South Africa Racing – East Cape Derby form to be tested

Alan Greeff (Photo by Pauline Herman via 4Racing Facebook)

One of the highlights of the Eastern Cape season is the East Cape Derby which was run and won by the Justin Snaith-trained Machete Man earlier this month with Quasimodo a gallant runner-up.

The form of that win will be tested at Fairview on Monday with Quasimodo running in Race 4, a Middle Stakes over Polytrack 2200m.

With rain having moved the Derby meeting to the Polytrack that day the East Cape Derby was run over 2200m and that has been a good course and distance for Quasimodo, as in his only other race over that track and trip he had been runner-up to King Of Luv.

it is also worth noting that one of Quasimodo’s two wins was over 1900m on the Fairview Polytrack so he clearly likes the surface.

Another thing worth noting about his run earlier this month was that he did not pick up a penalty for that run. It is not often you can finish runner-up in a feature race and get away with that.

Back to Monday’s race and it does look a competitive with some inform and hard knockers taking part.

Zig Zag loves this surface and was full of running when scoring over 2000m in March so should relish the slightly further distance.

Trainer Alan Greeff has an exceptional record with runners recruited from other trainers and Central City could have wins in him as he was seen to be making good progress at the finish of his last run which was his first taste of the Polytrack.

The step up in distance should suit Central City.

Earlier on the card there look to be two runners that could win.

The filly in Race 1, Mari Marie is a reserve runner for Friday 26 May but if taking part in this race she will be hard to beat.

She appeared to be a very unlucky loser last time out. On a day when front-runners stole the show Mari Marie was caught too far back but quickened really nicely, and if her current rider gets the engines started earlier, she could make amends for that defeat.

Law Court has been consistent of late without winning so far but after being runner-up in both starts contested on a Polytrack he can go one better in Race 2, a Maiden Plate over 1400m under stalwart jockey Francois Herholdt.

Clive Robinson

Melissa
Author: Melissa