EC MEMORIAL MILE

Henk Steenkamp

The new East Cape champion stable of trainer Alan Greeff will be tested by the Cape Town raiders in two feature races at the Fairview Turf track on Friday. the R150 000 Paddock Stakes (race 6) followed by the R175 000 Memorial Mile (race 7), over 1600 meters, tops the bill when the new season in the Eastern Cape starts with a bang.

Greeff dominated the Memorial Mile in recent times. He will be aiming to make it five wins in a row in this event. Of his three runners in this year’s renewal, Fairy Knight is the stable elect. He has proven himself over track and trip and is a huge runner. Sean Veale takes the ride for the first time and will be under pressure to produce the goods. He is still finding his feet riding at Fairview.

Sugar Mountain (Candice Bass-Robinson) and Hat’s Pride (Glen Kotzen) are the visitors who must be respected. The class horse in the race is Sugar Mountain. He showed plenty of guts in his last victory in the Winter Mile (NBT) at Kenilworth and the Fairview track should suit the son of Silvano. His preparation might not have been ideal with the rainy weather in Cape Town but if all went well with his travels; he should take the silverware. Aldo Domeyer will be in the saddle.

Cherry Ano (Gavin Smith) and Inherit The Rain (Greeff) are others to consider, along with Hat’s Pride, if you look further than the two top choices. Firealley (Jacques Strydom) could be the dark horse in the race if he can follow up on a very good last run over a shorter distance.

Here are the past years winners:

2023: Grazinginthegrass

2022: Grazinginthegrass

2021: Marmara Sea

2020: Marmara Sea

2019: Sacred Arrow

2018: Afrikaburn

2017: Stormy Eclipse

2016: Readytogorightnow

2015: Night Trip

2014: Red Barrel

2013: Celtic Fire

2012: Celtic Fire

2011: Fabiani

2010: Celtic Fire

2009: Vangelis