On The Move

Dodgy Races

Turffontein 13th September: They raced on the inner track on Saturday where we saw a very easy victory in the opening work rider’s maiden event over 2200m for the 20/1 shot MEXICAN SOMBRERO. Always handy in what proved to be a very false paced affair, the formless daughter of Tiger Dance suddenly found herself six lengths clear as the other handily placed runners began to fade in the straight. Running on from midfield the 2/1 favourite ANITA was steadily gaining in the closing stages, but she was still four and a quarter lengths adrift at the wire.
Another to benefit from a front runner exiting the back door was FORM UP in the MR72 Handicap over 1450m. A minimum of four lengths clear of the remainder coming off the strip, St John Gray’s charge cruised clear after striking the front 300m from home and won very easily by four and a half.
There were three races run over 1450m in total and the fastest of these was the pinnacle stakes won by SOVEREIGN MINT. A little slow into stride when the gates opened, the Judpot gelding raced seventh of the nine for most of the journey. Once in the short home straight though he quickened best of all and under a well-judged ride from Gunter Wrogemann he got up late to deny the easy to back SABADELL by three quarters.
There were also three races run over 2600m and fastest against the clock here was the Mike De Kock trained GUY FROM DUBAI. At home racing both with or from off the pace, Guy From Dubai made all here. He answered every call when the race developed into a sprint in the home straight, and in what proved to be a real thriller he just held on by a neck from the running on S’IL VOUS PLAIT.
Titbits
SHEPARD ONE ran on strongly when just getting the better of Silent Rush in the pinnacle stakes over 1200m.

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Rocketing Home

Durbanville 13th September: A maiden plate over 1000m got proceedings underway at the country course on Saturday and here we saw a comfortable victory for the 6/1 shot SWEET PARADE. She got away well when the gates opened and soon up handy raced prominent throughout. She was ridden to lead as they approached the 200m marker and kept on strongly in the closing stages of the race to beat the always handy favourite VIVARANI by a length.
Run in a time some 2,37 seconds quicker was the only other 1000m race on the card, the MR84 Handicap won by KNOCK ‘EM OUT. Adopting similar tactics to those of Sweet Parade the Var mare took up the running 300m out, and kept on strongly at the business end of the race to beat the rallying pacemaker MOULIN ROUGE by a neck.
The faster of the two 1300m events was the MR86 Handicap won by STRATOCRUISER. The field soon became strung out and nicely positioned in second the 4yo son of Jet Master was always poised to strike. He did so approaching the 100m pole and comfortably accounted for the front running CAPTIVE ACTION by a length.
The Trippi gelding TRIPTOTHESTARS was well supported to win the maiden plate for 3yo’s over 1600m and he didn’t let down his supporters. Backed into 8/10 from 13/10 at the track, Mike Bass’ charge was soon up handy. He moved through to take up the running early in the straight and although the uneasy second favourite BRUNO chased hard he did have that one well held by two and three quarters at the wire.
Titbits
Heavily supported into 13/10 favourite from 4/1 the newcomer Lohnromance won the fillies maiden event over 1400m with plenty in hand by three and a half.

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Four In A Row

Scottsville 14th September: The faster of the two maiden events for 3yo’s over 1200m at Scottsville on Sunday was the second division won by STYLISH VISION. Freely available at 6/1 on the off, the lightly raced daughter of King’s Apostle was always handy. She took up the running going through the 200m and just held on by a neck from the rallying pacemaker FLYING LUXMI.
There were four races run over 1200m in total and the fastest of these was the MR90 Handicap won by EASY LOVER. Sent off fifth in the betting market at 11/2, Duncan Howells’ charge sat at the back of the seven for the first half of the race. He didn’t find the clearest of passages when asked for his effort 400m out and did well to collar the marginally more fancied FLYFIRSTCLASS close home.
Three of the afternoon’s ten races were run over 2400m and fastest against the clock here was the four-timer seeking ROYAL COLOURS. Sent off second in the betting market at 28/10, the 4yo Bezrin gelding was content to sit in midfield for most of the journey. It looked as if he would go on to score comfortably on striking the front 200m out, but the pacemaker TERROCOTTA SOLDIER found extra when headed and after a thrilling tussle in the closing stages of the race it was only by a short head that Paul Gadsby’s charge got the verdict.
Titbits
Cape Town bound EVENTUAL ANGEL showed a very nice turn of foot late when winning the conditions plate over 1400m.
The lightly raced SARATOGA DANCER also quickened very nicely late when opening his account in the maiden 1600m.

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Top speedratings for this weekend include:-

Top rated winners last week included

Son Of Orimandes won 33/1
Swannee Rose d/h 7/1
Sweet Parade won 6/1
Stratocruiser won 3/1
Aspen Winter won 5/2
China Beach won 18/10
Imbuta Castrum won 18/10
Triptothestars won 8/10

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Notebook:-

Easy Lover (D Howells, KZN)
Eventual Angel (D Drier, KZN)
Lonhromance (Y Govender, W-Cape)

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FASTEST TIMES

The number of races run over each distance is shown in brackets
*Denotes – Times taken by Clockwatcher

Turffontein (inner) 13th September
Penetrometer 21 – Going Good
1200m (1) Shepard One 74,83
1450m (3) Sovereign  Mint 88,36
1600m (1) The Captain’s Tune 100,24
2200m (1) Mexican Sombrero 144,86
2600m (3) Guy From Dubai 170,24

Durbanville 13th September
Penetrometer 23 – Going Good
1000m (2) Knock ‘em Out 59,78
1300m (2) Stratocruiser 78,35
1400m (3) Antonia’s Fortress 85,71
1600m (1) Triptothestars 99,92

Scottsville (inside) 14th September
Penetrometer 22 – Going Good
1000m (1) Malted And Bolted 57,35
1200m (4) Easy Lover 69,29
1400m (1) Eventual Angel 85,77
1600m (1) Saratoga Dancer 97,15
2400m (3) Royal Colours 152,40