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Horse Racing, MERCANTOUR, Alan Greeff

Mercantour makes poly magic

October 2025

Danie Toerien

Mercantour, from the stable of Eastern Cape champion trainer Alan Greeff, on Friday inked his name in the record books after becoming only the second horse in history to win all three legs of the Nelson Mandela Bay Racing Poly Challenge - and the first local equine to achieve this feat.

The last leg, over 1600m on the Fairview Polytrack, saw the six-year-old excellently out from gate two under jockey Richard Fourie.

His stable companion Strathclyde was pushed to the front by jockey Charles Ndlovu while Bingwa, from Gavin Smith's yard ridden by Craig Zackey, sniffed the pacemaker.

Fourie settled Mercantour in third against the rail, and that's where he galloped as Strathclyde and Bingwa first went side-by-side with Bingwa then edging into the lead to hot up the pace.

A slight gap of around a length or two opened up between the first two and Mercantour, but Fourie managed to convince his mount not to give them a soft lead.

Going into the first bend, Mercantour moved into second with Juan Nel's Brenden James on his heels under jockey Chad Little.

Hitting the home straight with about 400m left to run, Fourie and Mercantour launched their attack. Bingwa was, however, not going down without a fight.

Once Mercantour hit the front though, it was game over, with Bingwa holding on for second 0.50-lengths behind the winner and Brenden James a fast-finishing third a further 2.25-lengths back. Wecangoallnight completed the quartet.

"He has done well and he is a worthy winner of all three the legs of the Poly Challenge," said Fourie after the race.

"Finally having a Triple Crown Poly champion from PE is absolutely amazing."

According to Fourie the race was rather "muggy".

"We didn't go fast at all and I was in daylight - not where I'm comfortable with this horse. I'd rather have him looking at horses. Just before the 900m mark it started stretching a bit behind the initial leader. He quickened up really well but I was at my max.

"Thank goodness I had a horse with a brave heart and he just kept plugging through to the line. He won a great race."

Trainer Alan Greeff admitted that the last leg of the Poly Challenge was the most nerve-racking as Mercantour had never won over 1600m before.

"When he won the first leg, I was relieved," said the trainer, adding that the Poly Challenge only became their main goal after Mercantour proved that the Polytrack is his favourite surface.

"This was the most nervous race for me but Richard was full of confidence after his last run that he would get the distance, and he has done so."

Both Fourie and Greeff were full of praise for owner Peter Moor for buying Mercantour and then relocating him from the Highveld down to the Eastern Cape.

"Well done to Mr Moor. He has done a huge favour for PE racing. We can't thank him enough for his support and I am very grateful that he is being richly rewarded here with a nice triple crown `bonus."

With his victory on Friday, Mercantour secured the R250,000 bonus for Moor and connections, bringing his total money earned for his last three runs to around R550,000.

The Poly Challenge spans three legs, progressing from a 1200m race, to a 1400m and then a 1600m.

Mercantour, by Var out of Western Winter mare Winter Wood, is the first Eastern Cape-based runner to win the challenge after Western Cape raider King Regent, a son of Dynasty trained by Glen Kotzen, broke the Poly Challenge ice last year.

 

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