J&B Met Countdown

FLAMINGO PARK12:20pm (Monday) p.3

FAIRVIEW POLY1:15pm (Tuesday) p.11

TURFFONTEIN NIGHT5:55pm (Tuesday) p.18

GREYVILLE MIXED1:10pm (Wednesday) p.28

VAAL12:15pm (Thursday) p.36

Cont. p.2

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SINGSPIEL x Alignment by Alzao • 2008

First crop of foals continue to impressClassy smart individuals with lots of scope

he official Met public gallops and draw ceremony was held in balmy summer weather conditions at the Southern Sub-urbs venue last

Thursday morning, with thirteen of the fifteen runners being put through their paces.

No ShowThe two runners who

made no show were Gauteng based Mac De Lago, who will only arrive in the Cape 48 hours prior to the race, and the Geoff Woodruff-trained Deo Juvente, who is a doubtful starter following a freak accident. In a dreadful

twist of bad luck, the Sansui Summer Cup runner-up was rolling in the sand in a work ring at Milnerton, when picking up a cut from a piece of glass, that had been exposed near the surface, from the high winds. He was treated immediately but it apparently opened again, and given the recovery periods

applicable to the antibiotics and medication that is required for the superficial cut, he is on the doubtful list. His absence would reduce the field to fourteen – a disappointing outcome for the racing operator and for many punters. And the mathematics must have an adverse impact on betting turnovers.

Add to that the switch of the Gr1 Investec Cape Derby and the Gr1 Klawervlei Majorca Stakes from the Met programme to the Investec Day Of Dreams – and we are guaranteed to see a detrimental effect on the big day turnovers.

UnconvincingOverall the gallops would

have done little to change betting support patterns, although the two well fancied runners Legal Eagle and Futura, stretched nicely and showed their well-being.

In the absence of any genuine pressure on the gallopers, and no times being taken, it is little more than a pre-event PR exercise in any event – and it is well known that it is little more than an inconvenience than anything else for many of the trainers, in the crucial build-up phase to raceday.

L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate winner and popular J&B Met favourite Legal Eagle took his next small steps to a giant leap into South African horseracing history, when he put up a superb gallop and drew perfectly at stall-gate 3 for the big race at Kenilworth on Saturday 30 January.

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All of the more fancied runners drew decently, with Geoff Woodruff ’s Sansui Summer Cup winner Master Sabina the only ‘casualty’ with a 14 gate. The son of Jet Master has to be treated with kid gloves with an old tendon injury always in the back of his trainer’s mind.

R2,5 millionGr1 J&B MetKen Sat 30 JanFinal Field insideJ&B Met Countdown

R2,5 millionGr1 J&B MetKen Sat 30 JanFinal Field inside

2015 Met winner Futura (Bernard Fayd’herbe) stretches beautifully at the end of his workout

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MONDAY 25th - THURSDAY 28th JANUARY 2016No. 2220 ISSN 1023 / 6996

2 SPORTING POST • MONDAY 25th - THURSDAY 28th JANUARY 2016

A review of the week's best SPEEDRATINGSwith Steve Furnish SPEEDRATINGS

Last week’s Top Rated

SPEED RATINGS winners incl.

RAZED IN BLACK ..........WON 5/1

PENTELIKO ...................WON 33/10

BILATERAL ...................WON 3/1

SUZIE’S ARROW ...........WON 5/2

NTOKAZI .......................WON 13/10

ABASHIRI .....................WON 7/10

ANGEL OF LIGHT ..........WON 4/10

FRENCH NAVY ..............WON 1/3

TOP SPEED RATINGS for this MID-WEEK

(Ratings shown have already been adjusted to allocated weights)

FLAMINGO PARK (MON)Race 1: (1) Captain Disko 7Race 2: (5) Switched On 8Race 3: (4) Roxy Babe 5Race 4: (2) Blue Eyed Boy 35 (EW)Race 5: (12) Celine 28Race 6: (3) Sonny Bill 38Race 7: (6) Racing Red 14Race 8: (5) Sub Shaawes 53Race 9: (1) Fannalies Girl 23

FAIRVIEW (TUES)Race 1: (2) La Myst 10Race 2: (1) Icy Avalanche 13Race 3: (5) Tiger Tim 5Race 4: (13) Night Dancer 53Race 5: (5) Rocket Rider 51Race 6: (11) The Night Away 40Race 7: (10) Jay’s Man 82Race 8: (11) Apoc 64

TURFFONTEIN (TUES)Race 1: (5) Ashantee 16Race 2: (1) Captain Chips 21Race 3: (3) Monarch Air 16Race 4: (4) Tiger’s Touch 92Race 5: (2) Jade Bay 90Race 6: (1) Judicial 82Race 7: (4) Gasoline 65

