Western Cape trainer Justin Snaith on Tuesday scratched both his Betway Algoa Cup runners shortly after it was announced that the R350 000 Listed event would be run on the Fairview Polytrack, and not the Turf track.
The Algoa Cup is the highlight of the Eastern Cape racing season and is the main event on Friday’s nine-race card.
Snaith had entered Rockpool and Call To Unite, with the latter having won his last two outings. Completing a hat-trick in the Algoa Cup would have been the cherry on the cake for the four-year-old Vercingetorix gelding.
The early decision to move the race meeting was taken after the Fairview track received 150mm of rain on Monday night, and with more rain forecast for the week.
The Algoa Cup has been dominated by raiders in recent years, with Jacques Strydom being the last Eastern Cape trainer to win the race in 2009 with Surfin’ USA, ridden by Strydom’s brother Piere.
Five of the 14 runners are from outside the province, with Glen Kotzen saddling four runners and Brett Crawford one.
To add further excitement to the card, TAB will be boosting the Pick 6 with a R500 000 carryover with the pool likely to reach R3 million.
Champion Jockey Richard Fourie will be aboard the Alan Greeff-trained filly Joy And Peace, so it comes as no surprise that she tops the early betting.
The odds on offer by World Sport Betting yesterday was: 7-2 Joy And Peace; 5-1 Blackberry Malt, Holding Thumbs; 6-1 Allez Moris; 7-1 Runaway Song; 10-1 Sequoia; 12-1 Street Art; 13-1 Bournemouth; 18-1 Anatolian Silver; 20-1 Mount Anderson, Firealley, Green Mandarin, Chollima; 45-1 San Quintin.