-Henk Steenkamp
Will the heavy rainfall earlier in the week help the East Cape stables to break their winning drought in the R350 000 Listed Betway Algoa Cup over 2000m at Fairview on Friday afternoon?
That is the big question after the meeting was switched from the turf to the poly surface following the rain. The change should be to the advantage of the Fairview horses, particularly those who like the artificial surface.
Surfin’ USA, trained by Jacques Strydom, was the last Eastern Cape-trained horse to win the Algoa Cup, way back in 2009.
Since then the Western Cape raiders have dominated the biggest race in the Eastern Cape, but this time they have to deal with the poly surface which is largely unknown to them.
Two Western Cape horses have been scratched due to the change of surface but there are still five raiders looking to take the silverware back to that mountain.
The visiting horses are not used to the poly surface and it should be very interesting to see how they take to it.
The Glen Kotzen yard visits with four runners, of which Blackberry Malt and Holding Thumbs, looks the pick.
Blackberry Malt won his last race over 1800m at Greyville. He is in excellent form and seems to be the stable’s first choice.
Kotzen thinks highly of Holding Thumbs and he won his last race in impressive fashion. He tackles much stronger now but is in excellent form. He must be considered for the win.
The Brett Crawford stable is represented by Allez Moris who is drawn well and in good enough form to be in the mix.
What about the locals?
The East Cape horse of the Season, Joy And Peace, heads the local challenge. She is a huge runner. The consistent four-year-old filly from the Alan Greeff yard has no problem with the poly and is in great form. She does have to carry 60kgs but has Richard Fourie in the saddle and is drawn in pole position.
The other Listed race at the meeting is the R250 000 Racehorse Owners Association Stakes for three-year-olds over 1600m. This looks like a boat race between My Best Shot (Greeff) and On My Honour (Kotzen).
There is a Non-Black Type event early in the day with the running of the Betway Wedgewood Handicap, now over 2200m and not 2400m after the change of surface. It is the first leg of the Bipot and Official Secret (Greeff) should be a safe banker.
Don’t miss Cruise Control (Gavin Smith) running in the ninth and last race. He should make it career victory number 14 in a Pinnacle Stakes over 1200m.
Good performances are also expected from Happy Holly (Smith, race 3), although it will be her first time on the poly, and Luna Halo (Greeff, race 6).
The first race is at 12:00 and punters will be interested in the Pick Six, boosted by a R500 000 carryover, which starts in the fourth race at 13:45.
As always - let’s give it a go!