Gavin Smith won’t be a Vision On Ice for long

After a blazing start to the racing season, Eastern Cape trainer Gavin Smith has run into a bit of a flat spot in recent weeks. But, like good horses that occasionally slacken in a race, the indefatigable Smith will muster resources for a fight back. It could happen on the Fairview Polytrack on Friday.

Indeed, Smith and his principal jockey, Warren Kennedy, could already have a clutch of wins in the bag when tea-time rolls around.

In Race 1, a 1000m Maiden Plate, they compete with Jackbequick, a transfer from Glen Kotzen’s Cape Town stable. The grey hasn’t run for ages but is reported by Smith to be working well and having a Quartet chance.

It’s in the next three contests on the programme that Smith and Kennedy appear to hold the whip hand – with Star Effect, Vision On Ice and Bhakka.

Vision On Ice is the standout bet of the day. The four-year-old filly is still a maiden after seven runs but seems to be enjoying racing at Fairview after switching from Lucinda Woodruff in Cape Town.

In two third-placed efforts, she was running strongly at the death and will surely be better over more ground – which is what she gets in this 2000m Maiden Plate.

As usual, Smith fields multiple runners in most races on the card and all have money chances. But perhaps his best post-tea hope is Jaspero in the last.

This fellow, to be ridden by Marco van Rensburg, won two in a row for Smith in August and September but had his hat-trick bid derailed by a cast shoe in early October. He’ll still be fighting fit for a Classified Stakes over 1600m.

SELECTIONS

Race 1:

8 Siever’s Point, 2 Emerald Flame, 1 Jackbequick, 4 James Gordon Jnr

Race 2:

3 Star Effect, 2 Grace From Above, 5 Cyclops Jack, 1 Lord Marmite

Race 3:

1 Vision On Ice, 8 Lauretta Mia, 2 Rarotonga, 5 La Sicaria

Race 4:

4 Bhakka, 6 Assured, 2 Palo Alto, 5 Cherry Road

Race 5:

2 Paris Opera, 8 Undisclosed, 6 Life On Mars, 5 Mousey On Over

Race 6:

6 Dive Captain, 3 Pot Sox, 8 Sound Check, 5 Bad Habit

Race 7:

11 Castello Campanula, 12 Albie, 5 Fearless Lady, 3 Mayfern

Race 8:

6 Jaspero, 13 Perfectly Putt, 5 Zig Zag, 7 Lion King

Pick 6:

1 x 2,4,6 x 2,8 x 2,3,4,5,6,8 x 1,2,3,5,6,11,12 x 2,5,6,7,11,13 (R1512)

PA:

2,3 x 1 x 4 x 2 x 3,6,8 x 5,11,12 x 6,13 (R36)