Money On The Button
Flamingo Park 15th September: The faster of the two 1000m events in the Northern Cape on Monday was the MR84 Handicap won by the favourite ATSO TIME. Corne Spies’ charge got away well when the gates opened and was soon nicely positioned in second. He put his head in front 100m from home and despite being reported as lame on the near fore, he won going away by a length and a quarter.
A pinnacle stakes over 2200m topped the bill and here we saw a comfortable victory for the heavily supported SIR ISAAC. Backed all the way in to 22/10 third favourite from 8/1, the 6yo Newton gelding raced fourth of the five for most of the journey. He took up the running at the 500m pole and drew clear easily in the closing stages of the race to score by five and a half.
Another well supported runner to win with lengths to spare on this card was TRIBAL CODE in the MR72 Handicap over 1400m. Soon up handy in what was a tightly bunched field early on, the 15/10 favourite (op 33/10) made his move going through the 400m and won going away by three.
Titbits
A fluent winner in stronger company over the course and distance last time out, RAINBOW ARROW hammered her thirteen rivals in the MR62 Handicap over 1600m by eight and a quarter.
At A Price
Vaal 16th September: They raced on the outside track on Tuesday where the biggest winning margin on the card was just the two lengths recorded by DANCE CRITIC in the maiden 1600m. Freely available at 10/1 on the off Alec Laird’s charge was always in touch with the leaders. She was ridden to lead as they approached the 300m marker and although the grey WILL I DO chased hard she won going away.
The faster of the two 1000m races on the card was the bill topping 104 Handicap won by the deposed favourite VALBERG. As per usual quick into stride Dominic Zaki’s charge led throughout. He raced three lengths clear for most of the journey and it was only very late that the pack headed by the well-supported JIMMY CHOO began to close in. A three quarter length winner in the end Valberg broke a bloodvessel and will now be suspended for three months.
The faster of the two 1400m events was the MR84 Handicap won by Valberg’s stable companion PHENOMENAL. Another to make all, the Windrush mare answered every call over the final 400m and held on to beat a wall of horses by a neck.
Titbits
The 12/1 shot PRINCE OF DARKNESS ran on well from midfield when winning the MR68 Handicap over 1600m.
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Confident Riding
Durbanville 17th September: Three of the eight races at the country course on Wednesday were run over 1400m and the fastest of these was the MR68 Handicap won by GOLDEN CRYSTAL. Sent off third in the betting market at 4/1 the top weighted son of Goldkeeper raced in the rear early on. Once given rein though he quickened best of all and under a well-judged ride from Grant Van Niekerk he got up late to deny the nibbled at pacemaker MOONLIGHT RUNNER.
It was a similar story in the MR86 Handicap over 2000m where Van Niekerk guided TITUS to victory. The seven runners raced closely grouped throughout and although Mike Bass’ charge sat at the back for the first half of the race he was always well within striking distance. He made his move early in the straight and kept on strongly after striking the front 300m out to beat the favourite TIGER TOPS by a length.
The easiest victory on the card was undoubtedly that of THE QUEEN VIC in the not so lucky last, a MR66 Handicap over 2000m. Eased out to 8/1 from 5’s at the track the daughter of Albert Hall was allowed a generous lead throughout. She was six lengths clear entering the home straight and despite the efforts of the pack she extended her advantage to eight before hitting the wire.
Titbits
Nibbled at into 5/1 from 7’s, EVIL WOMAN ran on strongly from the rear when third in the maiden 1600m.
Having his first outing since finishing a 0,4 length runner up in the 2013 Cape Derby, DYNAMIC won the novice 1600m going away and that despite not finding the clearest of passages.
PEACE PACT (another to come from the rear under the guidance of Grant Van Niekerk) didn’t find the clearest of passages prior to getting up late to win the maiden plate over 1400m.
R228000 Worth Of Pleasure
Vaal 18th September: The action on Thursday took place on the sand where victory in the opening maiden plate over 1200m went to the ultra-consistent WILD THING. Placed in no less than 17 of his previous 26 outings the son of Var adopted a change of tactics in the hands of Piere Strydom here, and raced from the front. He kept on determinedly at the business end of the race and beat the well supported second favourite RUSHING JOSH (5/1 into 3/1) fair and square by a length and a quarter. Wild Thing has now won more than R228000 in prize money.
There were three races run over 1200m in total and the fastest of these was the MR85 Handicap won by DEVON GOLD. Freely available at 12/1 on the off the 7yo KZN raider was soon up handy. He was ridden to lead shortly after passing the 200m marker and easily accounted for the nibbled at 4yo SOLAR TRIPTYCH by three and three quarters.
There were also three races run over 1800m and the fastest of these was the MR76 Handicap won by the improving DECKIE BOY. Allowed to ease out to 11/1 from 7/1 at the track, the Kahal gelding also raced close to the speed. He took up the running shortly after passing halfway and with the rest well beaten he fended off a determined challenge from the much more fancied ORIENTAL BLUE by three quarters.
