When You’re Smiling

Wearing The Crown

Fairview 30th May: Favourite backers got off to a good start at Friday’s turf meeting when NIGHTSIDE did the business in the opening maiden plate over 1600m. Mike Bass’ charge raced at the back, but with no real pace on early he was always close enough to strike. He did so going through the 200m and kept on strongly late to beat the well supported outsider ALPHA MALE by a length and a quarter.
Three of the afternoon’s eight races were run over 1200m and the fastest of these was the MR86 Handicap won by INTIMATE TOUCH. She got away well when the gates opened and soon up handy raced prominent throughout. She was ridden to lead as they approached the 200m marker and just had enough in hand to beat the running on LA PATINEUSE (came from the rear) by a half.
The easiest victory on the card was recorded by AUGUSTA NATIONAL in the conditions plate over 1800m. Nicely positioned in fifth as the twelve runners turned for home, Augusta National took up the running going through the 100m and drew clear easily below the distance to score by three.
The listed Glenlair Trophy over 3200m topped the bill and here victory went to the former Cape Town campaigner CROWN OF GOLD. On leaving the stalls it was the 8yo VITAL MATCH who elected to make the running whilst Tara Laing’s charge was content to sit in midfield. He quickened well down the long home straight and with the rest well beaten he held off a determined challenge from the heavily burdened PADDY O’REILLY (64kg).
Titbits
CAPE SISKIN and MONEY FOR LOVE both ran on well from off the pace when 1st & 2nd respectively in the MR80 Handicap over 1200m.

.

Top Class Racing

Greyville 31st May: The first of the three feature events to be run at Greyville on Saturday afternoon was the Gr3 Lonsdale Stirrup Cup run over 2400m and here victory went to the 4yo son of Mogok WILD ONE. Now with Mike De Kock, Wild One was always handy. He ran on stoutly in the short home straight and in a race where only three quarters of a length separated the first five home, he got the verdict by a whisker over GOTHIC.
The Gr1 Woolavington for 3yo fillies over 2000m was next up and here we saw a comfortable victory for the Gr1 Cape Fillies Guineas winner IN THE FAST LANE. Sent off a well-supported favourite at 5/2, Justin Snaith’s charge was soon positioned close to the speed. She took up the running as they approached the 300m marker and after quickly skipping clear she comfortably accounted for the running on Gr1 SA Fillies Classic winner ATHINA by a length and a quarter.
The Gr1 Daily News 2000 topped the bill and here the stable of Justin Snaith were again on the mark when LEGISLATE registered his fourth career victory from just ten starts. Positioned in the rear early on, the son of Dynasty ran on stoutly at the business end of the race and just got the verdict over RAKE’S CHESTNUT by a short head. Running on from midfield, Rake’s Chestnut was hampered 250m out and was finishing best of all late on. The Triple Crown winner LOUIS THE KING also raced in the rear and ran on well.
Race two on the card was a maiden juvenile plate over 1400m and here we saw a very impressive performance from the newcomer AFRIKABURN. Dean Kannemeyer’s charge lost three lengths at the start and as a result of that he very quickly found himself positioned in the rear. Once in the straight though he ran on stoutly and without ever having to engage the upper gears, he got up late to beat PIONEER SPIRIT by a length.
Titbits
PRINCESS CHLOE won the girls’ division of the maiden juvenile plate over 1400m with some in hand by three.
Poorly drawn LERTASHA came from the back when winning the MR80 Handicap over 1600m.

.

Still On Target

Kenilworth 31st May: One of the smartest performances in Cape Town on Saturday was that of JET SET GO in the girl’s division of the maiden juvenile plate over 1000m. Sent off a clear second favourite in the betting market at 7/2, the Vaughan Marshall trained newcomer was always in touch with the leaders. She was ridden to lead shortly after passing the 200m marker and won going away by three and a half.
Another to win very cosily in the maiden ranks on this card was the 3yo SARTORIUS in the workrider’s 1200m event. Soon up handy, the son of Fort Wood was always poised to strike. He did so going through the 200m and drew clear easily in the closing stages of the race to score by three and a half.
The second leg of the winter series the Gr3 Winter Classic over 1800m topped the bill and here the first leg winner POWER KING kept himself in line for the bonus with a comfortable victory. Backed throughout the day into 11/20 from 9/10, Dean Kannemeyer’s charge raced in midfield for most of the journey. Confidently ridden by Karl Neisius, Power King quickened nicely when asked for his effort and looked to score a little more easily than the length and a half winning margin would suggest.
Titbits
CIGAR BOY ran on well from midfield when getting up in the very last stride to win the graduation plate over 1400m.
ACROSTAR was gaining quickly at the finish when only beaten a neck in the listed Stormsvlei Mile.

.

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