Only The Good

Act Of Promise

Kenilworth 8th May: The Gr3 Langerman for 2yo’s over 1500m topped the bill on the old course on Sunday and here we saw a smart performance from the Dynasty colt ACT OF WAR. One of four runners from the stable of Joey Ramsden in the six horse field, the well supported Act Of War (3/1 into 22/10 2ndfav) raced very close to the pace in second. He was ridden to lead shortly after passing the 400m marker and went on to win well by two and three quarters. The favourite KINGVOLDT (3/10 out to 5/10), a stable companion to the winner, raced handy, but failed to kick on when the pace quickened 400m out.
The 2yo fillies contested the listed Irridescence Stakes over 1500m and in a time 1,37 seconds slower than that of Act Of War victory here went to the Gr3 Fillies Nursery runner up RED DISA. On leaving the stalls it was IN LIMINE who elected to make the running whilst the Captain Al filly raced second. She was always travelling well and with the rest some six lengths adrift she asserted her authority over In Limine 120m from home and won going away by two and a quarter.
A maiden juvenile plate over 1000m had gotten proceedings underway and here we saw a very nice performance from the newcomer ASSTAR. He got away well when the gates opened and taken straight to the front by Gareth Wright led throughout. He was always in command and only having to be pushed out with hands and heels at the business end of the race, he won well by four and a quarter.
Titbits
The newcomer POWER TO PLEASE ran on well from midfield when runner up in the maiden plate over 1200m.
DARING DAVE only had to be pushed out when winning the MR93 Handicap over 1000m with some in hand.

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Four From Five

Flamingo Park 9th May: The easiest victory at Flamingo Park on Monday was recorded by KATANGA when registering her second career win in the MR72 Handicap over 1800m. Positioned in the backend of midfield early on, the Requiem mare looked to have more than enough to do turning for home. Once in the straight though she quickened well and won going away by five and a half after striking the front 250m out.
Another to win with authority on this card was MERCILESS in the maiden 2200m. There was no real pace for most of the journey and entering the home straight just three and a half lengths covered all five of them. He quickened best of all when the race developed into a sprint and went on to score very easily by four and a quarter.
A pinnacle stakes topped the bill and in what proved to be the faster of the two 1600m events on the card victory here went to the 5yo STONE REEVES. Freely available at 6/1 on the off, the son of Right Approach raced in midfield early on. He put his head in front approaching the 200m pole and at that stage of the race it looked as if he might go on to score easily. The pacemaker ACES HIGH rallied gamely once headed though and with QUICK GLANCE running on stoutly at the finish, only a short head separated all three at the wire. Stone Reeves has now won four of his last five starts.
Titbits
The well supported second favourite COOL KID won the maiden juvenile plate over 1200m going away by a length and a half.

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Formula One

Vaal 10th May: Favourite backers got off to a nice start at Tuesday’s sand meeting when LAVENDER GIRL did the business in the opening maiden juvenile plate over 1000m. Taken straight to the front by Hennie Greyling, the lightly raced daughter of St Petersburg led throughout. She kept on strongly at the business end of the race and with the rest well beaten she comfortably accounted for the running on BY JOVE by three quarters of a length.
Three of the afternoon’s eight races were run over 1200m and the fastest of these was the MR80 Handicap won by SOLE MIO. Eventually sent off second in the betting market after opening up at 5/1, Mike De Kock’s charge ran on strongly at the business end of the race and comfortably accounted for the 13/2 shot SHEPHERD’S SONG by two and a quarter.
The most impressive performance on the card though was undoubtedly that of NIGEL MANSELL in winning the MR80 Handicap over 1600m. Trying the sand for the first time here, the 3yo son of Elusive Quality was soon positioned close to the speed. He was asked to take up the running at the halfway mark and cruised clear to score by fourteen.
Titbits
KING’S CONSORT ran on well from the rear when runner up in the maiden plate over 1000m.
After leading narrowly by a neck for most of the journey, RUN FOR REVELRY quickened clear nicely late on when winning the maiden 1450m going away by four and a quarter.

