It is Polytrack racing again this Friday at Fairview and although the fields are small in the races that matter, there are still some runners well worth a closer look.
Race 3 is the Guineas Plate over 1600m and there will be some smart three-year-olds in action.
Alan Greeff-trained Royal Kingdom is sure to start favourite after some very good recent wins. The William Longsword gelding has won three of his seven starts, and his last two victories have suggested the further he goes, the better he becomes.
The three-year-old has been sent off favourite in his last six starts and has won his last two comfortably. He beat Silvonian by 1.75 lengths over 1300m on the Fairview Polytrack on 1 October and was even more impressive when slamming Globetonic by 2.50 lengths over 1400m on the turf on 24 October. Both wins were in handicaps, with stable jockey Richard Fourie aboard.
The step up in distance should suit him even better. He does, however, take on some proven Polytrack performers.
Above The Horizon has won two of his three starts on this surface and was a good third in a decent race last time out. He should be right there at the finish.
Filly East Coast Girl has won both her starts on the Polytrack and will make them run to fetch her in this small field of six runners.
The feature race on the card is Race 5, The Glendore Sprint over 1000m, and it looks a three-cornered contest.
Roman Agent has been at his best since arriving at this centre and looked a bit unlucky when narrowly beaten by classy sprinter Kingdundee over 1000m on the Fairview turf last month. He was doing his best work late and did not run straight.
The Vercingetorix gelding was impressive on local debut when running down a decent three-year-old in Pop Chart over 1200m at Fairview three weeks earlier. Jockey Wayne Agrella was aboard for both those runs and retains the ride. It is his first try on the Polytrack.
His main rivals, Golden Pavilion and Cliff Top, have been formidable on this surface.
Golden Pavilion has won four of his six starts on the Polytrack and is two from two over this track and distance.
The Fourie – Greeff team is represented by Cliff Top. This now six-year-old gelding has not been at his best of late but was a very easy 3.75-length winner the last time he raced over this particular course and distance.
Clive Robinson
