VISITOR READY TO DO BATTLE

Henk Steenkamp

The lone visitor Battleground holds the key in Friday’s feature race on the Fairview Turf track.

The son of Futura, from the Lucky Houdalakis stable, is the favourite to win the R175 000 Port Elizabeth Gold Cup (Non-Black Type) over 3200m.

Battleground showed with his third place in the Listed TAB Gold Bowl that he has no problem with seeing out the challenging distance of 3200m.

S’manga Khumalo takes the ride and if all goes well with the trip from Gauteng, Battleground will be a huge factor.

It does look like a very competitive race in which a case can be made for almost every one of the eight runners.

Bournemouth (Alan Greeff) was last seen in April when he was not at his best. He returns from this break and is expected to challenge strongly for victory.

Trainer Gavin Smith has done the hard work to have Peace In Our World and Zatara Magic ready to strike.

They are best weighted to win the race but it will be no easy task for Zatara Magic to carry 60kgs to victory.

The Gold Cup should be a really exciting race. It is race six and jumps at 15:35.

Another race not to be missed is the Pinnacle Stakes over 1800m, race five at 15:00.

There is very little to choose between Grazinginthegrass (Greeff) and the Smith runners, Runaway Song and Cherry Ano.

This trio should fight it out for the win in what should be a cracking race in the first leg of Jackpot 2 at 15:00.

The meeting starts on an exciting note with the Work Riders Maiden Plate, always a huge favourite with the Fairview crowd.

Where the work riders are involved it often gets tricky and the first race at 12:40 looks like a competitive affair.

It is the first leg of the Bipot and punters will probably have to go a little bit wide in their selections to make sure they advance to the next leg.

Queen Of Jazz (Smith) must be included in race two, the first leg of the Place Accumulator, at 13:15.

She hasn’t missed the PA in her last six starts but has strong opposition for the win in this Maiden Juvenile Plate for fillies.

Walt Whitman (Greeff) should get Pick Six players off to a flying start in the first leg, race three at 13:50.

It looks more difficult later on in the day and punters might take a chance with bankers in the first two legs of the Pick Six.

Walt Whitman is not the only possible banker from the Greeff stable. The filly Ellorix is the standout in race four at 14:25 in the second leg of the Pick Six, which is also the first leg of the first Jackpot.

Find our Fairview tips at Henk Se Wenk.