Jack Milner: Jockey Greg Cheyne and trainer Alan Greeff could come away from Friday’s meeting on the Fairview Polytrack with an abundance of winners.
Marmara Sea came to Port Elizabeth, had a workout on the Polytrack and fell in love.
The son of Soft Falling Rain is now unbeaten in four starts on the surface and will attempt to extend that to five in Race 3 at Fairview today, a MR 95 Handicap over 1600m.
The question one needs to answer is how much this four-year-old gelding had in hand when he won his last start. As has been the case with all four wins, he has not broken on terms with the balance of the field and that has forced his jockey to settle him near the rear, and then run at them
So far Marmara Sea has done that with ease and last time out, over this course and distance, he went on to beat Dubula by 1.25 lengths. However, the runner-up is now 2.5kg better off and that is often enough to turn the result around.
But the manner in which Marmara Sea mowed down his opposition gives one the impression there is loads more “vooma” in his tank.
Alan Greeff’s charge renews his relationship with jockey Greg Cheyne who missed the last two rides.
Greeff has a very strong card of runners and another likely winner for Cheyne pops up in Race 7, a Pinnacle Stakes over 1000m, where he rides Sullenberger. This Captain Of All gelding is also unbeaten on the Polytrack although he has just had two runs on the course.
Stablemate Verbarium has a 4kg swing for a 3.25-length beating but over this distance, and taking into account the ease of the victory, Sullenberger looks likely to retain his advantage.