Top fare on offer at Fairview

Jack Milner

Once again Friday’s Fairview meeting, which was scheduled to take place on the turf track, has been moved to the Polytrack.

However, on this occasion the decision was taken well in advance which has allowed for the ComputaForm to be updated.

Unfortunately, Justin Snaith, who had nine horses carded for the meeting has opted to pull them all out owing to the change of surface.

There is also a R250,000 carryover to Jackpot One and with a likely pool of R1-million, it is definitely a bet worth taking.

There is a decent card on offer with the Listed East Coast Breeders Stakes for fillies and mares over 1200m heading up the card.

Trainer Sharon Kotzen has her runners in fine form and it was nice to see Phedra back to her best lately. She is the one they will all have to peg back going into the closing stages.

The Vercingetorix filly is only four years old so has at least one more good season in her and it is worth noting Phedra did beat Cliff Tops by 1.75 lengths when they met over this course and distance in October 2022.

If she runs to that level of form they might not catch her.

Ekoria has been racing over further and may not benefit from the return to 1200m but if she manages to handle the drop in class, she has to be a runner.

However, Red Berry has a good record over the course and distance and could be the runner to follow Phedra home.

Cliff Top looks the stand-out bet on the card when he lines up in Race 6, a Pinnace Stakes over 1000m.

He and Cruise Control have traded blows six times with the honours even at 3-3. However, the manner in which Cliff Top won his latest race suggests he may be ready to bury that rival once again. Richard Fourie had Cliff Top out in front from the jump and the tactics clearly suited Alan Greeff’s charge as he finished 2.50 lengths ahead of his nearest rival, Whatever Next, with Cruise Control ending up 4.65 length behind him.

There is no change in weights so no real reason to suggest a change in result this time although supporters of Cruise Control will argue the speedy gelding was clearly not himself that day and will bounce back.

Jack Milner’s selections

Race 1: 8 Regazzo Grande, 5 Lord Milori, 3 Follow The Band, 1 Battenberg

Race 2: 3 Fairy Knight, 1 Vision Of Wonder, 6 The Winter Lake, 4 First Origin

Race 3: 1 Painite, 7 More For Me, 2 Jack Ryan, 9 Ballycotton

Race 4: 9 Bridgerton, 2 Mohandas, 4 Opening Ceremony, 3 Great Ecstasy

Race 5: 7 Bush Tracker, 2 Inherit The Rain, 3 Castletown, 4 Safe Return

Race 6: 1 Cliff Top, 2 Cruise Control, 3 Stranger Danger, 6 Al Qaasim

Race 7: 2 Phedra, 3 Red Berry, 5 Ekoria, 6 Chere For Me

Race 8: 9 Bournemouth, 8 El Romiachi, 5 Dawn Of A New Era, 3 Atkinson Grimshaw

BEST BET

Race 6 No 1 Cliff Top

VALUE BET

Race 5 No 7 Bush Tracker

BEST SWINGER

Race 6 1x2

BIPOT

R48

Leg 1: 3, 5, 8

Leg 2: 1, 3

Leg 3: 1

Leg 4: 2, 9

Leg 5: 2, 3, 4, 7

Leg 6: 1

PLACE ACCUMULATOR

R72

Leg 1: 1, 3

Leg 2: 1

Leg 3: 2, 9

Leg 4: 2, 3, 7

Leg 5: 1

Leg 6: 2, 3

Leg 7: 5, 8, 9

PICK 6

R300

Leg 1: 1

Leg 2: 2, 4, 9

Leg 3: 2, 3, 4, 7, 10

Leg 4: 1

Leg 5: 2, 3, 5, 6

Leg 6: 3, 4, 5, 8, 9

JACKPOT 1

R60

Leg 1: 2, 4, 9

Leg 2: 2, 3, 4, 7, 10

Leg 3: 1

Leg 4: 2, 3, 5, 6

JACKPOT 2

R100

Leg 1: 2, 3, 4, 7, 10

Leg 2: 1

Leg 3: 2, 3, 5, 6

Leg 4: 3, 4, 5, 8, 9