The mighty Cape Town stable of trainer Justin Snaith takes on the East Cape giants Gavin Smith and Alan Greeff in the two feature races at the Fairview Turf track on Friday. Snaith will saddle Top Quality and Silver Host in the R175 000 Listed Port Elizabeth Gold Cup over 3200m. Greeff looks strong with Heathcliff and American Landing in the race. Smith will give them a run for their money with Jaeger Moon.
Heathcliff is giving it one final go to try and win a Listed race as a three-year-old. He ran fourth in the Listed East Cape Guineas in March and very nearly won the Listed WSB East Cape Derby in May when he was third, only 0.50 lengths behind the winner Machete Man. Heathcliff won easily over 2700m in his last start and the son of Canford Cliffs still had plenty in the tank. Jockey Richard Fourie retains the ride and seems to have no problem settling Heathcliff in his races. He is fit, drawn well and clearly a big runner. Heathcliff could fight it out with Top Quality for the win. Top Quality ran third in the Grade 3 WSB Pocket Power Stakes and should have no problem stepping up to 3200m.
Don’t disregard Silver Host. We know what he is capable of but yes, he has a tough task carrying 62kgs. Jaeger Moon and American Landing will be ready to strike if Heathcliff and Top Quality struggle.
The PE Gold Cup is the sixth race on Friday’s card and is off at 14:25. The other big race is the R200 000 Listed Champion Juvenile Cup for two-year-old’s over 1400m. Again it looks like Snaith and Greeff will fight it out, with Smith a factor as always.
The Cape Town raider Underworld will attempt to make it three wins in a row. The Querari colt, trained by Snaith, is the favourite to win this one. He is very speedy, has good gate speed and seems able to turn it on when it matters. If the opposition is not wide awake he will punish them.
Fairy Knight from the Greeff yard is a huge danger. He has the ability to quicken up nicely and won his last start over 1200m going away. He must be looking forward to tackling 1400m. Smith will saddle two very lively challengers in Vision Of Wonder and Questor. Vision Of Wonder has shown he can take on Fairy Knight and Questor is in fine form, attempting to make it three wins in a row.
This race will start at 15:05 and is race seven. Both features are part of Jackpot1 which will be a very popular bet, boosted by a carryover of R250 000. The pool is expected to reach R1 million.
There are nine races carded, an early start with the first race off at 11:25. The Bipot starts with the second race at 11:55 and the third race is the first leg of the Place Accumulator at 12:25. Pick Six players get involved from the fourth race at 13:05 and the big Jackpot will consist of races five to eight, starting at 13:45 with the first leg where the Snaith-trained Double Check is the horse to beat.
Find our selections at Henk Se Wenk.
Past WINNERS of the Two Feature races:
CHAMPION JUVENILE CUP
2022: Port Louis
2021: Peace In Our World
2020: Global Drummer
2019: Foreign Source
2018: Madame Speaker
2017: Kimberley Star
2016: O Tamara
2015: Prince Of Thieves
2014: Jet Set Go
2013: Antonius Du Bois
2012: Sedge
2011: In A Rush
2010: The Plunderer
2009: Bold Silvano
PE GOLD CUP
2022: Barak
2021: Master Supreme
2020: Africa’s Gold
2019: Onesie
2018: Plano
2017: Shady World
2016: Crown Of Gold
2015: Drill Sargeant
2014: Crown Of Gold
2013: Crown of Gold
2012: Campo De Santana
2011: Key Castle
2010: Thunderflash
2009: Arctic Fleece
2008: Omega Code
2007: Palm King
2006: Alibama
2005: Arbe Kesev
2004: Waterloo Sunset
2003: Camp Danzig
2002: Me Tarzan