Henk Steenkamp
Alan Greeff’s sensational season is poised for a crowning moment on Friday at the Fairview Turf track.
The champion trainer stands on the brink of clinching the coveted Triple Crown, a feat that would etch his name even deeper into the racing history of the Eastern Cape.
Greeff can become the first trainer to win all three legs of the East Cape Sophomore Challenge.
The horse that can do it for Greeff, and secure a bonus of R250 000 for his connections, is the three-year-old gelding My Best Shot.
My Best Shot won the first two legs of the challenge, but his toughest task will be in Friday’s third and final leg.
He will attempt to win the R350 000 Listed World Sports Betting East Cape Derby (race 8 at 16:00) over 2400m, the main event at a quality meeting.
My Best Shot was an easy winner of the Listed Ibhayi Stakes over 1400m in February, and the Listed East Cape Guineas over 1600m in March.
It will be a huge step up in distance for him in the Derby, but there are indications in his breeding that suggest he can handle the distance.
The son of Fire Away is by far the class horse in the race and Greeff will have him ready to make history with Richard Fourie in the saddle.
The only Triple Crown winners in the East Cape so far is King Regent, who won all three legs of the Poly Challenge this season, and Stormy Appeal who ruled supreme in the EC Fillies and Mares Challenge in 2003.
If My Best Shot does fluff his lines for some reason, the race becomes wide open.
Greeff has solid backup though as he will saddle 6 of the 11 Derby runners. One of them is the filly Lotus Island, a winner of her last four starts, who should be in the mix.
The only visitor from the Western Cape is the Justin Snaith-trained Ardabil. He is in good form and another good run is expected.
Master Forrester, Mister Speaker (both Greeff) and Honorable Member (Sharon Kotzen) also have money chances, but they will probably have to rely on a way under par run from the favourite to win the race.
We make My Best Shot a banker and he is our pick to win the Derby.
Greeff also has a very strong hand in the R175 000 Listed Dahlia Plate for two-year-olds over 1200m (race 7 at 15:25).
The Greeff fillies Anotherdanceforme and Hot Sauce look set to fight it out for the win. It could very well be a feature double for the stable.
Anotherdanceforme is unbeaten from three starts. The daughter of Master Of My Fate will have Andrew Fortune in the saddle and can remain unbeaten.
Hot Sauce made an impressive winning debut over this track and trip in March. She has Richard Fourie aboard and it should be interesting to see if she has improved since that outing.
The meeting starts on an exciting note when all eyes will be on the 12 riders who line up for the WSB Welcomes You Work Riders Maiden Plate over 1000m.
This is the first race at 11:50 and the work riders race is always a crowd favourite at Fairview.
There are nine races on the card and the Pick Six starts with the fourth race at 13:35.
It might be worth giving Luna Halo another chance as a banker in the second leg, a Pinnacle Stakes for fillies and mares, which is race five over 1600m.
She disappointed last time out over 1400m and a much better effort is expected.
Derby Day is one of the biggest race days of the year at Fairview and is always a vibrant social occasion.
The racing should be top-class and with perfect weather predicted, all indications are it should be an entertaining afternoon.
As always, let’s give it a go!