Henk Steenkamp:
There is a lot of interest in the performance of Fairy Knight at Friday’s Fairview Turf meeting.
Not only will the son of Global View be a popular banker but it is also his first run since being gelded six weeks ago.
Fairy Knight looks way too strong for the opposition in the Sophomore Plate for three-year-olds over 1400m – race 6 at 15:20.
Last month he won his last start over 1600m on this course very well and should notched up a fourth career win from his tenth start for the Alan Greeff stable.
Regular jockey Richard Fourie will be in the saddle and Fairy Knight will have lots of support from the Halo Syndicate to deliver the goods.
If not in need of this run after being gelded, Fairy Knight should be very difficult to beat.
For those that are a little wary of the first run back, Waz Wouter and The Winter Lake make most appeal as a backup in your bets.
Both are from the red-hot Gavin Smith yard.
Waz Wouter won very easily over the same distance two weeks ago but does take on stronger now. Apprentice jockey James Lihaba will take off 2.5kgs again.
The Winter Lake won his last start over 1000m. Louie Mxothwa retained the ride.
In his penultimate run The Winter Lake finished nearly five lengths behind Fairy Knight but is 2.5kgs better off at the weights now and should put up a stronger challenge.
Another interesting race is the strong looking Pinnacle Stakes for fillies and mares over 1000m – race five at 14:50.
Smith has a strong hand with Golden Pacific, Paris Lass and Civil Rights but Chere For Me (Jacques Strydom), Bonnaroo, Esther (both Greeff) and Princess Deb’s (Duncan McKenzie) are also capable of winning.
A tailwind should assist the frontrunners and the work riders will not be holding back when the meeting of eight races starts with the Work Riders Maiden Plate over 1200m at 12:30.
This race always gets huge crowd support and it should again be a competitive and exciting affair when a full field of 18 runners go to post.
King Of Queen (Smith) and Raptor Island (Kelly Mitchley) are the main runners but it is a tricky start to the Bipot with the work riders involved. It is probably wise to go wide in your bets.
It doesn’t get any easier in the second race, the first leg of the Place Accumulator at 13:05, with a Maiden Juvenile Plate over 1000m.
Bumps Last Grind (Mitchley) should be a big runner after he very nearly won his debut run last month.
The filly Eat Pray Love (Greeff) was just behind him that day but the way she was finishing her race also makes her a huge contender.
Another challenging Pick Six for punters starts with the third race at 13:40.
The first Jackpot gets underway with a Classified Stakes over 1600m – race four at 14:15 – followed by the Pinnacle Stakes and Sophomore Plate.
Found our selections at Henk Se Wenk.