Henk Steenkamp
After missing out on victory in the Fairview Flying Five (NBT), First Origin and Mercantour will resume their rivalry this Friday.
They return to the Fairview Polytrack to contest the Tab 4Racing App Pinnacle Stakes over 1200m – race 5 on the card of 8 races.
Mercantour is looking for his first win in the Eastern Cape since joining the Alan Greeff stable in March.
This is his third Fairview run and if he gets out of the stalls better than in his recent starts, he could score with Richard Fourie aboard.
The son of Var is the best weighed horse in the race. He has won twice and finished third once from five starts over this distance.
Mercantour is ready to win, but was more than a length behind the speedy First Origin in the Flying Five over 1000m.
First Origin, trained by Gavin Smith, will try to make it all under Louie Mxothwa. It is going to be interesting to see if he can hold on for victory.
He has won twice, finished second once and third once from five starts over track and trip which indicates First Origin should be right there again.
Another Smith runner, USA Hope, cannot be overlooked with Craig Zackey in the saddle.
Better was expected of him when he finished 0.75 lengths behind First Origin over trip and track back in February.
USA Hope is 1kg worse off at the weights with First Origin this time but can still make amends. He is a definite Pick Six inclusion.
The meeting starts at 12:30 and the first race is a competitive start to the Bipot.
Dutchess D’Orange (Sharon Kotzen) is the filly to beat in the second race, the first leg of the Place Accumulator, at 13:05.
The Greeff-Fourie combination looks strong in race three, the first leg of the Pick Six at 13:40, although Holocene can be a difficult ride at times.
Golden Grey (race 6) is another huge Greeff-Fourie runner, but Always Shining is a danger.
It should be a competitive meeting - as always, let’s give it a go!