A Swinger In race 1 could get bettors off to a winning start at Fairview on Friday where racing is on the turf track.
Trainer Gavin Smith has his horses firing and his two juveniles in the opening race both look like likely to fight out the finish.
Querari colt Cruise Control was very speedy on debut and won in a fast time. Admittedly, that form was overturned completely at Kenilworth when the runner-up, Cliff Top, won and Cruise Control ran a disappointing seventh.
Sometimes travelling can get to a horse and perhaps that was the case, and back on his home track he will make them come and fetch him.
Stable companion Forest Spy was slowly away but still showed promise when third behind rival-in-this-race Bouquet. Both were making their debuts.
Forest Spy showed he has come on from that performance when a good winner last week. Bouquet, trained by Alan Greeff, was ridden by stable jockey Greg Cheyne that day and Cheyne has deserted Bouquet to ride the newcomer Feeling Foxy. Although she will need to be very good to beat these runners on her debut she may well do so.
In any case, the Swinger 1×2 looks a confident bet.
There are a couple of nice races on this card.
Race 4, a Pinnacle Plate over 2000m, sees one of the Eastern Cape’s favourite sons, Marmara Sea, contest a race where the conditions favour him.
This distance does stretch him and although he is offered up as a possible winner, it is more out of respect for him than confidence in him winning the race.
Find Me Unafraid finished ahead of him in the Algoa Cup and could confirm that result.
Divine Odyssey is out seeking a hat-trick and must be respected.
Justin Snaith makes the trip with Sabina’s Prodigy, and he can also go close to winning.
The Western Cape also have a strong hand in the two feature races on the day and Santa
Maria and Good Traveller should both be included in all the exotics.
Clive Robinson
