Racing at Fairview features a nine-race programme so even more excitement should be had on Friday.
The headline event, the Betway Insurebet Cradock Place Stakes over 1200m, should see a straight fight between local stalwart Cliff Top and lightning-fast Western Cape-based gelding Silver Falcon. Fairy Knight could edge out Underworld again, in the Betway Boost Racehorse Owners Association Plate over 1400m 30 minutes earlier.
It could be the case of the Eastern Cape versus the Western Cape in terms of the two feature races. Underworld from the Western Cape is the highest rated three-year-old in the Plate and trainer Justin Snaith with big-race rider Bernard Fayd’Herbe doing duty will be looking to dominate while the pair team up with Silver Falcon who went on five-race winning streak recently, who could secure Race 7.
However, in both of those contests leading East Cape conditioner Alan Greeff will be hoping to keep the prizes at home as he appears to have the firepower required. Richard Fourie, Snaith’s No 1 rider until this season, rides for Greeff.
Fairy Knight deposed Underworld as favourite for the Champions Juvenile Cup in July and duly finished ahead of the highly regarded Snaith colt even though the pair found Questor too good. Fourie had ridden both to win previously so it was no surprise to see him finish ahead of Underworld, even if was only 0.10 of a length.
Underworld came into that race rated 105 after winning the Listed Somerset 1200 at Kenilworth and remains at that mark so is again best weighted. He did have the worst of the draws then and this time will jump from gate No 1, but he hung inwards up the straight and couldn’t finish off the race. Interestingly he comes into this race off a 70-day rest.
Fairy Knight showed he too had not stopped improving after some smashing wins on the turf and Polytrack. He was expected to win his last start with a tongue tie fitted but didn’t show his usual pace and as a result the tongue tie has been taken off.
Other than that, he has done little wrong and there is no reason to believe he can’t beat Underworld again even though rated 93.
Fourie has, however, had a hard time getting Cliff Top’s head in front recently. He was weighted to win his last two but had to settle for second both times. Those were still cracking efforts as it is now starting to look like he may have more of a preference for the turf. Fourie again has ridden both and he will know that while Cliff Top has been hesitant, Silver Falcon has been the opposite.
Prior to his last start he notched up five successive wins. Typical of a sprinter of the highest rank he is able to quicken from off the pace but last time out he failed to find that finish and finished fourth in a six-horse field, beaten 4.75-lengths by Looking For Hounds.
Nevertheless, even though he and Cliff Top are the joint best weighted runners in the field, based on who he has beaten in recent times, he could be too good for the Eastern cape opposition..
As to the value on the day, all of Bridgerton (Race 2), Mister Monocle (Race 3) and Komesans Passion (Race 8) rate decent each-way value in their respective heats.
Clive Robinson
