The two top trainers in the Eastern Cape, Gavin Smith and Alan Greeff, continue their dominance and on a very difficult card it may pay to be with a few of their runners on the Polytrack at Fairview on Friday.
Smith can get things going in the opening event, a Maiden Plate over1900m, and as runners Joe Harman and Red Centre could both go off at fair prices, it could pay to be with them against the field.
Joe Harman has been a career loser, having had 29 runs without a win. But he has gone close numerous times and is right at home over this course and distance so he might finally have his day to shine.
Joe Harman has been finishing off his races nicely and although ending up 0.75 lengths behind Belle’s First Wave last time it was more a case of Belle’s First Wave getting the first run.
Smith does not let his fillies take on the boys unless they can win so we have to respect the chances of Red Centre. This filly was very frustrating early in her career as she showed she could finish off a race when flying up from nowhere behind Champagne Charlies over 1200m on the turf, only to disappoint in her next couple of starts.
Recently tried over a bit of ground she is getting closer and closer to the winner. She will have every chance of running past them at the finish.
A little while later in Race 4, a MR 66 Handicap over 1200m, jockey S’manga Khumalo is aboard Smith-trained Stay The Course who should run a big race from pole position.
The gelding was full of running when winning last time and could follow-up in a big field handicap.
Rival Alan Greeff has many runners and chances on this card but it is in the last race where there might be some value from his runner Alingalonga.
Jockey Richard Fourie has been in smashing form recently and teams up on this five-year-old gelding.
A bad draw and a change of jockey last time out probably contributed to a below-par effort from Alingalonga last time out but from a decent draw and back to the surface of his last win, he could be sending punters home with some cash.
Clive Robinson
