Alan Greeff, who wrested the champion trainer’s title from Gavin Smith last season, is on track for one of his best seasons if the first half is to be repeated in the last six months.
But while Greeff could have a good start to the day on Friday at Fairview, Smith looks to have the horses to beat in the day’s features (both handicaps) as well as a few other races.
In the Fairview Mile (Race 6) Smith sends out Cherry Ano, the best performed horse over this 1600m course. Cherry Ano, a Capetown Noir gelding out of Kahal mare My Cherry, is the top-rated runner with a merit rating of 109. He has run six times over the track and trip for five wins and a second place.
While many of his successes have been in races where he has been best weighted and while he has a bit more to do in a handicap, he has beaten some of his main rivals multiple times and comprehensively too. His merit rating has come down two points following a disappointing run on the Polytrack last time but he is on the turf this time and will be fitted with blinkers for this run.
Smith’s runner in the Fairview Merchants (Race 7) is unbeaten in three starts on the turf at Fairview. Gimme’s Laddie has actually won four races (one on the Polytrack) in the Eastern Cape.
He was, after all, a highly regarded horse when trained by Dean Kannemeyer in the Western Cape. Since switching to turf, he has been dominant, in his last grass contest even though going up eight merit rated points and jumping slow he still won comfortably with top weight.
Craig Zackey will be aboard both of those rides for the Smith yard.
Interestingly, Greeff-trained Cliff Top, the horse who for the longest time has been right up with the best, finished ahead of Gimme’s Laddie the last time they met. But that was on the poly where Smith’s charge did not (as he has previously shown) enjoy the track as he never quickened and back on turf it should be a different story.
Smith also has Golden Pavilion in Race 4. The grey Danon Platina gelding is in top form having won his last two (poly then turf) on the bounce. He beat Justin Snaith’s promising three-year-old Ardabil and doesn’t look to be meeting a horse of that calibre in his next heat so could make it three wins in a row.
Smith also looks to have two more solid chances in Race 1 with Fiery Countess and Nothingelsematters (Race 8). Both caught the eye in their respective heats and rate definite roving bankers for exotic bets.
Greeff, who has his yard in red-hot form, looks to have a strong hand in the earlier races.
Direct Hit was one of the most impressive juvenile winners seen so far and Greeff has another well-bred two-year-old filly (taking on Fiery Countess) in the Race 1. His comment on Anotherdanceforme is “will run well if not too green” and she could be the one that attracts all the betting support.
But it is another daughter of Master Of My Fate – Splicethemainbrace – that looks to be Greeff’s best and the standout race on the card.
Rated 108 Splicethemainbrace stands head and shoulders above her field in Race 2, the Breeders Guineas Plate over 1400m.
State Secret off a rating of 83, who is next best in at the weights, is a full 6.5kg under sufferance with her so this should be a dominant display for Splicethemainbrace who has some thrilling contests to come.
Clive Robinson
