START OF POLY CHALLENGE

Henk Steenkamp

THE Nelson Mandela Bay Racing Poly Challenge is known for nail-biting finishes and this year’s event should start with a humdinger on Friday.

A very fast run race is expected in the first leg over 1200m on the Fairview Polytrack. The Non-Black Type event is race seven of eight and 13 sprinters will face the starter at 15:50.

The only Cape Town visitor is the Dynasty gelding King Regent who is weighted to win the race for the Glen Kotzen stable, but it looks a very open, competitive race. King Regent has some Poly experience and the yard reckons this is the right race for him. He ran third on this track in the Listed East Cape Guineas last year. His only start this year was early in the month at Kenilworth when he took the lead with 200m to go and was caught late. He finished third and should be much fitter now. King Regent loves the distance and if he is fully fit, and all went well with his travels, he should be a major contender.

There are others with a winning chance. The stables of the two top Fairview trainers, Alan Greeff and Gavin Smith, are on fire and will be challenging. Miss Greenlight, Inherit The Rain and Teatro are all expected to run well for the Greeff yard. Slim Jannie and Ledell’s Echo look the best of the Smith trio. Slings And Arrows got a lot of work to do from a wide draw but can upset. The Querari filly Passchendaele (Kelly Mitchley) is in good form and is also a runner.

No horse has been able to secure the bonus by winning all three legs of the challenge since it was introduced in 2016. There is a consolation bonus to aim for if we don’t see a horse winning all three legs. That will go to the best performing horse over the three legs.

The first race is off at 12:25 and Ice Cap (Smith) looks like a possible banker in the first leg of the Bipot.

It is a competitive race though. Ice Cap, Fantasy Girl (Greeff), Queen Of The Palace (Duncan McKenzie) and Rain Bird (Tara Laing) should be the first four past the post.

Coral Creek (Greeff) and Golden Gallant (Sharon Kotzen) are the major players in the first leg of the Place Accumulator, race two, off at 12:55.

The Pick Six starts with race three at 13:30. Gimme’s Lassie (Smith, race 4 no 3) is our banker.