Jockey Richard Fourie has been in very good form in the Eastern Cape over the last few weeks and we will stick with him again for this very difficult meeting on the turf track at Fairview on Friday.
His rides Heathcliff in Race 5, and Arturo in Race 8.
Heathcliff has won four of his 18 starts and Fourie has been aboard him for three of those wins so clearly knows how to get the best out of him.
Interestingly, Fourie has not been up on Heathcliff in his last two starts and Heathcliff did show good improvement last time out, his second start back from a break. The four-year-old gelding made good late progress when third behind stable companion and rival in this race, Bournemouth, over 2400m at Fairview.
Stepping up to the 2700m, a distance over which Heathcliff has won nicely before, should bring out the best in him. We know how good Heathcliff is, but we may have yet to see the best of stable companion Arturo. This three-year-old colt has only won the one race in 10 starts but it was over 1200m, the course and distance of Race 8.
It is also worth noting that blinkers were fitted on Arturo last time out, resulting in a good run when third behind an improving sprinter. His merit rating has come down markedly and with Fourie up, that could make this three-year-old colt a lovey value bet.
Trainer Sharon Kotzen has her charge, the mare And We Danced, on a recovery mission after a run of four defeats.
Admittedly, she has had a couple of moderate rides of late, particularly her penultimate start.
The 1600m of Race 6, a Condition Stakes for fillies and mares, will suit And We Danced as she has not finished out of the top three in six starts over this course and distance, having won three times, been runner-up twice and finishing third on the other occasion.
Clive Robinson