GREYVILLE (WED)Race 1: (9) Imbali 12Race 2: (10) After Midnight 19Race 3: (6) Napoli 26Race 4: (1) Dellavera 14Race 5: (3) Missmasala 56Race 6: (11) Flying Fellow 72Race 7: (3) Feels Like Heaven 66Race 8: (17) Lily’s Rush 54

VAAL (THUR)Race 1: (14) Storyfi elds 9Race 2: (1) Truly 19Race 3: (5) Revelation 15Race 4: (8) Lock Him Up 39Race 5: (7) Laurel Cherry 39Race 6: (9) Princess Pearl 42Race 7: (8) Lavish Gal 53Race 8: (1) One Man’s Dream 76Race 9: (2) Heywot 54

NAP BETS* Fancied ** Strongly fancied

*** Very strongly fancied

FASTEST TIMES (The number of races run in each category shown in brackets)

(*Denotes - Times taken by Clockwatcher) (P = Polytrack)

VAAL (INSIDE) 14TH JANUARYPenetrometer 20 – Going Good1200m (1) Tiger’s Touch 70,501400m (3) Rikitikitana 82,951600m (2) Gentleman Only 102,972000m (1) Kellie fi rth 124,222400m (2) Rocky Stallone 147,32

FAIRVIEW (POLY) 15TH JANUARYGoing Standard1000m (1) New Orleans Shine 58,791200m (1) Fashion Scout 69,661300m (3) Cape Flyaway 75,491600m (2) Razed In Black 95,561900m (1) Zen And Now 117,40

GREYVILLE (POLY) 15TH JANUARYGoing Standard1400m (2) Stolen Destiny 82,791600m (4) Vogue Idea 95,452000m (2) Chesa 122,82

TURFFONTEIN (OLD) 16TH JANUARYPenetrometer 21 – Going Good1000m (1) Water Lily Lake 57,221160m (4) Splendid Garden 66,201400m (2) Khonza 85,121800m (2) French Navy 110,322200m (2) Bilateral 125,65

NotebookHorses worth following at their next few starts...ABASHIRI (M Azzie, Gauteng)FRENCH NAVY (S Tarry, Gauteng)SOUTH ATLANTIC (M De Kock, Gauteng)WATER LILY LAKE (S Tarry, Gauteng)

Firm But FairVaal 14th January

Always Looking GoodFairview 15th January

The Right IdeaGreyville 15th January

Against All OddsTurffontein 16th January

They raced on the inside track on Thursday where favourite backers got off to a good start when KELLIE FIRTH did the business in the opening work rider’s maiden plate over 2000m. Confidently ridden by Goodman Dabamasi, the 6/10 favourite sat seventh of the nine for most of the journey. Once given rein though she quickened well, and won going away with some in hand after striking the front 100m from home.

The best bet on the card for many was RIKITIKITANA in the novice 1400m and the son of Toreador didn’t let down his supporters. Confidently ridden by Gavin Lerena in what proved to be the fastest of the three races over the distance, Sean Tarry’s charge raced sixth of the eight for most of the journey. He responded well after quite a bit of persuasion, and won going away after striking the front 200m from home.

The faster of the two 2400m races was the false paced MR74 affair in which the 6yo ROCKY STALLONE gained just reward for his consistency. As per usual positioned towards the rear early on, the Eyeofthetiger gelding quickened best of all when the field began to concertina 600m out and in what proved to be a real thriller he got up in the dying strides to deny the 22/10 favourite SUPER GLUE.TITBITS

Progressive TIGER’S TOUCH quick-ened away nicely in the closing stages when winning the MR85 Handicap over 1200m.Always at the helm, SOUTH ATLAN-TIC won the second division of the girl’s maiden 1400m going away by three and a half.

Three of the eight races at Friday’s poly track meeting were run over 1300m and quickest home amongst these was CAPE FLYAWAY in the bill topping non-black type Aloe Handicap. Freely available at 14/1 on the off, the daughter of Windrush was always handy. She ran on strongly in the closing stages of the race and with the rest well beaten she got the better of SILVAN JAZZ (led 400) by a half.

The faster of the two 1600m events was the MR81 Handicap in which RAZED IN BLACK registered his fourth career victory. Another to race handy, Justin Snaith’s charge found extra when challenged strongly by the 3yo MEMPHIS MAFIA close home and in another thrilling finish he got the verdict by

a half. At the other end of the scale the biggest winning margin was just the two lengths recorded by SHINE LIKE A STAR in the MR65 Handicap over 1600m. On leaving the stalls it was WELL INFORMED who elected to make the running and he was very quickly five lengths clear.

Gavin Smith’s charge meanwhile raced in midfield and made his move coming off the bend. He was running on stoutly when the pacemaker went in search of gas and won well after striking the front 150m out.TITBITS

The Toreador gelding FASHION SCOUT ran on well from the rear when getting up late to complete a double in the MR72 Handicap over 1200m.

