Brett Crawford will be raiding Fairview on Friday with two runners to take on the pride of Gqeberha (formerly Port Elizabeth) in the Listed East Cape Guineas over 1600m.
Topping the list of locally trained runners is Alan Greeff-trained Fairy Knight, a winner of five of his 11 races along with another four runner-up spots.
The two runners Crawford is bringing to town are Zoomie and Zil Morris and he must have a lot of confidence for the former in particular as the last time he came to Fairview, he beat Fairy Knight by 0.25 length over this 1600m on the turf track.
In his three races since then Zoomie has failed to place, but he was taking on some stiff opposition. He raced in the Grade 2 Cape Punters Cup in which he finished sixth behind Hluhluwe followed by the Grade 1 Cape Guineas in which he finished sixth behind Snow Pilot. He was beaten 4.50 lengths in the first of those and 4.60 lengths in the second so no one can accuse him of a lack of consistency.
Those two races were specifically for three-year-olds but last time he took on older horses over 1400m, ended up too far behind, so he did well to finish 5.95 lengths behind At My Command.
Louie Mxothwa takes the ride aboard this three-year-old Querari gelding.
Zil Morris is a bit of an enigma as he has had only one race over 1600m and that was in the Guineas where he was beaten 1.50 lengths by Zoomie. so he does look held by his stablemate.
However, Zoomie might struggle to beat Fairy Knight this time. After his loss to Zoomie Greeff’s charge went on to win the Guineas Plate after which he was gelded.
The son of Global View went on to win his next two races and could not have been more impressive last time when claiming the Listed Ibhayi Stakes by 4.50 lengths.
He clearly has improved with the gelding and Richard Fourie, who has ridden him in all of his 11 starts, will feel positive he will turn the tables this time.
Glen Kotzen is bringing Hat’s Pride to Fairview for this race, but he finished third behind Zoomie and Fairy Knight last time they met and looks unlikely to turn that form around with both of them.
Clive Robinson
