With all the rain around over the last month or so, the Polytrack at Fairview has seen maximum usage, and racing returns to that surface again this Friday.
It is not an easy card, but there are some runners who have improved on the Polytrack and should be worth following.
Well-bred Great Notion proved a disappointment in Gauteng, as she won only one of her 16 starts. However, she has been a revelation since joining trainer Alan Greeff and has won her last two starts.
The grey filly scored in a MR 86 Handicap for fillies and mares over 1200m at Fairview on the turf on 10 October. The four-year-old quickened nicely that day under Xolani Ndlovu to win by 1.25 lengths, beating Polynomial, and picked up a four-point penalty for that success.
At her next start, she tried the Polytrack and impressed with a very strong late run, scoring a 1.25-length victory over Gorgeous Cape with Richard Fourie in the irons. Fourie appeared to have plenty in hand at the finish, and her five-point penalty may not anchor her.
She runs in Race 2, a Conditions Plate over 1200m.
Trainer Dean Smith has made a very good start to his training licence, and his charge, filly Family Power, looks the right one in Race 7, a MR 86 Handicap for fillies and mares over 1600m. This Louis The King mare has won two of her last three starts and was unlucky not to win her penultimate outing.
It is worth noting that the only time jockey Craig Zackey rode her, she ran out a very easy winner. She has also won over this course and distance on the Polytrack and can score again.
Two maiden runners on this card also worth mentioning as possible bets are Terminal Velocity in Race 1 and Blame It On Me in Race 4.
Terminal Velocity has been very costly to follow, but the step up in distance should suit her and she deserves a winning turn.
Blame It On Me was only modest in the Western Cape but did run well on her local debut. She will strip fitter and smarter this time around and could win in a weak maiden field.
Clive Robinson
