Trainer Alan Greeff has had a tough last few weeks with some runners running below par. But he could have a good day at Fairview on Tuesday when he does hold a strong hand in Race 1 and Race 7.
Si Gioca, who lines up in Race 1, a Maiden Plate for fillies and mares over 1200m on the Polytrack, has been very frustrating for her owners and Greeff as she has been runner-up in her last three starts.
After some moderate early runs the Danon Platina filly ran third where the form has worked out pretty well and was expected to win soon, but alas Si Gioca has proven costly to follow.
Runner-up performances behind Piton De Neige, Whataball and Enchanting Sky followed. The last run was particularly disappointing as she never really got a blow in.
Drawn in pole position Si Gioca may force Richard Fourie to be aggressive and use start-to-finish tactics as it is a very weak race. She probably will not get a much easier race than this is to open her win account.
Joy and Peace is another Greeff-trained filly who has been costly and frustrating to follow but she can score in Race 7, the Aloe Handicap for three-year-old fillies over 1300m.
With a good debut win and some promising runs behind stable star Lunar Halo last season more was expected from the Master Of My Fate filly this season but she has flattered to deceive.
She has disappointed twice behind Gavin Smith-trained Pinnacle this season but did run a good race on the Polytrack in November easily beating stable companion and rival in this, Back For More.
That form has worked out with Back For More winning since.
Jockey Richard Fourie is usually on the stable elect and it is not often stable companions beat Fourie’s mounts but this could well be the case this time as Fourie is on Summer Odyssey.
This one-time winner is consistent but does lack a strong finishing effort. She will have her supporters and she may well win but it will be without our money.
Fourie has also been aboard Back For More a number of times and has won twice on her as well.
In the latest he had to ride her hard and picked up a R10,000 fine for misuse of the crop when a narrow winner.
Smith likes nothing more than to beat a Greeff-trained favourite and he has three runners carded for this.
Idita was a class juvenile but has been very disappointing of late. Enchanting Sky took a while to get out the maiden ranks but did win well last time out. However, Smith’s hopes of winning this race should rest with Hildelita.
This Vercingetorix filly won early in her career but did not show her best for a while although she has been performing well without winning of late and will be a danger.
Clive Robinson
