SMR 102 HANDICAP at Tur� ontein on Tuesday

KENILWORTH1:40pm (Tuesday) p.3

TURFFONTEIN NIGHT6:05pm (Tuesday) p.9

GREYVILLE MIXED12:45pm (Wednesday) p.16

TURFFONTEIN INNER12:15pm (Thursday) p.28

Cont. p.2

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Tel: Mike Sharkey 082 372 2682www.highlandsfarmstud.co.za

o let’s see out the old year with a bang and side with the big gun combination of Mike De Kock and Weichong Marwing at

Turffontein on Tuesday evening. This game tames lions and tigers - and makes monkeys out of most of us - but the topweighted Duke Of Marmalade entire Moofeed

stands out in the R120 000 MR 102 Handicap at the final Turffontein meeting of 2015.

Rare FindMoofeed is a rare speed

horse by his outstanding sire and this half-brother to top performers Musir and Merhee ran on really well last time to chase One Man’s Dream home over the Turffontein 1000m.

A bit of a bridesmaid at times – he has won 5 races from 19 starts, but has 7 seconds to his credit – Moofeed has a touch of class at his best, and trainer Mike De Kock looks to have found the right race for him. His biggest danger looks likely to be the Alec Laird trained course and distance winner, Aurum Pot, a lightly raced son of Judpot, who has run two cracking feature places at

his last two jumps. He was under two lengths back in the Gr2 Merchants be-hind Brutal Force and the same margin adrift of Doing It For Dan in the Listed Golden Loom.

In-form Gavin Lerena rides this very fit gelding, who must go into all calculations.

Sean Tarry’s 7yo Prince Jazeem has not won a race in over two years but showed some decent pace in an MR 92 Handicap over the Vaal 1400m last time after a late winter stint in Cape Town.

The son of Toreador has probably lost some of his

early edge which saw him rattle off three wins in a row in 2013, and cannot be tipped as a likely winner.

ServantRomeo Francis’ dogged

hardworking 6yo Flag Of France has his 70th career outing on Tuesday.

He ran on smartly behind Splendid Garden last time and enjoys a 3kg swing with the Azzie speedster.

MR 102 HANDICAP at Tur� ontein on Tuesday

stands out in the R120 000 MR 102 Handicap at the final Turffontein meeting of

A bit of a bridesmaid at times – he has won 5 races from 19 starts, but has

his last two jumps. He was under two lengths back in the Gr2 Merchants be-hind Brutal Force and the same margin adrift of Doing It For Dan in the Listed Golden Loom.

In-form Gavin Lerena rides

early edge which saw him rattle off three wins in a row in 2013, and cannot be

The sun is about to set on a crazy year of dizzy highs and shaky lows, and with 2016 billed as the year of the monkey, we should probably be approaching the turn of the page with some caution.

Moofeed could end 2015 on a high for Mike de Kock and Weichong Marwing

TUESDAY 29th - THURSDAY 31st

DECEMBER 2015

No. 2212 ISSN 1023 / 6996

2 SPORTING POST • TUESDAY 29th - THURSDAY 31st DECEMBER 2015

Five In A RowGreyville 18th December

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

Last week’s Top Rated

SPEED RATINGS winners incl.

BELLA SPUMANTE ........WON 7/1

LITTLEBLACKNUMBER ...WON 7/2

TAR HEEL .....................WON 3/1

IMPALA LILY .................WON 2/1

MATRON PRILLI ...........WON 9/10

ROMAN SILVANUS ........WON 6/10

BARBOSA .....................WON 3/10

WINTER’S HEIR ............WON 2/13

TOP SPEED RATINGS for this MID-WEEK

(Ratings shown have already been adjusted to allocated weights)

FAIRVIEW (MON)Race 1: No Qualifi ersRace 2: (1) Crown Of Gold 73 (nb)Race 3: (11) King’s Fire 16Race 4: (1) Al Don Cumarco 83 (NAP*)Race 5: (6) Arniston 70Race 6: (10) Jay Belle 41Race 7: (1) Eros’s Girl 60Race 8: (5) Thrill Factor 41

KENILWORTH (TUES)Race 1: (5) Ferrie 18 (NAP*)Race 2: (3) Tide Is Turning 21Race 3: (2) Avail 18Race 4: (4) David’s Dynasty 35Race 5: (3) True Master 74Race 6: (5) Secret Seven 54Race 7: (2) Megamind 34Race 8: (7) Three Blue Cranes 46

