Ready To Be Crowned

Smart Double

Clairwood 15th June: The Dean Kannemeyer trained AFRIKABURN had impressed when winning his only previous start and so it was no surprise to see him sent off favourite to win the competitive looking juvenile plate over 1200m. Allowed to ease out to 14/10 from even money at the track, the son of Trippi wasn’t the quickest into stride and as a result he raced in the rear early on. Once into stride though he quickened nicely, and went on to win well by a length after striking the front close home. One to follow.
There were three races run over 1200m on the afternoon in total, the fastest of which was the MR97 Handicap won by MIDNIGHT RUN. He got away well when the gates opened and soon up handy raced prominent throughout. He was ridden to lead as they approached the 400m marker and kept on strongly in the closing stages of the race to beat MUSCATT by two.
There were also three races run over 2500m and the fastest of these was the Gr2 Betting World Stakes won by the heavily supported favourite HOT TICKET. Backed into 17/20 from 16/10 at the track, Dean Kannemeyer’s charge adopted a change of tactics here and raced close up in fourth. He was always travelling well and under a visibly confident ride from Karl Neisius he won with authority by three and three quarters.
Also worthy of note on this card was the performance of KAPITAN in winning the maiden 1000m. Always top of the boards, the son of Captain Al raced handy. He took up the running going through the 200m and cruised clear in the closing stages of the race to score by four and a half.
Titbits
SHINGWEDZI didn’t find the clearest of passages when running on from the rear to fill third position in the Gr2 Betting World Oaks over 2500m.
Detached at the rear early on, PHONETIC did well to get up late when winning the MR68 Handicap over 1500m.

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Popping The Cork

Kenilworth 16th June: A pinnacle stakes topped the bill on Monday and in what proved to be the faster of the two 1400m events we saw another powerful front running performance from BLARNEY BAY. Soon at the head of affairs, the son of Nysaean had the field well strung out as they came off the bend. Indeed, the eventual runner up ASHTON PARK racing in sixth, was easily twelve lengths adrift. Ashton Park ran on stoutly at business end of the race and did well to get within three lengths. The early advantage gained by Blarney Bay though enabled him to make it 4 wins from his last five outings without any anxious moments.
Another to win with authority on this card was ARNISTON in the maiden juvenile plate over 1800m. Soon positioned close up in second, in what was also a very strung out field, the son of Dynasty was always poised to strike. He did so shortly after passing the 300m marker and went on to score very cosily by two and three quarters.
At the other end of the scale the narrowest winning margin on the card was that of AROMATICS in the maiden juvenile plate over 1000m. Taken straight to the front by apprentice Xavier Carstens, the daughter of Albert Hall led throughout. She held a two lengths advantage for most of the journey and going through the 200m it looked as if she would go on to score quite comfortably. The friendless newcomer WINTER RESERVE (5/1 out to 12/10) ran on stoutly below the distance though and only failed to get up by a short head.
Titbits
FIRST OF MAY won the maiden juvenile plate over 1600m with some in hand.
After switching out for a run 250m from home, the friendless newcomer EVIL WOMAN (3/1 out to 8/1) ran on stoutly in the closing stages of the maiden 1200m and was only beaten a neck.

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Easy Victories

Vaal 17th June: There were a number of very easy victories at the inside track on Tuesday and none more so than that of PHENOMENAL in the fastest of the three 1400m events, a MR88 Handicap. Setting off as if possessed, Dominic Zaki’s charge was very quickly five lengths clear. The always chasing FLAG OF FRANCE did manage to make some headway late on, but the daughter of Windrush still had three and a quarter lengths to spare at the wire.
Another to win with authority on this card was MAX THE MAN when completing a quick double in the MR70 Handicap over 1400m. Freely available at 33/1 on the off (op 14’s), the topweight sat in midfield for most of the journey. He made his move going through the 600m and drew clear easily after striking the front 200m out.
Three and three quarter lengths was also the winning margin of DANCING CLUB in the maiden 2400m. Sent off a rather uneasy joint favourite at 28/10, Terry Lowe’s charge was always handy. He was asked to take up the running 200m out and won going away.
Titbits
Lightly raced FIRE HORSE made all when comfortably accounting for the strongly fancied Unparalleled in the maiden 1200m.

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Hat-trick for Keagan

Scottsville 18th June: The best bet on the card for most in Pietermaritzburg on Wednesday was ANJAAL in the maiden juvenile plate over 1600m. It was by means as easy as one might have expected though. Soon nicely positioned in second the son of Lonhro took up the running 500m out. The 66/1 pacemaker SUN ON AFRICA fought on doggedly once headed though, and Anjaal had to work all the way to the wire in order to secure a two length victory. Interestingly, this race was run faster than the MR78 Handicap won by RAMP DIVA.
Much easier a winner in the maiden ranks was Anjaal’s stable companion KILEIGH in the girl’s division of the maiden juvenile 1600m. Taken straight to the front by Keagan De Melo (3 winners on the afternoon) the lightly raced daughter of Go Deputy led throughout. She was always in command and won without any anxious moments by three and three quarters.
The easiest victory on the card was recorded by FRIAR TUCK in the fastest of the four 1400m events, a MR74 Handicap. The only runner not in the pens when the gates opened and a false start was declared, Mark Dixon’s charge broke well from a wide draw when the race got underway for real and made all. He was two lengths clear coming off the bend and cruised clear in the straight to score by five and a quarter.
Titbits
GOLDEN ARM ran on well from the backend of midfield when runner up in the maiden plate over 1400m.

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Top speedratings for this weekend include:-

Top rated winners last week included

Wren won 9/2
Warcraft won 33/10
Trip Tease won 5/2
First Of May won 22/10
Waltraut won 18/10
Jet Jamboree won 11/10
Hot Ticket won 17/20
Anjaal won 5/10

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Notebook:-

Afrikaburn (D Kannemeyer, KZN)
Hot Ticket (D Kannemeyer, KZN)

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FASTEST TIMES

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

Clairwood 15th June
Penetrometer 21 – Going Good
1000m (2) Kapitan                  56,78*
1200m (3) Midnight Run       68,34
1450m (1) Chestnut’s Rocket 84,92
1500m (1) Phonetic                  93,50
2500m (3) Hot Ticket             153,80

Kenilworth (old) 16th June
Penetrometer 32 – Going Heavy
1000m (3) Louisville Legend   61,02
1200m (1) African Showers      75,72
1400m (2) Blarney Bay             88,87
1600m (2) Arniston                  103,31
2400m (1) Barossa Valley       158,63

Vaal (inside) 17th June
Penetrometer 20 – Going Good
1000m (1) Danielle                 58,50
1200m (2) Fire Horse            70,75
1400m (3) Phenomenal        82,30
1700m (1) Aaron’s Element 104,87
2000m (2) Commodore Al  123,25
2400m (1) Dancing Club     152,18

Scottsville (new) 18th June
Penetrometer 23 – Going Good
1100m (1) Triad Of Fortune 65,62
1400m (4) Friar Tuck            85,12
1600m (3) Anjaal                   98,62
1950m (1) Mercurial Brave 121,62