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Another Hat-trick Attempt

Henk Steenkamp

ANOTHER Alan Greeff-trained four-year-old filly will be making a hat-trick attempt at the Fairview Polytrack on Friday.

Strata will be looking for her third win in a row when she lines up in a handicap for fillies and mares over 1000m (race 5).

At Tuesday’s meeting the Greeff-trained Greenlight Legend was strongly fancied to complete her hat-trick of wins but problems at the start resulted in an abandoned race.

Jockey Richard Fourie will be hoping for better luck with Strata who jumps from pole position.

The smallish daughter of Canford Cliffs relocated to Fairview this year and is a winner of both her starts on the turf track.

Greeff was impressed with her last run when she carried 63kgs to victory against the boys.

This time she takes on her own sex, but it is her debut on the poly. If she doesn’t take to the surface, there are a handful of challengers who are capable of spoiling the hat-trick party.

The Sharon Kotzen stable could start the meeting on a winning note with Above The Horizon in a Maiden Juvenile Plate over 1400m.

The first race at 12:25 is the first leg of the Bipot. Above The Horizon can be considered as a banker and should fight it out for the win with Supreme Judge from the Gavin Smith stable – take the box Exacta.

A huge run on debut is expected from the Canford Cliffs filly Make Believe in the second race at 13:00 when the Place Accumulator starts.

Make Believe is trained by Smith and is the short priced favourite to win this Open Maiden for fillies and mares.

Fourie will be in the saddle and it might be worth taking a chance with Make Believe as a banker in the Place Accumulator, as racing gets much more competitive when the Pick Six gets underway with the third race at 13:35.

As usual the Greeff and Smith stables look strong throughout the day, but it is not easy to select bankers to structure your bets around.

As always, let’s give it a go!

 

This article was originally published on TAB and is reposted here with permission.

Henk Steenkamp is a seasoned sports journalist based in Gqeberha, with over 40 years of experience covering rugby, cricket, and horse racing. A true expert on racing at Fairview in the Eastern Cape, Henk is a regular presence at this venue, rarely missing a meeting. He has been a judge for the East Cape Racing Awards since 2007 and served as the convenor of the panel since 2021. Known for his sharp insights, Henk has won numerous horse racing tipping competitions, famously under the alias "Henk Se Wenk." A former Media24 Sports and Racing Editor, he now contributes weekly columns on racing and school sports for community publications. With a passion for watching sport live or on television, his favourite bet remains the Place Accumulator - at Fairview of course!

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