Fresh from sending out six winners last Friday, trainer Alan Greeff looks likely to have another splendid meeting, and his big gun My Best Shot sets the standard for Race 7, the Listed Betway Algoa Cup over 2000m on the turf.
This is the premier race of the Eastern Cape season, and no one would begrudge Greeff winning it after the exceptional year he has been having. Jockey Richard Fourie has been a major contributor to that success and with him in the saddle, My Best Shot has an excellent record.
My Best Shot has won 11 of his 19 starts, with Fourie accounting for 10 of those wins from 17 rides. The Fire Away gelding indicated he is back to his best with an impressive 2.25-length win over stable companion Global Alley over 1800m at Fairview last month.
This distance poses no problem, and he has won his only start over this particular course and distance.
The only concern is that he will be giving weight away to all his rivals.
Trainer Glen Kotzen has a good record when raiding the Eastern Cape, and he has two runners with genuine chances. Holding Thumbs has been very good and consistent all year. He showed his well-being with a decent third-place finish behind the very talented Outlaw King over 1400m at Durbanville nearly two weeks ago. He has raced at this track once before – and won. Jockey Chad Little will be itching to get a first success out of Holding Thumbs.
Stable companion Blackberry Mal has not won a race for 401 days but was runner-up in this event last year when it was run on the Polytrack.
Trainer Justin Snaith has two decent runners in Ardabil and Please Be True. Ardabil proved no match for My Best Shot earlier this year but is consistent and should contest the finish. The four-year-old gelding Please Be True does not always show his best, but he does have talent. This will be his first try at this distance, and he could well shine.
Trainer Jacques Strydom pulled off a surprise in last year’s race when winning with Firealley. This now eight-year-old gelding has won only once since and is unlikely to repeat that victory unless rain arrives and the race is switched to the Polytrack.
Clive Robinson
