Clive Robinson
The Gavin Smith stream of winners continues on its merry way and on a day where winners may be difficult to find, it could be worth looking to last season’s champion trainer for some assistance.
It is very hard to look past Smith in Race 2 as he holds a very strong hand with his three runners.
Jet Mirage is not a model of consistency but is coming off what is probably his best performance yet after being touched off by a strongly ridden Blonde Act last week. That was over 1400m on the Polytrack and he takes on some talented runners over 1200m this time.
That run did suggest he was better than his current mark but his stable companions are better rated by the handicapper and he will need to do more to beat either Zatara Magic or Forest Spy.
It is hard to be certain what distance will best suit Zatara Magic as he has run well over a range of trips. Two starts back he ran a cracker behind the decent Kaya’s Hope but did not repeat it last time out behind that stable companion.
Now we come to the enigmatic Forest Spy. This Global View gelding has not been at his best since being gelded and was a bitter disappointment last time out. It is a possible he may have been in need of both of his runs since taking a trip to Kwa-Zulu Natal.
Forest Spy is weighted to win this race comfortably if anywhere near his best form. S’manga Kumalo is in good form and has been entrusted with the ride.
Great Britain colt Globetonic is looking to finish off a hat-trick of wins and if he can take out Race 5, a MR 68 Handicap over 1000m.
Globetonic showed signs of inexperience when a well-beaten third on debut but has made vast improvement since.
A 2.25-length victory over subsequent winner Lemme Go followed and that win suggested he had more in the tank.
Surprisingly, he was allowed to start at decent odds in his next outing and once again quickened up best to beat Birdie And Bogie by 0.75 lengths.
Both of those wins were over 1200m but he settled nicely and quickens when needed so the drop in distance should not be too much of a problem.
A four-point penalty for his latest win may not be enough to stop him.
