Speedsters Stakes

Henk Steenkamp

The Gavin Smith stable will be aiming at a fourth consecutive win in the R175 000 Speedsters Stakes (NBT) over 1000m at the Fairview Turf track on Friday.

With the five-year-old Querari gelding Cruise Control back in town, Smith has an excellent chance of another victory.

Cruise Control returned to the Eastern Cape after three runs for the Duncan Howells yard in KwaZulu-Natal.

The run for fourth place in the Grade 1 Golden Horse Sprint underlined his class and we have seen what Cruise Control has done on the Fairview turf over this trip – three victories from four starts.

It is exciting to see Louie Mxothwa back in the saddle. He won three in a row with Cruise Control before the stint in KZN.

Cruise Control, the winner of this race two years ago, is not the biggest of horses but has proved he has no problem carrying 62kgs to victory.

It is a small field of six runners but the favourite’s rivals are all in good enough form to strike if Cruise Control fluffs his lines.

There are two Cape Town visitors in Speed Machine (Justin Snaith) and Blue Holly (Glen Kotzen).

Speed Machine seems to be back to his best. He gets the blinkers fitted to help him concentrate on his task at hand and could give Cruise Control a run for his money.

Blue Holly is the only filly in the race and her handy galloping weight of 53kgs is a huge advantage.

One can never write off the chances of Evies First. Trainer Juan Nel has done a great job to keep the seven-year-old performing at his best.

Slim Jannie (Smith, last year’s winner) and Teatro (Greeff) are also not out of it.

The race is wide open if you look past Cruise Control. He is a quality sprinter and the horse to beat. He looks like a banker.

The Speedsters Stakes is race seven on the card at 15:05.

It is an earlier than usual start at Fairview on Friday with nine races carded.

The top stables of Smith and champion trainer Alan Greeff are in good form and should have the biggest say again.

A Cape Town visitor who does look hard to beat though is Innamorare (Snaith) in a Middle Stakes over 1400m – race 8.

The first race is at 11:30 and Smith could be off to a winning start with the filly Sweet Cake.