Turffontein Saturday - Empress Club Stakes

Well done Scotia

Empress Club Stakes - Review
They went a good pace and this was a true run race so the form can be relied on.
Heaps of Fun did the donkey work up front, and weakened late to finish 7th beaten 4 lengths. She ran somewhat better than her last few and close to her rating of 98.
Fort Ember raced close to the pace, as did Negroamaro and Nother Russia with Safe Harbour also in touch. Bella Sonata dropped out to last from her wide draw.
The complexion of the race changed dramatically in the final 400m- Nother Russia came forward strongly with Safe Harbour tracking her. Fort Ember looked dangerous and then faded tamely. Safe Harbour failed to quicken when required but stayed on one paced and was pipped for third by a faster finishing Tahini. Nother Russia hit the front 300m out, and ran on strongly to win comfortably. Bella Sonata ran a great race in defeat- at the 400m she was 8-10 lengths behind and made up ground rapidly down the inside rail to run a clear second. Trophy Wife ran an honest race in 5th.
The winner is clearly on the upgrade and showed good improvement again as she was 4kg worse off with Bella Sonata whom she beat narrowly last time. The runner up also looks to have further scope for improvement. Fort Ember ran well below her rating and Safe Harbour appears to be feeling the effects of a tough schedule and also ran below best.
My ratings for this race ( previous official MR in brackets)
Nother Russia 106. (96)
Bella Sonata 103. (101)
Tahini. 100. (99)
Safe Harbour. 100. (106)
Trophy Wife 99 (101)
Polyphonic. 99 (100)
Heaps of Fun 98 (98)

I asked Dave will Julie be there and he said no. so i stayed home.
i think he wants her for himself.
she looked like an angel in all white.

who was the lady in the candy stripe outfit? She looks hungry.

chicken n chips wrote: Slyvester is not going to be happy with Dave :ohmy:

Thanks peter

Well done to those on Nother Russia...and thanks to Mac and Bob for the great pics.

A good day had by all.

We were based in Auqunaut room and as always the spread put on by Scott and William was five star.

Also managed a few winners on a difficult card not to mention winning a tipping compo run by big Rod, the excellent host and MC .

You can see by the pics some lovely pieces of horse flesh and "fillies".

I have more pics on Mrs S camera and will download and post later.

It was a well organized day with most of the function halls reasonably busy but not sure about the overall attendance, but sure it will grow as many made the effort for the Royal occasion.

Dave are we surprised about the attendance, there was no advertising in the mainstream media. I asked my twenty somethings if they knew about the "royal" meeting, neither had. So thats a big market untapped. So the advertising was to the already converted and you got one or two owners with runners on the day dressing up and that was it. I hope Phumelela organised armed security to cart away the gate takings :lol: These guys are really rank amateurs when it comes to marketing this sport.This sort of epitomizes the effort and return on local racing doesn't it?

I guess you correct as far as external drive.

Us racing folk ( citizen racing section, sporting post, tellytrack and ABC ) are aware of the event but, for example the Pretoria News, not sure anything was highlighted to attract non racing public about this big royal bash.

I am sure with the charity drive that it might touch the hearts of the non racing public?

Bob,any chance of posting the replays please

gregorypillay123 wrote: Bob,any chance of posting the replays please

A bouquet to the authorities for giving a R50 betting voucher to all punters.

thank you bob,stuff of legends