Pick 6 players have been set a tough task at Fairview this Friday with a difficult card and it is with trainer Gavin Smith on whom the obvious banker will be relied.
His charge, four-year-old gelding Khaya’s Hope, was very good last year winning four of his starts in the year for a career record of seven victories out of 15 runs.
Interestingly, he has the same record of four wins over 1400m, the distance of Race 6, a Pinnacle Stakes on the turf track.
Khaya’s Hope scored on the Polytrack for the first time in his last start, his fourth attempt on the surface, and he only just got there, but he did seem to have matters in hand from a long way out.
Jockey Louis Mxothwa was aboard last time out but it will be Craig Zackey on him this time around.
Zackey was aboard the gelding in his penultimate start when he beat top sprinter and stable companion Cruise Control by an impressive 2.50 lengths.
That was Khaya’s Hope’s most impressive win so far.
A wide No 12 draw and the fact he will be returning from a break, does not make his task a foregone conclusion, but punters will at least know that if the right ‘Khaya’ turns up they have a lot more than hope riding on him.
Anyone who follows the trotting of harness racing quickly learns that trainers, particularly in France, like to run their charges twice after a break before going barefoot and having a full attempt at winning.
Why do I mention that you may well ask? If you study form you will see it could apply to a runner in Race 8.
Ferrando is a speedy customer, and he has returned from a break to run two fair races. This Friday he should be in peak fitness and could score at decent odds.
Clive Robinson
