September is a very exciting month for Nelson Mandela Bay Racing, it includes the Jockey Club Stakes, Speedsters Stakes, Friendly City Stakes and the Poly Challenge. It starts with Friday’s meeting of eight races on the Fairview Turf track. The R200 000 Listed Betway Insurebet Jockey Club Stakes for fillies and mares over 2000m is the feature race.
This should be a thrilling affair with the local stars being challenged by three visiting Western Cape stables. Santa Therese is priced up as the favourite to win the race and is probably also the sentimental favourite. She has been a stellar performer for the Alan Greeff stable and is one of the Fairview darlings. Santa Therese will be aiming at a third consecutive victory in this race and will have top jockey Richard Fourie in the saddle. Greeff confirmed that Santa Therese will be off to Stud after Friday.
She clearly knows how to win this race but there are a number of dangers. One of them is Medlers Tart from the Sharon Kotzen yard. Her last win was an impressive performance in the Walmer Handicap. This was on the Poly but she is just as good on the Turf and has attracted early money. Medlers Tart will be taking on tougher opposition this time but she might be good enough to be right there.
Five of the ten runners in the race are from the Western Cape. All of them must be respected. Veronica Mars, trained by Justin Snaith, is probably the pick of the visitors. She has been aiming for this race and should have no problem with the distance. Grant van Niekerk will take the ride for the Snaith stable. Future Girl (Brett Crawford) looked the part when winning the Grade3 WSB Stormsvlei Stakes over 1800m. She will have to produce a similar run to win. Glen Kotzen visits with Flower Of Saigon and Winter Scout. Both have some work to do to win, as is the case with the other Snaith runner Double Check, but include if you go wider in your bets.
Snaith will saddle strong favourites in races three to five. Prince Of Denmark is one of them in the third race, the first leg of the Pick Six at 14:05. Machete Man won the East Cape Derby in May on the Poly and is back as the favourite to win the fourth race. He should fight it out with Bournemouth (Greeff) in this Pinnacle Stakes over 2400m, the first leg of the first Jackpot. Bournemouth is looking for his third win in a row. Peut Etre Moi is another Snaith favourite who looks ready to win. The five-year-old mare will take her place in the fifth race which is the first leg of the second Jackpot at 15:15.
The eighth and last race at Fairview is usually a wide-open affair but Joy And Peace (Greeff) looks very well weighted to win the Novice Plate for fillies and mares.
The first race is at 12:50 and what a start it will be! The Betway Aviator Work Riders Maiden Plate is always a highlight at any Fairview meeting and the amateur riders will once again be supported eagerly by the crowd in their bid to produce the goods. Sibongile Liyaba is the East Cape Work Rider champion for the past two seasons and should find the winners box again. He will have many supporters when he will try and bring the favourite Bridgerton home for the champion stable of Gavin Smith.
The conditions could be challenging as a cold day and a possible strong head wind are predicted.
FAIRVIEW IN SEPTEMBER
1: Turf – Jockey Club Stakes
8: Turf – Speedsters Stakes
15: Poly
22: Turf – Friendly City Stakes
29: Poly Challenge Leg 2