1800m (1) Sparkling Saphir 108,97*
Kenilworth (old) 9th August
Penetrometer 30 – Going Soft
1000m (1) Thrill Factor 64,44*
1200m (3) Priceless Jewel 76,50*
1400m (1) Chester’s Wish 92,53*
1600m (1) That Cowboy Kid 107,03
1800m (1) Tiger Tops 117,75*
2000m (1) Dynasty’s Pride 134,00
