Clive Robinson
East Cape Champion Two-Year-Old Cliff Top has been a disappointment as a three-year-old so far, but this might not be the right time to ignore him. He could bounce back to winning form by taking out Race 3 on the Fairview Polytrack on Friday.
Yet to win this season in four starts, three of them when Richard Fourie was aboard, has probably led to some of his supporters being very wary this time, but there was a lot to like about his last run when an unlucky third behind What A Winner, only 0.35 lengths behind after being slowly away.
This race is a lot weaker and from draw No 4 he does look hard to beat.
There is form with Phedra that suggests that Civil Rights will be his danger. Civil Rights twice chased home Phedra before short-heading that rival, while Cliff Top did find Phedra a bit too good in his comeback run.
Trainer Alan Greeff could also be the man to be with in the final race of the day as consistent filly Wildest Dreams should run another big race and this time possibly win. The Dynasty filly has been ultra-consistent since blinkers were added.
All three of Wildest Dreams wins have been on turf but that clearly does not mean she cannot win on the Polytrack as her form on this surface is good and Fourie knows her well.
Rival trainer Gavin Smith likes nothing better than to capsize a Greeff favourite and he has a string of runners in this race, the best of which could be Mansooriya.
This filly took ages to finally crack the ice but often they get confidence with a win and she could run well.
In Race 7, Blonde Act looks set for a good 2023 as he is improving in his new surroundings, but he does get caught out of is ground and Life On Mars could steal a winning break and could be worth a small each-way strike.
