Powerful Emperor
Scottsville 13th August: Four of the eight races in Pietermaritzburg on Wednesday were run over 1200m and the fastest of these was the MR66 Apprentice Handicap won by HENRY THE FOURTH. Sent off a marginal favourite (9/2) in what was a very open betting market, Duncan Howells’ charge wasn’t the quickest into stride. Well within striking distance as the twelve runners turned for home though, the son of Miesque’s Approval ran on stoutly in the straight and in a thrilling three way finish, he got the verdict by a neck.
The faster of the two 1400m events was the bill topping MR90 Handicap in which EMPEROR NIARCHOS caused an upset. Racing for the first time since changing stables, the unfancied 4yo raced in the rear for most of the journey. He ran on best of all in the short home straight and under a well-judged ride from Brandon Lerena he comfortably accounted for PYROTECHNICS (also came from the rear) by a length.
The easiest victory on the card was recorded by the newcomer KOSAVA in the second division of the girls’ maiden 1200m. Freely available at 11/2 on the off, Mike De Kock’s charge was soon up handy. She was ridden to lead shortly after passing the 200m marker and cruised clear in the closing stages of the race to beat PEARL EMBLEM by four and a half.
Titbits
The Mike De Kock trained newcomer MARIA THERESA ran out a very comfortable winner on debut in the first division of the girl’s maiden 1200m.
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Team Tarry 100%
Vaal 14th August: Thursday’s action took place on the sand where fastest against the clock in the three 1200m events was SAMOGAN when completing a hat-trick in the MR90 Handicap. Backed into favouritism during the morning (28/10 into 15/10) Sean Tarry’s charge was allowed a very healthy three lengths lead for most of the trip. The veteran VULCAN ran on stoutly from midfield over the final 400m though and it was only by a neck that the Flying Spur gelding got the verdict. Running on best of all in this race was STAVINSKY. Leon Erasmus’ charge came from the rear and was only beaten a length.
There were also three races run over 1450m and the fastest of these on my clock was the bill topping conditions plate won by Samogan’s stable companion LADY OF KILDARE. Carrying just 49,5kg taking into account the apprentice allowance claimed by Ryan Munger, the daughter of Captain Al made all. She kept on strongly at the business end of the race and just had enough in hand to beat the running on favourite (28/10 into 16/10) NEGEV by a neck.
At the other end of the scale the easiest victory on the card was recorded by FACEBOOK in the MR68 Handicap over 1600m. Allowed to ease a little in the betting market out to 9/2 from 7/2, Stuart Pettigrew’s charge was soon very nicely positioned in second. He picked off the pacemaker ALL THE BIDS with ease as they approached the 200m marker and went on to score with authority by five and a quarter.
Titbits
The three runners from the stable of Sean Tarry at this meeting all won. The first of them WAR TRAIL (came from midfield) won the opening maiden plate over 1000m going away.
The time of 88,85 disseminated for the 1450m maiden plate won by NKOMO was clearly wrong. I made it 93,90 (checked twice).
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Flying Start
Fairview 15th August: They raced on the poly track on Friday where victory in the opening maiden event over 1200m went to the well-supported SAY HI. Allowed to flirt with 22/10 at one stage after opening up at 33/10, Gavin Smith’s charge made all. She led by just three quarters of a length turning for home and finding extra all the way to the wire she held off the running on favourite KOLDONA. The runner up (always handy) only really got going after switching out for a run and finished best of all.
The faster of the two 1000m races on the card was the graduation plate won by DISTILLER. Always top of the boards, the 4yo daughter of Mogok was soon up handy. She was ridden to lead shortly after passing the 200m marker and comfortably accounted for the well supported outsider KIWI ISLAND (25/1 into 10/1) by two and a quarter.
Three of the afternoon’s eight races were run over 1600m and the fastest of these was the bill topping MR89 Handicap won by LORD BADGER. On leaving the stalls it was STONE PINE who elected to make the running whilst Alan Greeff’s charge raced well within striking distance in fifth. He ran on nicely in the short home straight and won well by a length and a quarter from the easy to back SWEDISH KING.
Titbits
FROSTED FLAKES (midfield) and RAVISHING JEWEL (rear) both ran on well from off the pace when first and second respectively in the maiden 1600m.
BRIDE’S DOWRY ran on well from the rear when third in the MR68 Handicap over 1900m.
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Power Returns
Turffontein 16th August: The inside track was used on Saturday where the easiest victory on the card was recorded by MAAYAAT in the MR68 Handicap over 1600m. Allowed to ease in the betting market although still retaining her position at the top of the boards, Mike De Kock’s charge (22/10 out to 28/10), wasn’t the quickest into stride. She was in touch as the thirteen runners came off the strip though, and after cutting through the field like a knife in the straight she cruised clear over the final 200m to score by five and a half.
There were five races run over 1600m in total and the fastest of these was the MR96 Handicap won by BROOKS-CLUB. Sent off a rather uneasy second favourite at 4/1, the 6yo Strike Smartly gelding sat at the back of the six for most of the journey. Once in the straight though he quickened best of all and under a well-judged ride from Piere Strydom he comfortably accounted for the year younger ANTARCTIC CALL by two and a quarter.
