An important scientific complimentary tool of the trade for punters and racing enthusiasts, sectional timing data can enhance both the form study and horseracing viewing experience on both KwaZulu-Natal and Western Cape race meetings.
In Time Is Money this week, we look at some of the highlights of the last two KZN racemeetings.
Athandiwe Mgudlwa drives Stars In Heaven to a gun-to-tape victory (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)
Track Condition
Going: Good
Penetrometer: 23 (both tracks)
Rain: Last 7 days Nil
Irrigation: Last 24 hours Nil – Last 7 days 8mm
False Rail: 5m
Wind: 10-15km/h North Easterly tail wind
Course Variant: 0,56s fast (straight) – 0,67s fast (inside track)
Sir Theophilus St George A Stakes 1500m
The 6yo African Skyline (16/1 into 4/1) was all the rage to win the bill topping A Stakes, but positioned towards the rear throughout, he never got in a blow. Returning from a six month layoff here, last season’s Gr1 Champions Cup winner DAVE THE KING made the running.
He got to the front without any real effort on leaving the stalls and although the pace was a fair one, he looked to be doing no more than an exercise gallop. Indeed, he was only asked for an effort 200m from home and went on to score in good style by three and a quarter. The veterinary surgeon reported that Dave The King made an abnormal respiratory noise.
4 x 1000m Races
Four of the afternoon’s ten races were staged over 1000m and in the fastest of these, the Marcus Johnston B Stakes, the What A Winter gelding CONNERY registered his sixth career victory from just 22 starts.
Soon up with the speed in a race that was run just 0,79 seconds outside the course record, Glen Kotzen’s charge put his head in front going through the 400m. He kept on strongly at the business end of the race and although the running on Abaddon (bumped and then squeezed out at the start) did finish marginally the stronger, Connery went on to score comfortably by a length and half. Abaddon’s 400m to finish time was the fastest of the afternoon, but he was only 11/100th of a second faster than Connery.
The fillies’ event was comfortably the quicker of the two Maiden Juvenile Plates over 1000m and here we saw a smart performance from the Duncan Howells trained HIERARCHY. Highlighted in this column’s notebook when running on strongly to fill third position on debut, this daughter of Erupt raced second here some four lengths off the brisk pace set by Moscow Miss.
Backed into 8/10 from 5/2, Hierarchy again quickened very well at the business end of the race, and after striking the front 150m from home, she won going away by four and a quarter.
Two 1200m Races
The boys were the quicker of the two maiden plates over 1200m and here victory went to the Trippi gelding TRIPPING THUNDER. Sent off second in the betting market at 33/20, Glen Kotzen’s charge was soon up with the speed.
He asserted his authority passing the 400m marker, and easing down at the finish won very well by three and three quarters. Unfortunately for connections Tripping Thunder suffered a bilateral epistaxis and is now suspended for 60 days.
Two 1400m Races
The Ingobamakhosi 170th Anniversary Class 3 was the quicker of the two 1400m events on the card. The 4yo STARS IN HEAVEN made all and set good fractions throughout.
Gareth Van Zyl’s charge was a length and a half clear for most of the journey and extended his advantage to two and a half coming off the bend. The always handy Plaza Accord ran on well in the closing stages of the race, but staying on strongly, the gallant front-runner still had half a length to spare at the wire.
Quickies
The opening maiden juvenile plate winner LITTLE BOY BLUE recorded a 400m to finish time of 22,60 which was the second fastest for that segment of the afternoon.
Fastest Times:
1000m (4) Connery 56,20
1200m (2) Tripping Thunder 68,98
1400m (2) Stars In Heaven 83,85
400-finish Abaddon 22,51
Looking back to the Hollywoodbets Greyville polytrack meeting of 14 May, it’s clear that the revamped all-weather track has stakeholders in a positive frame of mind and the fixture delivered some competitive racing.
Track Condition
Going: Standard
Rain: Last 7 days Nil
Irrigation: Last 7 days Nil
Wind: 15-35lm/h North, North Easterly head wind
Course Variant: 0,05s fast
Open Tabgold Account 0313141874 B Stakes 1200m
Three of the afternoon’s nine races were run over 1200m. The bill topping B Stakes was by far the fastest of these and here we saw a smart performance from the What A Winter gelding THISISWHATITMEANS. The pace was a good one and Mattys Odendaal’s charge was at least six lengths off the leader going through halfway. He quickened well in the straight and after striking the front 200m from home won going away with some in hand. His 400m to finish time of 22,74 seconds was the third fastest of the afternoon.
Two 1600m Races
The race open to the boys was the faster of the two Class 4 events over 1600m, and in another true run race, the Dean Kannemeyer trained UZWANO won well. Content to sit tenth of the eleven early on, this 3yo son of Ideal World had eight lengths to find coming off the bend. Once into stride though, he ran on strongly and comfortably accounted for Imperial Power after striking the front 120m out. The runner up didn’t find the clearest of passages and quickened away well from the remainder in the closing stages.
Two 1400m Races
The pace was fair, but not fast in the quicker of the two 1400m events, a Class 5 for f&m, and here victory went to the former Eastern Cape campaigner SKY VELOCITY. Always available at around 8/1, the Querari mare was soon positioned close to the speed. She put her head in front coming off the bend and ran on strongly over the final 450m to win very comfortably by two and a half.
Quickies
The daughter of Pomodoro PRINCESS HANNAH recorded the fastest 400m to finish time of the afternoon when coming from the back to win the Hollywoodbets Bright Future Class 4 event for fillies over 1000m.
Fastest Times:
1200m (3) Thisiswhatitmeans 70,21
1400m (2) Sky Velocity 84,64
1600m (2) Uzwano 96,10
400-finish Princess Hannah 22,10