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New Poly Track

Greyville 11th May: Favourite backers got off to a good start at the first meeting to take place on Greyville’s new poly track on Wednesday when ILANGA did the business in the opening maiden juvenile plate over 1000m. A five and three quarter length third to the subsequent Gr1 Tsogo Sun Medallion winner GUINESS in his only previous outing, the son of Muhtafal sat fifth early on. He began to take closer order early in the straight and won well by a length and a half after striking the front 130m or so from home.
There were three races run over 1000m in total and the fastest of these was the MR84 Handicap won by CHARLIE TRIMBLE. Easy to back at 20/1 at the off, Doug Campbell’s charge led throughout. He was always two and a half lengths clear and won without any anxious moments.
Trainer Doug Campbell saddled three winners in total on the afternoon and amongst them was APPLE PIE in the fastest of the three 1400m events, a MR71 Handicap. Positioned in seventh as the nine runners turned for home, the tasty sounding son of Miesque’s Approval quickened well at the top of the straight and won going away by three and a quarter.
Titbits
APPLE ‘n SPICE ran on very well from the rear when getting up late to win the slowly run MR77 Handicap over 1400m.
KEPT SECRET (raced wide on the bend) ran on strongly from the back when third in the maiden 1200m.

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Lazer Speed

Vaal 12th May: Thursday’s action took place on the inside track where marginally the fastest of the four 1200m races on the nine card program was the MR92 Handicap won by DENNIS THE MENACE. Despite being a little troublesome at the start the 5yo was soon up handy. He was ridden to lead going through the 200m and easily accounted for LOST ISLAND by two and three quarters.
Run in a time just 0,07 seconds slower than the now 8 time winner Dennis The Menace was the maiden plate won by the newcomer LAZER STAR. Nibbled at throughout the morning into 9/2 from 12/1, the daughter of Toreador was soon positioned up with the speed. She only had to be pushed out in order to assert her authority from the halfway mark and won very easily by five and a half.
There were also four races run over 1700m and the fastest of these was the MR68 Handicap won by MISS K. On leaving the stalls it was the limited BRAINSTORM who elected to make the running whilst Louis Goosen’s charge was content to sit in midfield. She quickened well down the long Vaal straight and although AFRICA’S SPLENDOUR also finished strongly from off the pace, she did have that one well held by a length and a quarter at the wire.
Titbits
Beaten just a length and a half in the MR80 Handicap over 1400m, fifth placed HILLBROW was visibly full of running when badly baulked for a run 200m out.

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Top speedratings for this weekend include:-

Top rated winners last week included

Notebook:-

FASTEST TIMES

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

Kenilworth (old) 8th June
Penetrometer 28 – Going Soft
1000m (2) Daring Dave 58,46
1200m (2) Muskets ‘n Roses 73,90
1500m (2) Act Of War 94,86
1600m (2) Sundari 103,51
1800m (1) Soft Snow 116,90

Flamingo Park 9th June
Going Standard
1000m (2) Fly Me High 59,25
1200m (1) Cool Kid 74,31
1400m (2) Tobe Heather 86,63
1600m (2) Stone Reeves 100,40
1800m (1) Katanga 114,10
2200m (1) Merciless 155,04

Vaal (sand) 10th June
Going
1000m (3) Katch 58,21
1200m (3) Sole Mio 72,67
1450m (1) Run For Revelry 91,05
1600m (1) Nigel Mansell 99,68

Greyville (poly) 11th June
Going
1000m (3) Charlie Trimble 58,71
1200m (2) Platinum Coast 72,50
1400m (3) Apple Pie 83,26
1900m (1) Wimoweh 117,56

Vaal (inside) 12th June
Penetrometer
1200m (4) Dennis The Menace 69,07
1400m (1) Radio Waves 81,96
1700m (4) Miss K 103,12