The other four races were all run over 1200m and fastest against the clock here was another 6yo gelding DELIVER THE POWER. Racing for just the third time in 2014, Dominic Zaki’s charge was soon very nicely positioned in second. He assumed command going through the 200m and although the pacemaker ALCANINA kept on determinedly once headed he won very cosily by two.
Titbits
SOCIAL MEDIA ran on well from midfield when winning the maiden plate over 1200m by a length and a quarter.
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Cold As Ice
Kenilworth 16th August: The going was once again very soft in Cape Town on Saturday where we saw an impressive performance in the opening maiden plate for 3yo’s from the aptly named COLD AS ICE. Taken straight to the front by Bernard Fayd’Herbe, the daughter of Western Winter led throughout. She began to assert her authority going through the 300m and cruised clear in the closing stages of the race to score by five and three quarters.
Another to win with authority in the maiden ranks on this card was the favourite MY WORLD in the 2400m event. On leaving the stalls it was the joint second favourite CAPTAIN ROMANOV who elected to make the running whilst Stan Elley’s charge was always poised to strike in second. Captain Romanov kept on strongly down the short old course straight and did have the remainder some fourteen lengths adrift. My World steadily wore him down at the business end of the race though and won very cosily by two after striking the front 50m or so from home.
Three of the afternoon’s eight races were run over 1600m and the fastest of these was the bill topping MR86 Handicap won by TOBE’S FIRST. Nibbled at on course into 8/1 from 12’s, Mike Bass’ charge raced sixth of the eight for most of the journey. He quickened well in the straight and in a thrilling three way finish he only got the verdict by a short head.
Titbits
Always handy, HARVARD CRIMSON won the MR76 Handicap over 1200m going away by a length and a quarter.
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Top speedratings for this weekend include:-
Fairview
Race 1: (4) Promising 23
Race 2: (5) Munaaseb 10
Race 3: (2) Aspen Winter 14
Race 4: (1) Western Wonder 28
Race 5: (13) Can-Can Inn 47
Race 6: (4) Marry Me Mullins 53
Race 7: (16) Sunset Girl 41
Race 8: (8) Bashir 43
Turffontein
Race 1: (11) Hyaku 17 (NAP*)
Race 2: (2) Gold Cup Girl 24
Race 3: (1) Weaponology 14
Race 4: (1) Miss Rambo 12
Race 5: (13) African Knight 54
Race 6: (12) Golden Guinea 40
Race 7: (4) Soleil Royal 42
Race 8: (9) Antarctic Call 66
Race 9: (11) Empire Of Fire 45
Kenilworth
Race 1: (3) Say So Tiger 8
Race 2: (1) Shakespear’s Lady 16
Race 3: (7) Castle 15
Race 4: (7) Shingle Beach 24
Race 5: (8) Zakuska 36 (NAP*)
Race 6: (5) Big Cat 76
Race 7: (1) Cap Alright 78
Race 8: (4) Roaring Wind 43
Greyville
Race 1: (7) Marcheline 24 (NAP*)
Race 2: (1) National Approval 14
Race 3: (1) Yesan Star 22
Race 4: (9) Chill 75
Race 5: (4) Auto Pilot 38
Race 6: (1) The Helmsman 42
Race 7: (11) Lemonade River 56
Race 8: (8) Strong Blonde 33
Race 9: (2) Winter Glory 36
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Top rated winners last week included
Magical Dynasty won 10/1
Moonlight Runner won 8/1
Sun Silk Star won 5/1
Future Leader won 22/10
My World won 2/1
Tell My Star won 12/10
Grey Light won 8/10
Cold As Ice won 1/3
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Notebook:-
Cold As Ice (J Ramsden, W-Cape)
Maayaat (M De Kock, Gauteng)
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FASTEST TIMES
The number of races run over each distance is shown in brackets
*Denotes – Times taken by Clockwatcher
Scottsvile (new) 13th August
Penetrometer 21 – Going Good
1200m (4) Henry The Fourth 69,84
1400m (2) Emperor Niarchos 83,94
1600m (1) Zillid Warrior 97,76
2400m (1) Magical Dynasty 151,91
Vaal (sand) 14th August
Going Standard
1000m (1) War Trail 58,80
1200m (3) Samogan 72,17
1450m (3) Lady Of Kildare 90,33
1600m (1) Facebook 100,22
Fairview (poly) 15th August
Going Standard
1000m (2) Distiller 57,33
1200m (1) Say Hi 70,88
1300m (1) Pemba 75,42
1600m (3) Lord Badger 95,07
1900m (1) Take Off 115,18
Turffontein (inside) 16th August
Penetrometer 21 – Going Good
1200m (4) Deliver The Power 72,79
1600m (5) Brooks-Club 99,04
Kenilworth 16th August
Penetrometer 33 – Going Soft
1200m (2) Cold As Ice 76,76
1400m (2) Lobola 90,82
1600m (3) Tobe’s First 103,63
2400m (1) My World 158,86
