Ekoria to provide a winning start

Bettors can rely on trainer Gavin Smith to get them off to a good start at Fairview on Friday.

Filly Ekoria could hardly have done more on her recent debut and should go one better this time.

The Smith-trained juvenile was slowly away by a couple of lengths and took her time to gather her best stride but when she did she quickened nicely and was only 2.25 lengths adrift of smart filly Chere For Me and a couple of lengths ahead of decent maiden winners.

It is interesting that this Futura filly started her career off over 1200m and her dam is by Silvano, which suggests she may want some ground soon, so a drop to 1000m when she lines up for Race 1, a Maiden Juvenile Plate, is a concern. But she may be a class above her rivals who have raced.

JP Van der Merwe takes the ride.

There is also a factor of uncertainty in that there are three newcomers carded for the race with one of them trained by Smith’s arch-rival Alan Greeff.

It is a big day by Eastern Cape standards and there are some nice races throughout the day and it is nice to see Justin Snaith, Glen Kotzen and Brett Crawford sending out raiders.

Snaith could be in the winner’s enclosure as early as Race 2 as his two chargers, Keep It Secret and I Want It All, look big runners.

Probably the best race class-wise comes in Race 7, the Glenlair Trophy (Listed) over 2800m.

Glen Kotzen-trained Follow That Star has a good record of three wins in just four starts at this course and is a proven stayer so should be hard to beat.

The other big race of the day is Race 8, the Eastern Cape Oaks (Listed) over 2000m and this should be competitive.

Form over the distance is thin in the book so the weights and merit-ratings could be suspect.

Once again Justin Snaith holds a decent hand and Peut Etre Moi should at least give punters a good run for their money.

Jack Milner’s selections

Race 1: 5 Ekoria, 3 Seismic Event, 6 Quelea, 1 Forbidden Beast

Race 2: 4 I Want It All, 1 Keep It Secret, 6 Drengs Ferry, 3 You Know Who

Race 3: 1 V V Power, 4 Global Beat, 2 Act Of Thunder, 6 Rio Supremo

Race 4: 3 Fly My Flag, 2 Sound Check, 7 Glacier Gold, 1 Joyful Noise

Race 5: 1 Pleasedtomeetyou, 9 Evies First, 6 What A Winner, 3 Inherit The Rain

Race 6: 6 Peut Etre Moi, 8 Field Of Vision, 2 Winter Scout, 7 Do Si Do

Race 7: 7 Follow The Star, 4 Sabina’s Prodigy, 10 Magnum Fire, 5 Miss Orange

Race 8: 5 Aus Bob, 2 Ferrari Ice, 9 Gold Rock, 4 El Romiachi

BEST BET: Race 1 No 5 Ekoria

VALUE BET: Race 5 No 1 Pleasedtomeetyou

BEST SWINGER: Race 2 1×4

BIPOT (R216)

Leg 1: 5

Leg 2: 1, 4

Leg 3: 1, 2, 4, 6

Leg 4: 2, 3, 7

Leg 5: 1, 6, 9

Leg 6: 2, 6, 8

PLACE ACCUMULATOR (R324)

Leg 1: 4

Leg 2: 1, 4

Leg 3: 2, 3, 7

Leg 4: 1, 6, 9

Leg 5: 2, 6, 8

Leg 6: 4, 7

Leg 7: 2, 5, 9

PICK 6 (R1728)

Leg 1: 1, 2, 4, 6

Leg 2: 2, 3, 7

Leg 3: 1, 6, 9

Leg 4: 2, 6, 8

Leg 5: 4, 5, 7, 10

Leg 6: 2, 4, 5, 9

JACKPOT 1 (R108)

Leg 1: 2, 3, 7

Leg 2: 1, 6, 9

Leg 3: 2, 6, 8

Leg 4: 4, 5, 7, 10

JACKPOT 2 (R144)

Leg 1: 1, 6, 9

Leg 2: 2, 6, 8

Leg 3: 4, 5, 7, 10

Leg 4: 2, 4, 5, 9