Clive Robinson
Jockey S’manga Khumalo is pretty good at winning on runners who are badly drawn and that is again his task in Race 5, a MR 65 Handicap over 1600m on the turf at Fairview on Friday, with his mount Track Commander.
Trainer Sean Tarry only got the now five-year-old gelding to win two races when he had him but Track Commander was pretty consistent and picked up numerous stake cheques.
Moved to trainer Gavin Smith late last year has resulted in the son of Gimmethegreenlight finishing runner-up twice in three starts.
It is also worth noting that his unplaced run came via a troubled run.
Track Commander has been better on the Polytrack recently but has won on the turf and if getting a trouble-free run from his draw he could beat a moderate bunch.
Smith could also pick up Race 8, a Classified Stakes over 1200m, with Globetonic. This Great Britain four-year-old has already won twice in just four starts.
Both his losses, including his last run, were over 1000m but he is unbeaten over the course and distance.
Race 6 is the Listed Lady’s Bracelet over 1600m, the feature race of the day, and it is a very interesting contest.
Santa Therese represents the bang-in-form Richard Fourie-Alan Greeff combination. The five-year-old mare has won 11 of her 20 starts to date and looked as good as ever in her last start win.
The conditions of the race suggest she is well in with her rivals but she has been beaten twice over this course and distance this season.
And We Danced was one of those who beat her and this filly has been a revelation of late and comes into this race looking to extend her run of four wins in a row.
And We Danced arrived at Sharon Kotzen with just one in 13 starts and is now six from 20. The Pathfork filly is clearly still improving and could once again get the better of rival Belle Of Belize who she beat by a head over 1400m.
The step up to 1600m will suit her better but rival Belle Of Belize looked unlucky that day and meets on better weight conditions.
Integrity was the other runner to beat Santa Therese over the course and distance but that rival has not been at her best of late.
Two other runners with chances are Phoenix and Flame Flower. Both are consistent and usually give of their best.
