Generous Price
Vaal 24th July: They raced on the inside track on Thursday where victory in the opening workrider’s maiden event over 1200m went to the 3yo CHOCOLATE ECLAIR. Sent off third in the betting market at 7/2, Stephen Moffatt’s charge was always handy. She was ridden to lead as they approached the 200m marker and comfortably accounted for the Mike De Kock trained newcomer MAAYAAT (5/2 fav) by two and a quarter.
There were four races run over 1200m in total and the fastest of these was the girl’s division of the maiden juvenile plate won by the newcomer RIVERINE FOREST. Allowed to drift right out to 25/1 (op 10/1) at the track, despite being ridden by the champion jockey elect S’manga Khumalo, Riverine Forest lost two lengths at start. She quickly made up the lost ground though and going through the 400m was nicely positioned in fourth. She struck the front 220m out and cruised clear in the closing stages of the race to score by three and three quarters. One to follow.
The easiest victory on the nine race program was undoubtedly that of SHEPHERDS WARNING when opening his account in the maiden 1600m. Despite losing two lengths at the start TOUGHNUTTOCRACK made the early running whilst Geoff Woodruff’s charge raced close up third. He put in his head in front passing the 500m pole and drew clear easily at the business end of the race to score by six and a half.
Another to win with authority on this card was the 3yo LEEULOOP JET in the bill topping MR85 Handicap over 1700m. Allowed to flirt with 17/10 (sent off at 2/1) at one stage after opening up at 28/10, the son of Lion Tamer raced second in what soon became a very strung out field. He moved up to tackle the pacemaker LAVENDER LANDSCAPE 150m out and with the remainder still five lengths adrift of that one at the wire, he went on to win very cosily by three and a quarter.
Titbits
DEVIOUS TIGER didn’t find the clearest of passages when running on from the backend of midfield to win the boy’s division of the maiden 1200m.
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Justin Time
Fairview 25th July: A maiden juvenile plate over 1200m got proceedings underway in Port Elizabeth on Friday and in a race where the national champion trainer elect Justin Snaith saddled the 1st , 2nd & 4th victory went to KENT ROCK. Allowed to ease out to 10/1 from 7’s at the track, the son of Right Approach was always handy. He ran on stoutly over the final 400m and in a blanket finish he got the verdict by a neck.
There were four races run over 1200m in total and the fastest of these was the MR91 Handicap won by STORMY RIDGE. Freely available at 12/1 on the off, Alan Greeff’s charge was soon positioned close to the speed. He took up the running at the 200m marker and kept on strongly in the closing stages of the race to beat the rank outsider of the eleven horse party SEDGE by a neck.
Not surprisingly the faster of the two 1600m events was the bill topping non-black type Wedgewood Handicap won by IRISH MYTH. Sent off a well supported favourite at 11/10 (op 18/10), Justin Snaith’s charge raced in the backend of midfield for most of the journey. He made up the ground quickly after switching out for a run 400m out and won going away by a half after striking the front 100m from home.
Also worthy of note on this card was the performance of RED GUARD in winning the maiden plate over 1000m. Yet another winner from the stable of Justin Snaith Red Guard was soon up handy. He ran on strongly over the final 400m and in what could prove to be quite a strong maiden locally, he comfortably accounted for the favourite DESTINY DRIVEN by a length and a quarter.
Titbits
UP AND RUNNING ran on strongly from the rear when getting up in the very last stride to win the MR72 Handicap over 1200m.
Third beaten two lengths in the MR60 Handicap over 1600m, SYLVIE didn’t find the clearest of passages en-route from the backend of midfield.
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One For The Future
Greyville 26th July: Heading up the four Gr1 events in Natal on Saturday was the Gold Cup run over 1600m. The recent Gr2 Gold Vase winner HOT TICKET was sent off favourite, but it was the horse whom he beat by a neck in that race WAVIN’ FLAG who was to land the spoils here. Better off at the weights by half a kilogram here, Brett Crawford’s charge raced in midfield for most of the journey. He was ridden to lead 100m out under a well judged ride from Glen Hatt, and won well by a half from WILD ONE.
The combination of Brett Crawford and Glen Hatt was also on the mark in the Gr1 Champions Cup over 1800m when the very highly regarded FUTURA showed his mettle. Nicely positioned in fifth as the sixteen runners turned for home, the son of Dynasty was always poised to strike. He did so shortly after passing the 200m pole and with some in hand he comfortably accounted for the running on KING OF PAIN (cramped 1500m) by a length and three quarters.
The faster of the two 1600m Gr1 events for the juveniles was the Premiers Champion Stakes won by HARRY’S SON. Sent off third in the betting market at 6/1 Paul Lafferty’s charge raced in midfield during the early part of the race. He made his move early in the short home straight and just held on by a neck after striking the front 150m out. 2nd & 3rd respectively JAYYED (lost 3 lengths) and MLJET (hampered twice) both ran on very well from the rear.
The juvenile girls contested the Gr1 Thekwini Stakes and in what proved to be a real thriller victory here went to the lightly raced SAME JURISDICTION. Always handy the daughter of Mambo In Seattle only got the verdict after a classic tussle with the Gr1 SA Nursery winner CARRY ON ALICE by the narrowest of margins. Sadly for connections Same Jurisdiction broke a bloodvessel in running here and will now be suspended for three months.
Titbits
IMPERIAL FABERGE showed a very nice turn of foot when getting up in the very last stride to win the MR84 Handicap over 1000m.
