One Month Later
Greyville 31st August: There were a number of easy victories on the poly track on Sunday afternoon, but none more so than that of KNOX in the opening maiden plate over 1200m. Nibbled at into 6/1 from 10’s at the track, the son of Western Winter (beaten almost 20 lengths in his only previous start) was taken straight to the front by Anton Marcus and led by just a length for the first 800m. Once given rein though he quickly drew clear, and cruised in by seven. This was the fastest of the four 1200m races.
Another to win with lengths to spare in the hands of Anton Marcus was the once highly regarded PATRIOTIC REBEL in the MR86 Handicap over 1800m. He raced handy initially, but with Anton clearly unhappy with the pace he took up the running shortly before halfway. He was three lengths clear going through the 400m and although he was all out at the finish he won without any anxious moments.
Three of the ten races were run over 1400m and the fastest of these was the exceptionally well handicapped STORM SURF in the MR70 Handicap. Racing off a mark some 22 points lower than his previous best turf rating, and 33 points lower than that of his sand rating, the7yo Kahal gelding was soon positioned close to the speed. He took up the running at the top of the straight and won with authority by two and three quarters.
Also worthy of note on this card was the performance of MARIA THERESA in the comparatively slowly run novice 1400m. A fluent winner of her only previous start, the 3yo daughter of Dynasty had been poorly drawn and as a result she raced in the rear early on. Once in the straight though she quickened well and won going away by a length after striking the front close home.
Titbits
Poorly drawn BLUEBAYGIRL ran on well from the backend of midfield when opening her account in the maiden 1200m.
Backed into favouritism at the track, ROYAL LANCE only got going late when a well beaten runner up in the second division of the MR70 Handicap over 1400m.
Poorly drawn and a little slow into stride to boot, BLAZE THE TRAIL ran on well from the rear when only beaten a neck in the MR70 Handicap over 1800.
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One In One Out
Flamingo Park 1st September: A pinnacle stakes over 1200m topped the bill in the Northern Cape on Monday and here a major upset was to be had when the 1/3 favourite TOMMY GUN got rolled. Returning from a five month break here the Sail From Seattle gelding was soon up handy. He was one of the first to come under pressure at the business end of the race though, and finished a four and a half-length fourth. Victory instead went to CODE RED who also raced handy and won well after striking the front 150m out.
One who did land the odds at very cramped odds on this card was ALL THE BIDS in the MR72 Handicap over 1600m. Taken straight to the front by Fanie Chambers, the top weight led throughout. He held just a one length lead for most of the journey and only had to be pushed out over the final 400m in order to extend that advantage to six.
Three of the afternoon’s nine races were run over 1400m and the fastest of these was the MR62 Handicap won by PLAY-PLAY. Positioned towards the rear during the early part of the race, Louis Goosen’s charge ran on stoutly once in the straight and after hitting the front 200m from home, he won comfortably by two and a quarter.
The faster of the two 1000m races was the MR66 Handicap in which REBEL ASSAULT caused an upset. Freely available at 15/1 on the off, Dorrie Sham’s charge was soon up handy. He was ridden to lead shortly after passing the 200m marker and although the 25/1 shot WILD AND WINDY (came from the rear) was gaining at the finish, he won comfortably by three quarters.
Titbits
The front running SPACE GIRL rallied gamely after being headed 350m out and won the MR76 Handicap going away by a length and a half after regaining the lead 150m from home.
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Ranger’s Friend
Greyville 2nd September: Racing returned to the poly track on Tuesday afternoon where victory in the opening maiden event over 1000m went to the newcomer TONTO. Sent off as one of the rank outsiders of the nine horse party at 25/1, the son of Ashaawes wasn’t the quickest into stride and raced towards the rear early on. Once in the short home straight though he quickened well, and with the rest well beaten he got up late to deny the deposed favourite YOU BOLT (14/10 out to 33/10).
Four of the afternoon’s ten races were run over 1600m and the fastest of these was the MR85 Handicap won by SOUNDS POSITIVE. She got away well when the gates opened and taken straight to the front by Musi Yeni led throughout. She was always in command and although the well-supported favourite SUPERCEDE chased hard, she won with authority by three and a quarter.
Another to win very comfortably on this card was OBREGA in the fillies’ maiden plate over 1400m. Backed into 9/10 from 12/10 at the track Dennis Drier’s charge was always handy. She took up the running 150m out and drew clear easily in the closing stages of the race to score by two and three quarters. Despite being drawn wide, slow into stride, and cramped 400m out, SECRET ADMIRER was running on strongly when third in this race.
Titbits
Gaining at the finish the recent winner SHELLYS CONNECTION only failed to land the MR69 Handicap over 1600m by the narrowest of margins.
Six lengths off the pace turning for home, JAMAL ran on strongly in the closing stages of the race when only beaten half a length in the MR75 Handicap over 1600m.
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Top speedratings for this weekend include:-
Fairview (mon)
Race 1: (3) Prettyamazinggrace 10
Race 2: (2) Satchmo 24
Race 3: (6) Pegwell Bay 42
Race 4: (12) Captain Rei 51 (EW)
Race 5: (3) Tiger Right 42
Race 6: (4) Lord Badger 70
Race 7: (11) Land Of Meadows 63
Race 8: (5) Diamond Ally 46
Vaal (tues)
Race 1: (9) Spellbound 6
Race 2: (9) Lava Flow 31 (NAP*)
Race 3: (4) Cockade 15
Race 4: (3) Manzai 10
Race 5: (8) Ahoy Captain 54
Race 6: (14) Go Dutch 64
Race 7: (13) Gentle Desire 55
Race 8: (4) Foyle 70
Race 9: (2) Call Kelly 41
Durbanville (wed)
Race 1: (3) Scorecard 22 (NAP*)
Race 2: (1) Waning Crescent 11
Race 3: (2) Lizard’s Pursuit 14
Race 4: (1) King’s Kitten 11
Race 5: (3) Sunset Tripp 41
Race 6: (8) Putney Flyer 84
Race 7: (6) That Cowboy Kid 51 (EW)
Race 8: (8) Be Fabulous 57
Vaal (thur)
Race 1: (1) Crown Bearer 19
Race 2: (1) Trip Tease 65 (NAP**)
Race 3: (1) Winter Star 65
Race 4: (1) Dream Hunter 18
Race 5: (9) Impeccable 48
Race 6: (5) Brooks-Club 78
Race 7: (1) Jackodore 66
Race 8: (1) Stay Amazed 21 (nb)
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Top rated winners last week included
Pigeon Flyer won 16/1
Space Girl won 11/1
Albarakah won 8/1
Bluebaygirl won 7/1
De Var Hyt won 13/2
Maria Theresa won 4/1
Touching Base won 22/10
Roy’s Royalty won 16/10
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Notebook:-
Maria Theresa (M De Kock, KZN)
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FASTEST TIMES
The number of races run over each distance is shown in brackets
*Denotes – Times taken by Clockwatcher
Greyville (poly) 31st August
Going Standard
1200m (4) Knox 68,50*
1400m (3) Storm Surf 82,43*
1800m (3) Patriotic Rebel 108,50
Flamingo Park 1st September
Going Standard
1000m (2) Rebel Assault 57,50
1200m (2) Code Red 71,07
1400m (3) Play-Play 87,54
1600m (1) All The Bids 100,65
1800m (1) Niebelung 114,95
Greyville (poly) 2nd September
Going Standard
1000m (1) Tonto 59,96
1200m (2) Dark Eyes 71,37*
1400m (2) Hullo Lily 85,30
1600m (4) Sounds Positive 97,33
2000m (1) Wonderful Cross 126,38
