Hot Stuff
Vaal 9th September: They raced on the outside track on Tuesday where victory in the opening maiden plate over 1200m went to the uneasy joint favourite SPELLBOUND. Initially priced up as a clear market leader at 11/10, the daughter of Trippi was soon at the head of affairs. She kept up a healthy gallop throughout and comfortably accounted for the running on newcomer PANCHATANTA by a length and a quarter.
There were three races run over 1200m in total and by far the fastest of these was the MR88 Handicap won by ONE MAN’S DREAM. Allowed to ease in the betting market out to 8/1 from 6’s, Louis Goosen’s charge was always handy. He ran on stoutly at the business end of the race and under a well-judged ride from Pierre Strydom, he got up late to deny the front running FLAG OF FRANCE.
There were also three races run over 1600m and fastest against the clock in these was MUSIC AFFAIR in the MR72 Handicap. Backed into 11/2 from 10/1 the first of two winners on the card for Pierre Strydom was soon positioned close to the speed. She took up the running going through the 200m won well from the easy to back BARRACK BABE by a length and a half.
The best bet on the card for many was LAVA FLOW in the maiden 1400m and the highly regarded son of Western Winter didn’t let down his supporters. Sent off a strong favourite at 15/10 despite the support for ULTIMATE TIGER (3/1 into 22/10 – got tongue over the bit), Mike De Kock’s charge sat in the rear during the early part of the race. Under a confident ride from champion jockey S’manga Khumalo though, Lava Flow made up the ground quickly when asked for his effort and only having to be pushed out with hands and heels won very cosily by three and three quarters.
Titbits
ANTONIUS CHARM showed good improvement when winning the second division of the maiden 1400m with authority by four and a quarter.
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Delightful Debut
Durbanville 10th September: With the going good to soft on Wednesday the ground was firmer than it had been for many a meeting in Cape Town.
A maiden plate over 1400m got proceedings underway and here we saw a comfortable victory for the 7/10 favourite SCORECARD. Taken straight to the front by his replacement rider Divan Neethling, the son of Second Empire led throughout. He was always in command and although the well exposed ROVENTAS chased hard he won without any anxious moments by a length and a half.
Race four on the card was a maiden plate for 3yo’s over 1300m and here we saw a smart performance from the newcomer PEACH DELIGHT. Allowed to drift considerably in the betting market out to 8/1 from 3’s, Dean Kannemeyer’s charge raced sixth of the ten for the first half of the trip. Once given rein though she quickened well and under a typically cool ride from Karl Neisius she got up late to win going away. Third placed BLACK BELVEDERE ran on well from the rear in this race.
The faster of the two 1300m events was the MR68 affair won by SUNSET TRIPP. She got away well when the gates opened and was soon up handy. She was ridden to lead early in the straight and fought on gamely late on to hold off the challenge of SEATTLE MAGIC.
Four of the afternoon’s eight races were run over 1600m and the fastest of these was the MR93 Handicap won by GLOBAL DESTINY. Freely available at 16/1 on the off, the 4yo son of Dynasty also made all. He was three lengths clear turning for home and although the in-form BLARNEY BAY did make some headway over the final 600m he did have that one well held by a length and a quarter at the wire.
Titbits
Under pressure early in the straight, the well supported favourite INDABA was given the fillies maiden plate in the stewards room despite being beaten by 2,75 lengths. First past the post WANING CRESCENT was eased very late. Quite a decision I thought.
YALLA HABIBTI caught the eye running on nicely after being baulked for a run 300m out in the maiden plate over 1000m.
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Chasing Shadows
Vaal 11th September: We saw a number of smart performances at the Vaal’s sand track on Thursday, but none more so than that of the Emerald Cup hopeful SHADOW LINE in the pinnacle stakes over 1450m. Clearly back to best after having two major setbacks during the past twelve months, Scott Kenny’s charge raced third of the seven for most of the journey. He moved through to take up the running as they approached the 400m marker and 200m later his rider Gavin Lerena was looking over his shoulder in anticipation of a challenge. With none forthcoming Shadow Line was only asked to do the bare minimum from there onwards and won by a margin (2,5 lengths) which doesn’t exactly tell the story. This was the fastest of the three 1450m races on the card.
Another to win well was BLAZING AL in the fastest of the three 1000m events, a pinnacle stakes. On leaving the stalls it was the six-timer seeking favourite TRIP TEASE who elected to make the running whilst in a very closely grouped field Sean Tarry’s lightly raced 5yo sat fifth. He was ridden to lead going through the 400m and with the rest well beaten, he won going away from the market leader by two and three quarters.
In terms of distance the easiest victory on the card was recorded by BREAK OF DAWN in the false paced second division of the pinnacle 1450m. Always handy in what soon became a strung out field, the Miesque’s Approval mare struck the front as the field began to concertina 300m out. She drew clear with ease in the closing stages and cruised in by seven and a quarter.
Another to win with lengths to spare on this card was the limited MIND GAMES in the maiden plate over 1600m. Lucky enough to have bumped possibly the weakest maiden field seen out in Gauteng so far this season, St John Gray’s charge raced just a couple of lengths behind his front running stable companion FIELDS OF GLORY (a newcomer). He took up the running as they approached the 400m pole and in a style surely never to be repeated by this one in Gauteng, he drew clear easily to score by five and three quarters.