After running on from midfield NIGHT TRIP cruised clear after striking the front 170m from home and won the listed Darley Arabian (effectively a handicap) over 1600m going away by three.
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Five In Mind
Turffontein 27th July: Sunday’s action took place on the inside track where the easiest victory on the card was recorded by ALL IN THE MIND in the fastest of the six 1450m events on the eight race program, a MR86 Handicap. Nicely positioned in second as they came off the strip, the Var mare made her move going through the 400m and drew clear easily in the closing stages of the race to score by three and a half.
Another to win with authority on this card was RIGHT SITE in the maiden event over 2200m. Confidently ridden by Gavin Lerena, the 3yo daughter of Ashaawes raced in midfield for most of the journey. She ran on stoutly in the home straight and despite being reported as coughing, she won well by three after striking the front 200m from home.
Race four on the card was a maiden plate for the girls over 1450m and here we saw a comfortable victory for the easy to back A PROPOS. Freely available at 16/1 on the off, Leon Erasmus’ charge made all. She was always in command and ran out a comfortable winner by two and a quarter.
Titbits
After taking a bump at the start TAIWAN TREASURE ran on well from the rear when third in the maiden juvenile plate over 1450m.
MAIN SUNDAY also finished well from the rear when third in the MR69 Handicap over 1450m.
Running on from the rear INDIRA was gaining at the finish when only beaten a neck in the MR86 Handicap over 1000m.
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Top speedratings for this weekend include:-
Fairview
Race 1: (6) Jolene 11
Race 2: (1) Chellvan Abbey 3
Race 3: (9) Win Over 20
Race 4: (6) Captain Rei 51
Race 5: (9) Gouldikova 62
Race 6: (3) Desert Swirl 55
Race 7: (11) Silverano 84
Race 8: (13) Ming Warrior 42
Race 9: (5) Commanche Moon 52
Clairwood
Race 1: (1) Jay Boy 17
Race 2: (2) She’s A Stunner 5
Race 3: (8) Threshold 36
Race 4: (7) Magical Dynasty 22
Race 5: (10) Redsailinthesunset 62
Race 6: (4) Coco Love 11
Race 7: (11) Hyaku 31 (NAP*)
Race 8: (8) Golden Dynasty 43
Race 9: (9) Cheshire Cat 44
Race 10: (7) Flying Loot 28
Flamingo Park
Race 1: (4) National Al 14
Race 2: (6) Sun Silk Star 17
Race 3: (3) Gypsy Fair 39
Race 4: (1) Wild Lord 24
Race 5: (5) Karlo 62
Race 6: (4) Boy Oh Boy 67
Race 7: (2) Sugar And Shake 56
Race 8: (3) Here I Am 42
Race 9: (3) Erotic Pulse 48
Turffontein
Race 1: (2) Royal Quest 5
Race 2: (2) Luca Delago 21
Race 3: (3) The Fifth Day 7 (NAP*)
Race 4: (8) Augustinus 65
Race 5: (11) Sammy Silver 46
Race 6: (2) De Var Hyt 74
Race 7: (1) Crown Gold 50
Race 8: (18) White Whisper 45
Kenilworth
Race 1: (3) Sister Act 21
Race 2: (8) Double Whammy 15
Race 3: (9) Liquid Mercury 5
Race 4: (4) Waterways 19
Race 5: (3) Caseys Raine 14
Race 6: (3) Ashton Park 67
Race 7: (10) Scarlet Witch 49
Race 8: (1) Jet Supreme 74
Race 9: (1) Cap Alright 83
Race 10: (4) Wise Choice 43
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Top rated winners last week included
Danilo Gallinari won 14/1
Distiller won 13/1
Emblem Royale won 7/1
Land Of Meadows won 7/1
Harry’s Son won 6/1
Jet Belle won 9/2
Royal Colours won 18/10
Fah Fee won 9/10
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Notebook:-
Futura (B Crawford, KZN)
Jayyed (M De Kock, KZN)
Mljet (V Marshall, KZN)
Riverine Forest (M Azzie, Gauteng)
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FASTEST TIMES
The number of races run over each distance is shown in brackets
*Denotes – Times taken by Clockwatcher
T = Turf
P = Poly
Vaal (inside) 24th July
Penetrometer 20 – Going Good
1000m (1) Silvan Gold 59,11
1200m (4) Riverine Forest 71,98
1600m (1) Shepherds Warning 97,23
1700m (2) Leeuloop Jet 103,70
2400m (1) Augustinus 151,07
Fairview (turf) 25th July
Penetrometer 23 – Going Good
1000m (1) Red Guard 58,93
1200m (4) Stormy Ridge 69,95
1600m (2) Irish Myth 100,32
2400m (1) La Salle 157,76
Greyville (turf) 26th July
Turf (3-10) Good. Poly (1,2,11,12) Standard
1000m (1) Imperial Faberge 57,25P
1000m (1) Schiffer 57,60T
1400m (1) Waltzed Home 82,86
1600m (2) Harry’s Son 95,17T
1600m (2) Night Trip 94,10P
1800m (1) Futura 107,38
1900m (1) Sun On Africa 118,43
2000m (1) Jet Belle 124,93
2400m (1) Innate Quality 148,05
3200m (1) Wavin’ Flag 204,22
Turffontein (inner) 27th July
Penetrometer 21 – Going Good
1000m (1) Weekend Special 58,27
1450m (6) All In The Mind 90,19*
2200m (1) Right Site 146,67
