New Course Record
Fairview 21st July: They raced in Port Elizabeth on Monday where the faster of the two 1300m events was the maiden plate won by the well supported ANGEL OF MINE. Backed into 4/1jt 2ndfav at the track after opening up at 7’s, Yvette Bremner’s charge led throughout. She was always in command and ran out a comfortable winner by a length and three quarters.
There were also two races run over 1200m and the faster of these was the MR68 Handicap won by MIA FORZA. Easy to back at 7/1 on the off the Fastnet Rock mare also led from pillar to post. The heavily supported FERRARI DAWN chased hard throughout, but try as she might she couldn’t get closer than three quarters of a length at the wire.
Yet another to make all was FLYING GALLILEO in the maiden 1200m. Backed into favouritism at the track (3/1 into 22/10), Grant Paddock’s charge was always travelling well and won without any anxious moments by a length and a quarter. One to look out for next time from this race is the deposed favourite MULAAZEM. Detached at the rear early on, this lightly raced son of Kahal flew over the final 400m and did well to get within a length and a half of the winner at the wire.
A MR90 Handicap over 1600m topped the bill and in course record time victory here went to the 5yo INDIAN HAWK. On leaving the stalls it was BRIAR KING who elected to make the running whilst the heavily burdened (63kg) son of Black Minnaloushe sat sixth. He ran on best of all in the short home straight and in what proved to be a real thriller he got up in the dying strides to deny the equally fancied TWO GUN KID (led 300m).
Titbits
Backed into 4/1 favourite from 8’s at the track, fifth placed KONO (raced in the rear) was finishing best of all when beaten 0,9 lengths in the MR73 Handicap over 1600m.
In the rear turning for home, the 14/10 favourite HERMANUS was running on strongly late when a one length third in the MR64 Handicap over 1000m.
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Yul Love It
Vaal 22nd July: Surprisingly the faster of the two 1000m events at the Vaal’s sand track on Tuesday was the opening maiden plate won by the well supported LIZZIE’S LEGS. Backed through all rates into 33/10 from 8/1 during the morning, Dominic Zaki’s charge was soon up handy. She was ridden to lead as they approached the 200m marker and drew clear easily in the closing stages of the race to score by two and three quarters.
There were also two races run over 1200m and the faster of these was the MR72 Handicap won by BLAZING AL. Sent off a strong favourite at 12/10, the lightly raced son of Captain Al was always positioned close to the pace. He was asked to take up the running going through the 200m and kept on strongly late to beat the pacemaker WISHFUL HEART by a length and a half.
A MR91 Handicap topped the bill and in what proved to be the fastest of the three 1600m events THE KING AND I registered his third career victory. The first of two winners on the card for trainer Sean Tarry, The King And I raced fourth for most of the journey. He struck the front shortly after passing the 200m pole and although his stable companion MAURI WARRIOR ran on strongly in the closing stages of the race he did have that one well held by a length and a half at the wire.
The easiest victory on the eight race program was recorded by KING’S CONSENT in the maiden 1200m. Another to race handy the well supported 6/10 favourite made his move shortly after passing halfway and went on to score with authority after striking the front 320m or so from home.
Titbits
Many lengths adrift of the leaders turning for home, SON OF APPROVAL ran on stoutly over the final 400m and did well to get within three lengths of the winner when fifth in the MR68 Handicap over 1600m.
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Good Point
Greyville 23rd July: Two maiden juvenile plates over 1400m opened up proceedings on the poly track on Wednesday afternoon and the faster of these was the boy’s affair won by LEVEN POINT. Backed into 7/2 jt 2ndfav from 11/2 at the track, Frank Robinson’s charge was always in touch with the leaders. He took up the running going through the 200m and won well from the newcomer CASCIANO by a length and a quarter.
The faster of the two MR72 Handicaps over 1600m was the second division won by CAT IN COMMAND. Eventually sent off at 11/2 after opening up 8’s, Pat Lunn’s charge sat towards the rear during the early part of the race. He quickened well at the top of the short home straight and did well to collar the pacemaker CHILL (4 lengths clear coming off the bend) close home.
Five of the afternoon’s ten races were run over 1200m and the fastest of these was the MR72 Handicap won by the well supported SALESMAN. Backed into 33/10 second favourite from 6’s before the off, the son of Rebel King was soon up handy. He was ridden to lead as they approached the 300m marker and kept on strongly late to beat the running on ARGO’S JET by three quarters.
Titbits
MOONLIGHTBECOMESU and CASA NOSTRA (broke a bloodvessel and will now be suspended for 3 months) both quickened well late on when 1st & 4th respectively in the MR74 Handicap over 1200m.
Now unbeaten in two starts the 2yo VARACHINO impressed when winning the MR74 Handicap over 1200m.
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Top speedratings for this weekend include:-
Flamingo Park
Race 1: (2) Son Of A P 21
Race 2: (1) Wild Lord 24
Race 3: (1) Hostile Takeover 44
Race 4: (2) Diamond Tiger 20
Race 5: (9) Casey Ryder 47
Race 6: (5) Soleil Royal 53
Race 7: (4) Topostwego 34 (NAP*)
Race 8: (14) Solomons Wall 33
Race 9: (3) Like The Willow 36
Durbanville
Race 1: (12) Valerin 17
Race 2: (7) Shingle Beach 16
Race 3: (1) Midnight Magenta 8
Race 4: (3) Lets Party 9
Race 5: (5) Captain’s Orders 15 (NAP*)
Race 6: (3) Seattle Moon 49
Race 7: (9) Born To Rule 45
Race 8: (4) Beulah 46 (EW)
Scottsville
Race 1: (4) Generalissimo 16
Race 2: (11) Lily Gray 14
Race 3: (6) Mackdesi 18
Race 4: (7) Pearl Oyster Bay 18 (NAP*)
Race 5: (5) Sound Of Tigers 61
Race 6: (5) Reigning Wind 49
Race 7: (6) Flying Fellow 74
Race 8: (9) Delray Beach 48
Vaal
Race 1: (6) Olympic Bolt 5
Race 2: (1) Johnny Chestnut 31
Race 3: (3) Trip Kings 25
Race 4: (7) Rockingandrolling 29
Race 5: (2) Mauri Blue 41
Race 6: (5) Lucky Hand 42
Race 7: (8) Tobe Turf Terror 35
Race 8: (1) Shine Tiger 46
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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
Trip Tease won 5/2
Royal Colours won 18/10
Dayla won 11/10
Jet Jamboree won 1/1
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Notebook:-
Kono (G Smith, E-Cape)
Varachino (M De Kock, KZN)
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FASTEST TIMES
The number of races run over each distance is shown in brackets
*Denotes – Times taken by Clockwatcher
Fairview (poly) 21st July
Going Standard
1000m (1) Nile Symphony 57,30
1200m (2) Mia Forza 69,63
1300m (2) Angel Of Mine 75,91
1600m (2) Indian Hawk 95,10
1900m (1) Divine Invitation 115,69
Vaal (sand) 22nd July
Going Standard
1000m (2) Lizzie’s Legs 59,47
1200m (2) Blazing Al 72,50
1450m (1) Titania 92,53
1600m (3) The King And I 100,95
Greyville (poly) 23rd July
Going Standard
1200m (5) Salesman 69,80
1400m (2) Leven Point 83,73
1600m (2) Cat In Command 95,68
1800m (1) Valmont 111,02
