Most South African racing brains are focused on the Hollywoodbets Durban July on Saturday 6 July but meanwhile on Tuesday at Fairview trainers Alan Greeff and Gavin Smith continue a battle for the Eastern Cape champion trainer title and the lead stands at three in favour of Greeff at the time of writing.
Both have their normal wide spread of runners on the card but it does seem Smith holds a slight advantage at this particular meeting, and he could get his first winner as early as Race 3, a Maiden Plate over 1600m on the Polytrack.
His charge, gelding King Of Queen, has now finished runner-up in his last six starts. He really ought to have won one of them but a switch to putting up the 4kg claiming apprentice Nirvan Nastili could do the trick.
There is not much between him and rival Specmagic on their last run but King Of Queen has the more reliable Polytrack form.
Smith could have a stranglehold on Race 4, a MR 66 Handicap over 1900m, as he sends out three runners with winning hopes.
The Inkosana was backed last time as if they already knew the result and he did not let them down with a good win.
That was over 2200m. He drops in distance this time but he only received a four-point penalty and that may not be enough to prevent him from following up.
Head Gardener and Heknows have both won on the Polytrack this year and can pick up the pieces if The Inkosana were to flop
Greeff, though, could have the final say at this meeting as he has three strong runners in the last race.
Royally bred Call To Glory showed good improvement when winning her first start under Greeff’s care and looked good that day.vIt was her first taste of the Polytrack and she loved it.
She is backed up by Can’t Say No, a juvenile who has already won twice of late on this surface.
Three-year-old filly and stable companion to both of them, Catch Your Breath, also quickened well when winning last time and has more race wins in her too, so deserves respect.
Clive Robinson
