FAIRY KNIGHT IS READY TO FIGHT

Henk Steenkamp

After placing in three Non-Black Type races this season, it is time for Fairy Knight to find the number one box.

The five-year-old son of Global View is the horse to beat in the R175 000 November Stakes (NBT) over 1400m, the feature race at Friday’s Fairview Polytrack meeting.

Fairy Knight, who has won 10 races from 22 starts, loves the poly surface. He has been competing in sprint races recently, but has shown what he can do over 1400m.

He has won twice and finished second twice in his four starts over this distance.

Fairy Knight does have 61kgs to carry but is weighted to win the race. Luyolo Mxothwa takes the ride for the Alan Greeff stable.

Fairy Knight has not been at his very best lately but in this small field of six runners USA’s Hope, from the Dean Smith yard, looks the only danger to the favourite.

USA’s Hope is also a fan of the poly and is in very good form. Regular pilot Craig Zackey will be in the saddle.

Although Fairy Knight stands out, the November Stakes is not an easy race to win. Last year the redhot Greeff favourite Luna Halo was well beaten when Passchendaele (Kelly Mitchley) was the winner. Luna Halo could only manage fourth place.

Special horses like Global Drummer, Khaya’s Hope, Celtic Fire, Chestnut’s Rocket and Ecole Militaire are amongst the past winners of the November Stakes. It will take another special effort to win on Friday.

The November Stakes is race four on the card of eight races. It is the first leg of Jackpot One and off at 14:15.

The meeting starts with a Maiden Plate over 1200m at 12:30. It is the first leg of the Bipot and Elusive Black (Smith) looks like a banker.

North Star (Greeff) and Royal City Girl (Mitchley) should fight it out for the win in race two, the first leg of the Place Accumulator, at 13:05.

Pick Six players get involved from the third race at 13:40. Fairy Knight and another Greeff runner Green Isle will be popular bankers.

Green Isle was unlucky to miss the hat-trick in her last start and is the horse to beat in the sixth race, a handicap for fillies and mares over 1400m, off at 15:25.