The 2024/2025 season is nearly over, and trainer Alan Greeff will be crowned East Cape Champion Trainer once again.
However, there are still winners to be found, and it could be worth relying on his main adversary, Gavin Smith, to have a good meeting, especially with Gimme’s Lassie, who should go close in Race 7, a Pinnacle Stakes for fillies and mares over 1200m on the turf track.
The five-year-old mare has already won three times for Smith and has been unlucky not to win more, having been touched off at the finish a couple of times. This course and distance suits her very well, and a change of jockey – Calvin Habib takes the reins – could spark another win.
Imaginable enjoyed being back on the grass and was a very easy winner for Smith on local debut. He can follow up and win Race 8, a MR 78 Handicap over 1200m. It will be a tougher task this time around and his rivals will not allow him a soft lead. He is also carrying a six-point (or 3kg) penalty for that victory.
Habib takes the ride on this five-year-old gelding as well.
Earlier on the card, Greeff-trained Mr Fox could bounce back in Race 3, a MR 86 Handicap over 1600m. The Canford Cliffs gelding proved costly for his supporters last time but did look good when winning back-to-back races in May. He was caught out of his ground in a slow-run race last time out.
He might benefit from the drop in trip this time.
Richard Fourie takes the ride.
Clive Robinson
