Vaal 3rd February
3 From 4
Thursday’s action took place on the turf where the easiest victory on the card was recorded by the newcomer MIDNIGHT SERENADE (11) in the maiden event over 1000m. Soon into stride in the soft underfoot conditions, Diane Stenger’s charge led throughout. He was always in command and although fellow newcomer JUMBO finished well from off the pace, he went on to score very easily by four and a half.
The recent Swallow Stakes fourth OOCHEE AGENT (59) was well supported to win the MR83 Handicap over 1000m and she didn’t let down her supporters. Backed into outright favouritism at the track (4/1 into 28/10), Paul Matchett’s charge raced up with the speed throughout. She began to assert her authority as they approached the 300m marker and comfortably accounted for the second favourite JOLLY POPPINS (later reported as lame) by two and a quarter.
Another to win well on this card was the 3yo JUSTTHEWAYYOUARE (54) who completed a smart hattrick in the MR79 affair over 1700m. Sent off a rather uneasy favourite at 19/10, Geoff Woodruff’s charge was taken straight to the front by Anton Marcus and led throughout. She kept on strongly at the business end of the race and although the useful END OF SEASON chased hard she went on to win comfortably by a length and three quarters. Justthewayyouare has now won all three starts since staying on to take third on debut and is clearly useful.
Titbits
After racing detached at the rear of the field early on, the newcomer MAGGIE THATCH ran on nicely in the closing stages of the maiden juvenile event over 1000m, and did well to get within 3,5 lengths of the winner.
Fairview 4th February
Rushing Home
The aptly named IN A RUSH clearly had the best exposed form in the opening juvenile event over 1200m and despite strong support for the newcomer KING SHAKA (17/10 from 9/2), he only eased out to 15/20 in the betting from 5/10. Soon up with the speed, In A Rush stepped on the gas going through the 400m. He quickly went clear and with nothing else able to quicken, he cruised in by ten and a half.
Another to win very easily on this card was KING’S COLLEGE who opened his account in the maiden event over 1200m. Not the quickest into stride when the gates opened, George Uren’s charge raced towards the back end of midfield during the early part of the race. Once given rein though, this son of Lecture quickened best of all and after striking the front 250m from home, he easily drew clear. Recently returned from a knee chip operation, Kings College won well and could quite easily pick up a second win quicker than he gained his first.
The non black type Fairview Merchants topped the bill and here a bit of an upset was to be had when the lesser fancied of Alan Greeff’s three runners FINANCE MINISTER landed the spoils. Soon at the head of affairs with the favourite BOB ‘N WEAVE, Finance Minister was never headed. He kept on determinedly after the market leader exited the back door 400m out and went on to score by three quarters from the regular place getter KINGS TROOP.
Titbits
After guarding the rear in his local debut in the MR71 Handicap over 1400m, the former Cape Town campaigner PINBALL WIZARD was fairly flying at the finish and was only beaten a neck.
Third in the graduation event over 1600m, the former Gauteng campaigner CHICA BONITA has now run on very strongly from wide draws in each of her last two starts.
Turffontein 5th February
Mighty Link
They raced on the inner track on Saturday where we saw a smart performance in the opening maiden event for the girls over 1450m from the newcomer VARLET (40). Freely available at 22/1 on the off, Brian Wiid’s charge raced in midfield during the early part of the race. She made her move coming off the strip and after striking the front 200m from home, she drew clear easily to win by four. In truth, Varlet didn’t beat the strongest of fields here, but the manner of her victory would suggest that there is more to come.
Even more impressive was the performance of TWO TONE (85) in winning the Conditions Plate over 1200m. Allowed to ease out to 75/20 from 5/2 at the track as money in the main came for MASTER BLASTER (8/1 into 4/1), Two Tone was content to race some five lengths off the pace in sixth. He made up the ground quickly when the field began to concertina early in the short home straight and easily drew clear after striking the front 200m out to score by five. Two Tone won very well and now deservedly takes his place in the Gr3 Tommy Hotspur Handicap.
The second of the two Gr3 events on the card to be run was the Tony Ruffel Stakes over 1450m and here we saw a smart performance from the friendless ante post favourite LINK MAN (94). Priced up at 11/10 when the bookmakers opened their doors, Mike De Kock’s charge steadily drifted throughout the day and was eventually sent off at three times those odds. Confidently ridden by jockey’s log leader Anthony Delpech, Link Man sat fourth for most of the journey. He quickened well when asked for his effort 400m out and easily accounted for the well supported SHEA SHEA (5/2 into 16/10) going away.
Titbits
Positioned at the rear as the eight runners turned for home, ENGAGEMENT ran on stoutly in the straight and was only beaten a length in the Pinnacle Stakes over 1450m.
