It is back to Polytrack racing at Fairview on Friday and although it does look a tough card we do hold some chances at making some money.
The battle between trainers Gavin Smith and Alan Greeff starts to intensify for the Eastern Cape Champion Trainer’s title and both look to have some nice chances of adding to their winners’ tally.
Greeff has a strong hand in Race 6. Eva Eileen has looked good since joining his yard and was full of running when scoring in her penultimate start. She was also not disgraced in her last start when fourth behind easy winner Legitimate.
She will be trying the Polytrack for the first time and it is worth noticing stable jockey Greg Cheyne will be aboard.
The value probably lies with stable companion Colorado Springs as she is proven on the surface. This daughter of Ideal World started her career pretty nicely with four wins coming at a decent rate.
The four-year-old filly ran a cracking good third behind Follow That Star (who has won twice since) when trying blinkers for the first time. Her next two starts when also wearing blinkers were disappointing.
A fourth-place finish in her fourth start with that equipment was better but still not up to her standard so it came as no surprise the blinkers were removed and she did well when runner-up to a bang in-form rival.
Richard Fourie will take over duty on her.
Another Greeff runner also deserves the utmost respect. Phoenix made her local debut when beating a decent field and could follow up.
Race 1 on this card sees an interesting clash. Smith has Easy Living who finished fifth on debut in a race won easily by stable companion Chere For Me.
Easy Living showed signs of inexperience and will be smarter this time so on paper looks the likely winner.
However, Greeff-trained filly Emily’s Spirit ran her only real disappointing race in that race, managing only seventh spot, nearly five lengths behind Easy Living.
On either side of that performance Emily’s Spirit had looked like she was a winner in waiting so perhaps that run is bet ignored.
These two fillies should fill the Exacta.
A possible Pick 6 banker is Champagnesocialist. This four-year-old gelding is improving and can go one better.
Clive Robinson
