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A racing certainty – alias Smith and Greeff
The two PE training giants have nine of the 10 runners in the 1200m Pinnacle Stakes for females. Greeff has seven of them.
The Premier’s Champions Challenge was a train-smash for punters, but, by default, it set tongues wagging about the forthcoming Durban July. Picture: Getty Images
The biggest racing certainty in ages comes in the seventh race at Fairview on Friday, when racing is on the Polytrack. It’s nailed on: horses saddled by Alan Greeff and Gavin Smith will fill the Exacta, Trifecta and Quartet. In other words, they’ll collect all the prize cheques.
The two PE training giants have nine of the 10 runners in the 1200m Pinnacle Stakes for females. Greeff has seven of them.
According to the pre-race betting, the finish will be fought out between Greeff’s Glacier Gold and Smith’s Joyful Noise. The latter’s Blue Duchess will battle for minor money with the former’s Carioca, Step Lively and Delicasea.
Plumb last in the race will be the odd one out, Stella Act, trained by Sharon Kotzen and quoted at 25-1 by the bookmakers.
Imagine the shock if this filly were to upset the applecart. Stella Act recently transferred to Nelson Mandela Bay from Durban, where she was dismal on the Poly surface. She’s shown a little early speed in her new environment, but no heart for the fight.
We must not forget that this is Fairview, home of the train-smash result, but it’s probably safe to stick with Greeff and Smith in planning our bets.
Glacier Gold looks primed for a second win in her 10th start, having recorded three seconds and a third in her last four runs. With 55kg to carry, she gets weight from all her rivals and further to her advantage is Richard Fourie in the irons and the No 3 starting stall.
By contrast, Joyful Noise is allotted 62kg and goes from the widest gate. Claiming apprentice Yuzae Ramzan takes 2.5kg off, but it’ll still be a lump for the four-year-old to carry.
In Joyful Noise’s favour, though, is her greater experience and proven winning capability. She has been to the races 14 times for six wins.
Most of the rest are in good form, too, and it’s certainly not the two-horse race a first glance might suggest. Cautious (and flush) punters will consider taking the field in this the fifth leg of the Pick 6.
Oh, except for Stella Act.
SELECTIONS
1: 3 French Joy, 7 Taste Master, 9 Bold Leah, 1 Buttercup
2: 4 Rock Garden, 1 Jackbequick, 2 Bold Captain, 7 Royal Welcome
3: 2 Make It Happen, 5 Drive By, 7 Silver Slippers, 1 Princess Of Winter
4: 3 Lollapalooza, 2 Winter Mosaic, 1 Pot Sox, 4 Twice To Heaven
5: 3 El Romiachi, 7 Homer Fidget, 6 Doppio Oro, 4 Purple Frontier
6: 8 Stanton Street, 7 Timkat, 1 Soft Spot, 9 Masterful
7: 10 Glacier Gold, 1 Joyful Noise, 6 Delicasea, 5 Blue Duchess
8: 3 Royal Shindig, 4 Jacob’s Ladder, 7 Charlie McCreevy, 11 Perfectly Putt
Pick 6: 2,5 x 1,2,3,4 x 3,4,6,7 x 1,7,8,9 x 1,5,6,10 x 3,4,7 (R1536)
PA: 4 x 2 x 2,3 x 3,7 x 7,8 x 1,10 x 3 (R16)
