Viva La Var
Greyville 5th October: Sunday afternoon’s meeting at the poly track got underway with a progress plate over 1000m and in what proved to be by far the fastest of the three races over the distance we saw an impressive performance from the unbeaten VIVA LA VAR. Now with Charles Laird, the former Dennis Drier inmate was returning from a nine month layoff here. She was soon at the head of affairs and without ever really being asked to race she cruised in by seven and a quarter.
There were also three races run over 1200m and the fastest of these was the second division of the girl’s maiden event won by the newcomer PRIVATE DANCER. Freely available at 16/1 on the off, Michael Roberts’ charge was soon up handy. She was ridden to lead as they approached the 300m marker and kept on strongly late to beat the much more fancied DIANA’S JET by two and a quarter.
The faster of the two 1600m events was the conditions plate won by ADMIRAL’S EYE. Always deep in the red, the daughter of Admire Man raced close up in second for the first half of the race. She put her head in front shortly after passing halfway and found extra late to hold off the strong late challenge of EDUCATED by three quarters.
Also worthy of note on this card was the performance of HO’OPONOPONO when opening his account in the maiden 1000m. On leaving the stalls it was HIGH MAINTAINANCE who elected to make the running whilst Dennis Drier’s charge raced handy in fourth. He took up the running at the 300m marker and won going away from the well-supported CANADIAN CLUB (5/1 into 3/1) by three and a quarter.
Titbits
After losing two lengths at the start, and then being baulked for a run 250m out, the newcomer ESTIDRAAJ flew in the closing stages of the race and only failed to land the first division of the girl’s maiden 1200m by the narrowest of margins.
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Chocolate Treat
Vaal 7th October: They raced on the outside track on Saturday where five of the afternoon’s nine races were run over 1400m. The fastest of these was the MR86 Handicap won by DUE AND PAYABLE. Allowed to drift at the track as if a win was out of the question (14/1 out to 40/1), the 5yo Dupont gelding broke well and was soon nicely positioned in second. The 6yo LOST ISLAND set the pace and going through the 500m the pair had the remainder a minimum of five lengths adrift. Due And Payable struck the front passing the 300m pole and although the always handy FORM UP chased hard in the closing stages of the race he won comfortably by a length and a half.
Comfortably the fastest of the three maiden events over 1400m was that in which ROMAN RIDGE opened his account. Sent off a well-supported second favourite at 28/10, Gavin Van Zyl’s charge raced second for most of the journey. He put his head in front shortly after passing the 400m marker and won well by three quarters from the running on TAIWAN TREASURE. After losing two lengths at the start, the lightly raced AQUA BLUE ran on well from midfield when third in this race.
Fastest against the clock in the three 1000m races was SACRED GROUND in the MR69 Handicap. Allowed to ease out to 4/1 from 28/10 at the track, Dominic Zaki’s charge also raced up with the speed. He was ridden to lead going through the 300m and went on to beat the sand specialist SALUTE THE SUN fair and square by a length.
In terms of distance the easiest victory on the card was that of CHILLI CHOCOLATE when getting off the mark in the girl’s division of the maiden 1400m. Always top of the boards the 3yo daughter of Muhtafal raced in midfield early on. She quickened well when asked for her effort and won going away by three and three quarters after striking the front 300m out.
Titbits
After losing three lengths at the start and racing detached at the rear, the newcomer ZAMBEZI RIVER cut through the field like a knife, and eased down late, won the maiden 1000m in impressive style by a length and a half.
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Solid Performance
Durbanville 8th October: A maiden plate for 3yo’s over 1400m got proceedings underway at the country course on Wednesday and here we saw a comfortable victory for the newcomer DAVID’S DYNASTY. Allowed to drift right out to 10/1 from 9/2 at the track, Glen Kotzen’s charge raced in midfield early on. He quickened nicely at the top of the straight and won well by a length after striking the front 100m from home.
There were four races run over 1400m in total and the fastest of these was the MR84 Handicap won by EARTH’S ORBIT. Freely available at 14/1 on the off, the Captain Al mare also came from midfield. She ran on stoutly over the final 400m and in a race where only 0,55 lengths separated the first six home, she got up very late.
The faster of the two 2400m races on the card was the MR78 Handicap in which SOLID SPEED registered his second career victory from just five starts. LORD WELLINGTON and TEMPLE TIGER in turn made the early running whilst the son of Dynasty tracked his market rival ZINGZILLA in fifth. Zingzilla made the first move and did have the rest comfortably beaten after striking the front 500m out. Confidently ridden by Karl Neisius though, Solid Speed steadily edged closer and looked to win a little more easily than the official winning margin of a neck would suggest.
A MR88 Handicap over 1000m topped the bill and here a bit of an upset was to be had when one of the rank outsiders of the seven horse party WESTERN MOVIE landed the spoils. Easy to back at 13/1 on the off, Carl Burger’s charge, unusually, raced at the back early on. He was ridden to lead as they approached the 100m marker and won well by a length and a quarter from SIMPLY BLACK.
Titbits
In the rear for most of the journey, the highly regarded BALANCE SHEET made good headway to take fourth position late on and that without being given the hardest of rides.
