Trainer Alan Greeff did not have a blank day last Friday, but a number of his runners ran below par. He will be looking for a change of fortune this Friday, and he should at least win with Fairy Knight.
This Global View gelding takes his place in Race 4, the November Stakes (Non-Black Type) over 1400m on the Fairview Polytrack. His form on this surface is excellent, with five wins, two runner-up performances, and a third-place finish from just nine starts. His most recent Polytrack form reads three wins and a very close second to Eastern Cape Polytrack Challenge victor Mercantour.
Greeff may well have steered this gelding away from Mercantour in order for that runner to complete all three legs of the challenge. Regular jockey Richard Fourie is missing from this meeting, but replacement rider Louie Mxothwa was aboard when Fairy Knight finished runner-up to Mercantour.
Fairy Knight is weighted to win this race comfortably if running to his best form. His main danger, if there is to be one, is likely to be USA’s Hope, for trainer Dean Smith and jockey Craig Zackey.
This gelding has been good all year and is 2kg better off with Fairy Knight, having finished just one length adrift of him when they met over 1200m on the Polytrack on 22 August. USA’s Hope did enjoy a clean and easy run that day, while the same could not be said for his rival, as Fairy Knight only found his stride very late and was a very unlucky loser.
It is a tough card for punters to negotiate, but there are two other runners on this card that may be worth a look at – River Fern in Race 1 (a Maiden Plate) and Alado’s Pride in Race 8.
The three-year-old River Fern has been runner-up twice in his last three starts, both on the Polytrack, and could offer some each-way value in a competitive opening event from a very good draw.
The eight-year-old Alado’s Pride has not been beaten by far in most of his runs this year and is quite capable of winning a very open-looking handicap.
Clive Robinson
