Jack Milner: Following a course inspection as well as a penetrometer reading it was decided to move Friday’s turf meeting at Fairview to the Polytrack.
The penetrometer reading varied between 25 and 45 so with more rain forecast, it necessitated an early decision, as it was deemed unsafe for horses and riders.
All distances remain unchanged, and Race 1 will no longer be a work riders’ race as the horses will be ridden by professional jockeys.
Jockey Warren Kennedy is making a full attempt to securing a second South African champion jockey’s title and he will be making another trip to the Eastern Cape.
His best ride on a tough card looks to be Vision Of Ice in Race 4, a Maiden Plate over 1600m, but will have to overcome No 13 draw.
Kennedy has the experience to deal with these sorts of obstacles but fortunately his mount has great gate speed so he should be able to overcome the hurdle.
Well-bred Vision Of Ice, a daughter of the decent Icy Air, has been a disappointment so far in that she has yet to win. But she is lightly raced and being by Silvano, could get stronger and better over some more ground than the 1400m over which she runs in this race.
It is a weak race trainer Gavin Smith has found for the four-year-old filly and she could be a bit better than her rivals.
Juan Nel has his stable in top form and Irish Willow should be hard to beat in Race 7, a FM 82 Handicap over 1600m. Irish Willow was full of running when scoring earlier this month over 1400m at this track.
This longer trip should not trouble Irish Willow as she was full of running in her last win.
Both, however, have yet to race on the Polytrack.
Jack Milner’s selections
Race 1: 12 Jungle Promise, 1 Alloway Grove, 11 Overjoyed, 14 European Summer
Race 2: 1 Jackbequick, 4 Born A Star, 5 V V Power, 3 Que Es Var
Race 3: 2 Raise The Standard, 9 Weather Bomb, 1 Flying Pekan, 7 Global Tiger