HENK STEENKAMP
THE four babies will be the centre of attention at Friday’s race meeting on the Fairview Polytrack.
It is always an exciting event for all the roleplayers when the two-year-olds step out on the track for the very first time.
The meeting of eight races starts with this fascinating race, the first juvenile race of the East Cape season. Four two-year-olds – two colts and two fillies – will face the starter at 12:30.
This Welcome To Nelson Mandela Bay Maiden Juvenile Plate will be run over a short trip of 900 meters.
The word from the four stables involved is that good runs are expected of all the debutants. It will probably come down to who jumps best in the end.
It is interesting that the juveniles will tackle the Polytrack on debut and not the turf track as is usually the case. The Fairview grass track is still undergoing treatment to be in top condition for the first meeting of next year on January the 2nd.
The Maiden Juvenile Plate is the first leg of the Bipot and the betting suggests First Officer (Alan Greeff) and Just Carter (Dean Smith) will get you through.
If you want to make sure, just add one of TP Thunderchild (Kelly Mitchley) or Wild Star!
Terminal Velocity (Greeff) is a possible banker in the first leg of the Pick Six. The four-year-old filly has been threatening to win a race for some time now and this Open Maiden for fillies and mares over 2000m looks the right race for her.
She does have to carry 61kgs which won’t make it easy for her, but Oh Mandy looks the only danger in this one, race three at 13:40.
Smith pointed out in his TrackTalk interview that East Coast Girl is probably the stable’s best chance to get into the winners’ enclosure on Friday.
From a good draw this three-year-old filly certainly looks the right one in the fifth race at 14:50. It is a FM 72 Handicap over 1600m.
Sharon Kotzen Racing is set for a good outing and Above The Horizon is a huge runner in the seventh race, a MR 69 Handicap over 1600m, off at 16:00.
He drops in class and has no problem performing on the poly surface.
The Kotzen stable could finish the day with a double with jockey Luyolo Mxothwa in the saddle.
Haze And Smoke must be included in all bets in the eighth and last of the day, The three-year-old filly just ran out of steam last time, but will be a factor in this FM 66 Handicap over 1300m which jumps at 16:35.
This article was originally published on TAB and is reposted here with permission.