STUDY THE STARS didn’t find the clearest of passages before running on late to fill second position in the MR66 Handicap over 1400m.
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Two From Two
Vaal 9th October: Thursday’s action took place on the sand where victory in the fastest of the three 1200m events (a maiden plate) went to the favourite RUSHING JOSH. Allowed to flirt with 6/10 at one stage after opening up at 8/10, the 3yo son of Windrush was soon up handy. He took up the running as they approached the 300m marker and easily accounted for the lightly raced pacemaker GAISCE GOLD by three.
There were also three races run over 1600m and the fastest of these was the bill topping MR88 Handicap won by AUGUSTINUS. An easy winner of his only previous start on the surface last time out, Tyrone Zackey’s charge was always handy. The eventual runner up ESTANCIA was the first to make a move and finished nine and a quarter lengths clear of the third horse after taking up the running 700m out. Augustinus always had the son of Right Approach in his sights though and won well by two and a half after he in turn put his head in front 450m from home.
The easiest victory on the card was registered by the newcomer GREEK LEGEND when winning the maiden plate over 1600m. Allowed to ease out to 4/1 from 5/2 second favourite at the track, Michael Azzie’s charge raced seventh of the eleven early on. Once given rein though he quickened well, and after hitting the front 300m out he went on to score very easily by six, despite being eased down late.
Titbits
CRYSTAL’S REVENGE ran on well from midfield when runner up to her lesser fancied stable companion in the girl’s maiden event over 1200m.
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Top speedratings for this weekend include:-
Fairview (fri)
Race 1: (1) Diamond Dynasty 17
Race 2: (11) Sleepinseattle 12
Race 3: (8) Gold Park 45
Race 4: (13) Cheeky Chanson 42
Race 5: (14) Badger’s Trail 53 (EW)
Race 6: (7) Burlaine Forest 73
Race 7: (8) Red Banner 51
Race 8: (16) Little One 33
Greyville (fri)
Race 1: (1) Dukuduku 14
Race 2: (1) Emperor Niarchos 64
Race 3: (1) Ms Brooks 18
Race 4: (9) Corresolve 14
Race 5: (1) Kingston Boy 74
Race 6: (2) Gemini Gold 53 (EW)
Race 7: (6) Teppanyaki 42
Race 8: (2) Supreme Leader 18
Race 9: (7) Kalidar 57
Turffontein (sat)
Race 1: (1) Trip Kings 21
Race 2: (7) Noble Virtue 34
Race 3: (1) Victorious Royal 32
Race 4: (1) Blackberry Wine 19
Race 5: (7) One Fine Day 57 (NAP***)
Race 6: (2) Winter Darling 52
Race 7: (14) Royal Duo 62
Race 8: (7) Zanzibar Man 71
Race 9: (3) Main Sunday 38
Durbanville (sat)
Race 1: (1) Bruno 12
Race 2: (6) Dynastic 16
Race 3: (10) Vivarani 16
Race 4: (2) Alzerra 16
Race 5: (8) Diplomatic 57
Race 6: (10) New Moon Rising 46
Race 7: (7) Baby Be Mine 69
Race 8: (10) Credibility 40
Greyville (sun)
Race 1: (4) Devon Belle 5
Race 2: (1) Candenaut 20
Race 3: (4) German Lady 73
Race 4: (6) Mucajai 21
Race 5: (1) Tenderwood 14
Race 6: (4) Gemini Gold 62
Race 7: (6) Kings Approval 42
Race 8: (2) Yesan Star 26
Race 9: (1) Royal Honeymoon 46 (NAP*)
Top rated winners last week included
Eusebius won 8/1
Kentucky Guest won 8/1
Divine Wind won 7/2
Shingle Beach won 7/2
Sharp Design won 22/10
Rushing Josh won 7/10
Admiral’s Eye won 4/10
Viva La Var won 1/4
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Notebook:-
Balance Sheet (D Kannemeyer, W-Cape)
Viva La Var (C Laird, KZN)
Zambezi River (S Tarry, Gauteng)
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FASTEST TIMES
The number of races run over each distance is shown in brackets
*Denotes – Time taken by Clockwatcher
Greyville (poly) 5th October
Going Standard
1000m (3) Viva La Var 57,61
1200m (3) Private Dancer 71,99
1400m (2) Fully Charged 83,83
1600m (2) Admiral’s Eye 97,11
Vaal (outside) 7th October
Penetrometer 21 – Going Good
1000m (3) Sacred Ground 57,08
1200m (1) Crown Of Roses 70,54
1400m (5) Due And Payable 82,58
Durbanville 8th October
Penetrometer 22 – Going Good
1000m (1) Western Movie 59,60
1400m (4) Earth’s Orbit 86,16
1600m (1) Shingle Beach 103,49
2400m (2) Solid Speed 156,28
Vaal (sand) 9th October
Going Standard
1000m (1) Eusebius 59,63
1200m (3) Rushing Josh 74,18*
1600m (3) Augustinus 100,60
1800m (1) Son Of Approval 116,81
