Clive Robinson
There are a couple of interesting races at Fairview on Friday but the two that most people will be taking note of are Race 4, a Pinnacle Stakes for fillies and mares over 1600m, and Race 7, the Craddock Place Stakes (Non-Black Type) over 1200m, and trainer Alan Greeff can win both of them.
Racing takes place on the turf track.
The latter is the only feature race of the day and Greeff has a strong hand with Whatever Next and Cliff Top.
Both were Eastern Cape Champion juveniles of their respective years, and both look ready to show their best once again.
Whatever Next had lost his way for a while until master trainer Alan reached for blinkers and the improvement was immediate.
The What A Winter gelding beat rival in this race Evies First over the Fairview 1000m in April.
Whatever Next then bumped two very good sorts in Barzalona and Cruise Control in his next two races and was runner-up on both occasions.
Jockey Ryan Munger was aboard him last time out and retains the ride.
He does, however, have stable companion Cliff Top to beat.
Stable jockey Richard Fourie was in the irons for the first time on the gelding last time out. It was clear Cliff Top was in need of that comeback run and he was doing his best work at the finish.
Cliff Top is in receipt of 7.5kg and that could make all the difference.
Trainer Justin Snaith has not been as successful with his raids to the Eastern Cape as was the case in the past but his entrant for the race, Captain Tatters, has to be respected.
His recent form has only been modest, but it is worth remembering Captain Tatters was a wide-margin winner the last time he was seen at this track.
Earlier on the card Santa Therese resumes her rivalry with a number of runners, Integrity being one of them.
Integrity benefited from a very good frontrunning ride from jockey Ryan Munger when proving better than Santa Therese over the course and distance in August.
Santa Therese reversed that result easily when they next met over 2000m and although it is likely to be competitive again, it does look like classy mare Santa Therese could be the Pick 6 banker for the meeting.
