PACAYA MEETS THE CHAMPIONS

Henk Steenkamp

Pacaya, one of the top horses in the stable of national champion Justin Snaith, will be taking on the East Cape champions at Fairview on Friday. The R200 000 Friendly City Stakes (NBT) over 1800m should be a cracking race when Pacaya clashes with the East Cape Horse of the Season, Joy And Peace, Fairy Knight and Cherry Ano.

Snaith ran second with Hoedspruit last year when the Alan Greeff-trained Grazinginthegrass won this race. It could well be these two stables fighting it out for the win again. Pacaya regained his best form earlier this year with a fine victory over 1800m in the grade3 Legal Eagle Stakes. He followed it up with two second places. The sixth-year-old son of Trippi is deadly over the distance but has a tricky wide draw to overcome with Muzi Yeni in the saddle. Pacaya can be a difficult ride at times and he also had to travel to take on strong opposition.

East Cape champion trainer Greeff has four runners in the race with Joy And Peace and Fairy Knight the horses to look out for. Joy And Peace has won her last five starts. She is unbeaten from two starts over this distance. The four-year-old filly will be a factor with Kendall Minnie, who won the East Derby on her, in the saddle.

Champion jockey Richard Fourie will be riding Fairy Knight who was the champion three-year-old in the Eastern Cape last season. He loves the Fairview Turf track and will be a contender.

The Gavin Smith-trained Cherry Ano is one of the best older horses in the Eastern Cape. He was full of fight when he won the Listed Memorial Mile in his last start. He seems to be at his best over shorter but should challenge gamely and cannot be ignored.

There are other runners in the field of 12 that can upset the apple cart, and the weather can also have an impact on the race. 

A bit of rain is predicted and a move from the Turf to the Poly surface won’t be in Pacaya’s favour. He likes wet conditions though and if there is rain with no change of surface, Pacaya will be in his element.

There are also other East Cape champions in action at the good-looking meeting. Last season’s champion two-year-old filly Splicethemainbrace runs in handicap company for the first time. She should stay unbeaten in the fifth race. Champion sprinter Three Rocks is the horse to beat in the Betway Pinnacle Stakes for fillies and mares (race 7).

The Friendly City Stakes is race six on the card at 15:35.

The meeting starts on an exciting note at 12:46 with the running of a wide open Work Riders Maiden Plate.