Titbits
Backed into 7/1 from 14’s the 7yo ROCKINGANDROLLING won the MR72 Handicap over 1200m with authority by four and three quarters.
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At The Weights
Greyville 19th September: Four of the nine races at Friday night’s poly track meeting were run over 1900m and the fastest of these was the MR83 Handicap won by ROYAL TREE. Always handy, Charlie Laird’s charge ran on strongly in the straight and with the benefit of first run beat the running on ETHYLENE by three quarters. Ethylene had beaten Royal Tree by half a length last time out, but was 4kg worse off at the weights here.
Much easier a winner over 1900m was GATHERING FAME when winning the MR67 Handicap. Not the quickest into stride Dennis Drier’s charge raced in midfield for most of the journey. She quickened nicely at the top of the straight and won well from the well-supported JAMBOREE who also finished strongly from off the pace.
A MR90 Handicap topped the bill and in what proved to be the faster of the two 1600m events the uneasy favourite WALTED HOME registered his fourth career victory. Nicely positioned in fifth as they came off the bend, Royal Tree’s stable companion struck the front 200m out and kept on determinedly in the latter stages of the race to beat the running on FOURTH ESTATE by a neck.
Titbits
PEARL OYSTER BAY won the maiden event for 3yo’s over 1400m with authority by two and a quarter.
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Top speedratings for this weekend include:-
Fairview (fri)
Race 1: (7) Arabica 24
Race 2: (7) Royal Jubilee 26
Race 3: (2) Gold Park 42 (EW)
Race 4: (14) Little One 42
Race 5: (7) Nile Symphony 68
Race 6: (11) Marry Me Mullins 71
Race 7: (13) Lemon Fizz 55
Race 8: (17) Toss The Dice 18
Greyville (fri)
Race 1: (10) Escovitch 28
Race 2: (10) Oi Yoi Yoi 15
Race 3: (5) Many A Summer 21
Race 4: (3) Burrwood 41
Race 5: (2) German Lady 53 (NAP*)
Race 6: (9) Atso’s Hill 40
Race 7: (7) Royal Lance 57 (EW)
Race 8: (10) King Protea 41
Vaal (sat)
Race 1: (2) Dennis The Menace 63
Race 2: (7) Raise The Red 75
Race 3: (9) Sarve 42
Race 4: (3) Flame Cat 51 (nb)
Race 5: (2) Precursor 80
Race 6: (8) Mystic Express 71
Race 7: (12) Killua Castle 106
Race 8: (8) Blazing Al 76 (NAP*)
Race 9: (2) Winter Passion 71
Race 10: (12) Mauri Blue 73
Greyville (sun)
Race 1: (2) Shivrani 10
Race 2: (2) King Of Torts 64
Race 3: (13) Champagne Showers 7
Race 4: (1) Jet On Fire 71
Race 5: (4) Emperor Niarchos 82
Race 6: (9) Seventh Joy 27
Race 7: (3) Finding Neverland 44
Race 8: (11) Rad Rock 47
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Top rated winners last week included
Dynamic won 6/1
Unparalleled won 4/1
Mystic Express won 15/4
Bengal Boy won 28/10
Wild Thing won 22/10
Jellylorum won 2/1
Tribal Code won 15/10
Atso Time won 14/10
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Notebook:-
Dance Critic (A Laird, Gauteng)
Dynamic (J Snaith, W-Cape)
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FASTEST TIMES
The number of races run over each distance is shown in brackets
*Denotes – Times taken by Clockwatcher
Flamingo Park 15th September
Going Standard
1000m (2) Argo One 59,30
1200m (2) Wild And Windy 73,64
1400m (2) Tribal Code 87,44*
1600m (2) Rainbow Arrow 101,47
2200m (1) Sir Isaac 152,36
Vaal (outside) 16th September
Penetrometer 21 – Going Good
1000m (2) Valberg 57,58
1200m (2) Taso The Sailor 71,83
1400m (2) Phenomenal 83,70
1600m (2) Prince Of Darkness 97,49
Durbanville 17th September
Penetrometer 22 – Going Good
1300m (1) Sea Spray 80,79
1400m (3) Golden Crystal 87,35
1600m (2) Dynamic 99,52
2000m (2) Titus 123,66
Vaal (sand) 18th September
Going Standard
1200m (3) Devon Gold 73,18
1450m (1) King’s Consent 92,43
1600m (1) Mystic Express 102,55
1800m (3) Deckie Boy 115,63
Greyville (poly) 19th September
Going Standard
1200m (2) Dancingwithjackson 68,53
1400m (1) Pearl Oyster Bay 83,12
1600m (2) Waltzed Home 94,39
1900m (4) Royal Tree 115,16