TURFFONTEIN (WED)Race 1: (1) Might As Well 5Race 2: (2) Seventh Symphony 69Race 3: (1) Snowdonia 4Race 4: (1) Gladiatore 24Race 5: (6) Wild Ash 74Race 6: (1) Moofeed 92 (NAP*)Race 7: (3) Master’s Spirit 65Race 8: (2) For The Lads 50 (EW)GREYVILLE (WED)Race 1: (2) Triptronic 48 (EW)Race 2: (10) Ostentation 47Race 3: (11) Royal Lance 41Race 4: (6) Soldier’s Code 24Race 5: (8) Executive Power 85Race 6: (7) Rainier 52Race 7: (5) Glimmer Of Silver 7Race 8: (1) Masked Girl 11Race 9: (16) Protea Power 20

TURFFONTEIN (THUR)Race 1: (4) Danza 26Race 2: (6) Tangerine Lady 16Race 3: (5) Topography 23 (NAP*)Race 4: (11) Royal Master 48Race 5: (9) Cumberland 73Race 6: (9) Lisnoble 41Race 7: (9) Intergalactic 54Race 8: (4) Lavish Gal 37

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)

FAIRVIEW (TURF) 18TH DECEMBERPenetrometer 21 – Going Good800m (1) Cuveo 44,811000m (3) Flicker 56,911200m (1) Slewsgate 70,521400m (1) Bella Spumante 85,021600m (2) Roman Silvanus 98,212000m (1) Sensuous Sally 129,46

GREYVILLE (POLY) 18TH DECEMBERGoing Standard1400m (5) Exit Here 82,622000m (3) Little Chapel 122,26

TURFFONTEIN (INNER) 19TH DECEMBERPenetrometer 22 – Going Good1000m (1) Matron Prilli 58,431200m (2) Last Battle 73,441450m (2) Trophy Wife 87,921600m (1) Lunar Approach 97,912000m (2) Save The Rhino 124,152200m (1) Zafi ra 141,82

KENILWORTH (NEW) 19TH DECEMBERPenetrometer 23 – Going Good800m (1) The Merry Widow 49,061000m (2) Dixie Express 58,911200m (2) Top Of The Rock 73,271400m (1) Same Jurisdiction 86,21*1600m (3) Heartland 98,05*2500m (1) Current Event 157,62*

NotebookHorses worth following at their next few starts...BELLA SPUMANTE (A Greeff, E-Cape)ENBHARR (M De Kock, Gauteng)EXIT HERE (C Laird, KZN)

Topsy Turvy TimesFairview 18th December

Ready For ActionTurffontein 19th December

Noah Repels AllKenilworth 19th December

Followers of the money got off to a nice start in Port Elizabeth on Friday when CUVEO did the business in the opening maiden juvenile plate over 800m. Backed into favouritism at the track (4/1 into 28/10), the only filly in the race was soon prominent. She put her head in front at the 200m marker and kept on strongly late to beat ZEVENASTIC by a neck.

Three of the afternoon’s nine races were run over 1000m and surprisingly the fastest of these was the colt’s maiden plate won by FLICKER. Allowed to ease out to even money from 15/20 at the track as money came for SPORTSTRADER, the Fort Wood gelding was soon positioned close to the speed.

He took up the running 100m out and won by three quarters from the running on ORCADIAN FOREST (came from the

rear). The maiden plate was also surprisingly the faster of the two 1600m events. Run in a time almost a quarter of a second faster than that of the listed Memorial Mile won by the talented Cape Town raider NIGHT TRIP, the winner ROMAN SILVANUS (Night Trip’s stable companion) raced fifth for most of the journey.

He was always travelling well and with the rest well beaten, he comfortably accounted for CAPTAIN QUICK by a length and a half.TITBITS

Having her first outing since relocating to the Eastern Cape, BELLA SPUMANTE ran on well from the backend of midfield when winning the novice 1400m by five and a quarter with a ton in hand.

Five of the eight races on Friday evening were run over 1400m and comfortably the fastest of these was the bill topping MR94 Handicap won by the 9/20 favourite EXIT HERE. Soon at the head of affairs of what was a very tightly bunched field early on, the five-timer seeking son of Jay Peg made all. He found extra when the grey KISS ME HARDY through down the gauntlet 200m out and won well by a length. Marginally the faster of the two maiden plates over 1400m was the girl’s affair won by the newcomer SPIRITOS. Nibbled at on course into 6/1 from 14’s, Gavin Van Zyl’s charge raced in midfield. She made her move early in the straight and under a well-judged ride from Warren Kennedy she got up late to deny the all-out OVERLY IMPRESSED.

