Smith v Greeff thrillers at Fairview

Jack Milner

When it comes to racing in Port Elizabeth one just can’t get away from it – it’s going to be Gavin Smith v Alan Greeff once again.

Which of them will win which race is open to question though, as they both have strong runners in the two main races at Fairview on Friday.

Race 7 is the Breeders Guineas for three-year-old fillies over 1600m where Smith saddles Futura filly Ekoria and Greeff sends out Double Destiny.

This one should go to Smith as Ekoria is not only well above average but is also the best weighted runner by at least 10.5kg.

She was only beaten twice in six starts as a juvenile, on debut and in the other was her fourth place in the Grade 1 Allan Robertson at Hollywoodbets Scottsville in which she was beaten only 2.60 lengths by Sweet Pepper.

Unfortunately for her supporters she has not been as good this season, having finished runner-up in all three of her starts. She is also untried over 1600m whereas Double Destiny won over this course and distance last time out.

Cruise Control and Cliff Top were supposed to have met two weeks ago but thunderstorms and jockeys refusing to ride curtailed that.

They meet in Race 6, a Pinnacle Stakes over 1000m, and should fight out the finish. Smith-trained Cruise and Greeff-trained Cliff Top have met four times with the outcomes even split at two apiece each.

The 1000m seems will suit Cruise Control who also gets a 1.5kg allowance with Rachel Venniker up.

But Cliff Top has impressed in his last two wins and comes in at the top of his game as is his rider, Richard Fourie.

Jack Milner’s selections

Race 1: 1 Amazing Colours, 2 Back For More, 6 Fire Glow, 7 First Minister

Race 2: 1 Yaya Maria, 2 Kilmonivaig, 13 Celtic Vixen, 7 Magenta

Race 3: 5 For All We Know, 6 Burning Moon, 9 Madame Vicki, 12 My Ami Beach

Race 4: 1 I Like It Hot, 2 Bonnaroo, 4 Great Melody, 6 Miss Rose

Race 5: 3 Arverni Warrior, 10 Picture The Moment, 1 Modern Magician, 2 Bethel

Race 6: 3 Cliff Top, 1 Cruise Control, 4 Stranger Danger, 9 Vegas Gold

Race 7: 1 Ekoria, 3 Double Destiny, 7 Strawberry Light, 2 Chere For Me

Race 8: 6 Perfection, 2 Pam's Princess, 1 Mhlabeni, 7 Secret Is Ours

Race 9: 8 Flinders Range, 6 Travel Master, 4 Equestrian Affair, 11 Gunsmoke

BEST BET

Race 7 No 1 Ekoria

VALUE BET

Race 3 No 5 For All We Know

BEST SWINGER

Race 6 1x3

BIPOT

R144

Leg 1: 1, 2, 13

Leg 2: 5, 6, 9, 12

Leg 3: 1, 2

Leg 4: 1, 3, 10

Leg 5: 1, 3

Leg 6: 1

PLACE ACCUMULATOR

R216

Leg 1: 5, 6, 9

Leg 2: 1, 2

Leg 3: 1, 3, 10

Leg 4: 1, 3

Leg 5: 1

Leg 6: 2, 6

Leg 7: 4, 6, 8

PICK 6

R480

Leg 1: 1, 2, 4, 6

Leg 2: 1, 2, 3, 8, 10

Leg 3: 1, 3

Leg 4: 1

Leg 5: 1, 2, 6

Leg 6: 4, 6, 8, 11

JACKPOT 1

R30

Leg 1: 1, 2, 3, 8, 10

Leg 2: 1, 3

Leg 3: 1

Leg 4: 1, 2, 6

JACKPOT 2

R24

Leg 1: 1, 3

Leg 2: 1

Leg 3: 1, 2, 6

Leg 4: 4, 6, 8, 11