Coming Home Lonely
Turffontein 14th March: Six of the nine races run on the inside track on Saturday took place over 1450m and the fastest of these was the conditions plate won by the Cape Town raider PATERFAMILIAS. Not the quickest into stride the 8/1 shot raced fifth of the six for most of the journey. Coming off the strip though, the 5yo Trippi gelding quickened best of all and cruised clear to score by eight and a half after striking the front 200m or so from home.
Another to win with lengths to spare on this card was ANGELUS BELL in the opening workrider’s maiden plate over the same distance. Taken straight to the front by Samuel Mosia, Brian Wiid’s charge led throughout. He was six lengths clear turning for home and although the running on AGILE COMBAT (came from the back) did manage to make some headway late on, he still had four and a half to spare at the wire.
The best bet on the card for Sporting Post was CAPTAIN’S SONG in the maiden juvenile plate for fillies over 1450m, and she too came home lonely. Another to lead from pillar to post, the daughter of Captain Al began to assert her authority going through the 400m and went on to win in very good fashion by seven.
Titbits
LOCO POR GANAR came from the rear when getting up late to win the MR72 Handicap over 1450m.
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Deadly Hangman
Greyville 15th March: They raced on both surfaces on Sunday with the lion’s share of events taking place on the turf. A maiden plate over 1400m got proceedings underway and here we saw a comfortable victory for the 3yo MILLRACE. He got away well when the gates opened and soon up handy raced prominent throughout. He was ridden to lead passing halfway and won well by two from the running on ROY’S AMBASSADOR.
The Gr3 Kings Cup over 1600m on turf topped the bill and here it was nice to see the once very highly regarded THE HANGMAN complete a double. Backed into 18/10 from 7/2 at the track, Sean Tarry’s charge was always handy. He took up the running as they approached the 200m marker and kept on strongly late to beat the running on CANDY MOON by a length.
In terms of distance the easiest victory on the card was recorded by MAMASITA in the maiden plate over 2000m (poly). Another to find strong support on course (16/10 into 11/20), the daughter of Admire Man was positioned second last as the twelve runners swung for home. Once in the straight though, she cut through the field like a knife and drew clear easily late to score by four.
Titbits
SUREFIRE came from the back when winning the conditions plate over 1400m going away.
Nice Warm Up
Vaal 17th March: Tuesday’s action took place on the inside track where the fastest of the four 1200m races was the MR83 Handicap won by ALICE SPRINGS. Confidently ridden by Randal Simons, Mike De Kock’s charge sat fifth of the eight for most of the journey. She made her move going through the 400m and won well from the always handy KINGS V by a length and three quarters.
The faster of the two 1000m maiden events was the second division won by the Dominic Zaki trained BAD BOY BUDDY BOY. Sent off third in the betting market at 15/4, the son of Captain Al was soon at the head of affairs. He was always in command and won without any anxious moments by two and a quarter.
Very unusually just three went to post for the progress plate over 1200m and here, not surprisingly, victory went to the very well weighted ZAMBEZI RIVER. Deep in the red at 3/10 on the off, Sean Tarry’s charge also led throughout. He was always doing it easily and won in the style of a horse having no more than a training gallop.
Titbits
EMPEROR’S LASS came from the rear when getting up very late to win the maiden juvenile plate over 1200m.
Top speedratings for this weekend include:-
Flamingo Park (mon)
Race 1: (1) Master Of Rock 7
Race 2: (4) Gypsy Fair 41
Race 3: (12) Sleuth 45
Race 4: (1) Latino’s Jet 14
Race 5: (9) Tiger Would 37
Race 6: (3) Olympic Goal 31
Race 7: (1) All The Bids 60 (NAP*)
Race 8: (1) Cheshire Cat 45
Race 9: (6) Read My Gesture 18
Vaal (tues)
Race 1: (1) Red Savage 18
Race 2: (11) Ballerini 9
Race 3: (1) Trip Tease 77
Race 4: (6) S’way 45
Race 5: (5) Wild Thing 47
Race 6: (13) Samogan 80
Race 7: (9) Be Mine Tonight 70
Race 8: (1) Save The Day 31
Kenilworth (wed)
Race 1: (8) Victoria Lavelle 5
Race 2: (1) Western Movie 53
Race 3: (7) Red Hot Lady 7
Race 4: (1) Legal Force 21 (NAP*)
Race 5: (3) Seattle Kat 21
Race 6: (12) Sister Lynn 38
Race 7: (11) Imperial Rose 63
Race 8: (7) Man From Milan 62
Race 9: (4) What Fun 8
Vaal (thur)
Race 1: (11) Pacifica 8
Race 2: (5) Just Africa 1
Race 3: (1) Icy Avalanche 21
Race 4: (2) Winter’s Hope 4
Race 5: (11) Master Rivas 52
Race 6: (13) Irish Grace 47
Race 7: (9) Samba Serenade 44
Race 8: (6) Glasswing 60
Race 9: (8) Antonia Major 39
Top rated winners last week included
C’est Chique won 4/1
Mister Matchett won 28/10
Zubbadubbadoo won 5/2
Political Power won 22/10
Eddie Sweat won 2/1
Fear Not won 17/20
Scar Tissue won 7/10
African Dream won 13/20
Notebook:-
Captain’s Song (M De Kock, Gauteng)
The Hangman (S Tarry, KZN)
FASTEST TIMES
The number of races run over each distance is shown in brackets
*Denotes – Times taken by Clockwatcher
Turffontein (inside) 14th March
Penetrometer 23 – Going Good
1000m (1) Tiger Territory 57,39
1450m (6) Paterfamilias 87,10
1800m (1) Bouclette Top 110,42
2600m (1) Lions Emblem 166,59
Greyville 15th March
Turf Good/Poly Standard
1400m (1) Millrace 84,28P
1400m (1) Surefire 84,21T
1600m (1) Rocky Bay 96,93P
1600m (1) The Hangman 98,83T
2000m (1) Mamasita 123,88P
2000m (2) Patchit Up Baby 123,66T
2400m (1) Jay Power 151,36T
Vaal (inside) 17th March
Penetrometer 21 – Good
1000m (2) Bad Boy Buddy Boy 57,06
1200m (4) Alice Springs 69,31
1700m (2) Orchestrated 101,80