The remaining three races were all run over 2000m and quickest home amongst these was LITTLE CHAPEL in the graduation plate. In the rear as the nine runners turned for home, Dean Kannemeyer’s charge ran on best of all in the straight and with the rest some four lengths adrift she got the better of JET INTOMBI by a half.

TITBITSThe 3yo RIO DE LA PLATA ran on strongly late when getting up in the dy-ing strides to win the MR74 Handicap over 2000m.The 2/13 favourite WINTER’S HEIR only had to be pushed out when winning the maiden plate over 2000m very easily by nine and three quarters.

They raced on the inner track on Saturday where the faster of the two 1450m events was the pinnacle stakes won by the best weighted runner in the field TROPHY WIFE. Having her third run after a break here, Sean Tarry’s charge was content to sit seventh of the nine for most of the journey. She began to take closer order as they came off the strip and only had to be pushed out after taking up the running 200m from home to beat the running on VINO VERITAS.

The faster of the two 2000m races was the MR84 Handicap in which the top weight SAVE THE RHINO registered his third career victory. Not the quickest into stride, the son of Mogok raced in midfield early on. He put his head in front going through the 300m and comfortably

accounted for the consistent LAVA FLOW by a length and a half. In terms of distance the easiest victory on the card was registered by ZAFIRA when getting off the mark in the maiden plate over 2200m. Positioned in the backend of midfield in a race in which heavy rain fell throughout, Weiho Marwing’s charge was ridden to lead shortly after passing the 400m marker and won with authority by three and a quarter.TITBITS

LUNAR APPROACH won the MR80 Handicap with some in hand.IN THE MOMENT (midfield) and ENBHARR (rear) were both running on strongly at the finish when 2nd & 5th respectively in the maiden plate over 1200m.

The Gr1 Cape Guineas over 1600m topped the bill in Cape Town on Saturday and in a time a second slower than that of the Listed Jet Master Stakes victory here went to the Gauteng raider NOAH FROM GOA.

Now a winner of five of his six career starts, Mike De Kock’s charge was always handy. He was asked to take up the running shortly after passing the 300m pole and finding extra all the way to the wire he beat the running on BRAZUKA by three quarters.

The supporting act was the 2500m Gr3 Cape Summers Stayers Handicap in which the friendless CURRENT EVENT caused an upset. Sent off as the rank outsider of the eight horse party at 20/1 (op 7’s), Justin Snaith’s charge was always in touch with the leaders. He ran on strongly at the business end of the race and won

going away after striking the front 90m or so from home. In terms of distance the easiest victory on the ten race program was recorded by TAR HEEL when winning the non-black type Need For Speed Sprint over 1000m.

Taken straight to the front by Anton Marcus, the son of Var led by just a half for most of the journey. He began to assert his authority going through the 300m and won going away by three and three quarters.TITBITS

DIXIE EXPRESS extended her winning sequence to four when comfortably accounting for her rivals by three and a half lengths in the MR76 Handicap over 1000m.Thrown in at the weights in the conditions plate over 1400m, SAME JURISDICTION won accord-ingly.

MR 102 HANDICAP at Tur� ontein on Tuesday cont. � om � ont

The 6yo National Key is a consistent gelding but may lack the pace to win a race of this nature. His last two runs in KZN have been decent efforts – his last 3,85 lengths behind high-class Group winner Ice Machine in receipt of 4,5kgs. He shed his maiden over the course

and distance over three years ago and his subsequent four wins have all been over more ground. That said, he is never far off the action and is very capable of sneaking a quartet berth.

GardenerSplendid Garden is starting

to fulfil some of his early

promise and is bang in form at this stage of the season, having won 3 of his last 4 starts.

He is 3kgs worse off with Flag Of France for a 2,50 length course and distance beating last time. As a still improving 4yo Splendid

Champagn� Day�Garden could have the scope to make up the leeway and go in again.

The second of the Azzie runners, Rock Me Var, is battling to put a decent effort together on the turf and appears to have enjoyed his Greyville polytrack exposure

of earlier this year. He was highly thought of, but will need to start showing the signs again before he can be included with any confidence.

Top ChoiceMoofeed and Aurum Pot

look set to fight out the finish

and as long as he doesn’t get too far out of his ground, the De Kock galloper holds a slight edge.

The improving Splendid Garden looks best of the rest.

Here’s to a happy, healthy and winning 2016 to you all.

36 SPORTINGPOST•tUESDAY 29th - tHURSDAY 31st DECEmbER 2015