Emperor Conquers
Fairview 3rd October: Racing once again took place on the poly track in Port Elizabeth on Friday where the faster of the two maiden events over 1200m was the first division won by KING OF THE KNIGHT. Freely available at 50/1 on the off, the well exposed son of Meteor Shower was soon positioned close to the speed. He took up the running shortly after passing the 200m marker and kept on strongly late to beat the running on STRONG MAN SAM by a half.
The faster of the two 1600m races on the card was the novice plate won by SCARLET BERRY. Another to leave the stalls at big odds (16/1), the former Gauteng campaigner made all. She was a length and a half clear turning for home and despite the efforts of the much more fancied LADY SILVIA (ran on from sixth), she extended her advantage to two and a quarter.
The non-black type Fairview 1800 topped the bill and here victory went to the deposed favourite TITUS. Allowed to ease out to 4/1 from 28/10 at the track as money in the main came for POLITICAL PLAYBOY (5/1 into 7/2fav) and NAVAL INTELLIGENCE (12/1 into 7/1). Mike Bass’ charge raced third. He ran on stoutly at the business end of the race and in what proved to be a real thriller he only got the verdict by a neck over the 16/1 shot WOODEN STAR.
Titbits
PACYANO soon had the field well strung out when making all to win the non-black type Racing Association Plate very comfortably by two and a quarter.
MING WARRIOR ran on well from the backend of midfield when getting up late to win the MR63 Handicap over 1300m.
More Poly
Greyville 3rd October: They also raced on the poly on Friday night where the fastest of the three 1200m events was the MR74 Handicap won by ROY ROYALE. The son of Holy Roman Emperor got away well when the gates opened and soon at the head of affairs led throughout. He was a length and a half clear coming off the bend and just held on from the running on LIBERTINE (raced 4th – bumped 300m) by a neck.
There were also three races run over 1800m and the fastest of these was the MR70 Handicap won by ELECTRIC JET. The aptly named ARCH RIVAL was the first to make a move and on striking the front 400m out looked to have done everything right. Mike De Kock’s charge ran on stoutly from midfield in the straight though and under a well-timed ride from Warren Kennedy, he got up late to score by a half.
At the other end of the scale the easiest victory on the card was just the two and a quarter lengths recorded by SEEKING THE DREAM when opening his account in the maiden 1800m. Nicely positioned in second early on, Garth Puller’s charge took up the running at the top of the straight and although the uneasy favourite GANGNAM STYLE (a little slow into stride) ran on well from off the pace, he won without any anxious moments.
Titbits
Running on strongly at the finish, the 12/10 favourite TRIPLE APOLOGY only got going when the race was virtually over when third in the maiden 1200m.
Slow into stride and then bumped twice in running to boot, SEATTLE MOON ran on well from the rear when third in the MR76 Handicap over 1000m.
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Flying Late
Turffontein 4th October: Saturday’s action took place on the inner track where the fastest of the two Gr2 Spring Challenge races over 1450m was the boy’s affair won by the best weighted runner in the field NO WORRIES. In a race where the pace was a little sedate early on, Gavin Van Zyl’s charge sat second. He made his move coming off the strip and with the rest well beaten he just got the better of the rallying pacemaker MIDNIGHT RUN by a neck.
The faster of the two 1800m maiden events on the card was surprisingly the work rider’s race won by the lightly raced PETRICHOR. Nibbled at on course into 25/1 from 66’s, Joey Soma’s charge was taken straight to the front by Sabelo Siphika and made all. He was always in command and won well by three and a half.
There were also two maiden races run over 1200m and fastest against the clock here was RODEO DREAM in the girl’s affair. Allowed to drift considerably at the track out to 16/1 from 7’s, Mike Bass’ charge was always handy. She was asked to take up the running early in the short home straight and just had enough in hand to beat the flying TAMAANEE. Running on from the backend of midfield, Sean Tarry’s debutant was gaining rapidly at the finish and would surely have won in another stride.
Titbits
The 7/10 favourite MAJMU was continually baulked for a run over the final 400m when fourth, beaten a length and a half, in the Gr2 F&M Joburg Spring Challenge over 1450m.
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Double Hat-trick
Durbanville 4th October: The easiest victory at the country course on Saturday was that of the newcomer CAPTAIN ALFREDO in the opening maiden plate over 1000m. Taken straight to the front by Karl Neisius, the son of Captain Al led throughout. He quickened clear nicely when shown the stick and can only improve.
