The rivalry between the Eastern Cape and their Western Cape counterparts continues at Fairview on Friday and in the Listed East Cape Fillies Nursery the sole Western Cape entrant, Certainly, does look the one to beat.
The Glen Kotzen-trained filly looked good on debut when winning easily in November last year.
The daughter of Wylie Hall probably needed her first outing of the year when never a factor, but in her second she showed that run is best ignored with an impressive win.
She was a start-to-finish winner over the tough Kenilworth 1200m so the Fairview 1200m will clearly not trouble her and she will take some catching.
Two local entrants who are clearly promising and may test her are Chere For Me and Holly’s View.
Jacques Strydom-trained Chere For Me was seen to be doing her best work at the finish of her first two starts and third time out she third start was full of running beating Tufaan by 5.25 lengths over 1000m.
Stepping up to this distance should suit her even better.
Trainer Alan Greeff has three runners carded for this race and while Bouquet and Emily’s Spirit cannot be dismissed away completely, one has to believe the major hope lies with Holly’s View.
Greeff has an outstanding record in juvenile features and his Global View filly quickened like a good horse when winning on debut and should be smarter this time.
Earlier on this card, the stamina of Divine Odyssey is set to be tested once again.
Divine Odyssey has been impressive in his three local wins and could stretch that to four on the trot as he is weighted to win again.
Greeff-trained Europeana finally reminded her supporters how good she can be with a fluent win in her latest start.
The handicapper gave her a massive penalty and although it will not affect her for this race it will make her future tasks in handicaps much tougher.
Kotzen sends out two to take her on and both Winter Scout and Official Secret are sure to be lively dangers.
Clive Robinson
