Do not be fooled by the headline. Wouldn’t you rather have a winner in the form of Santa Therese than a jolly fat man who comes around once year?
The four-year-old filly was given an extended attack on the Western Cape features by trainer Alan Greeff and although those three attempts saw three unplaced finishes for her, it is worth noting that her merit rating was increased by two points with her sixth-place finish behind crackerjack filly Captain’s Ransom.
There is no runner anywhere near the ability of Justin Snaith’s filly at Fairview on Friday and Santa Therese can get her winning thread back in line.
Santa Therese has only been beaten once on the turf at this track in seven starts and is two from three over the track and distance.
Jockey Greg Cheyne also knows her well and drawn in pole position it is hard to see her not winning.
She is a banker in all the exotics.
Rival trainer Gavin Smith leads Greeff in the Eastern Cape Champion Trainer title chase, and the stage is set for a terrific battle over the next four months.
Smith holds a strong hand in the early races where two of his battling maidens, Duke Of Orange and Joe Harman, both look big runners in their races.
The most interesting clash comes up in Race 2 with Greeff’s promising Cliff Top competing against two possible stars in the form of Khaya’s Hope and Chere For Me.
That clash will be worth watching.
Clive Robinson