Friday’s action also took place on the poly where four of the eight races were staged over 1600m. The fastest of these was the MR74 Handicap won by the nibbled at VOGUE IDEA. Sent off third in the betting market at 7/2, the Silvano mare raced fifth during the early part of the race. She ran on stoutly over the final 400m and got up late to deny PEACE AGAIN (led 300m).

The faster of the two 1400m races was the MR91 Handicap won by the 8yo grey STOLEN DESTINY. Easy to back at 20/1 on the off, the top weight was always handy. He put his head

in front approaching the 100m marker and drew clear easily in the closing stages of the race to score by a length and three quarters.

The two remaining races were maiden plates over 2000m and quickest home in these was CHESA in the boy’s affair. Backed into 6/1 from 12’s, Gavin Van Zyl’s charge was always handy. He was ridden to lead at the top of the straight and kept on strongly over the final 400m to score by three quarters.TITBITS

Beaten just a neck, BIZJET was finishing best of all when third in the MR76 Handicap over 1400m.

Saturday’s action took place on the old stand side track where the fastest of the four 1160m races, a pinnacle stakes, was won by SPLENDID GARDEN. Freely available at 7/1 on the off, Michael Azzie’s charge was soon up handy. He was ridden to lead shortly after passing the 400m pole and despite shifting around, won comfortably from the running on MOOFEED by a length and a quarter.

A maiden juvenile plate over 1000m had gotten proceedings underway and here we saw a promicing performance from Sean Tarry’s newcomer WATER LILY LAKE. Slow into stride and disadvantaged by a slipped saddle, the daughter of Trippi raced at the back early on. She ran on best of all over the final 400m and with the rest

well beaten, she did well to reel in the 17/20 favourite FURSA (raced 2nd – led 400m) in the dying strides.

The stable of Sen Tarry were also on the mark when as expected the very talented FRENCH NAVY did the business in the Gr3 London News Stakes over 1800m.

Just seven went to post and usually one to run on stoutly from off the pace, the son of Count Dubois raced handy in third. He put his head in front going through the 300m and went on to win well by two and a quarter.TITBITS

The 7/10 favourite ABASHIRI won the listed Sea Cottage Stakes over 1800m with authority by two and a half.

Geoff Wooduff confimed that Master Sabina had produced a nice blood picture on Wednesday and that the gallop was a simple 1600m canter.

Tactical TouchInterestingly, Anton Marcus,

who rides Legal Eagle in the big one, took the opportunity to gallop the only filly in the field, Smart Call, who galloped with companion As You Like, from the 1700m.

The daughter of Ideal Wold,

an emphatic winner of the recent Gr1 Paddock Stakes, looked like she is thriving in the Cape and stetched beautifully, obviously in the pink of health.

There are many who would have given up backing Mike Bass’ naughty boy Helderberg Blue, who ran third behind Futura last year. He was accompanied by a companion to the 1400m, from where he galloped.The son of Jet Master looked well under his big race jockey Donovan Dillon

and it was noticeable how he changed legs and kicked late in the gallop.

He was drawn 14 out of 14 last year, and has a much more favourable 5 draw this year.

CountdownSo we count down the hours

to Saturday, having learnt little new from the gallops - but knowing that Legal Eagle looks to be the real deal – and a worthy favourite.

He will be tough to beat.

It’s Decision Time!

1 6 Futura 60 119 A B Fayd’Herbe Justin Snaith

2 5 Captain America 60 117 A C Orffer Brett Crawford

3 4 Legislate 60 117 A P Strydom Justin Snaith

4 14 Master Sabina 60 108 TA G Lerena Geoff Woodruff

5 3 Legal Eagle 59.5 120 TA A Marcus Sean Tarry

6 13 Paterfamilias 58 110 BA G van Niekerk Mike Bass

7 15 Gold Onyx (NZ) 58 107 TA S Khumalo Sean Tarry

8 10 Punta Arenas 58 107 CA I Sturgeon Dennis Drier

9 2 Helderberg Blue 58 105 A D Dillon Mike Bass

10 7 King Of Pain 58 103 A …………… Joey Ramsden

11 11 Deo Juvente 57.5 106 A R Danielson Geoff Woodruff

12 9 Mac De Lago (AUS) 57.5 102 TA A Delpech Weiho Marwing

13 12 Krambambuli 57.5 101 A C Du Plooy Justin Snaith

14 1 Light The Lights 57.5 101 A S Randolph Glen Kotzen

15 8 Smart Call 57 112 A W Marwing Alec Laird

Same Trainer – Not Coupled on Tote (1,3,13) (4,11) (5,7) (6,9)

J&B Met Countdown cont. � om � ont

Gr1 J&B METR2 500 000 • 2000m

Moving Through Time

44 SPORTINGPOST•monDAY 25th - THURSDAY 28th JAnUARY 2016