Fairview hosts a decent racemeeting scheduled for the turf track on Friday with some competitive racing and four races that will hold punters’ interest.
The main race on the card is Race 6, the Port Elizabeth Gold Cup (Non-Black Type) over 3200m.
There are only a few races over the staying distances in the Eastern Cape in the season so form over this distance is hard to find, but not so long ago, in early April, Gavin Smith-trainer Zatara Magic won over 2800m at this course.
Zatara Magic won by 1.25 lengths and should have no problems with the longer distance.
He had likely favourite in this race Bournemouth 12.85 lengths behind him that day but do not be surprised if that form gets completely turned around.
Bournemouth ran in snatches that day and was eased out of the race in the closing stages.
The rides of Richard Fourie have impressed all season as have Bournemouth’s wins over 2400m in January this year and September last year.
There is a possibility that Bournemouth is at best over 2400m, but we will only know for sure late Friday afternoon.
This list of possible winners does not stop there as Smith is backed up by Peace In Our World who is back to his best and will not go down without a fight,
Visiting trainer Lucky Houdalakis does not travel often so his charge, Battleground, deserves some respect as this Futura gelding is a proven stayer.
Earlier on the card trainer Alan Greeff could get punters off to a good start as his two runners, Walt Whitman and Ellorix, in Races 3 and 4 respectively, look likely to get out of the maiden ranks.
Both only found one better on the day last time out and deserve a first success.
There was very little between Runaway Song and the very reliable Grazinginthegrass when they met at this course on 10 May and there will not be much between them again.
Grazinginthegrass fights hard all the way to the line so gets a narrow choice.
There has also not been much separating Grazinginthegrass and Cherry Ano a couple of times and Cherry Ano should also get into this battle.
Clive Robinson
