An important scientific complimentary tool of the trade for punters and racing enthusiasts, sectional timing data can enhance both the form study and horseracing viewing experience on both KwaZulu-Natal and Western Cape race meetings.
In this week’s Time Is Money, we look at some of the performances of the past weekend and hopefully provide thoughts on a few ‘to follow’!
Legal Counsel under Andrew Fortune ran on strongly in the closing stages (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)
Hollywoodbets Greyville 22 June
Track Condition
Going: Good (turf) – Standard (poly)
Penetrometer: 22 (turf)
Rain: Last 7 days Nil
Irrigation turf: Last 24 hours Nil – Last 7 days 25mm
False Rail turf: 8m
Wind: 5-20km/h North, North Easterly head wind
Course Variant: 0,83s slow (turf) – 0,57s fast (poly)
KZN Breeders Mile (NBT) 1600m (turf)
There was no pace on in the early stages of the afternoon’s top liner, and then comfortably running the slowest of the three races rounding the turn, this was clearly a very false paced affair. Indeed, Go Greyson Go drawn nine was soon at the head of affairs and the well supported favourite LEGAL COUNSEL (drawn 10) raced second.
In what was a very tightly bunched field when the race developed into a sprint at the top of the straight, the son of Legislate quickened well and under just hands and heels took up the running 350m out.
He ran on strongly in the closing stages of the race and under a typical ride from Andrew Fortune, he won much more easily than the official 1,4 lengths would suggest. Andrew spoke very highly of this horse after the race.
Maiden Juvenile Plates 1400m (turf)
The only other two events on the ten race program to be run on turf were both maiden juvenile plates over 1400m. Just 14/100th of a second separated the winners of these with the opener, contested by the boys, being the quicker.
The well supported favourite BLACKJACK RANDALL fairly flew out of the stalls and in next to no time was two lengths clear.
This son of Danon Platina kept up a healthy gallop throughout, and running on strongly in the straight, he went on to score with authority by three and three quarters.
Clifton Stud KZN Breeders 1200
In what proved to be by far the faster of the two 1200m events on the poly, Tara Star registered her fifth career victory.
Taken straight to the front by Richard Fourie, this daughter of Just As Well set honest sectionals throughout.
She ran on strongly in the closing stages of the race and under a determined ride, held off a strong challenge from the always handy Silver Tudor by a half. Interestingly, this was Tara Star’s first start on the poly.
Fastest Times:
1200m poly (2) Tara Star 69,59
1400m poly (2) Poursomesugaronme 82,75
1400m turf (2) Blackjack Randall 86,18
400-finish turf Act Of Grace 23,21
400- finish poly The Gliding Fish 22,19
Hollywoodbets Kenilworth 21 June
Track Condition
Going: Soft (both tracks)
Penetrometer: 28 straight – 30 bend
Rain: Last 24 hours 2mm – Last 7 days 32,5mm
Irrigation: Last 7 days Nil
False Rail: original position back straight: 1,5m spur at 460m
Wind: 10-18km/h North Westerly tail wind
Course Variant: 0,6s slow (straight) – 0,44s slow (bend)
Gr3 Langerman 1500m
Topping the bill in the soft conditions on the winter course on Saturday was the Gr3 Langerman for 2yo’s, and here we saw a very gutsy performance from the Danon Platina gelding ABSOLUTELY YES.
Taken straight to the front by Musi Yeni , Justin Snaith’s charge led throughout. He raced two lengths clear for most of the journey and rounding the turn had the field well strung out. The 50/1 rank outsider of the party Pay The Palace had raced second and when that one moved up to challenge 250m out, he looked a serious threat.
Absolutely Yes answered every call on the run to the line though, and held on to score by just under a half. Interestingly, the fastest 400m to finish time in this race was recorded by the fourth placed Randolph Hearst and that despite choking up in running and later being reported as coughing by the vet.
It is also worth noting that Randolph Hearst recorded the fastest 400m to finish time of the day when very narrowly beaten in his previous start. One to keep tabs on.
Irridescence Stakes (L) 1500m
Run in a time 0,68 seconds slower than that of the Langerman, the deposed favourite UKUDUMA (2/1 to 5/1) made the running in the listed Irridecence Stakes.
Determinedly taken straight to the front by Gavin Lerena, the daughter of Vercingetorix was allowed to dictate throughout even though the pace was not a strong one. She ran on well in the straight and 150m from home looked to have the field comfortably beaten.
Running on from sixth position some four lengths off the pace though, was the heavily supported favourite Electromagnetism (7/2 into 15/10) and quickening particularly well below the distance, she only failed to get up on the nod.
Three 1400m Races
The opening maiden juvenile plate was the quickest of the three maiden events over 1400m and here victory went to the highly regarded STAR MAJOR. Backed into even money from 5/2 at the track, James Crawford’s charge raced fourth, some 3,5 lengths off a fair pace set by the friendless newcomer United Front (4/1 out to 16/1).
United Front (troublesome loading) kept on strongly in the straight and at the line he had the rest comfortably beaten. Star Major meanwhile moved up smartly between the 400m and 200m, but was then faced with a tight gap between United Front and the inside running rail.
Undeterred though, jockey Luyolo Mxothwa bided his time and after bravely taking the gap below the distance they got up to score by a neck.
Quickies
Easily 8,5 lengths off the pace turning for home, the lightly raced Horizon filly APRICITY recorded the fastest 400m to finish time of the afternoon when runner up in the fillies division of the maiden juvenile plate over 1400m.
Running on from towards the rear, the 3yo daughter of One World MARITZBURG MEMORY was fairly flying at the finish when getting up in the very last stride to win the quicker of the two 1200m events, a Class 4 for fillies & mares.
Fastest Times:
1000m (2) Dean Street 58,83
1200m (2) Maritzburg Memory 73,29
1400m (3) Star Major 87,32
1500m (2) Absolutely Yes 93,56
400-finish Apricity 23,06
