Jack Milner: Lyle Hewitson is riding winners at every venue he visits and at the time of writing has totalled 219 victories so far this season.
That puts him 66 clear of current champion jockey Warren Kennedy, who is in second spot with 153 winners.
So, with just two months left in the season, Hewitson already has his hands on the crown to land his third title in the last four years.
Both Hewitson and Kennedy have been booked to have a full card of rides at Fairview this afternoon, the former having his eight rides for Gavin Smith while Kennedy has all of his for Zietsman Oosthuizen.
However, Smith is on a winning streak and Hewitson could be aboard the best bet on what looks a very tricky card. He rides Sacred Ibis, who will be having her first run in Port Elizabeth in Race 5, a MR 67 Handicap for fillies and mares over 1900m.
The grey daughter of Byword has moved from Garth Puller’s KwaZulu-Natal stable where she has come up against stronger than she will meet in this event. Punters can expect her to have no problems with the Polytrack as she has won on that surface at Greyville. In nine races on the poly, she has notched up one victory with one second and three thirds.
In fact, her last start at Greyville was over 1800m on the Polytrack where she went down 0.25 lengths to Integrity. The winner backed up the quality of that form line at Greyville on Saturday when she ran a 1.20-length third behind Top Me Up Holly in Race 3, a far stronger field than last time.
As a result, Sacred Ibis merely has to repeat her last run to win this race but if one is looking past her, then With Our Blessing and Soho Spirit could be the dangers.
Jack Milner’s selections
Race 1: 1 Keara, 3 Showtime Baby, 9 Giggle And A Talk, 6 Absolutely Fab
Race 2: 1 Prince Alf, 2 Hikaru, 3 Chicago West, 5 Drambuie
Race 3: 5 Storm Commander, 6 Phil’s Power, 2 Duke Of Cards, 1 Thomas Tucker
Race 4: 2 Red Rules, 3 Cianna, 1 Diamonds And Toads, 5 Chai
Race 5: 4 Sacred Ibis, 5 With Our Blessing, 9 Soho Spirit, 11 La Bastide
Race 6: 4 Imperious Duke, 5 Full Score, 2 Ninjinsky’s Son, 6 Fresh From The Us