Kenilworth 5th February
Signal Given
With SOWETO SLEW having run a good second in the prestigious Summer Juvenile Stakes (L) last week, the unbeaten GIMMETHEGREENLIGHT looked to be a good thing in the opening juvenile plate over 1000m here and so it proved to be. Backed into 11/20 at the track, Justin Snaith’s charge was soon up handy. He was ridden to lead shortly after passing the 400m marker and with plenty in hand, he easily accounted for CHIEFTAN by four and a quarter.
The afternoon’s feature event was a MR94 Handicap over 1000m and here favourite backers were again on the mark when the hard working HOWDOULIKEMENOW gained a well deserved fifth career victory. Always one to run on stoutly from off the pace, Joey Ramsden’s charge made up the ground quickly when the flying frontrunner ISIDINGO began to run out of steam 200m out. He finished well and after an interesting tussle with MONSIEUR DUPONT, he got the verdict by a length and a quarter.
Also worthy of note on this card was the performance of MASTER BARRY in winning the MR80 affair over 1600m. Adopting a change of tactics here, the friendless Master Barry (14/1 out to 28/1) led throughout. He was two lengths clear at the top of the straight and despite the efforts of the chasing pack over the final 400m, he extended his advantage to three and a quarter on the run to the line.
Titbits
The highly regarded favourite MARGARET COURT was beaten fair and square after holding every chance in the novice event over 1200m.
Top speedratings for this weekend include:-
Fairview
Race 1: (4) Forest Blade 10
Race 2: (1) Royal Laine 16 (NAP*)
Race 3: (4) Karlo 38
Race 4: (8) Slumdog Oscar 60
Race 5: (11) Kalimba 57
Race 6: (12) Admiral Camden 79
Race 7: (7) Eton Mess 61
Race 8: (4) Comedy Caravan 73
Scottsville
Race 1: (1) Indigo Princess 26
Race 2: (1) Alan’s Pride 32
Race 3: (6) Princess Tina 15
Race 4: (2) Tsunami Tammy 15
Race 5: (14) Nadal 49
Race 6: (6) Carina Coleman 56
Race 7: (6) Mr. Premier 74
Race 8: (1) Watch The Sunset 52
Race 9: (3) Obama Way 20
Turffontein
Race 1: (5) Phemba 25
Race 2: (3) Super Boy 32
Race 3: (6) Galileo’s Destiny 76
Race 4: (5) Waywest Goddess 76
Race 5: (1) Moroccan 86
Race 6: (7) Rulerofthedesert 80
Race 7: (17) Mr Ronaldo 62
Durbanville
Race 1: (1) Outswinger 5
Race 2: (4) Virtuoso 36
Race 3: (1) Prompter 23
Race 4: (3) Royal Bloodline 5
Race 5: (6) Final Approach 61
Race 6: (8) Hasseldon 49
Race 7: (9) Sealed Orders 80
Race 8: (5) Cool River 58 (EW)
Vaal
Race 1: (10) National Fleet 18
Race 2: (1) Quickalookee 22
Race 3: (3) Tricia’s Spur 56
Race 4: (7) Jamaican Express 54
Race 5: (7) Mighty Assassin 84
Race 6: (10) Ice Crusher 60
Race 7: (1) Mannequin 80 (NAP)
Race 8: (4) Mystic 77
Race 9: (9) Enza Plan 52
Top rated winners last week included:-
Bid Me won 15/1
Grail Maiden won 13/2
National Chant won 13/2
Black Wing won 33/10
Link Man won 33/10
Wing Man won 3/1
Kentucky Express won 5/2
Hollywoodboulevard won 16/10
Notebook:-
Gimmethegreenlight (J Snaith, W-Cape)
Justthewayyouare (G Woodruff, Gauteng)
Link Man (M De Kock, Gauteng)
Pinball Wizard (Y Bremner, E-Cape)
Two Tone (M Azzie, Gauteng)
FASTEST TIMES
(Shown in brackets is the number of races run in each category)
Vaal 3rd February
Fastest Sprint 1000-1300 (3) Oochee Agent
Fastest Middle 1400-1800 (5) Good On You
Fastest Long 1900-3600 (0) No Qualifiers
Fairview 4th February
Fastest Sprint 1000-1300 (4) Finance Minister
Fastest Middle 1400-1800 (4) Makzoos
Fastest Long 1900-3600 (0) No Qualifiers
Turffontein 5th February
Fastest Sprint 1000-1300 (2) Kings Gold
Fastest Middle 1400-1800 (6) Miss Turbulence
Fastest Long 1900-3600 (1) Hot Tip
Kenilworth 5th February
Fastest Sprint 1000-1300 (6) Gimmethegreenlight
Fastest Middle 1400-1800 (2) Master Barry
Fastest Long 1900-3600 (1) Grail Maiden