The faster of the two Gr3 features over 1400m was the Merchants won by the rapidly improving REIM. Glen Puller’s charge as per usual was soon in command of a useful advantage. He kept on relentlessly in the straight and completed a very smart hat-trick by two. One to keep tabs on from this race is the runner up AFRIKAURN. Dean Kannemeyer’s charge was seven lengths adrift turning for home and finishing best of all did well to get as close as he did.
A hat-trick was also completed in the other Gr3 event over 1400m, the weight for age Diana Stakes when the progressive 3yo DOUBLE WHAMMY landed the spoils. Now a winner of three from four, Glen Kotzen’s charge also made all. She kept on determinedly down the short old course straight and beat a top sort in LANNER FALCON (albeit having her first outing after a break) by a half.
Titbits
STAR OF PARIS (had to switch) and JEWELLER’S JOY (not clear run) both ran on well from off the pace when 2nd & 4th respectively in the maiden 1300m.
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Top speedratings for this weekend include:-
Flamingo Park (mon)
Race 1: (5) Bazinga 17
Race 2: (5) Wild And Windy 36
Race 3: (8) Little Swan 22
Race 4: (1) King Of The Castle 28
Race 5: (1) Cowboy 15
Race 6: (12) Counterblast 31
Race 7: (3) Quick Glance 49
Race 8: (4) Royal Quest 10
Race 9: (1) Princess Creo 38
Vaal (tues)
Race 1: (10) Elysian Valley 14
Race 2: (5) Stavinsky 62
Race 3: (4) Intandokazi 17
Race 4: (1) Field Cat 6
Race 5: (3) Captain’s Delight 56
Race 6: (7) Seattle Fairy 34
Race 7: (11) Antonius Charm 41
Race 8: (1) Arabian Bay 19
Greyville (wed)
Race 1: (4) King Jay 28
Race 2: (6) Cherry Orchard 1 (NAP*)
Race 3: (1) Smoke That Thunders 23
Race 4: (1) Hands Of Stone 15
Race 5: (11) Se Agabor 25
Race 6: (8) San Trip 52
Race 7: (7) Popular Blues 31
Race 8: (9) Choir Maiden 92
Race 9: (5) Told You So 56
Turffontein (Thur)
Race 1: (4) Parade Prancer 24
Race 2: (7) Money Grubber 92
Race 3: (3) Weaponology 11
Race 4: (12) Tamaanee 39 (NAP***)
Race 5: (3) Glorious Jet 82
Race 6: (1) Devon Gold 46
Race 7: (8) Barrack Babe 58
Race 8: (11) Rebel Flame 60
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Top rated winners last week included
Be Fabulous won 14/1
Royal Honeymoon won 9/2
Yer-Maan won 4/1
Divine Wind won 7/2
No Worries won 7/2
Seeking The Dream won 3/1
Bezanova won 13/10
Festive Prince won 12/10
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Notebook:-
Afrikaburn (D Kannemeyer, W-Cape)
Tamaanee (M De Kock, Gauteng)
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FASTEST TIMES
The number of races run over each distance is shown in brackets
*Denotes – Times taken by Clockwatcher
Fairview (poly) 3rd October
Going Standard
1200m (2) King Of The Knight 70,83
1300m (1) Ming Warrior 75,65
1400m (1) Pacyano 82,90
1600m (2) Scarlet Berry 97,06
1800m (1) Titus 109,40
1900m (2) Sanfoneiro 116,49
Greyville (poly) 3rd October
Going – Rain Affected
1000m (1) Royal Honeymoon 57,82
1200m (3) Roy Royale 69,82
1600m (2) Cat In Command 97,09
1800m (3) Electric Jet 108,92
Turffontein (inner) 4th October
Penetrometer 21 – Going Good
1000m (1) Sarve 57,67
1200m (2) Rodeo Dream 73,53
1450m (2) No Worries 87,25
1600m (1) Bezanova 96,83
1800m (2) Petrichor 112,41
2200m (1) Yer-Maan 138,25
Durbanville 4th October
Penetrometer 17 – Going Firm
1000m (1) Captain Alfredo 60,09
1300m (2) Princess Chloe 80,92
1400m (2) Reim 84,13
1600m (1) Sheer Trouble 100,12
1800m (1) Helderburg Blue 111,00
2000m (1) Be Fabulous 124,12
