Greeff, Smith square off in Fairview features

Jack Milner
Trainer Alan Greeff seems to hold all the aces ahead of Friday’s race meeting at Fairview, where two Listed features, the East Cape Guineas and East Cape Sprint Cup, headline the eight-race card.

The East Cape Guineas is also the second leg of the East Cape Sophomore Challenge, and after romping to a 2.25-length victory in the opening leg, the Ibhayi Stakes over 1400m, My Best Shot looks hard to oppose.

A seven-time winner from 13 outings, My Best Shot already boasts a victory over 1600m and having completed a hat-trick in the Ibhayi Stakes, should keep his momentum going.

Rather disappointingly, he will face only five challengers, with two of these his stable companions Splicethemainbrace and Master Forester.

Splicethemainbrace is a nine-time winner from 11 runs and arguably by far the best three-year-old filly in the Eastern Cape, so watching her go head-to-head with My Best Shot is a race to look forward to.

Richard Fourie has been the regular jockey on both of Greeff’s star three-year-olds, and he will be aboard My Best Shot on Friday, with in-form Ryan Munger contracted to steer Splicethemainbrace.

Gavin Smith, however, could come up trumps in the East Cape Sprint Cup where he sends out Kingdundee.

A three-time winner as a juvenile, the gelding, cantered in to take the honours in a Pinnacle Stakes in his first outing after turning three, beating the likes of Cliff Top by 2.25-lengths

If that run is any indication of his ability, he should take this race in his stride and prove he is the young prince of Fairview ready to challenge for the crown.

With Craig Zackey serving another suspension, JP van der Merwe is in town to ride for the yard.

Greeff-trained Fairy Knight stands out as the obvious threat. This gelded son of Global View won both the Ibhayi Stakes and the East Cape Guineas last season.

He has, however, been doing his best work over 1200m recently and will be aiming to complete a 1200m hat-trick.

The only concern is that Fairy Knight is coming off a break, which opens the door for Kingdundee.

Jack Milner’s selections

Race 1: 12 Silvan Mistress, 5 Golden Croc, 2 Barolo, 9 Royal City Girl

Race 2: 1 Mr Fox, 6 House Of Sussex, 8 Stormstride, 9 Greedanddesire

Race 3: 5 Dancing In Winter, 3 Ono No Komachi, 2 Bezonder, 1 Genteel

Race 4: 9 Holocene, 2 Pyromaniac, 5 Cheeky Laddie, 6 Central City

Race 5: 2 Nothingelsematters, 4 Haarlem, 3 Slainte Mhath, 5 Red William

Race 6: 7 Kingdundee, 1 Fairy Knight, 2 Khaya's Hope, 9 Golden Link

Race 7: 1 My Best Shot, 5 Splicethemainbrace, 4 Master Forester, 2 Waheed

Race 8: 10 Walkonthewildside, 3 Can't Say No, 9 Meursault, 8 Suchalife

BEST BET

Race 7: 1 My Best Shot

VALUE BET

Race 3: 5 Dancing In Winter

BEST SWINGER

Race 6 1x7

BIPOT

R216

Leg 1: 3, 5, 12

Leg 2: 1

Leg 3: 1, 2, 3, 5

Leg 4: 2, 5, 9

Leg 5: 2, 3, 4

Leg 6: 1, 7

PLACE ACCUMULATOR

R216

Leg 1: 1

Leg 2: 2, 3, 5

Leg 3: 2, 5, 9

Leg 4: 2, 3, 4

Leg 5: 1, 7

Leg 6: 1

Leg 7: 3, 8, 9, 10

PICK 6

R1200

Leg 1: 1, 2, 3, 5, 6

Leg 2: 2, 5, 6, 9

Leg 3: 2, 3, 4, 5

Leg 4: 1, 2, 7

Leg 5: 1

Leg 6: 2, 3, 8, 9, 10

JACKPOT 1

R48

Leg 1: 2, 5, 6, 9

Leg 2: 2, 3, 4, 5

Leg 3: 1, 2, 7

Leg 4: 1

JACKPOT 2

R60

Leg 1: 2, 3, 4, 5

Leg 2: 1, 2, 7

Leg 3: 1

Leg 4: 2, 3, 8, 9, 10