The Polytrack meetings continue at Fairview and Wednesday, 6 January, looks a difficult card.
One runner who has taken a real liking to the Fairview Polytrack is Avernian Goddess, who runs in Race 5, a Middle Stakes over 1200m. This Vercingetorix filly made her local debut over this distance on 14 November and was a very easy winner. She had Louie Mxothwa aboard that day.
Stable jockey for trainer Alan Greeff, Richard Fourie, took the ride on Avernian Goddess in her next start, but she was caught too far back and did well to finish third, 4.75 lengths behind the useful yardstick Buffalo Bill over 1400m on the Fairview Polytrack.
The four-year-old filly then had her current rider, Andrew Fortune, aboard next time out. Fourie partnered easy winner Baie Mooi, who scored by 2.25 lengths over 1400m, with Avernian Goddess finishing a never-nearer, but promising, runner-up. She was slowly away and was reported to be coughing, so it was a solid performance under the circumstances.
Fortune would have learned a lot from that ride and, although she takes on males and has a tricky draw, she could go close to winning back over her favourite distance.
Earlier on the card, it may be worth siding with unlucky but knocking-on-the-door Desert Cloud in Race 1, as well as battling filly Intro in Race 2.
Desert Cloud really ought to have won one of her last three starts, having finished runner-up in all of them. She also has a tricky draw for Fortune, but he excels at coaxing fillies like this to win.
Intro makes her local debut for the very much in-form Dean Smith stable. This filly has raced 32 times without winning but has finished runner-up in five of her last 10 starts.
Her current rider, Craig Zackey, has partnered her before and is in good form, so he might be able to get her to score.
Clive Robinson
