The Listed Algoa Cup, a race known in days of yore as the “Eastern Cape’s July”, has been dominated by Cape Town raiders, with the last locally trained winner (Surfin’ Usa) dating as far back as 2009.
Glen Kotzen won the race last year with Han Solo, who lines up in defence of his title in Race 7 on Sunday 5 November, but the locals are well armed with 10 of the 16 runners in this year’s renewal and it could pay to side with Alan Greeff’s sole representative, Grazinginthegrass.
This six-year-old gelding began his career on the Highveld with co-owner Mike de Kock before relocating to Gqeberha where he has thrived, with 12 of his 13 career wins registered in Greeff’s care. He has rattled off six of those wins at his last six starts on both the turf and Polytrack over distances from 1600m to 2000m, including over the course and distance of Sunday’s Algoa Cup.
This son of Philanthropist gets on particularly well with red-hot Richard Fourie, who is reunited with Greeff’s charge, having already steered him to eight wins, three seconds, and two thirds in their 14 starts together.
He has also beaten re-opposing rivals Hoedspruit, Bush Tracker and Cherry Ano in his last three starts, and prior to that defeated recent subsequent winner Peace In Our World.
Grazinginthegrass is no stranger to carrying big weights, in fact three of his six consecutive victories came under 62kg. So, even with 61.5kg on his back, he is good value to become the first locally trained winner of the 2000m Listed Algoa Cup for 14 years.
The Quartet is an attractive betting proposition and usually pays well with a big field to choose from and with Grazinginthegrass a confident banker, it could pay to include the three aforementioned rivals with Han Solo, Gallic Tribe and Cape raiders Triple Time and The Futurist in Quartet permutations.
Kotzen’s raid on the nine-race meeting is unlikely to go without success with Enchanted Sky (Race 1) and Flower OF Saigon (Race 6) expected to deliver the goods for their Woodhill Racing linchpin.
Greeff and Fourie, on the other hand, are also likely to add to their success on the day with Lady Mistico in Race 4 and smart sprinter Cliff Top in Race 8.
Clive Robinson
