TOP EARNER DEFENDS TITLE

Henk Steenkamp

After finishing the past season as the top earner, Grazinginthegrass will start the new season with a title defense. The six-year-old gelding will be aiming to make it five wins in a row in Friday’s R175 000 Listed Memorial Mile, race 6 at 15:15, on the Fairview Polytrack. He is ultra-consistent, will jump from pole position and is the horse to beat. Grazinginthegrass (Alan Greeff) has built up a wonderful relationship with top jockey Richard Fourie but Fourie is taking a break and Aldo Domeyer will take the ride.

Khaya’s Hope (Gavin Smith) wasn’t at his best in his last start and one doesn’t really know what to expect from him. He is a champion though and if he is fit and well, he is a huge runner. Bush Tracker (Sharon Kotzen) will be a danger if he puts his best foot forward. Prophet, Blonde Act, Castletown and Adios Amigos can be considered in wider bets. 

The first feature of the day is the R150 000 Listed Paddock Stakes for fillies and mares over 1600m – race 5 at 14:40. There is not much between Santa Therese (Greeff) and We Danced (Kotzen), both Listed winners last season, and they should fight this one out. Domeyer takes over from Fourie on Santa Therese and will have to be wide awake not to start his run for the line too late. If the Cape Town raider Who Do You Love (Candice Bass-Robinson) takes to the surface, she will be in the mix. Belle Of Belize (Greeff) has been ultra-consistent lately and also one to keep an eye on.

The Paddock Stakes is the second leg of the East Cape Challenge. The five-year-old mare Phedra (Kotzen) won the first leg, the Listed EC Breeders Stakes over 1200m, very easily. Phedra will not contest the second leg but will take her place in a Pinnacle Stakes over 1000m (race 7 at 15:50) and looks very hard to oppose.

The meeting of eight races starts at 12:30 and the first race gets the Bipot underway.

Telio (Kelly Mitchley) looks like a banker in the second race at 13:00, the first leg of the Place Accumulator, with Elusive Mata (Kotzen) the danger.

It is a very difficult start to the Pick Six. The first leg is the third race at 13:30 and is a wide open Classified Stakes over 1400m.
Find our selections at Henk Se Wenk.

RECENT WINNERS:

MEMORIAL MILE

2022: Grazinginthegrass
2021: Marmara Sea
2020: Marmara Sea
2019: Sacred Arrow
2018: Afrikaburn
2017: Stormy Eclipse
2016: Readytogorightnow
2015: Night Trip
2014: Red Barrel
2013: Celtic Fire
2012: Celtic Fire
2011: Fabiani
2010: Celtic Fire
2009: Vangelis

EC PADDOCK STAKES

2022: Integrity
2021: Santa Therese
2020: Elusive Heart
2019: Maverick Girl
2018: Beataboutthebush
2017: Beataboutthebush 
2016: Purely Atomic 
2015: Supreme Sunset 
2014: Irish Myth 
2013: Stormy Coast
2012: Dance To The Stars
2011: My Kazzie
2010: Sarah Em
2009: Hill Of Fire