It is back to the turf track at Fairview on Friday, and we have a nice meeting for the punters after the drubbing we got on the Polytrack last Friday.
One thing about this card that catches the eye immediately is that jockey Richard Fourie is missing from this meeting.
After the run of beaten favourites over the last few weeks some unkind punters would say “thankfully”, but that may be a bit harsh.
Fourie has been at his very best on Grazinginthegrass and was aboard the Philanthropist gelding for four of his last five wins.
Fourie got him home in many a close finish.
Jockey Aldo Domeyer replaces him on Grazinginthegrass among others but he was aboard the gelding when scoring on the Polytrack last time out.
Grazinginthegrass is by no mean a “good thing” as Race 6, the Betway Insurebet Friendly City Stakes over 1800m, looks highly competitive.
Trainer Justin Snaith sends down two of his old stalwarts for this, and both are very well weighted.
Warrior tops that column for this race and if he can produce his best form, he will be hard to beat. But he has not won for some time now and was well beaten in his sprint preparation run for this race.
Stable companion Hoedspruit is on a long losing run but clearly needed his two sprints this season. Stepped up to a suitable distance he is clearly not out of it.
It does not stop there.
Trainer Gavin Smith has started this season like he ended last season and that is with plenty of winners, and his classy four-year-old gelding, Perfection, is returning from a break.
He improved with each run during the year and may have found 2200m on the Polytrack a bit far last time out.
He is right at home over this distance and can score if fit.
Sharon Kotzen has got Bush Tracker to win four of his last six starts and he is getting better with each run.
This is by far his toughest task but, who would write him off?
Jockey Muzi Yeni is setting a good standard in the chase for this year’s Champion Jockey award and he has a good rapport with filly Public Benefit.
She keeps improving and is poised on a hat-trick after some nice wins.
Stepped up to 1600m she won a Maiden Plate and looked even better when winning a Novice Plate last time out.
She goes 2000m for the first time in Race 3 and makes her handicap debut.
Joy And Peace was a bitter disappointment last time under Richard Fourie in a 1200m race two weeks ago, but she can make amends for that by taking out Race 7, a MR 78 Handicap for fillies and mares over 1400m.
The step up will suit this Master Of My Fate filly and she will enjoy going around the turn again. Domeyer could be the toast of the town.
Clive Robinson