Titbits
The well-supported newcomer FIRE DANCING (8/1 into 33/10) won well in the girl’s maiden plate over 1000m.
Although held by the 6/10 winner Stay Amazed, the newcomer CELTIC HEROINE ran on strongly in the closing stages of the maiden 1450m and had the remainder a minimum of 5,25 lengths adrift.
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Under The Radar
Fairview 12th September: Racing on Friday took place on the poly track where the easiest victory on the card was recorded by THE BEAT in the opening maiden plate for 3yo’s over 1200m. Allowed to ease right out to 13/2 from 4/1 at the track, S’manga Khumalo’s mount led from pillar to post and soon had the field well strung out. He was always in command and won without any anxious moments by two and a quarter.
Three of the afternoon’s eight races were run over 1800m and the fastest of these was the not so lucky last, a MR71 Handicap, won by NAVAL INTELLIGENCE. Another to drift considerably in the betting market (6/1 out to 14/1), Justin Snaith’s charge ran on strongly from midfield. He finished well and in what proved to be a real thriller he only got the verdict by a neck over another 14/1 shot SANFONEIRO.
In terms of prize money a MR89 Handicap over 1800m topped the bill and in a time close on two seconds slower than that of Naval intelligence LORD BADGER registered his eighth career victory. Always well positioned to challenge Alan Greeff’s charge took up the running 300m out and with the benefit of first run just held on from the well-supported favourite GOGETTHESHERIFF (2/1 into 14/10) by a neck.
Titbits
Backed into 6/10 from even money COMBATTIMENTO looked to have a little in hand when winning the conditions plate over 2200m.
DEEPO was running on from the rear when fifth beaten 2,1 lengths in the MR68 Handicap over 2000m.
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Top speedratings for this weekend include:-
Fairview (fri)
Race 1: (16) Howami 20
Race 2: (2) Family Fortune 23
Race 3: (8) Nona In Command 82 (NAP*)
Race 4: (2) Peregrine King 45
Race 5: (1) Russian Mig 83
Race 6: (11) Sister Sybil 49
Race 7: (9) Kono 78
Race 8: (12) Land Of Meadows 57
Greyville (fri)
Race 1: (2) Roy’s Ambassador 19
Race 2: (4) Bengal Boy 14
Race 3: (2) West Coast Star 6
Race 4: (9) Jamal 69
Race 5: (6) Teppanyaki 44
Race 6: (8) Qahal’s Applause 57
Race 7: (6) Le Forti 32
Race 8: (8) Modern Royal 48
Race 9: (1) D’vash 23
Turffontein (sat)
Race 1: (10) Hong Kong Tiger 17 (NAP*)
Race 2: (11) Trip To Rio 21
Race 3: (7) Confabulate 25
Race 4: (13) Fig Jam 8
Race 5: (9) Beza 60
Race 6: (4) Double Bind 46
Race 7: (9) Money Grubber 70
Race 8: (10) Silva Shama 56
Race 9: (11) Whistler 36
Race 10: (14) The Who 65
Durbanville (sat)
Race 1: (6) Judd’s Joy 21
Race 2: (1) Highly Decorated 59
Race 3: (2) King’s Kitten 11
Race 4: (9) Parachute Man 20
Race 5: (7) Double Whammy 65 (EW)
Race 6: (2) Mysterio 50
Race 7: (7) Putney Flyer 84
Race 8: (12) Count My Luck 44
Greyville (sun)
Race 1: (4) He Rocks 16
Race 2: (1) Rumbullion 29
Race 3: (1) National Approval 5
Race 4: (1) Jellylorum 12
Race 5: (2) Ms Brooks 13 (NAP*)
Race 6: (1) Rachel Leigh 28
Race 7: (1) Pej 73
Race 8: (1) Son Of Orimandes 48
Race 9: (7) Salesman 62
Race 10: (7) Shivrani 18
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Top rated winners last week included
Lizard’s Pursuit won 5/1
De Kock won 4/1
Sunset Tripp won 4/1
Casciano won 7/2
Theseus won 3/1
Aspen Winter won 5/2
Spellbound won 2/1
Scorecard won 7/10
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Notebook:-
Lava Flow (M De Kock, Gauteng)
Shadow Line (S Kenny, Gauteng)
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FASTEST TIMES
The number of races run over each distance is shown in brackets
*Denotes – Times taken by Clockwatcher
Vaal (outside) 9th September
Penetrometer 20 – Going Good
1000m (1) Captain Ellio 56,84
1200m (3) One Man’s Dream 70,15
1400m (2) Lava Flow 84,33
1600m (3) Music Affair 97,88
Durbanville 10th September
Penetrometer 24 – Going G/Soft
1000m (1) Lizard’s Pursuit 61,28
1300m (2) Sunset Tripp 80,39
1400m (1) Scorecard 86,43
1600m (4) Global Destiny 98,41
Vaal (sand) 11th September
Going Standard
1000m (3) Blazing Al 57,70
1450m (3) Shadow Line 89,63
1600m (2) Perfect Trip 102,04
Fairview (poly) 12th September
Going Standard
1200m (2) Dancing Debs 70,79
1300m (1) Frederick Fox 75,22
1800m (3) Naval Intelligence 108,12
2000m (1) Endless Joy123,00
2200m (1) Combattimento 136,92
