HOPES REST ON KHAYA

-Henk Steenkamp-

The classy Khaya’s Hope won’t have it all his way but should be too strong for the opposition in a Pinnacle Stakes over 1400m at the Fairview Turf meeting on Friday.

He returns from a break of three months after he won his last two starts and could make it three wins in a row.

The son of The United States will jump from a wide draw but is the horse to beat with Craig Zackey in the saddle.

The stable of champion trainer Gavin Smith is in fine form and the supporters can look forward to a good performance from Khaya’s Hope. He does have to carry 62kgs but is weighted to win.

Smith warns that it won’t be an easy task for Khaya’s Hope if you take the draw and 62kgs in consideration.

“It is not going to be easy for him. He has his work cut out but track and trip suits,” Smith commented.

Prince Of Fire, Bush Tracker, Inherit The Rain and Rose Of Bayeux are the main challengers.

The Pinnacle Stakes is race six on the card and will be off at 15:20.

The meeting starts at 12:30 and the first race is the first leg of the Bipot. The Alan Greeff-trained Splicethemainbrace is the only winner in the race and a definite inclusion but the Smith first timer Gold Guest has been backed into favourite. They could fight this one out.

It is a tough ask for the other stables to win a race at Fairview with Smith and Greeff dominating proceedings but Kelly Mitchley has a strong hand in the second race at 13:00.

She will be saddling Anatolian Silver and William’s Legacy to give the Smith runners a go in the first leg of the Place Accumulator.

Race three is a competitive first leg of the Pick Six at 13:35. The first Jackpot gets underway with the fourth race at 14:10 in which the filly Trip To Barberton (Smith) will try to get that elusive second career victory in another competitive affair.

The Tara Laing yard had a good day at Tuesday’s Poly meeting and can have a winner with Pedro when the second Jackpot starts with race five at 14:45.

Khaya’s Hope will be a popular banker in the sixth race, followed by race seven at 15:55.

On Tuesday there was an upset in the eighth and last race. Again it is a tricky handicap at 16:35 to end the meeting.

Find our selections at Henk Se Wenk.