Showing Promise
Turffontein 9th August: They raced on the old stand side track on Saturday where we saw an impressive performance in the opening maiden plate over 1160m from the Janse Van Vuuren trained ASTRO. Backed throughout the morning into 7/10 from 22/10, the 3yo son of Argonaut was soon up handy. He was ridden to lead going through the 300m and won going away by five and a quarter.
In terms of distance the easiest victory on the card was recorded by CELINE in the girl’s maiden event over 1400m. Another to ply her trade from a handy position Louis Goosen’s charge kicked clear 400m out and won well by five and a half.
Three of the afternoon’s nine races were run over 1400m and the fastest of these was the graduation plate won by SOVEREIGN MINT. Always top of the boards, Robbie Sage’s charge was content to race at the back of the six for most of the journey. Once given rein though, he quickly made his way through the field. The pacemaker WISDOM STONE found extra as he loomed alongside 200m out and with the rest left trailing in their wake, he only got the verdict by a neck.
A pinnacle stakes over 2850m topped the bill and here we saw an improved performance from COBY. Freely available at 8/1 on the off, Gary Alexander’s 4yo was always handy. The only other female in the race MAGIC SMOKE (33/10 favourite) was the first to make a move and on striking the front 300m out she looked to have done everything right. Coby also quickened well at that point though and after she in turn struck the front 100m later, she went on to win well by two.
Titbits
The 33/10 favourite SISTERS OF MERCY was hampered 500m out en-route from the rear when only failing by a short head to land the odds in the MR83 Handicap over 2000m.
Racing in the rear after losing two lengths at the start, BRAVE PRINCESS ran on best of all when winning the MR68 Handicap over 1000m with authority by two and a quarter. Racing off a mark of just 66 here this daughter of Mogok was earlier rated 87.
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Quick Double
Greyville 10th August: Sunday afternoon’s action took place on the poly track where the fastest of the three 1600m events on the card was the MR73 Handicap won by CAT IN COMMAND. Sent off a well-supported favourite at 16/10 (op 5/2), Pat Lunn’s charge was always handy. He moved through to take up the running 100m out and comfortably accounted for the second favourite SIDDHARTH (held every chance) by three quarters. One to look out for next time from this race is the lightly raced ANTWERP. Having only his fourth career outing here, the 3yo son of Right Approach (slow into stride) ran on stoutly from midfield and was finishing best of all.
The faster of the two 1400m maiden plates for 3yo’s was the boy’s division won by ANAFESTO. A stable companion to Antwerp, Garth Puller’s charge broke well when the gates opened and was soon nicely positioned in second. He took the helm shortly after passing the 300m pole and won well by two and a quarter from the more fancied DANCINGWITHJACKSON.
Three were also two races run over 1800m and fastest against the clock in these events was VICTORY TAKEOVER in the MR66 affair. Swiftly guided over from a wide draw by apprentice Bryan Claassen, the 4yo filly raced close to the speed throughout. She was ridden to lead as they approached the 200m marker and won comfortably from the supported MISS TIGER EYES (14/1 into 11/2) by a length and three quarters.
The easiest victory on the eight race program was recorded by MISSION RAPIDS in the girl’s division of the maiden 1400m. Easy to back at 12/1 at the off, the daughter of Surging River also raced close to the action. She began to assert her authority as they came off the bend and drew clear easily in the straight to score by four and a quarter.
Titbits
RESOLUTION ran on well over the final 400m when winning the MR85 Handicap over 1600m.
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Amazing Improvement
Vaal 12th August: The inside track was used at the Vaal on Tuesday where the easiest victory in terms of distance was registered by NORTHERN HORIZONS in the maiden plate over 1000m. Taken straight to the front by Derreck David, the daughter of Toreador led throughout. She was always clear and won without any anxious moments by four and a quarter.
A MR89 Handicap topped the bill and in what proved to be the faster of the two 1200m events we saw a smart performance from the Mike De Kock trained FOYLE. Soon up handy the deposed favourite raced prominent throughout. He was ridden to lead as they approached the 200m marker and drew clear easily in the closing stages of the race to score by four.
Another to win in good style on this card was REIGN VICTORIOUS in the faster of the two 1400m races, a MR72 Handicap. Once rated 83 by the official handicapper (ran off a 71 here), Sean Tarry’s 7yo was always in touch with the leaders. He got to the front quickly when asked for his effort and cruised clear over the final 150m to score by four.
Titbits
Unable to get closer than 6,25 lengths in nine previous outings, the Leon Erasmus trained FEAR NOTHING (100/1) showed amazing improvement when running on from the rear to win the maiden plate over 1400m going away by three.
The well-supported newcomer ATSO TIME made all when winning the maiden plate over 1000m with authority by three and three quarters.
Also well supported, CASHMERE KID showed good improvement when comfortably accounting for the favourite OLYMPIC BOLT in the maiden 2000m.
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Top speedratings for this weekend include:-
Flamingo Park
Race 1: (2) Sun Silk Star 17
Race 2: (1) Troubled Waters 50
Race 3: (7) Da Moonsta 36
Race 4: (4) Wild Lord 24
Race 5: (1) Top Mark 53
Race 6: (6) Giro Jet 32
Race 7: (2) Typhoon Tash 51
Race 8: (13) Koenigsegg 47
Race 9: (3) Erotic Pulse 48
Greyville
Race 1: (4) Storm Coast 28
Race 2: (6) Pilgovan Star 28
Race 3: (1) Smokethatthunders 27
Race 4: (2) The Big League 33
Race 5: (3) Ethylene 33 (NAP*)
Race 6: (1) Rio Carnival 96
Race 7: (1) Fat Chance 45
Race 8: (1) Trix Of The Trade 42
Kenilworth
Race 1: (9) Milton 12
Race 2: (6) Celestial Flight 18
Race 3: (2) Crystal Cavern 16 (EW)
Race 4: (1) Ace Antonius 51
Race 5: (4) Aqua 43
Race 6: (5) Putney Flyer 74
Race 7: (5) Amber Flyer 59
Race 8: (12) Cosmonauta 38
Vaal
Race 1: (1) Crown Bearer 19
Race 2: (1) Johnny Chestnut 8
Race 3: (7) Alverta 3 (NAP*)
Race 4: (4) Savannah Montana 31
Race 5: (2) Dennis The Menace 58
Race 6: (4) Killua Castle 82
Race 7: (9) General Custer 41
Race 8: (12) Ajuba 52
Race 9: (9) Terra Marianna 60
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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
Cat In Command won 16/10
She’s A Stunner won 16/10
Priceless Jewel won 9/20
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Notebook:-
Antwerp (G Puller, W-Cape)
Astro (JJ Van Vuuren, Gauteng)
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FASTEST TIMES
The number of races run over each distance is shown in brackets
*Denotes – Times taken by Clockwatcher
Turffontein (old) 9th August
Penetrometer 20 – Going Good
1000m (1) Brave Princess 58,11
1160m (1) Astro 68,66
1400m (3) Sovereign Mint 85,88
2000m (3) Miss K 126,57
2850m (1) Coby 185,98
Greyville (poly) 10th August
Going Standard
1000m (1) Royal Honeymoon 57,81
1400m (2) Anafesto 83,57
1600m (3) Cat In Command 95,89
1800m (2) Victory Takeover 109,63
Vaal (inside) 12th August
Penetrometer 21 – Going Good
1000m (2) Atso Time 58,70
1200m (2) Foyle 71,35
1400m (2) Reign Victorious 83,90
2000m (1) Cashmere Kid 124,53
2400m (1) Africa Blue 151,00
