Trainers share the spoils at Fairview

Danie Toerien

In a rather remarkable day’s racing Friday at Fairview, the first six winners all come from different yards.

Trainer Emmanuel Kaknis visited the winner’s enclosure for only the second time this season after European Summer scored a narrow victory in Race 2, a Maiden Plate for fillies and mares over 1000m, with Charles Ndlovu in the saddle.

This Captain Of All filly raced with blinkers fitted as well as a tongue tie for only the second time in eight outings and that seemed to do the trick as she fought all the way to the line to score by 0.1-lengths over tote favourite Rhythm Of The Rain.

The latter, trained by Alan Greeff, had her first run in 185 days, so can be excused for the narrow miss under Greg Cheyne.

European Summer paid R13,10 for the win.

In Race 4, a Maiden Plate for fillies and mares over 1600m, the Tara Laing-trained Colorama caused somewhat of an upset when she beat tote favourite Silver Slippers by half a length.

Also by Captain Of All, she paid R12 on the tote for the win.

The disappointment of the day was Race 6, a FM96 Handicap over 1600m. With an average Merit Rating of 89, most racegoers expected the seven runners to put on a bit of a catfight.

But when the gates crashed open, they all tried to find cover and ended up basically cantering all the way to the start of the final straight, when they sprinted for the honours.

This lack of pace did not suit tote favourite Phoenix, trained by Alan Greeff, as she was well beaten by 1.5-lengths into second by stable companion Princess Kalisi, with Sandile Khathi in the saddle.

After taking the honours in Race 3 with Champagnesocialist, trainer Sharon Kotzen doubled her tally in the seventh with Ideal Angel.

Juan Nel also added his name to the list of winning trainers in the final when Jean’s Man scored over 1200m under Richard Fourie.

That victory ensured that a total of seven different trainers visited the winner’s enclosure on the day.