Henk Steenkamp
An action-packed month of five Nelson Mandela Bay race meetings starts with a Fairview Turf meeting on Friday.
Eight races are carded and the big stables of Gavin Smith and Alan Greeff look ready to make an early impact on racing in the Eastern Cape in the new year.
Greeff saddled the last Fairview winner of 2023 this past Friday and could be the first in the winners’ box in 2024.
Splicethemainbrace is a very strong favourite to win the first race, the Welcome To Nelson Mandela Bay Maiden Juvenile Plate (fillies), for the Greeff stable. Richard Fourie is in the irons.
The meeting starts at 12:30 and the first race is the first leg of the Bipot.
A competitive looking second race at 13:05 gets the Place Accumulator underway and the Pick Six starts with the third race at 13:40.
The Smith yard has been outstanding last month and will have many followers on Friday. Jet Bund (race 3), Then In Focus (race 4) and Storm Commander (race 5) are huge runners for the stable.
United Express (race 7) will make her Fairview Turf debut for Greeff after winning on the Poly three weeks ago.
That was over 1600m and this time she will resume rivalry over 1400m with State Of Mind (Jacques Strydom), who is also in great form.
Find our tips on race day at Henk Se Wenk.