Jockey Richard Fourie had a very rare bad day at Fairview last Friday but that is not likely to happen too often in the Eastern Cape and he should bounce back with some winners on Friday.
Ignitethelight, his ride in Race 7, a MR 72 Handicap for fillies and mares over 1400m on the turf, looks hard to oppose based on her recent Polytrack form.
The Gimmethegreenlight filly has only been beaten once in three starts since joining trainer Alan Greeff and that was last time out when she ran a cracker behind top-class Splicethemainbrace.
Ignitethelight was beaten in her first two starts on the turf in Johannesburg but a change in scenery and a switch to the Polytrack got immediate rewards.
The three-year-old filly beat Cape Flower on local debut and followed that up with a game win over State Capitol
It is, however, her last run when runner-up behind stable star Splicethemainbrace that suggests Ignitethelite is a lot better than her actual merit rating.
Splecethemainbrace gave Ignitethelite 6.50kg and only beat her by 1.50 lengths.
Ignitethelite finished full of running, which suggests her current merit rating of 86 may be too low.
It is also worth noting that ignitethelite has won both times Fourie rode her.
She will, however, need to transfer that form from the Polytrack to the turf.
Earlier on in the card, in Race 2 Cliff Top should go close to winning the Pinnacle Stakes over 1000m.
The Canford Cliffs gelding has not won for some time now and has been a tad unreliable of late but the drop to the minimum distance could pay dividends.
Clive Robinson
